Filed under: Etc.
Cool videos: mag-lev gears, human powered anti-gravity
The video above is a demonstration of a magnetic cog by Kundel Magnetics. Using magnetic fields instead of physical gears to transfer energy has many advantages like zero friction and no need for lubrication. Below the fold is a concept vehicle by the design group Oooms. The counter weight at one end of the vehicle allows a person to jump very high as if gravity were low. These two concepts, the gear and the vehicle, attack two major problem of efficiency: weight and friction. Traditional solutions have always been to use less stuff and make better lubricants, but Kundel and Oooms show us another way. They did not solve the problems of weight or friction, but they can inspire and remind us there are different solutions than what we expect. I happen to think they are also very cool.
[Source: Google Video, YouTube]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Gene Matocha 7:18PM (11/19/2007)
Man, you've lost it. If you believe the Oooms video has anything to teach automobile designers, or any mechanical engineer beyond the high-school level, you are horribly naive. Counterweights are used in almost every single engine ever produced.
BTW, love the blog! Really!
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Lascelles Linton 10:57AM (11/20/2007)
Gene, Could you tell me where specifically and I would be happy to find videos of it and post it? These videos are not really instruction, just all in fun type things.
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Ernie 12:02PM (11/20/2007)
Um, it's force = *mass* times acceleration, not *weight* times acceleration.
Mass is independant of weight. Your mass is the same if you're on the moon or on earth, even though your weight is lower on the moon. So when you're reducing the *weight* of a car by removing stuff, you're likewise reducing its *mass*. And that mass remains the same even if you can magnetically levitate the car.
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porschedevotee 6:32PM (11/20/2007)
Is the second video available somewhere? The embedded one doesn't work for me
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Lascelles Linton 6:44PM (11/20/2007)
porschedevotee, I just tried. It works for me. You can try the Oooms website, it's linked in the article.
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