Citroen's Osmose concept won't just pick up hitch hikers, it hunts them down 2/10/00

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October 2^nd, 2000

Osmose won’t just pick up hitch hikers - it hunts them down!

Osmose_1.jpg (12448 bytes) Citroen’s newest experimental car, the Osmose, is designed to make urban transport more efficient by not just offering rides to pedestrians, it even hunts them down and offers them a ride, all while being a zero emissions car.

The interior of the Osmose is split into two compartments, one for the owner of the car and another at the rear for the hitch-hikers.

When the Osmose sets off on its journey, its destination and route are displayed on
the side of the car, using a GPS navigation system.

If a pedestrian wants to hitch a lift, they press a button on the side of the car that initiates a conversation with the driver.

If they agree on offering and accepting a ride, then the rear of the Osmose opens to offer a seat.

Osmose_2.jpg (12681 bytes) But the Citroen Osmose goes even further. Using GSM and WAP technology, people needling a lift can use their mobile phone to match their journey with those of Osmose cars on the road. At the same time the Osmose, when a route is entered in its navigation system, searches for people travelling the same way and offers them a lift.

The communications system then places the driver and hitch hiker in contact with each other.

Aim of all the technology is to reduce urban congestion by making sure that every vehicle is used to its maximum capacity. To ensure safety and security, driver and his passengers are always kept separate from hitch hikers and those people taking up the offer of a lift have their own separate communication system.

And the Osmose even looks after pedestrians who are too keen to get close to Citroen’s experimental car: It has front and rear exterior airbags to protect pedestrians in the event of a car/pedestrian accident.