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Archive: Transportation
August 20, 2008
New York's Pedicab Wars
As I wrestle to get my home-built pedicab legal for passengers in my fair metropolis of Austin, Texas (more on that in a later post), this article reminds me that I could have it significantly worse.
My favorite part:
Council Speaker Christine Quinn makes a face. "No way. I would never get into one of those things," she says. Any problems with the law can be fixed when it comes up for renewal in two years, she suggests. As for the pedicabs' environmental benefits, she is skeptical. "Human-powered vehicles are never going to be the answer."
For now at least, Austin seems to have it a bit better. Here's hoping it lasts long enough for me to get my DIY creation street legal!
Posted by Luke Iseman |
Aug 20, 2008 08:49 PM
Bicycles, Green, Transportation |
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August 19, 2008
World's fastest office chair seized
Anyone know more about this? via /.
German police have confiscated what may be the world's fastest office chair. Police say officers happened on the contraption - the work of two inventive 17-year-olds - in the western town of Gross-Zimmern on Saturday. The pair had added a lawnmower engine, bicycle brakes and a metal frame to the revolving chair - making into a go-kart-like vehicle.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 19, 2008 11:20 AM
Transportation |
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Blimpin' ain't easy
Blimpin' Ain't Easy: Crossing the English Channel in a Pedal-Powered Airship*... Thanks Sam!
You know it's hard up here for a blimp. Or so says Stephane Rousson, a 39-year-old Frenchman who's hoping to cross the English Channel in a homemade, pedal-powered airship. As a child, he was captivated by the Gossamer Albatross, the first entirely human-powered craft to fly the turbulent stretch from England to France. Hoping to repeat that 1979 feat, Rousson acquired Zeppy, a crank-driven zeppelin. Built originally by Jean Marc Geiser and his son Luc back in 1984, the craft's forward momentum and steering come from a pair of 10-foot movable propellers, churned by a recumbent bike hanging from the ship's belly; Rousson modified the chassis to improve its stability and power. He has logged more than 30 hours of flight time, including a four-hour hop around the coastal town of Toulon. But so far, no English Channel. The problem: Breezes over 5 mph bat the blimp around like a cat playing with a moth. Also, the heat of the sun raises the temperature of the helium in the Zeppy, which could cause it to explode. With the channel typically experiencing only three windless days a year, Rousson will have to time his five-hour, 34-mile flight perfectly. He plans to try again in September. Here's hoping the attempt doesn't go down like a lead balloon.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 19, 2008 08:00 AM
Transportation |
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DIY Lamborghini
Unfortunately there isn't any information on the maker of this car, but the pictures are cool. If anyone knows more about this build, please post it in the comments and I will update the entry. If you can't afford a Lambo, make it!
Checkout the rest of the photo set
Update:
Apparently the car, called the "Woodighini" was made by a 33 year old Canadian named "Woody". You can read more about the project on the AutoBlog website. Also, there is a great interview that can be found on the Motor Foot Blog. A big Thank You goes to JohnW for sending in the links!
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
Aug 19, 2008 01:00 AM
DIY Projects, Transportation |
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August 16, 2008
Yellow Bike Project's Bike-Powered Move
If you need an excuse to switch to biking as your primary means of transportation, check out this video from Austin's Yellow Bike Project, as they move 4500 square feet of bike parts from one shop to another. Particularly amazing starting at 3:30:
Doesn't your commute seem a bit mild in comparison?
Posted by Luke Iseman |
Aug 16, 2008 06:59 PM
Bicycles, Green, Transportation |
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XR3: 225 mpg hybrid car kit
I can't say that I am a big fan of the looks of this car, but the 225 miles per gallon is hard to beat. The car has an electric rear drive system with a Kubota diesel system when the lithium batteries run out. Apparently you will be able to purchase an XR3 kit soon. There are a lot more pictures on the website, including the build process.
