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Science and Technology Science & technology discussions not related to the Segway. This includes discussion of Segway knockoffs and clones.

Old 05-24-2005, 04:22 AM   #1
bystander
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Default Human powered Hydrofoil

Press:
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn7414

Press photo:


Video from press:
http://www.newscientist.com/data/ima.../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)
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Old 05-24-2005, 09:21 AM   #2
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I saw that and I can't imagine that thing working. It would probaly be like a hovering boat with no engine...

More stuff like that at http://www.gizmag.com/

-Tanner

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Old 05-24-2005, 03:45 PM   #3
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Here's a competitor already:

English:
http://www.trampofoil.info/indexen.html

German:
http://www.trampofoil.info/



This one seems to be from Germany, they say it was invented in Sweden. Can't really tell, but this one may not be able to fold up like the pumpabike.
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Old 05-24-2005, 06:57 PM   #4
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Sounds unbeleivable until you see it actually working. Seems like the hopping forces the thing to go forward and the foils providing lift......

-Tanner

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Old 05-24-2005, 07:24 PM   #5
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If ever there was a need for a good ole'fashioned 2 stroke gas engine...

Har Har

Karl Ian Sagal

Each road you travel should be just a bit better for having had you pass.
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