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Detroit, 8:34 PM
Fri Dec 11
29 posts in the last 24 hours
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12/05/09
12/05/09
"Despite Bertrand Piccard’s excitement, the veteran aviation also remains humble about the work that still needs to be done before the Solar Impulse team realizes its ultimate goal.
"It’s a long way between these initial tests and a circumnavigation of the world."
The dude plans to fly this thing around the world, apparently solo, on solar power. I find that to be pretty ambitious.
12/05/09
What it needs is an impulse drive with a warp reactor behind it. That'll get 'im around the globe in a hurry.
12/04/09
12/04/09
12/04/09
11/25/09
11/25/09
Plus, he should think big. Here you have closet space and a rumble seat, until in snaps off like a twig and/or the engine/trans/suspension collapses.
11/26/09
11/25/09
1. A mast and sail so you can get even more fuel efficiency
2. A giant antenna so that you are never out of tweet/text range of your oh so cool buddies
3. A cooler and a tiny stove like on the old tear-drop mini trailers
4. A sleeping bag
5. A pull-out raincoat so your car doesn't get wet.
6. A huge equalizer/board for your kickin' jams
7. And hey, it could work like one of those roller window blinds (that never actually work), so you could just give it a tug and it will refold itself.
8) Oooh! Oooh! Customize them with a Hello Kitty, your favorite Emo band, your NFL team, brew, political view, mantra, or a big freakin' picture of yourself? Naked?
11/25/09
1. The average person doesn't know too much about sailing and wind speeds usually don't exceed driving speeds... unless you want to go 100% on wind power.
2. Good idea, except for the wind drag.
3. Good idea.
4. Why not?
5. Good idea.
6. Excellent Idea. Or instead of that, a keyboard... and have some fake exhaust pipes that would be keyboard pedals.
7. Good idea
8. Good idea as well.
You missed the idea of having it as solar panel storage AND a detachable skate board.
11/25/09
11/25/09
Also, a Brunton foldout 52W solar panel that's 1/4 the size of this costs $600. It'll be a glorious day when solar PV film is so cheap that people can afford to use it for temporary sun shades.
11/25/09
11/25/09
11/25/09
11/25/09
11/25/09
@Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet:
11/25/09
@Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet:
11/25/09
11/25/09
11/25/09
11/25/09
11/25/09
11/25/09
11/25/09
Do I think the panel's output can offset the added drag and associated extra fuel usage to overcome that drag? No, not unless there's excellent aerodynamic flow analysis to make the wing a useful asset on the car. Usually, they're just for looks.