Read more about the XR3 hybrid car kit
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
Aug 16, 2008 01:45 PM
DIY Projects, Green, Transportation |
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August 14, 2008
Land yacht race
From the Core77 blog:
The AEOLUS race, to be held in the Netherlands later this month, pits competing single-person land yachts against each other, with the requirement that they sail directly into the wind. The vehicles are therefore quite different from the sail-powered craft of old, using wind turbines to harvest energy and translate it into torque on the ground. A group of students at Stuttgart University called Team Inventus have been documenting their 9-month process of building such a craft (pictured above), and it's quite a thing of beauty. Featuring a 2m wind turbine and carbon-fiber construction, the craft weighs in at less than 100kg, and the videos are fascinating, if a bit over-produced.
Posted by Becky Stern |
Aug 14, 2008 09:00 PM
Arts, DIY Projects, Green, Transportation |
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August 7, 2008
Build a blind spot detection system for your car
When you are driving, you've probably had a few mishaps with the "blindspot" where you barely avoid hitting someone when changing lanes. This maker decided that this was an easy problem to fix so they created a custom BlindSpot Detection System using an ATmega169 and a high intensity infrared light to detect approaching cars. Does it work? Well he says you probably shouldn't rely on it over your instincts, but at least it's a step in the right direction.
In-Vehicle Blind Spot Detection System
Posted by Jonah Brucker-Cohen |
Aug 7, 2008 06:00 AM
Electronics, Transportation |
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August 6, 2008
DIY Batman Tumbler
Bob Dullam made his own Batman tumbler vehicle - you can check out the progress on Superherohype but the photos are now down, so visit DeviceDaily and Gizmodo.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 6, 2008 11:20 AM
DIY Projects, Made On Earth, Transportation |
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August 5, 2008
World's lowest camper van - built in 3 days
Meep meep!
An automotive mechanic has driven into the record books - by building the world's lowest van. Andy Saunders converted a 7ft 8ins high VW Camper into a 3.3ft high version - in just three days. The 1980 Type 25 camper had 70,000 miles on the clock when Saunders and three friends transformed it. The steering had to be lowered and moved to a central position and all the systems altered to make it work. There are two seats behind the driving position, it is fully road worthy and Saunders believes it could get into car parks by driving under the barrier. Although it is possible to sleep in the back, the height of the roof could cause claustrophobia. With a top speed of 80mph the bizarre camper turns heads when Saunders drives it around his home town of Poole in Dorset. Saunders, 45, who bought the van for £1,000, said: "The challenge was to build the world's lowest van in just three days.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Aug 5, 2008 10:00 AM
Transportation |
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August 1, 2008
Custom aluminum skateboards
Corbusboards makes these skateboards cut from aluminum in killer designs. With all the cutouts, they supposedly weigh about the same as a longboard, and aren't meant to hang on the wall. Try not to catch anyone in the ankles with the fish skeleton one! Via Core77.
Posted by Becky Stern |
Aug 1, 2008 11:00 AM
Transportation |
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July 30, 2008
Odd bike...
A MAKE reader sent this in, anyone know what's going on?
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jul 30, 2008 08:00 AM
Bicycles, Transportation |
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July 29, 2008
Martin jetpack
PopSci has some video of the Martin "jetpack" and its 16 year old pilot... (photos here).
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jul 29, 2008 12:29 PM
Transportation |
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DIY: Kayak bilge pump
If you are unlucky enough to have rolled over in your kayak like I have, then you will really appreciate this project. The goal was to install a bilge pump that was operated by you feet. This allows you hands to be free for paddling and stabilizing your boat. It's a well thought out build that would make a nice addition to any sea kayak.
Learn how to make you own Kayak bilge pump.
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
Jul 29, 2008 02:00 AM
DIY Projects, Transportation |
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Monster beetle!
Gigantic (literally) gallery of a modded monster Beetle!
More:
Street-legal jet powered VW Beetle.
