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Honda's designers have been flexing their mental muscles for the LA Design Challenge to create the Helix, a 'car' that reacts to the owner's DNA over time for the ultimate in personalisation.
The concept is of a vehicle made from 'adaptive polymers' that can alter shape, colour and mechanical properties in response to the owner's genetic code. It is designed to change over time, becoming more attuned to its owner.
Continuing the DNA analogy the Helix has three main configurations; A, B and Z. A is short and wide for agility in twisting city streets; B is long and low for more spread-out environments where high speeds are possible; while Z maximises space efficiency with a double-deck seating arrangement that keeps the car's footprint as small as possible. The three configurations are shown in the varied urban settings of Rome, Los Angeles and Tokyo along with three hypothetical owners.
Honda talks about how bio-receptors allow the Helix to 'micro adjust' to the needs of its user and the environment where it is used. Inspired by the human genome, bio-technology and environmental forecasting the Helix will apparently be equally at home in America's open spaces and 'the congested skies of Japan'.
It all seems pretty radical but who knows what will be possible in the future? The illustrations depict the Helix as part of Star Wars-style future environments, which look pretty cool to us.
John Lambert - 10 Nov 2009
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