bystander
05-24-2005, 04:22 AM
Press:
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn7414
Press photo:
http://www.newscientist.com/data/images/ns/9999/99997414F1.JPG
Video from press:
http://www.newscientist.com/data/images/ns/9999/pumpabike.mov
Website:
http://www.puzeydesign.com/Pumpabike/index.html
The website is pretty much all flash and seems to load at dial-up speeds even if you're on DSL.
The companion site is a gas-powered scooter, you may want to stay away from that.
The hydrofoil looks very interesting. You propel it by bobbing up and down. That makes the underwater wings flex and give enough lift to keep you going. If you don't bob enough, you slow down and sink, and have to swim back - it does float.
(Hare-brained scheme mode on)
It seems to me someone will get one of these and attach a low-RPM motor with an offset weight to keep it going.
(Hare-brained scheme mode off)
(Even hare-ier-brained scheme mode on)
It also seems to me that the bobbing idea might be adapted to a HT style device with a much smaller battery used. Although, I don't think anyone would consider it a "gliding" activity any more, and you would definitely be working up a sweat.
How about a pogo-stick like action that would compress air on each stroke into a small tank. Once up to enough pressure, the compressed air would be released from the tank into a small air-driven generator which charges a battery. The battery would only hold enough power to go a mile or two, but would be constantly replenished by the pogo action. The battery power would be used in a conventional HT style drivetrain.
You'd give up 3/4 of the battery cost, weight and volume in order to accommodate the air tank, compressor and air-driven generator. It would probably be more expensive than existing HT designs, at least at first, but it would provide more exercise, and have less of a range limitation due to battery capacity.
(Even hare-ier-brained scheme mode off)
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn7414
Press photo:
http://www.newscientist.com/data/images/ns/9999/99997414F1.JPG
Video from press:
http://www.newscientist.com/data/images/ns/9999/pumpabike.mov
Website:
http://www.puzeydesign.com/Pumpabike/index.html
The website is pretty much all flash and seems to load at dial-up speeds even if you're on DSL.
The companion site is a gas-powered scooter, you may want to stay away from that.
The hydrofoil looks very interesting. You propel it by bobbing up and down. That makes the underwater wings flex and give enough lift to keep you going. If you don't bob enough, you slow down and sink, and have to swim back - it does float.
(Hare-brained scheme mode on)
It seems to me someone will get one of these and attach a low-RPM motor with an offset weight to keep it going.
(Hare-brained scheme mode off)
(Even hare-ier-brained scheme mode on)
It also seems to me that the bobbing idea might be adapted to a HT style device with a much smaller battery used. Although, I don't think anyone would consider it a "gliding" activity any more, and you would definitely be working up a sweat.
How about a pogo-stick like action that would compress air on each stroke into a small tank. Once up to enough pressure, the compressed air would be released from the tank into a small air-driven generator which charges a battery. The battery would only hold enough power to go a mile or two, but would be constantly replenished by the pogo action. The battery power would be used in a conventional HT style drivetrain.
You'd give up 3/4 of the battery cost, weight and volume in order to accommodate the air tank, compressor and air-driven generator. It would probably be more expensive than existing HT designs, at least at first, but it would provide more exercise, and have less of a range limitation due to battery capacity.
(Even hare-ier-brained scheme mode off)