SeaBird personal submarine » Reviews

SeaBird personal submarine

What are some of the big boy’s toys that only tycoons and magnates are able to afford? Super fast and exotic cars, taking the helicopter to the office because one does not want to go through the hassle of traffic jams, or even purchasing a private jet if that is one’s desire. But what happens when you prefer the seven seas instead of being stuck in a traffic gridlock or flying in the air? Yes, the clarion call of the sirens beckons, and you absolutely need to get your sea legs moving again.

A yacht can be ho-hum, but what about the confines of a submarine? Yes, we’re talking about the SeaBird personal submarine making an attempt to penetrate this particularly burgeoning market. It won’t be able to fire any nuclear missiles or warheads, being just a personal submarines, using electric motors that are powered by a rechargeable battery pack, so you need not worry about any nuclear fuel rods experiencing a meltdown. US-based AquaVenture’s attempt with the SeaBird is slightly different from conventional design, since it nixes the standard propulsion system but will be towed through the water by a surface vessel instead.

According to AquaVenture, this patent-pending tow system was used on the SeaBird in order to deliver the power of an internal combustion engine to an underwater vessel. At point of publishing, the fastest personal subs are limited to speeds of less than 10 mph (16 km/h), and the SeaBird is far speedier, having received certification to travel at speeds of up to 22 knots (25 mph/40 km/h), regardless of whether it is above or below the water’s surface.

Being towed on a cable of up to 400 ft (122 m) in length, it can operate in a large cone that is behind the towing surface vessel. A single surface vessel has enough juice to tow a couple of SeaBirds simultaneously, allowing the SeaBirds to operate to depths of 150 ft (46 m), with the option to double it to 300 ft (91 m) for “certain (non tourism) customers.” How long can you last in the SeaBird? It is said to provide a habitable atmosphere for 24-72 hours.

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MIT student develops self-balancing unicycle with the Bullet » Reviews

MIT student develops self-balancing unicycle with the Bullet

You remember all that hype that came with the Segway about a decade ago? I believe that it was supposed to revolutionize pedestrian travel in the big city, but the city streets are still full of walkers with only the occasional Segway.

An MIT student named Stephan Boyer created this homemade self-balancing unicycle which he calls the “Bullet”. Yes, if you have problems balancing on a unicycle, the Bullet could be your solution.

Of course, the Bullet cannot steer, at least at this present time. It does go backwards and forwards, though. You can watch a video of this after the jump if you want to see it in motion, just a little warning though, there is no sound.

So, I guess if you want to take some shortcuts on that clown school, the Bullet isn’t quite ready for your unicycle act as yet.

I’m starting to realize that I went to the wrong school. If MIT students have the spare time to create self-balancing unicycles in their spare time, then I should have gone there. Do other students walk around with other experimental tech? By the way, I like the paintings on the doors on what looks like a dorm room here.

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Review » The spnKiX Electric Motorized Skates

Just so we can get this out of the way, this is one of those KickStarter projects. You know, the type that require your funding in order to get it on the market, and you might be guaranteed the first one if you pledge enough money?

This is the spnKiX, and it is a pair of electric roller skates. I guess those Segways were not enough for us, and we had to come up with some form of single human transportation.

The spnKiX are capable of about ten miles per hour, and they can only travel about two or three miles before the battery runs out. Want to go further? Well, you will have to wait about two hours as the lithium ion battery charges.

So I guess what we are looking at is way to get around for short distances. For example, if you only have a few miles to go to work, you can charge them up while you are on the job and electro-skate home.

If you pledge about $375 at the Kickstarter site, you will find that you can get yourself a pair after the Kickstarter member raises $25,000 for production. If you are willing to pledge about $950, then you can get a special edition with matte black wheels.

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Review » Stratolaunch could change launches into space

For those who really like the idea of launching a passenger-carrying rocket into space like an airplane should hear about Stratolaunch.

There is a video of it after the jump, but as you will soon see, it is a CG mock-up, no more real than what you see in a Pixar film. This because it is a concept for now, and you can see how it works. The plan takes off from a runway, and launches its huge payload (490,000 lbs).

If Stratolaunch is ever built, it would be the largest plane ever constructed. It has a massive wingspan of 380 feet, larger than a football field. It reminds me of Howard Hughes Hercules, but this one has six 747 engines and not eight propellers.

Stratolaunch is the design of Paul Allen and Burt Rutan. I’m pretty certain that you have heard of that first name, but the second guy designed Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShip One and Two.

