I know what you're thinking - this idea is baked, right? Not for cars it isn't!

Imagine driving down the road like I was on my way to work this morning. You peer down at your gas guage to find that it indicates near empty. Damn!! You knew you should have went and filled it up when you were sitting around watching re-runs of "the simpsons" last night.

This is the year 2003, though! All you have to do is dial your cell, and an autonomous flying refueler swoops down, opens your gas cap, and replenishes your thirsty car before you can say "cough cough I'm sick today" and you drive to the beach.

A little detail that I might want to add would be that you might need a special gas receptacle that requires little fiddling to accept the refuelers probe. I can't imagine a little robotic hand coming down and unscrewing your gas cap. Too complicated.
-- djjosh1200, Jan 07 2003

"In-drive refuelling" http://www.halfbake...-drive_20refuelling
by truck is halfbaked [FarmerJohn, Oct 17 2004]

Finnish Harpoon http://www.memagazi...es/news_notes1.html
No emergency stops [oneoffdave, Oct 17 2004]

Let's just say it'd be challenging flying! And don't be smoking in your open convertible when you refuel.

If you _really_ wanted to implement it, you'll have to minimize contact time, especially if there aren't long stretches of straight, unobstructed road <see waugsqueke's comment>. I suggest standardized fuel cartridges.

If you drove an electric car, some kind of energy beam might work. Microwaves are possible, but again, I'd not want to be riding in a convertible, unless I needed a quick tan.

Anyway, that's still a bit difficult. For simplicity's sake, I favor a drive-on-drive-off tanker (and burger bar) myself. <buuuurp>

Or how about ...for pure perfection... pull over at a toll booth, dial 1800-SEXYFUEL and a beautiful/handsome model swoops by on a Harley, with jerry-cans for panniers (and a burger)?
-- FloridaManatee, Jan 07 2003


You could do the same thing, but with a truck instead of a plane. That would get rid of the overpass problem, and help with the cost. Plus we wont have planes flying at an altitude of 6 ft. They could just ride behind you, and have their probe on the front. Closest thing to automobile procreation there could be I guess.
-- notme, Jan 07 2003


The Finnish police have a ram that injects tear gas into a persued vehicle. Modifying this with common fuel filler locations would go someway to baking this. But it wouldn't be that safe.
-- oneoffdave, Jan 07 2003


Class G Airspace. 1,000ft clear of obstructions.
-- FloridaManatee, Jan 08 2003


I saw an add once where the car drove up into a truck and refuelled. I think "night rider" used to do it too.
-- madness, Jan 15 2003


I think this idea would go well with my concept of a fast-food-lane. Use your cell phone to call up for fast food at certain points in the highway (advertised by billboards) and a mile or two down the road pull off into the fast food lane. Food is loaded on a box on a track, and matches your speed. You roll down your window, grab it, and you're on your way. I don't see why this same contraption on rails can't have a fueling module.
-- mgangemi, Jan 15 2003


for an environmentalist like me, this idea is just another way for us to burn more gas, first of all if you are going to use a plane the amount of energy it takes to fly the craft to where you are and on the other hand consider the amout of energy it would take to bring the truck with the extra weight to you.

What about traffic, trucks are too big to nabigate through traffic and possibly by the time they get to you, you're out of gas. this idea should stay unbaked.
-- conifer, Nov 23 2004



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