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D.O.T - Direct On-Demand Transport |
Category: Transportation |
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Varun Singh
Coventry School of Art & Design
Coventry, GB
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Page Views: 310
Votes: 10
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Entered: 10/17/2008
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Cities in the near future are set to become a cluster of multiple hubs that are spread out much further than what we see today. This residents of this 'Urban Sprawl' will make daily trips to a from a multitude of destinations making large scale mass transit systems inefficient in dealing with fragmented journey patterns. The reliance on high cost and high impact infrastructure would become meaningless as governments push towards carbon neutrality. To eliminate the pollution from the single largest source in an urban environment ,i.e., the private car, major restrictions may be placed on usage of personal vehicles within certain zones. Added to that the issue of congestion and rising cost of real estate around residential areas, a major change in lifestyles might be required. Taking a cue from European cities, this project aims at combining the idea of a shared mode of transport with the freedom of a personal car. Aimed for London 2030, the D.O.T. or Direct On-demand Transport is a solution that Transport For London can operate to bridge the gap between public and private transport.
The vehicle is a two seater that runs on a centrally controlled system capable of automated driving. This ensures a safe ride for passengers as well as making sure that a unit is never left parked in one place for a long time. It will help eliminate traffic caused by single occupancy vehicles that travel only during very short intervals of time during a day, remaining more or less stationary for the rest of the time. Taking the concept of Car Share Clubs forward, members will be able to pick up units and drive away only to leave them near any parking hub. Moreover, internet based journey mapping can help encourage car pooling as well. The DOT aims at increasing social interaction as two units can combine together to form a larger vehicle with a combined interior space once the common windows are opened. The units run on Li-On batteries and are recharged with solar panels on the roof as well as induction charging within certain zones of the future city. The DOT promises to change the face of public transport by offering the flexibility of a smll city car!
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Meet the Entrant, Varun Singh
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Association: Coventry School of Art & Design |
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Profession: Student |
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Old portfolio: http://coroflot.com/varunniti... |
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Photography: http://www.flickr.com/photos/varunniti/... |
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Number of times entering contest previously: 0
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Design Tools:
Pencil and Paper
Physical models
Image rendering software
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Software used:
SolidWorks
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Varun's favorite design tool:
Industrial Clay. Digital tools are great but nothing beats good old fashioned clay styling to generate the forms that you want without any restrictions owing to limited know-how!
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Varun's hobbies and activities:
Photography, Football,
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What role does Varun believe product design plays in creating a better future?
I strongly feel that designers are the real futurists who shape the world to come. As a member of this fraternity, I realise the potential of new ideas to increase the standard of living of users across the globe. Be it a comfortable chair, or a fresh new way to travel around town, designers are constantly challenging the way we live and interact with objects around us.
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Hardware used for design:
Dell
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