Mystery Beetle identified.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jul 29, 2008 12:00 AM
Transportation |
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July 28, 2008
A Souped-up Model T...
NYTimes on some nicely modded Model Ts...
Thousands of people gathered last week in Richmond, Ind., for the centennial celebration of the Ford Model T, the machine that made the automobile a Main Street technology, with 15 million produced from 1908 to 1927. As a product, the Model T has long been seen as a classic example of no-frills, mass-produced standardization. It had no gas gauge. Even a windshield was an extra-cost option originally.Yet the gathering in Indiana showed another facet of the Model T’s history — how much owners tinkered with and modified the car. Among the 800 vintage automobiles brought by collectors were ones that had been converted to snowmobiles, racing coups and tow trucks. That was only a glimmer of the many innovative changes made by Model T owners, for uses Henry Ford never had in mind. They transformed the cars into tractors, pickup trucks, paddy wagons, mobile lumber mills and power plants for milling grain. An itinerant preacher converted his into a four-wheeled chapel.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jul 28, 2008 08:00 AM
Retro, Transportation |
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DIY: Arduino & Wii controlled Canoe
Like to play video games? Too lazy to paddle around in your canoe? Well I have the perfect solution for you. This boat is powered by a small electric motor and the steering is via a Wii Nunchuck and an Arduino. Let's just hope the batteries don't die, then you might have to paddle!
Read more about the Arduino & Wii controlled Canoe
Posted by Marc de Vinck |
Jul 28, 2008 01:00 AM
Arduino, Transportation |
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July 21, 2008
Inflatable car solves the energy crisis
This artistic recreation of a Porsche Carrera is completely inflatable and runs from natural "air" gas. To drive it, you simply unplug the cork, and sit on the thing, and inch forward as the escaping air propels you down the street.
via TechEBlog
Posted by Jonah Brucker-Cohen |
Jul 21, 2008 04:00 AM
Green, Transportation |
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July 18, 2008
PVC Pipe & duct tape canoe
Ben writes-
It's amazing how a simple idea can take on a life of its own once you start. Have a desire to build a boat for fishing at your local lakes and a bunch of American Ingenuity? Build a boat out of things American, Duct Tape, PVC pipe, and plastic.I wanted a boat that would allow me to cast into the shore instead of from the shore. Being a mechanical engineer, one thing led to another and as the years passed I decided I would build a skin-on-frame kayak. The final kayak would be wood framed and fabric skinned. I searched for additional ideas and eventually made a balsa and tissue paper model of an 18 footer. Not wanting to invest more money and time than necessary in a prototype, I began thinking of a simple and quick way to test a design.
Again one thing led to another, and my son Daniel and I came up with the idea of a PVC pipe frame, duct tape for fastening the pipes together, and 4 mil construction plastic for a test skin. We arrived at an initial design that would use 10 foot sections of PVC pipe, since that was the length available at our local stores. Since fishing was the primary aim for this boat, shorter and wider would be more maneuverable.
We put our first prototype in the water in the summer of 2007 and it sat a little lower in the water than we wanted. The next design, shown in this article, was widened from 30 inches to 36 inches but the keel form stayed the same. Each boat was put in the water for less than $25.00. In addition to the change in width, we added the use of brackets formed from PVC pipe to help hold the pieces in the proper position, since the duct tape lashing on the original design had allowed two joints to shift slightly.
Posted by Phillip Torrone |
Jul 18, 2008 04:00 AM
DIY Projects, Transportation |
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July 16, 2008
Car mod looks like it was melted by the sun
This car mod turns it into a cartoon car getting blown up in an explosion or being melted by the sun. We're not sure if it is actually drivable or not though.
Extreme Car Mod From Hell Spotted in Bali.
Posted by Jonah Brucker-Cohen |
Jul 16, 2008 04:00 AM
Made On Earth, Transportation |
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Phillip Torrone
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Tel: 707-827-7311
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