have a pnumatic piston in all of the doors, and have a compressor and tank in the trunk. when you push a button on a remote, the driver side door opens. if you push it twice, all the doors open. If you push a different button, all doors close, latch and lock if they are open. There would be a series of proximity sensors on the sides of each door that would stop it from hitting another object, such as a car in a parking lot. The pistons would remain open when not in use so that the door can be operated manually in case of emergency or by some OCD suffering person. Have a micro-controller that would turn on the compressor if the tank had low preassure, and if the car is running to prevent running down the batteries.

Added bonus: the cars would make a cool "whosh" sound like the doors in Star Trek do.
-- dtstyle, Jul 31 2002

Could also be used to floor unconvincing criminals shortly after they bounce a brick off the unbreakable glass, á la Kitt off Knight Rider. Would have to be automatic though. Would also need criminal detection mechanism. And would need to close again afterwards.

Actually, may as well just make Kitt. Think how nice it would be to have a rich, deep, slightly homosexual voice assure you that it has been keeping the seat warm for you when you enter the car. <unserious sexism>Actually, I'd prefer a female Kitt - but would she be able to drive properly while you take a nap?</u>
-- sild, Jul 31 2002


Hours of fun for taking out passing cyclists, pedestrians, etc. Put this in public:evil.
-- pottedstu, Jul 31 2002


That's it. You've done it. (*whacks dtstyle with fireplace poker*)

Let this be a lesson to those of you who would even consider uttering that horridly redundant phrase with starts the last paragraph.

Many vehicles are available with auto-opening doors. Mini-vans with push-button remote door openers are commonplace. Yes, it's generally limited to the side slider doors and rear hatch, but frankly, I don't see the use of having the driver door auto-open.
-- waugsqueke, Jul 31 2002


Baked in Bondland.
-- dag, Jul 31 2002


It would just be cool, not that opening regular doors is bad, but pull up to pick up some friends, and the door opens by itself.

The sliding doors use a different technology, I think, but the rear hatches may already use that or a similar method.
-- dtstyle, Jul 31 2002


I have seen taxis where the passenger side rear door (the only one where the driver can't reach) is opened and closed by a lever mechanism.
-- FloridaManatee, May 18 2003


There's some fancy-person car that has these since the doors have so many features in them that they're rather unwieldy to open/close. Don't ask me who makes it.
-- rapid transit, May 21 2003


I've seen this on busses!
-- pashute, Aug 14 2003



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