Automotive

LA Design Challenge 2012 puts out APB for patrol vehicles of 2025

LA Design Challenge 2012 puts out APB for patrol vehicles of 2025
The 2012 LA Design Challenge asks automotive design studios to create a highway patrol vehicle for 2025
The 2012 LA Design Challenge asks automotive design studios to create a highway patrol vehicle for 2025
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Interior of BMW's E-Patrol
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Interior of BMW's E-Patrol
BMW's E-Patrol with an augmented reality digital windscreen
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BMW's E-Patrol with an augmented reality digital windscreen
Exploded view of BMW's E-Patrol
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Exploded view of BMW's E-Patrol
BMW's E-Patrol top view
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BMW's E-Patrol top view
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BMW E-Patrol is aerodynamic
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BMW E-Patrol is aerodynamic
BMW's E-Patrol features a modular structure and can deploy up to three drones
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BMW's E-Patrol features a modular structure and can deploy up to three drones
BMW E-Patrol side view
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BMW E-Patrol side view
BMW's E-Patrol sketches
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BMW's E-Patrol sketches
GM's Engage is part of the Volt Squad
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GM's Engage is part of the Volt Squad
GM's Engage on the road
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GM's Engage on the road
GM's Engage on the scene
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GM's Engage on the scene
GM's Observe keeps an overwatch on the city
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GM's Observe keeps an overwatch on the city
GM's Observe at the LA River
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GM's Observe at the LA River
Two of GM's Observe vehicles on patrol
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Two of GM's Observe vehicles on patrol
Top view of GM's Pursue vehicle
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Top view of GM's Pursue vehicle
GM's Pursue vehicle gives pursuit
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GM's Pursue vehicle gives pursuit
The three vehicles making up GM's Volt Squad
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The three vehicles making up GM's Volt Squad
GM's Volt Squad
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GM's Volt Squad
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Honda North America's CHP Drone Squad
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Honda North America's CHP Drone Squad
Interior of the Auto-Drone that serves as a mobile mission control vehicle
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Interior of the Auto-Drone that serves as a mobile mission control vehicle
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Honda Japan's Traffic Crawler front view
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Honda Japan's Traffic Crawler front view
Retro poster for Honda Japan's Traffic Crawler
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Retro poster for Honda Japan's Traffic Crawler
Honda Japan's Traffic Crawler rear angle view
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Honda Japan's Traffic Crawler rear angle view
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Subaru's SHARC
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Subaru's SHARC
Subaru's SHARC can be monitored remotely
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Subaru's SHARC can be monitored remotely
3D goggles provide a view from Subaru's SHARC
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3D goggles provide a view from Subaru's SHARC
Subaru's SHARC can be deployed from a barrel launcher
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Subaru's SHARC can be deployed from a barrel launcher
Subaru's SHARC (Subaru Highway Automated Response Concept)
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Subaru's SHARC (Subaru Highway Automated Response Concept)
Subaru's SHARC features a dual mode traction system for different terrain
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Subaru's SHARC features a dual mode traction system for different terrain
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Subaru's SHARC can also be adapted for protection and rapid response applications
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Subaru's SHARC can also be adapted for protection and rapid response applications
BMW's E-Patrol can deploy a flying drone and two single wheel drones
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BMW's E-Patrol can deploy a flying drone and two single wheel drones
GM's Volt Squad is made up of three vehicles
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GM's Volt Squad is made up of three vehicles
The Auto-Drone (left) can deploy two-wheel unmanned Moto-Drones
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The Auto-Drone (left) can deploy two-wheel unmanned Moto-Drones
Honda Japan's Traffic Crawler side view
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Honda Japan's Traffic Crawler side view
Subaru's SHARC is an autonomous vehicle for 24-hour highway monitoring
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Subaru's SHARC is an autonomous vehicle for 24-hour highway monitoring
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The 2012 LA Design Challenge asks automotive design studios to create a highway patrol vehicle for 2025
