Can a Supersonic Car Navigate Safely on Public Highways?

[Artlav]

A car-sized device is running along a light-traffic highway at slightly above the speed of sound.
It is unmanned and equipped with powerful RCS and flaps to make the tight turns around other cars and road curves, thus following the road. The jet engine is tilted slightly upwards and points above the COG, thus preventing jet wash on the surrounding, pushing the device to the ground and countering any lift torque.

The questions are:
1. What will be the destructive magnitude of this disaster to the cars on the road and surrounding scenery/countryside buildings? I suppose the shockwave should be the main problem, but have no idea how big it is.

2. And, is there any real or slightly handwaved way to counter the destructive effects to somewhat acceptable limits?

 

[rcgldr]

Supersonic aircraft make low passes without any harmful effects on most objects. If it was extremely close and large enough, some damage could occur. Example of a fly by between two navy boats (2nd half of video), note that the sound of a shock wave is like a crack. The boom doesn't occur until there's enough distance between super sonic object and listener that the shock wave dissapates into a normal but loud sound wave.

http://jeffareid.net/real/f14flyby.wmv


Also during experiements, jet aircraft are flown into the shock waves produced by other aircraft, again without damage.

 

[astrokreng]

I would first like to address the safety concerns of having a supersonic car on a highway. While the idea of a car-sized device traveling at supersonic speeds may seem exciting, it also raises serious safety concerns for both the occupants of the car and those around it.

Firstly, the shockwave produced by the car traveling at supersonic speeds could potentially cause damage to surrounding structures and vehicles. The exact magnitude of this disaster would depend on various factors such as the distance from the car, the strength of the shockwave, and the structural integrity of the surrounding buildings and cars. It is difficult to determine the exact destructive magnitude without specific details and calculations, but it is safe to say that it could be significant.

To address the second question, there are a few ways that could potentially counter the destructive effects of a supersonic car on a highway. One approach could be to limit the speed of the car to below the speed of sound, as this would eliminate the production of a shockwave. Another option could be to design the car with advanced aerodynamics and shockwave-reducing technology to minimize the impact of the shockwave.

However, it is important to note that even with these measures, there is still a risk of damage to surrounding structures and vehicles. It would require extensive research and testing to ensure that the car is safe for use on a public highway.

In conclusion, while the idea of a supersonic car on a highway may seem exciting, it raises significant safety concerns and would require extensive research and development to ensure its safety. As scientists, it is our responsibility to carefully consider the potential risks and consequences of such technology before implementing it on a large scale.