Large cars, such as mini-vans, SUVs, vans, and even station wagons, have only one level. My proposal is a removable compartment, seven or eight feet long, and 2 or 3 feet high, that would fit onto the top of a car. It would be streamlined in design to allow unhindered airflow over the car. A hatch would be fitted onto the car, large enough for a person to slide into. Inside the compartment would be decorated to the owner's tastes, with gel sleeping pads. The sleeping pads would be equipped with straps, so people could buckle themselves in. The compartment could interface with the cars air conditioning, heating, and audio systems, so the users would recline in maximum comfort. This compartment would allow more passengers in a car, as well as comfort on a long car ride. It could even be used as a sleeping area for camping or road trips.
-- sab8823, Jan 05 2006

Roof storage pod http://www.shop.com...MOUNT-prod-17115197
I guess you could fit windows. [DrCurry, Jan 05 2006]

an icon of london http://www.tfl.gov....-heritage-buses.asp
[po, Jan 10 2006]

icons of england. http://www.icons.or...tions/toweroflondon
are the beefeaters there? [po, Jan 10 2006]

Please note that I am not suggesting a roof storage pod, like the one linked below, but a people storage pod.
-- sab8823, Jan 07 2006


I think the good doctor only put that link there to demonstrate the approximate size of your doohickey.
-- MikeOxbig, Jan 07 2006


A small child could lay in comfort in that storage system. "Hey kids you get to ride in the space shuttle today"
-- Antegrity, Jan 07 2006


I think the compartment would be a little wider, and small children are usually the ones who get impatient on car rides.
-- sab8823, Jan 08 2006


Center of gravity?
-- bristolz, Jan 08 2006


Why stop at just one? Make these things modular, and tack a whole stack together! Think how many more people would fit into a bus packed full of pods instead of seats. And planes!
-- bungston, Jan 08 2006


Admittedly, the center of gravity would be a little higher, but not much, as the pod would only be a couple feet high.
-- sab8823, Jan 08 2006


The centre of gravity wouldn't move up much when you consider that the engine and chassis weigh about 500-1000kg and a person weighs about 80kg.
-- wagster, Jan 08 2006


I had to vote for this, as I had the same idea a while back.( when I heard that they discontinued Double-Decker buses in London except for tourists) I thought to call it Double-Decker Auto.
-- xandram, Jan 09 2006


[wagster] I disagree - an 80 kg person plus a 40 kg structure at say 1.5 metres above the vehicles designed centre of gravity is going to make it unstable. The inertia of that roof weight would be enough to lift the tyres off the road when taking a 100 meter curve at 70 kph.

Also, no Transport Authority is going to OK this from a safety POV.
-- ConsulFlaminicus, Jan 09 2006


Thanks [miasere] Having not yet ever been to London, I was saddened to hear that news, which obviously was not entirely true!
-- xandram, Jan 10 2006


//conductor at the back // actually he/she was free to move all over the bus.
-- po, Jan 10 2006



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