I suppose that if it is ever built, it will be the way we put satellites and even manned spacecraft into orbit. No more will there be giant rockets full of fuel that have to be launched into space. I wonder if it will possible to put many objects into space per day, as if they were FedEx deliveries.

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Review » Texas cops get the first police gyroplane

If you are ever speeding in Tromball, Texas, don’t be surprised if you look up and see this vehicle on your tail.

Tromball is the first American city to own the first police gyroplane. This type of technology has been around for a while, and the Auto-Gyro MTOsport is cheaper than the average helicopter. This costs $75,000, while a helicopter costs $1.4 million.

The MTOsport has a rotax motor which allows pilots to descend quickly, and its top speed is 115 miles per hour. Too bad it is not very good in bad weather or at night.

I don’t know about you, but I am seeing huge potential for a new series here. It will be called Flying Cops, and I’m going to pitch it with this line: “It’s like CHiPs, but in the air”. The show would start out with two macho cops getting into the MTOsport, and chasing down a bad guy. Que the action theme music here!

I would imagine if the Tromball gyroplane works well to take a bite out of crime in its town, then we could be seeing gyroplanes popping up in towns all across the nation. You had better keep your eyes to the skies, bad guys! Remind me to use that on the pilot episode for my Flying Cops show.

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Review » This concept aircraft carrier is mostly made of ice

During World War II, there were a lot of technologies proposed that seem outlandish by today’s standards.

One of them was by a British inventor named Geoffrey Pike, who wanted to build an aircraft carrier that was mostly composed of ice. He wanted to build it using Pykrete, a material that is 86 percent ice and 14 percent sawdust.

You might be thinking that the only place to build a carrier made of ice would be in Arctic regions. There might not be a reason to defend this cold area, but this ice carrier is actually made for warmer waters, too. Yes, it would begin to melt, but it can be repaired while at sea using the waters around it. Don’t ask me how it is supposed to do that.

If Pyke’s HMS Habbakuk was ever constructed, it would have been one of the largest crafts at sea. It would be 2,000 feet long, 300 feet wide, and 200 feet tall. It could hold 200 fighter planes or 100 bombers, with a crew of about 3,700. It would have been pretty impressive, but only a 60-foot prototype was made. I’m guessing that it didn’t go off very well.

Anyone want to try and actually make another Pykrete vessel? According to my Source, only the Mythbusters guys have tried it.

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Review » Opel peers into electric car future with the One Euro

Hybrid Car



The world’s economies are still in major turmoil, and it does not look as though there is going to be a quick and painless solution in sight anytime soon. Well, this is the result of spending for so many decades without closing in the gap on the deficit for the majority of countries out there. Having said that, the cost of living looks set to increase all the time, and transportation costs do not look likely to drop, either. You might be able to own a car now, but can you afford the fuel?

Hybrid cars as well as electric vehicles could very well be the future so that we will be less dependent on the reserves of ‘black gold’ that are sitting underneath most countries in the Middle East. Opel certainly knows this, which is why they intend to shape the future with their version of an electric car, which is the One Euro. This particular model will be able to seat two (it definitely looks sleek enough to impress more than a single date, especially when you take this for a cruise down the hottest stretch in town on a Saturday night), but it won’t be able to go fast mind you.

Debuting at the 64th Frankfurt International Motor Show, the Opel One Euro was not named so because Opel intends to make a massive loss by selling it for just a single Euro – no sir, the reason behind that moniker is because it is capable of traveling a distance of 100 kilometers at the cost of a single Euro. That’s right, no gimmicks behind this claim, just pure fuel savings, zero emissions and sleek styling and design.

This revolutionary concept for zero-emission urban mobility is also special in the sense where it is suitable for those aged 16 and above to drive, and will even boast some sort of parental controls that limit the maximum speed to a mere 45km/h – something 16 year olds would probably despise. Hey, better a car to get around than no car at all, right? The Opel One Euro will weigh 33% that of a modern small car, and maxes out at 120km/h when you put the pedal to the metal.

It will take some time before this prototype is ready for a commercial roll out, and when that happens, I expect to see it be affordable enough for the masses to make this a truly intra-city vehicle.

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Review » First man-made electric helicopter constructed by Frenchmen

A while ago, I remember covering an inspirational story about a Chinese man who builds his own helicopter. I am just as inspired by Pascal Chretien, a French man who has created the first fully electric helicopter.

