Tag Archive for: Vehicle

Ferox Corp | Azaris is a six wheeled Off-Road advanced vehicle.

Unbound by the traditional nexus between the wheels, drivetrain and chassis – providing exceptional capabilities for extreme terrains.

Using Ferox technology, Azaris pushes the boundaries of vehicle design and brings future envisaged transport to life.

As our first fully operating prototype, Azaris is just the beginning.

There’s nothing else like Azaris in the world.

THEME BOARDS & CREATIVE INSPIRATION

During a creative process, we use a combination of internal elements, such as our experiences and intuition, as well as external factors from the world around us to spark ideas.

Creating theme boards is a way of visually compiling our thoughts, ideas, inspiration and research that forms a tool, in which to draw from.

Theme boards can be used to build a story, as a collection of ideas to explore or as a way to establish a certain feeling or mood.

AZARIS DESIGN THEME BOARD

The core of the Azaris vehicle is its innovative technology which uses fluid as the medium to transfer force.

Fluid flows, is free and is alive. From these qualities various ideas were explored and combined to inspire our design language.

A splash of water is one way of seeing water in motion. Every splash of water is individual in nature; however, shares a set of common characteristics – as the water stretches it forms a flow, creating soft and sharp lines whilst also generating negative space.

We drew further inspiration from the human muscular system. Seeing how each muscle wraps and intertwines around the other, each serving a purpose with strength and adaptability, forming the basis of our movement.

Continuing to draw from life, we explored the structure that exists within all living beings. That structure being the DNA strand. This unique form was the underlying inspiration for the DNA Arms on Azaris.

AZARIS HEADLIGHT THEME BOARD

In keeping with the water theme for the Azaris, a few different forms of water were explored.

Ice caves and geodes were the main inspiration behind the Azaris’ headlight design.

This geometric aesthetic was chosen to contrast against the fluid surfaces of the Azaris’ body, adding interest to the Azaris’ ‘eyes’.

We see prisms and faceted lenses as a key design element in the future of Advanced Vehicles to assist vehicles with interpreting their surroundings.

COLOUR & TRIM THEME BOARDS

During the design process, we use colour and trim theme boards to guide the aesthetics of a vehicle, from the physical form all the way through to the surface treatment and colours.

How a vehicle is perceived and initially experienced is largely influenced by its colour.

ROBUST & STEALTHY

During the concept stage, the Azaris’ strong, tough and agile capabilities were identified.

To express this, we explored a dark colour palette comprising of gunmetals and anodised finishes, evoking a robust and stealthy presence.

FUTURISTIC & TECHY

Another early concept highlighted the Azaris’ innovation and potential for futuristic advancement.

Here a rather clean ‘Utopian’ aesthetic was created with the use of white, contrasted with metals, silvers and translucency, giving the vehicle a lighter, efficient feeling.

ENVIRONMENTAL & NATURAL

The Ferox Technology has the potential to make vehicles more connected to and conscious of the environments they operate in, with the Azaris prototype being the first step in the journey.

Drawing inspiration from our natural world, and in particular paying homage to the Australian landscape, red earthy tones would be combined with watery blues and raw materials such as metals and stone.

OCEAN BLUES

In keeping with the water theme for the Azaris, we explored one of the most powerful forces of water – an ocean wave.

An ocean wave consists of a plethora of different blues, ranging from dark to light, warm to cool and satin to glossy finishes.

These contrasting colour features illustrate motion and expresses the transformative nature of the Ferox Technology.

This concept was selected and further developed for the Azaris colour scheme.

This case study has been put together to help educate and share our process with the community. 

The images used in our theme boards come from various sources as a part of our internal research process.

Agile innovator 20 years ago: Mercedes-Benz F 400 Carving research vehicle

Agile innovator 20 years ago: Mercedes-Benz F 400 Carving research vehicle

  • Active camber control and asymmetric tyres provide additional safety and driving dynamics
  • “Drive by wire” for steering and brakes
  • Xenon headlamps, LED turn indicators and use of new materials

As a constant innovator of automotive engineering, Mercedes-Benz sometimes takes unconventional paths. One example is the F 400 Carving research vehicle, which the brand presented at the Tokyo Motor Show (14 October to 7 November 2001) in October 2001, 20 years ago. It features many future-orientated systems, amongst which the active camber adjustment of the wheels is the main attraction: The vehicle appears to lean into the curve – in a way similar to a winter athlete on carving skis. Today, the F 400 Carving can be seen at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in the “Fascination of Technology” section. This section is accessible free of charge via the atrium.

