Although humanity has long passed the 30-year timetable for the flying cars established in the "Back to the Future” series, that didn’t stop Goodyear from rolling out a new concept that’s somewhat reminiscent of the flying DeLorean at the end of the first movie.
The tire maker this week unveiled its Goodyear AERO concept at the annual Geneva International Motor Show in Switzerland.
The announcement included simulated photos and videos of a thin vehicle tire that, when turned on its side, would serve as a propeller for a flying vehicle.
The product, of course, is strictly theoretical, but Goodyear officials said they hope to start a debate about the needs of a new mobility environment in the coming years.
The company, for instance, is already working on embedding artificial intelligence systems within tires, as well as vehicle spokes that could double as fan blades in a rotor.
Ultimately, Goodyear hopes magnetic forces could generate the high-speed fan rotations needed for the autonomous vehicles of the future to transition seamlessly between driving and flying mode.