Mr. Chretien does not work for any big company, he is an electronics and aerospace engineer who practically built this craft single-handed. Considering that the big helicopter company Sikorsky has been trying to perfect their own electric helicopter known as the Firefly for years, Mr. Chretien’s accomplishment is quite impressive.

Yes, Chretien’s flew only three feet off the ground for two minutes and 10 seconds. Like most great feats of aviation, giant steps are often small ones. Think about the Wright Brothers’s 100-foot flight.

Chretien’s helicopter uses ultra light construction, as well as the coaxial design of two counter-rotating rotors. You will notice that there is no tail rotor like on traditional helicopters and has a simple weight shifting system which makes the aircraft hard to control. In fact, Chretien’s first flight was quite dangerous, but he finished his flight with power to spare. My Source does not say how much battery power was left.

I hope that Chretien perfects his process and we have greener helicopters. I also hope that Mr. Chretien is compensated for his hard work. I have often stated that it is the inventor and not the big company who truly innovates.

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Review » MIT Media Lab City Car could be our automobile future

MIT Media Lab showed off this particular CityCar at a conference lately, and it is very good. Just to let you know, it is still a concept, but it should be full-sized and in production in about 2013.

You can watch a video of it after the jump, and you can see that it has a very unusual folding ability. The folding is perfect for city parking places, where space is an issue. Just think how much less room these cars would take up in comparison to full size cars of today!

The folding also serves a secondary purpose as it allows the driver to get into the car standing instead of that acute or obtuse angle that one does when getting in the driver’s seat of ordinary vehicles.

In addition to these amazing abilities, the CityCar can turn its wheels at extremely odd angles. You can see in the video that the wheels can turn inward so the vehicle can make “O-turns”.

Oh man, I can just see a future where big cities are full of cars like these! It would be like everyone owning a SmartCar, but smaller. This would make a mini-van seem like a semi with these kinds of standards. Right now, my mind is filling with images of science-fiction future cities, without the dystopian shadows.

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Review » World’s Largest Solar-Powered Boat on a World Tour

I really like the look of PlanetSolar’s TURANOR. Not only does it look like a spaceship on water, but it is very eco-friendly as well.

As you might have guessed, the boat is covered with solar panels, about 5,380 square feet worth. In case you are wondering, the solar panels aren’t as fragile as they look. There are pictures from my Source of people walking on it.

These solar panels power two electric motors that can reach a speed of 15 miles an hour. Yes, that is pretty slow, and the TURANOR is on a long world tour.

The purpose of this tour is to advance scientific research in the field of renewable energy, and to show that current technologies aimed at improving energy efficiency are reliable and effective.

The name TURANOR comes from the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and it means “victory” and “the power of the sun”. It is a fitting name, as this 101 foot long and 49 foot wide craft can go for three days without the sun thanks to its giant lithium-ion battery.

So why put a huge solar-powered boat out on the waters? Perhaps we looking at a world where big cruise ships or even aircraft carriers are all solar powered. Isn’t this the future that we want?

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Review » External Combustion Kraftwagen

Now here is something you do not see every day – the $999.95 External Combustion Kraftwagen that is actually a vehicle to help you get around for your daily work. Yes sir, this is a fully operational car that is powered by an external combustion Stirling engine. As with many reliable machinery in this world, this is made in Germany from machine-tooled solid brass, stainless steel, and aluminum. How does it get to work though? Does it run on oil? No, it relies on the thermodynamic principle of a regenerative heat engine, using the expansion and compression of air to get the job done.

There is also an alcohol burner that is placed in the rear heats a cylinder, where a quick twist of its brass flywheel will set the engine’s displacement and working pistons into motion up to 2,000 rpm. Four flywheels will spin in unison to drive the couple of 3.5″ diameter rubber-bound wheels, while a third wheel located right in front is able to be manually turned 360º, letting the car to perform autonomous circles while it putters efficiently.

This is a green vehicle since it emits non-toxic exhaust fumes from a full burner of ethyl alcohol, where the engine can operate for up to 20 minutes at a go.

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Review » Automotive Gadgets, Conceptual Gadgets, Vehicle Gadgets

MIT Media Lab showed off this particular CityCar at a conference lately, and it is very good. Just to let you know, it is still a concept, but it should be full-sized and in production in about 2013.

You can watch a video of it after the jump, and you can see that it has a very unusual folding ability. The folding is perfect for city parking places, where space is an issue. Just think how much less room these cars would take up in comparison to full size cars of today!