The innovative system increases the camber angle of the outer wheels of the curve to up to 20 degrees, depending on the driving situation. In conjunction with newly-developed tyres, this enables 30 per cent greater lateral forces to be transmitted than a suspension with a fixed camber setting and standard tyres. This means a considerable advantage in active safety because the greater the lateral forces of the tyres, the better the tyres’ road contact and the vehicleʼs cornering stability. Thanks to active camber control, the research vehicle achieves a maximum lateral acceleration of 1.28 g, surpassing the values of sports cars of the time by around 28 per cent.

The innovative tyres have an asymmetric tyre contact surface. When the wheels on the outside of the curve lean to the side, the two-seater rides on the inner tyre treads, which are slightly rounded and whose profile and rubber blend are specially designed to ensure high cornering dynamics and safety. When driving straight on, on the other hand, it is the outer sectors of the tyres that are in contact with the road. These areas have a tried-and-tested car tread pattern with excellent high-speed and low-noise performance. Thus, thanks to active camber control, two different concepts are realised in one tyre.

With the F 400 Carving, the engineers also gained experience in the use of new types of suspension technology in active safety. In addition to the higher driving stability in curves, active camber adjustment offers a clear advantage in driving safety in emergency situations. If, for example, the wheel camber is deliberately increased when there is a risk of skidding, the higher lateral guidance forces can sustainably assist the effect of the ESP® Electronic Stability Program.

The F 400 Carving shows how: in an emergency braking manoeuvre, all four wheels of the research vehicle can be cambered in a flash, reducing the braking distance at 100 km/h by a good five metres.

New possibilities for electronics and electrics

Mercedes-Benz presented further innovations in the F 400 Carving 20 years ago. The two-seater, for example, has a future-orientated steering, braking and suspension system. This includes steering and brakes with electrical components instead of mechanical connections – the engineers call this concept “drive by wire”. The engineers also broke new ground in suspension tuning, using active hydro-pneumatics for the first time in the latest-generation Active Body Control (ABC), which adapts both the suspension and the damping of the vehicle to the driving situation at lightning speed.

With xenon lamps, in which light is conducted to the headlamps by means of fibre optic cables, the Stuttgart automotive researchers also presented a completely new type of lighting technology in the F 400 Carving. In curves, additional headlamps placed on the sides are activated. The indicators work on the basis of high-performance light-emitting diodes whose light is spread with the help of prismatic rods. A 42-volt on-board electrical system is available for the power supply of all components. Finally, the materials: the body of the research vehicle is made of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic and the chassis is of space frame design using steel, aluminium and also carbon-fibre reinforced plastics.

In 2001, the Mercedes-Benz F 400 Carving appears like a messenger from a fascinating future. In the meantime, some of its numerous innovative features have been incorporated directly or in modified form into the brand’s standard models. This shows that automotive development never stands still, and the unique Mercedes-Benz knowledge pool is fully available to all generations of engineers.

Audi skysphere concept (2021)

Audi has unveiled the first member of a new family of concept vehicles, a spectacular roadster. Audi skysphere concept is the name of the electric-powered, two-door convertible whose lines lead directly to the Audi design of tomorrow. With it, the brand is illustrating its vision for the progressive luxury segment of the future, in which the interior becomes an interactive space and the vehicle a platform for captivating experiences. This is being made possible thanks to autonomous driving, a revolutionary redesign of the interior, and a seamless digital ecosystem.

¿Cuál es tu misión? ¿Incluye la preservación de la Tierra para su familia, su comunidad y el mundo?

Entonces nuestra misión, entregar el vehículo más eficiente del planeta, ES su misión.

Vehículo de carga solar Aptera

Nuestra misión
El problema es la ineficiencia

Anhelas hacer más con menos.

Más de 50 millas por galón o 200 millas por carga. Pero no puede porque seguimos haciendo las cosas como siempre se han hecho.

La solución es la eficiencia.

Fusionada con el poder del sol, la eficiencia te permitirá hacer más con menos: más millas con menos carbono, menos material, menos energía de la red.

Puedes ayudarnos a hacer las cosas de manera diferente.

Eficiencia Ejemplificada

Nuestros vehículos disfrutan de una eficiencia sin igual, utilizando poco menos de 100 Wh por milla para la conducción diaria. Y pueden recorrer más de 40 millas por día con energía solar, cinco veces más lejos que otros vehículos eléctricos con el mismo sistema solar.

Solar eficiente

El Aptera es el primer vehículo eléctrico que nunca se carga.

La mayoría de los conductores nunca tendrán que cargar su Aptera porque no viajan más de lo que su sistema solar puede producir por año.

