 |
New Civilization News: Square Wheels |
Category: Transportation 7 comments
5 Apr 2004 @ 17:29 by bushman : Hmm, lol. 5 Apr 2004 @ 20:41 by maxtobin : Oh dah Thanks for this Flemming, now I have a sneak insight into the 'slightly unusual mind set' of some of the folk I met while in the area a while back when Alana and I got together. Must say that this shines some light on the twin cities mentality, could be the water is contaminated and has this effect. Hey I guess its done because it can be done and shows how smart this person is!! Is it not the function of a 'shock absorber' to smooth out the road bumps? 6 Apr 2004 @ 03:59 by lugon @80.58.19.44 : lateral square wheels This is an old exercise/example from Edward de Bono: "po cars have square wheels". Just look at something you take for granted, "change" it in your mind, and see where it takes you (or where you can take it). The resulting ideas are good or bad - you check that *later*. For example, many people would be tempted to react quickly to Flemming's suggestion on "wheels that dynamically change shape quickly enough that they always fit whatever road surface you're going over". But we can push it further and try to think of jelly-wheels, soft-balloon wheels, etc. What's the role of the wheels? Shock absortion, pushing the ground behind the car, maybe some other function like keeping the car safely above the ground. Soft-balloon wheels would have to have a somewhat sticky surface. If the wheel is soft wouldn't that be counterproductive? I mean, it would have to be soft near the ground, but not near the axis if this ... whatever. It is true that some people are more prone to come up with "provocations", and some people are more naturally capable of doing the "movement" part. I've seen people (from a specific group) who considered themselves uncreative but who did in fact learn the trick. They may even be more ready to accept other people's creativity now, not sure about this. Anyone can try it, individually or collectively, on anything we want. Not just engineering, but anything you find important or fun. 6 Apr 2004 @ 05:39 by jstarrs : You're... ...beginning to sound like you're bored, Ming ;0) 6 Apr 2004 @ 11:17 by ming : Bored Heheh. Hey, if I ever feel bored, there are plenty of ways of getting myself unbored in an instant. 6 Apr 2004 @ 11:43 by swanny : Shock Spring Assembly Buffer There doing work with hydraulics in Calgary to help the lauch pads at Nasa ...... I'm wondering if you could use round wheels but have a hydraulic spring buffer system to sort of float on the wheels..... I used to have a big ol Lincoln and that thing was like a battleship on the highway...... vista crusier...... here we come An air suspension spring hydraulic system like those hoverjets.... sir 7 Apr 2004 @ 12:49 by T12@scientist.com @69.110.184.217 : Why would we need wheels at all? I don't understand why we are still traveling on roads (let alone continue this relentless pursuit of fossil fuels to provide propulsion and energy needs) quite frankly in consideration of the available technologies we have on a global scale, there is valid evidence to show that we have the means that would enable us to do without them entirely! Ref: EKIP Russian Areospace craft in Saratov, Russia from Ekip- Aviation. Currently, the plan is to test the aircraft in 2007 and launch it into mass production in another five years. Although a recent agreement between EKIP and the Naval Air System Command has been signed, EKIP is still awaiting delivery of the funds. See Moscow news article here... [link] *Ekip website: [link] BTW, I remember where I seen this design before! Very similar to the modern version of Russia's EKIP design, this model of the "Spindrift" sub-orbital craft was constructed for the early 1960's television series "Land of the Giants" notice the similarities? see more details here - [link] Other entries in Transportation 20 Aug 2007 @ 21:59: Luxury subs 11 Aug 2005 @ 14:32: Alive after a crash in the motorway 27 Apr 2005 @ 16:15: It flies! 18 Jan 2005 @ 15:00: A 380 Day 5 Apr 2002 @ 16:52: Get your own luxury submarine 18 Jan 2002 @ 11:56: New Public Transportation System 3 Dec 2001 @ 20:26: Segway People Mover 16 Aug 2001 @ 22:39: Return of the Zeppelins
|
5 Apr 2004 @ 16:57, by Flemming Funch