The folding also serves a secondary purpose as it allows the driver to get into the car standing instead of that acute or obtuse angle that one does when getting in the driver’s seat of ordinary vehicles.

In addition to these amazing abilities, the CityCar can turn its wheels at extremely odd angles. You can see in the video that the wheels can turn inward so the vehicle can make “O-turns”.

Oh man, I can just see a future where big cities are full of cars like these! It would be like everyone owning a SmartCar, but smaller. This would make a mini-van seem like a semi with these kinds of standards. Right now, my mind is filling with images of science-fiction future cities, without the dystopian shadows.

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Review » Boeing teaches two UAVs to flock together

Boeing is always doing some interesting experiments with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) before, and they have just created a new “milestone” with multiple unmanned aerial drones.

Granted, it was only two drones (Boeing ScanEagles), but the company got them to fly together. These vehicles searched a test area through “self-generating waypoints and terrain mapping, and sent information to teams on the ground”.

This means that unmanned aircraft can collect and use data while communicating with each other for their mission. I’m sure that you can easily imagine more than two aircraft involved in a search-and-rescue mission or perhaps a military invasion.

Are we looking at a future where swarms of these automated airplanes will be our advanced Air Force? Think of the scene in Independence Day where all those tiny fighters invaded that base. We could be those aliens!

Of course, I wonder how in the world we can get all those planes to work together so they don’t shoot down the wrong targets. Something tells me that this is going to be a whole new type of interface.

Then there is that scary situation where the whole army of robot planes turn on us. Think of the movie Stealth but with many planes instead of just one. I hope that someone isn’t taking that idea and making a sequel to that film, because it was horrible.

Anyway, we’ll see what Boeing is planning on doing as far as this new technology is concerned.

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Review » Six-engine Oliver VTOL plane

Yes, this cool-looking aircraft doesn’t exist as yet. This is the Oliver VTOL (Vertical Take-Off Landing), and it has six engines instead of the usual three of a jet engine.

Some of you might be wondering how such a vehicle could land. This is because you are seeing it from the front-facing view. If you could see it from the side, then you would know that the “top” and “bottom” propellers are at about the same level as the middle propellers. There are two propellers in the back and two in front that can swivel upward so the plane can take off without a runway.

According to my Source, the six engines are better than even four, as it is safer for when one engine or even one wing section breaks down. This particular plane can fly further, faster, and takes less fuel.

This Oliver VTOL is looking for $12 million in funding in order to make this aircraft a reality. I hope he gets the funding, as I would like to see this plane in reality. I would really like to see how it handles landing and taking off. I guess I am wondering if the transition from air to ground would be smooth.

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Review » Trek Light Cycle Push Bike

Tron has clearly has an influence on “geek culture”, and I don’t see why someone hasn’t made a push bike that looks like a Tron light cycle.

It appears that Trek designer Ryan Callahan has created a Tron scooter with the Trek Light Cycle Push Bike. Yes, that is its full name, as long and drawn out as it is. My Source does not have much information on this, but you will note the blue lights in between the wheels. I wonder if this is battery powered or if the wheels in motion power these lights. I don’t know if it has the feature, but I know that it does not have the ability to make a wall behind it as it rides.

Just imagine a kid zooming around on this thing, pretending that he is Tron. You will note the grid terrain that this scooter has been placed upon. Too bad real sidewalks and streets are not as smooth. Yeah, I wonder how this Tron scooter can handle the real world.

So far, there isn’t any word on when a little tyke can get one of these, but it will be on display at Trek World 2012. I think that is some sort of conference that uses the Trek logo in Tron font. Interesting.

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Review » Second Flight of DARPA’s HTV-2 does not go as well as its first

DARPA is always coming out with some interesting experimental stuff, and the latest is the Falcon Hypersonic Technology 2 (HTV-2).

It was just given a field test today, and it was launched aboard a Minotaur IV Lite rock from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. It was expected to glide over the Pacific Ocean and deliberately splash down near Kwajalein Atoll, 4,000 miles away at a speed of 13,000 miles per hour.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like things went as planned. DARPA has reported via tweet that “downrange assets did not reacquire tracking or telemetry. #HTV2 has an autonomous flight termination capability”. What you see in the image is an artist’s conception.

It is too bad, as 13,000 mph is more than impressive. At that speed, you can go from New York to Los Angeles in about 12 minutes. This is actually the second test for this vehicle, and the first flight in April 2010 produced the impressive result of Mach 17-22 for 139 seconds. During that test, the fast-moving craft still maintained a GPS signal and two-way communication.