Seguridad eficiente

El Aptera es un nivel completamente nuevo de seguridad para los pasajeros.

La seguridad a través de la ciencia avanzada abarca una celda de seguridad compuesta para pasajeros más fuerte que la de cualquier otro vehículo en la carretera actual.

Efficient Construction

The Aptera has only 10 key structural parts.
(Typical EVs have 300.)

Fewer Parts → Easier Build → (way) Lower Capitalization

Efficient Ease

1,000+ miles of range plus our advanced CoPilot
will make long journeys a breeze.

Aptera’s autopilot-system hardware, developed in conjunction with a large Japanese OEM, means it can quickly compete in the autonomous-driving arena with Tesla, BMW, and Audi.

Bringing Efficiency to Market

By 2040, electric vehicles will account for 35% of all new vehicle sales. Aptera will introduce its commitment to efficiency with the production of 10,000 units by 2022 and 40,000 by 2024

Why Now?
The commoditization of the EV space is reaching critical mass.
The auto industry is poised for radical reinvention.
The time for efficiency is NOW.
Efficient Manufacturing

Additive manufacturing has stymied the stranglehold of steel stamping. (Capitalization for stamping dies — $1b — has traditionally kept margins low.)

We can now scale production and launch new models with previously unimaginable speed.

Lightness = Efficiency

Generative part design allows A.I. to optimize for the greatest strength with the least amount of material and weight.

Our resin-infused sandwich-core construction
produces exceedingly lightweight composite structures that are
many times stronger than their steel counterparts.

There is no mass-produced, 100% composite vehicle like the Aptera — and nothing similar on the horizon.

Competing On Efficiency

Range is Aptera’s superpower!

With its 1,000+ mile range, the Aptera has 4 times that of the average competition. Even the Tesla Model 3 Long Range has only 325. The BMW I-3 manages a mere 114.

The Aptera can travel 4 times the distance of EVs with battery packs of the same size.

The Rivian, for example, needs a pack 5% larger than Aptera’s to go a quarter of the distance.

Most of our competitors have only a 200-300-mile range, and it takes a pack of 55-105kWh to achieve even that.

Efficient Mobile Distribution

Distribution costs reduce margins. That’s why Aptera’s using:

Direct-to-consumer sales.

Online promotion/test-drive scheduling & events in key markets; SoCal rollout – where else?

Service house calls (a model proven globally by Tesla).

Efficiency-Driven Revenue

With an innovative mobile-distribution and service model, we expect uncommon margins!

Our initial target price is $36k-$59k. Our initial target cost is $22k-$36k. By 2022, we expect to realize margins of 35%. (This return is unheard of. By comparison, margin champ BMW has just over 6%.)

The Efficiency Experts

Steve & Chris are devoted to helping people do what’s right for the environment.

Convinced that any industry can be made cleaner and more efficient through smart engineering, they’ve developed technologies to reduce carbon and manufacturing emissions and curtail the use of chemical pesticides, among other eco-friendly interventions. Each has earned a reputation for setting ambitious goals and meeting them quickly and cost-effectively.

Timeline Of Efficiency

2019

Production Plan Funded; Tooling and Factory Buildout Starts

Expanding pre-order list based on progress toward delivering first Aptera

Begin Raising Development Money

Inviting previous followers, deposit holders, and investors to join us

2020

First New Prototypes Shown and Driven Proven capability attracts investment to fund production plan

Pre-Production Vehicles Begin Testing; Beta Deliveries

Started Less than 9 months after funding, delivery of first vehicles; begin refining and scaling production

6-Passenger Aptera Design Begins

Ideal for ride-hailing services and autonomous delivery, fully autonomous vehicle sets new standard for large-vehicle efficiency

2021

Production Run Rate of 2,000 Per Year Achieved

Sufficient to start realizing economies of scale

6-Passenger Aptera Production Begins

2022

Run Rate Increased to 10,000 Per Year Increased profit margins stabilize company and demonstrate manufacturing bona fides

Funding Efficiency

Between Launch of Crowdfunding Campaign and Production Start

Raise $2.5m for pre-production vehicle builds and the engineering required to launch our first production lines

Crash, crush, and FMVSS-certify the Aptera for production

Educate people about how Aptera can fulfill their desire to Do More

Our Vision For The Future…

We believe efficient transportation is crucial to managing our natural resources. Aptera can inspire people to do more with their cars than just drive and build an efficiency-obsessed brand offering an array of safe, comfortable, fun-to-drive vehicles that will enjoy explosive growth.