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Posts Tagged “

Aerodynamics

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drone

Research UAV is Preview of Hovering Spy Drones of Tomorrow

Meet STARMAC, the Stanford Testbed of Autonomous Rotorcraft for Multi-Agent Control. Possibly the cleverest remote control mini-helicopter you've ever seen, packed with GPS, sensors and computer power. It's a research quad-rotor that the Stanford team is using to develop algorithms for future aircraft like it. More »

10:40 AM on Thu Jul 3 2008
By Kit Eaton
1,776 views, 42 comments

space boomerang

Japanese Astronaut's Space Boomerang Came Back

Japan's Takao Doi has just checked out an aerodynamics conundrum we were all curious about: would a boomerang return when thrown in zero-G? World boomerang champion Yasuhiro Togai had asked him to find out, you see. So, taking time out from his work aboard the International Space Station, he gave it a whirl. More »

12:00 PM on Fri Mar 21 2008
By Kit Eaton
19,223 views, 67 comments

Latest by keith4298: For the people that think that the upward force should make it hit the ceiling.....there is no up in zero G. The force would "push" it based on the axis it was thrown. And since it's assymetrical shape changes it's more »

holy roller

180mph Car Treadmill Great for Designers, Dangerous for Pilots

Check this full size Nascar sitting on top of a steel belt sliding at 180mph. While wind tunnels have been used to design cars for years, the results can be affected by the fact that the ground is still. This machine solves that problem, in truly dramatic and dangerous fashion. Just like NASCAR itself. The image after the jump shows how giganormous this thing is. More »

6:32 AM on Thu Jul 26 2007
By gizmodo.com
22,733 views, 64 comments

Latest by indolent: About the testing tire comment, this isn't really the ideal way to test that since most tire ware occurs in the corners, not the straights. more »

gadgets

Aptera Concept Car: 330mpg, Under $20K

Yeah, you're laughing at this weird-looking half-egg-shaped concept car now, but when gasoline costs $10 a gallon not too long from now, this 330 mile-per-gallon Aptera concept car might start looking pretty damn good. It cops that high-mpg efficiency with a fuel-sipping diesel engine lashed onto hybrid technology, coupled with its wind-slippery aerodynamics and 850-pound weight. More »

10:00 AM on Fri Aug 11 2006
By Charlie White
12,004 views, 19 comments

gadgets

TECA Concept Vehicle: Whats Wrong With This Picture?

Certainly not for the claustrophobic, here's a new idea for a motorcycle body that s supposed to give you more energy efficiency, safety and convenience when you're riding that crotch rocket of yours. This concept vehicle from design group TECA is made of carbon fiber composite and honeycomb, and with its aerodynamic shape is said to give you 35% better performance and save lots of fuel. Notice the guy inside isn't wearing a helmet—maybe he figures that the vehicle is pretty much functioning as a brain bucket, too. Let's hope those doors open quickly, because when you stop, what happens? Does it just fall over on its side? Apparently function does not always follow form. More »

5:00 PM on Mon Jan 30 2006
By Charlie White
2,925 views, 10 comments

Latest by Tony C: Here's a better side view -- lower half of legs and feet can slip into that open section in the back... Still not sure what keeps it upright at rest... http://www.coroflot.com/public/portfolio_file.asp?user_id=... more »