Hopefully, more tests will be conducted to see if communication signals can be performed at high speeds. However, if these aircrafts are flying this fast, perhaps the plane will arrive faster than it takes the message to transmit.

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Review » Fast concept car is very flaky

This is the Flake project, a concept car that even the designer does not expect to work, but solely designed for inspirational purposes.

The “flakes” on the car are carbon fiber microspoilers, and they are programmed to shift around during the drive to enhance speed and performance. As you might have guessed, the flakes go flat when it is time for a burst of speed. Turning causes the flakes on one side of the car to stand up, which “locks” the car to the road.

There is a video of it after the jump, and I can assure you, that although it may look real, it is CG. You may also notice that unusual lack of tires, which the designer calls D-Wheels. These extendable legs allow for an adjustable contact surface.

Is it just me, or do all the cracks and flakes in this car make it look like one of the Transformers? If I ever saw this Flake Project coming down the road, shifting its hide, I would probably expect it to unfold into Bumblebee.

It also reminds me of some nineties TV show called Viper which featured a shape-shifting car. Does anyone remember that show? I don’t think I ever watched an episode, but I seem to have a vague memory of a morphing car.

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Review » The Zike, world’s first hybrid scooter

If you are too old for a trike, and love to ride a bike, maybe you would like a Zike. I realize that intro sounds like something Dr. Seuss would write, but the Zike is a real product, and is the world’s first hybrid scooter.

I suppose by “hybrid scooter”, the company means it is the first product to successfully combine a scooter, bicycle, and stair-stepper together. Inventor Nathan Scolari was “compelled to combat the childhood obesity epidemic in the United States”, and this is what he researched and created.

Zike will introduce four models to the marketplace. The Hotshot is an entry level model for children ages 5-8. The Flyby is the next step up for children ages 8-12, and it has two chains for faster speeds and increased agility. The Slingshot is for children 10 and older, and it has the speed of a BMX bike. The Saber (pictured) is a 7-speed scooter for anyone aged 12 and up.

The Zike has been receiving a lot of media attention after being on Extra with Mario Lopez. Not only did Slater from Saved By The Bell like it, but national expert Doctor Gadget rode it on The View. He told the co-hosts that “childhood obesity wouldn’t have a chance if every child in America had a Zike”. It looks like the Zike creator’s dreams came true. You can read more about the Zike here.

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Review » Shadowhawk UAV, one tiny copter that could come after you

What you are seeing here is no toy helicopter, but the Shadowhawk UAV (Unmanned Air Vehicle).

This helicopter is about 49 pounds, and you probably want to watch the video after the jump to see it in action. According to my Source, the Shadowhawk is already being used to track pirates off the Horn of Africa. Apparently, it is also used to enforce law on U.S. streets.

It also comes with the option of turbine or piston engines, thermal cameras, range fingers, and laser pointers. For those who want some weapons, it is also possible to install 37 mm or 40 mm grenade launchers, 12 gauge shotgun rounds, or even taser batons.

Seriously, this thing is a miniature flying arsenal! You can watch on the video and see that it can travel at speeds of 50 miles an hour. You can also see what looks like a guy being tailed by one. I’m surprised he doesn’t try to throw a rock at the Shadowhawk UAV.

Man, I never want to be in a position where I have these things chasing after me! This would be like those spiders from Minority Report, but these Shadowhawks can fly. They can also bring me down with some grenades, live rounds, and possibly tasing me.

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Review » The OutRun AR Project

Some of you might remember playing a game back in the eighties known as Out Run. Imagine playing the same game, but instead of an arcade, you are on a moving vehicle?

This is the Out Run project, by Garnet Hertz. It uses an electric golf cart that allows players to navigate their way around real-life courses using arcade controls.

It uses some customized software that can automatically look in front of a car and then reproduce the route on the game cabin’s screen. It even does it in 8-bit form! You can check it out in a video after the jump.

So basically, we are looking at one of those sit down driving racing games, only someone is actually racing! I believe that it is possible to race on a real track, but it had better be clear of pedestrians.

In case you think that this has been developed just for fun, you would be wrong. Apparently, the developers are finding that this tech can be used for making game-based therapies for disabled users, such as augmented reality based wheelchairs.

Is it possible that we could recreate this type of technology for other video games? For example, could we make a drive-able Pac-man game designed for real mazes?

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