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The 2012 LA Design Challenge asks automotive design studios to create a highway patrol vehicle for 2025
Interior of BMW's E-Patrol
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Interior of BMW's E-Patrol
BMW's E-Patrol with an augmented reality digital windscreen
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BMW's E-Patrol with an augmented reality digital windscreen
Exploded view of BMW's E-Patrol
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Exploded view of BMW's E-Patrol
BMW's E-Patrol top view
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BMW's E-Patrol top view
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BMW E-Patrol is aerodynamic
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BMW E-Patrol is aerodynamic
BMW's E-Patrol features a modular structure and can deploy up to three drones
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BMW's E-Patrol features a modular structure and can deploy up to three drones
BMW E-Patrol side view
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BMW E-Patrol side view
BMW's E-Patrol sketches
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BMW's E-Patrol sketches
GM's Engage is part of the Volt Squad
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GM's Engage is part of the Volt Squad
GM's Engage on the road
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GM's Engage on the road
GM's Engage on the scene
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GM's Engage on the scene
GM's Observe keeps an overwatch on the city
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GM's Observe keeps an overwatch on the city
GM's Observe at the LA River
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GM's Observe at the LA River
Two of GM's Observe vehicles on patrol
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Two of GM's Observe vehicles on patrol
Top view of GM's Pursue vehicle
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Top view of GM's Pursue vehicle
GM's Pursue vehicle gives pursuit
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GM's Pursue vehicle gives pursuit
The three vehicles making up GM's Volt Squad
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The three vehicles making up GM's Volt Squad
GM's Volt Squad
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GM's Volt Squad
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Honda North America's CHP Drone Squad
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Honda North America's CHP Drone Squad
Interior of the Auto-Drone that serves as a mobile mission control vehicle
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Interior of the Auto-Drone that serves as a mobile mission control vehicle
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Honda Japan's Traffic Crawler front view
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Honda Japan's Traffic Crawler front view
Retro poster for Honda Japan's Traffic Crawler
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Retro poster for Honda Japan's Traffic Crawler
Honda Japan's Traffic Crawler rear angle view
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Honda Japan's Traffic Crawler rear angle view
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Subaru's SHARC
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Subaru's SHARC
Subaru's SHARC can be monitored remotely
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Subaru's SHARC can be monitored remotely
3D goggles provide a view from Subaru's SHARC
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3D goggles provide a view from Subaru's SHARC
Subaru's SHARC can be deployed from a barrel launcher
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Subaru's SHARC can be deployed from a barrel launcher
Subaru's SHARC (Subaru Highway Automated Response Concept)
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Subaru's SHARC (Subaru Highway Automated Response Concept)
Subaru's SHARC features a dual mode traction system for different terrain
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Subaru's SHARC features a dual mode traction system for different terrain
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Subaru's SHARC can also be adapted for protection and rapid response applications
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Subaru's SHARC can also be adapted for protection and rapid response applications
BMW's E-Patrol can deploy a flying drone and two single wheel drones
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BMW's E-Patrol can deploy a flying drone and two single wheel drones
GM's Volt Squad is made up of three vehicles
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GM's Volt Squad is made up of three vehicles
The Auto-Drone (left) can deploy two-wheel unmanned Moto-Drones
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The Auto-Drone (left) can deploy two-wheel unmanned Moto-Drones
Honda Japan's Traffic Crawler side view
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Honda Japan's Traffic Crawler side view
Subaru's SHARC is an autonomous vehicle for 24-hour highway monitoring
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Subaru's SHARC is an autonomous vehicle for 24-hour highway monitoring
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The 2012 LA Design Challenge asks automotive design studios to create a highway patrol vehicle for 2025
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The 2012 LA Design Challenge asks automotive design studios to create a highway patrol vehicle for 2025
View gallery - 88 images

