Maglevs are merely the logical progression of the electricity revolution that was begun by Edison and Tesla in the late 19th century, and were in fact conceived in the early 20th century. But, it was the rapid advancement in computer processing in the late 20th century that really propelled maglev development forward » Continue Reading
Previous studies have investigated the use of magnets to accelerate satellites to the high speeds required for launch. But most have focused on straight tracks, which have to gather speed in one quick burst. Supplying the huge spike of energy needed for this method has proven difficult. The advantage of a circular track is that the satellite can be gradually accelerated over a period of several hours. » Continue Reading
Dutch working on superbus - aerodynamic bus that can also be a high speed train It is an electric bus designed to be able to switch seamlessly between ordinary roads and dedicated “supertracks”, on which it can reach speeds of 250kph (155mph). It could thus present an alternative to much more expensive magnetic-levitation trains. It is as wide and long as a standard city bus, the Superbus is only 1.7 metres high, » Continue Reading
NASA believes that aircraft of the future can mimic the flight of birds, flying more efficiently and safely. This video shows what NASA has observed in the flight of an eagle that can be translated into a concept for a future aircraft. For example, just as a bird uses different feathers on its wings to control flight, aircraft wing shapes can be designed to change and adapt to constantly changing conditions of flight. Or, an aircraft can mimic the way a bird lands, greatly decreasing the amount of fuel and runway space required. » Continue Reading
Intelligent Cars Exchanging Information by Themselves
Enhanced vehicle data recognising traffic conditions and possible hazards. Local hazard warnings provided by direct vehicle-to-vehicle communication. Efficient communication network not requiring any infrastructure. Just imagine what it would be like to have a car able to “talk” to other cars around you! What would those cars have to tell each other? The BMW Group is working on autonomous, self-organising communication networks - so-called ad-hoc networks - connecting cars with each other. In this process cars collect local data from their immediate surroundings, process this information and exchange it with other cars. » Continue Reading
World’s fastest passenger elevator in the world’s tallest building, Taipei 101, in Taipei, Taiwan. This elevator, developed by TELC, runs at a speed of 1,010 meters per minute or 60.6km per hour and has been officially certified by Guinness World Records in its 2006 edition. Soaring 508 meters, Taipei 101 is the world’s tallest building, » Continue Reading
Siemens VDO engineers are working on plans to integrate the drivetrain, steering, shock absorbers and brakes directly into the wheels of future cars. This concept, called eCorner, is the basis for the ecological “Drive-by-Wire” automobiles, which will become a common sight » Continue Reading
Remote controlled humans might sound a bizarre and nightmarish prospect, but Japanese researchers hope to harness the trick for computer gaming. By remotely stimulating a person’s vestibular system - the fluid-filled tubes in the inner ear that guide their sense of balance - with electrodes placed on the skin » Continue Reading