The Peugeot Orbis is a versatile city car for the future. As such, it uses several new technologies to provide a far better experience in daily commute.
Instead of wheels, the car magnetically levitates on four spheres. This combines the electric motor, suspension, drivetrain, and shock-absorbers in a simple set of electromagnets. Since there are no moving parts besides the spheres themselves, this system is extremely efficient, with no sources of energy loss other than air resistance, rolling resistance between the spheres and the ground, and electrical resistance. This also allows the Orbis to be extremely silent, making it suitable for city and neighbourhood settings. The magnetic levitation system is shielded to prevent the magnetic field from disrupting objects like pacemakers, and also to prevent it from attracting magnetic debris on the road.
The magnetic levitation provides a very comfortable and smooth ride for the passengers in the car since the car is not physically connected to the spheres in any way. A computer monitors and changes the ride height of each sphere. In addition, the nature of the spheres allows the car to be extremely agile, and move in all directions. This facilitates parking and doing 180 degree turns in small spaces. The wheels also account for the name of the car, Orbis. In Latin,
Orbis means anything round or rotating, which perfectly describes the spheres on which the car is levitated.
Power comes from an ultracapacitor capable of charging very quickly and storing a large amount of electricity for a long range. The ultracapacitor is very suitable for regenerative braking, so that when braking, the ultracapacitor is recharged. Ultracapacitors are also more compact than batteries, are cheaper, have stable temperatures, and are safer. Because of the purely electric nature of the car, it will have no direct emissions.
The hood, windshield, roof, and rear window are all combined into one piece of transparent acrylic. This acrylic is coated with a superhydrophobic substance that causes water to bounce off or roll off, like on a lotus leaf (but better). This eliminates the need for distracting wipers, and allows for the elegant flowing lines of the car to be unpunctuated and simple. As a result, the field of view of the driver is unobstructed and panoramic.
The transparent canopy allows the passengers in the car to enjoy the benefits of sunlight, like a convertible, while blocking the harmful effects of an open top, such as rain and ultraviolet rays. The roof portion of the transparent canopy and the side windows can adjust their opacity to ensure privacy, or to block sunlight when the sun is too strong. When the car is parked and turned off, the windows and canopy become an opaque glossy silver colour to protect the interior from the sun’s heat.
The design of the Peugeot Orbis is refined and graceful. The headlights, taillights, and the turn signals are LED, delivering cool and unwavering light. The characteristic Peugeot grille gives the car the appearance of having a friendly smile. The front turn signals integrated into the grille are reminiscent of Peugeots of olden days with their headlights behind their grilles.
Good design extends beyond the exterior and into the interior. The interior of the Peugeot Orbis is designed with care. The steering wheel is unique in that only the rim moves. Thus, instruments and controls can be installed in the middle of the steering wheel and not be obstructed when the driver turns the steering wheel. An augmented reality system projects images onto the windshield to aid the driver. For example, the computer would use augmented reality to highlight potential hazards and obstacles on the road to warn the driver. This greatly enhances the safety of the car and the ease of driving. Cameras replace rear view mirrors and side mirrors, and OLED screens on the dashboard display the information from the cameras.
Thanks to the augmented reality technology, the other media can be projected onto the windshield, transforming it into a high-definition screen when the car is not in use. As the windshield can change its opacity, when viewing content on it, one will not be able to see the outside. This can also be used to change the interior lighting of the vehicle. Thus the Peugeot Orbis can be a true entertainment system. An integrated Xbox 360 allows the passengers and driver of the car to play video games and enjoy 1080p high-definition multimedia content.
The Peugeot Orbis has two doors. However, each door is large enough for passengers to access both front and rear seats easily. The doors slide upwards at a touch of a button on a remote control. Since the doors do not swing outwards, it is unlikely for the door to hit any passersby near the car. The maximum height of the car when a door is open is approximately 1.7 metres, which means that it is safe to open the door in indoor environments (like a parking lot or garage). The large door makes moving large objects in and out of the car much easier. In addition, it is also more convenient for handicapped and disabled individuals.
The stylish design of the Peugeot Orbis appeals to the younger generation. At the same time, the practical layout of the car meets the daily needs of families and the working class. The seats can altogether accommodate four persons or two persons and sports equipment or large goods. The front passenger seat can be detached and removed to accommodate a wheelchair. The rear seats can fold down for extra space.
The body is composed of plastic. The headlight covers, taillight covers, canopy, and side windows are all made of acrylic and coated with a superhydrophobic substance. Since this acrylic is much lighter and stronger than glass, the windows and canopy are capable of supporting themselves and providing good rollover safety. The nature of the materials used is very light, thus the Peugeot Orbis is fast and sporty whilst consuming minute amounts of energy. The Peugeot Orbis also uses an innovative body frame containing viscous gel to absorb impact during collisions. All materials used on the Peugeot Orbis are recyclable. The organic materials are cheap to manufacture and easy to assemble.
The result of all this is a car like no other. The Peugeot Orbis will truly revolutionise the industry of compact city cars. A car engineered to be supremely enjoyable.
Originally Posted by Purple Puppy