The California Highway Patrol could expect an influx in the number of hopeful applicants in the future if any of the entries in this year’s LA Design Challenge were to enter service. This year’s challenge asked automotive design studios from around the world to create “a highway patrol vehicle that meets the challenges of a specific region’s transportation and societal conditions in 2025.” Having already taken a look at the Ener-G-Force concept from Mercedes-Benz, we assemble a line up of the other entries.

E-Patrol (Human-Drone Pursuit Vehicle) from BMW Group

BMW's E-Patrol can deploy a flying drone and two single wheel drones
BMW's E-Patrol can deploy a flying drone and two single wheel drones

We recently got a sneak peek at the two-man bobsled designed by BMW Group DesignworksUSA and have to say there appears to be at least a passing similarity between it and the group’s LA Design Challenge entry. Intended for the mean streets of 2025 Los Angeles, the two-seater E-Patrol (Human-Drone Pursuit Vehicle) features a modular structure and can deploy up to three drones – one a flying drone and the other two single wheel drones, which can pursue suspects and relay data back to the main vehicle.

Volt Squad from General Motors

GM's Volt Squad is made up of three vehicles
GM's Volt Squad is made up of three vehicles

Working the name of the Volt electric vehicle nicely into its entry, GM’s concept isn’t just one vehicle, but three. Each member of the squad is powered by the VOLT advanced, electronic, propulsion system, but are built around three different concepts: Observe, Pursue, and Engage. Pursue is the streamlined ground vehicle, Engage is the less sexy four-wheeler, while Observe is the aerial vehicle. No prizes for guessing which two the officers would be fighting over in the squad room.

Honda CHP Drone Squad from Honda North America

The Auto-Drone (left) can deploy two-wheel unmanned Moto-Drones
The Auto-Drone (left) can deploy two-wheel unmanned Moto-Drones

Like the E-Patrol, drones play a part in Honda’s concept. It consists of a two-vehicle system that is designed to function on the California highways without requiring any new infrastructure. With the ability to operate manned or unmanned, the four-wheeled Auto-Drone serves as a mobile mission control vehicle that also has the ability to deploy two-wheel unmanned Moto-Drones whether stationary or on the move – of course, on the move would be much cooler.

Honda “CHiPs” 2025 Traffic Crawler from Honda Japan

Honda Japan's Traffic Crawler side view
Honda Japan's Traffic Crawler side view

Setting up a little intra-company competition, Honda Japan envisages Californians rediscovering their car culture following the transition to safe automatic driving technologies in the preceding years. To deal with an increasingly confusing traffic environment, Honda Japan has designed a rugged, three-wheeled patrol vehicle called the Traffic Crawler that would offer sporty performance and the ability to respond in severe traffic situations.

SHARC (Subaru Highway Automated Response Concept) from Subaru

Subaru's SHARC is an autonomous vehicle for 24-hour highway monitoring
Subaru's SHARC is an autonomous vehicle for 24-hour highway monitoring

Subaru’s concept is one out of the box – or rather, barrel. The SHARC is a zero-emission autonomous vehicle that can transition between ground and hover modes, with its wheels also serving as rotors or angled to suit different terrain. It can be launched from a barrel launcher and monitored via 3D goggles. Designed not only for 24-hour highway monitoring – including Hawaii’s newly opened inter-island Paradise Highway – the SHARC can also be adapted to protection and rapid emergency response applications.

The winning entry will be announced on November 29, with entries judged not only on the creativity and consideration of future needs for advanced technology, speed and agility on future freeway systems, but also environmental sensitivity of the concept and adhering to the emission standards of the region defined by the entrant.

So which concept would get the chocolates in your book? Let us know in the comments.

Source: LA Auto Show

View gallery - 88 images
3 comments
3 comments
Darrell MrWorf
Love the designs! Unfortunately, I think by 2025 there will be too much traffic in the urban areas of California to speed.
Gearhead
Interesting concepts, but last time I was in the US the cops didn't look like gay porn stars. Maybe concepts should have extra wide doors to haul their flabby bulk in & out of?
BundyGil
The Subaru SHARC get's my vote, with it's wheel/rotor design to make it road/air capable.