DeKa Slingshot
DeKa Slingshot
(OP)
I've always been a fan of Dean Kamen and his inventions.
What do you think of his new project, the "Slingshot". It's a combination Stirling cycle electrical generator/ water purification device. It's small enough to be portable pretty much anywhere on the planet. It reportedly burns anything (including cow dung).
It looks like it may be a quite useful device for developing countries (although watch someone bash all of the new greenhouse gas emissions from burning cow dung)
On a side note, where did the Segway go wrong? Why isn't it more popular?
What do you think of his new project, the "Slingshot". It's a combination Stirling cycle electrical generator/ water purification device. It's small enough to be portable pretty much anywhere on the planet. It reportedly burns anything (including cow dung).
It looks like it may be a quite useful device for developing countries (although watch someone bash all of the new greenhouse gas emissions from burning cow dung)
On a side note, where did the Segway go wrong? Why isn't it more popular?





RE: DeKa Slingshot
Burning cow dung should be approximately carbon neutral over all, it's basically bio mass with a cow in the middle of the cycle. (The cow itself will be a methane contributer though.)
Might solar stills/cookers be a better idea to look at?
Um, because as far as I could tell it was pretty pointless, it didn't have a "killer app" as they say.
KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...
RE: DeKa Slingshot
There was also a pretty steep price that didn't come down.
I have seen exactly one in the wild, carrying a mall security person on his rounds. It seemed like a natural application... but it was a very upscale mall.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: DeKa Slingshot
What problem does the Segway solve?
If you are physically fit enough to stand on a Segway, you are physically fit enough to walk. The whole point of a scooter or wheelchair is that you can stay seated as you move around. How much do one of those Cushman carts cost, compared to a Segway?
I sympathise with jurisdictions that banned Segways from their sidewalks. If they had caught on, they would have gotten faster, and the stupidest operators would have become a menace to pedestrians. Bicycles belong on the road too.
JHG
RE: DeKa Slingshot
HAZOP at www.curryhydrocarbons.ca
RE: DeKa Slingshot
RE: DeKa Slingshot
Believe it if you need it or leave it if you dare. - Robert Hunter
RE: DeKa Slingshot
Yes, you could walk or ride a bike instead of ride a Segway (this is what I do), yet that's not what the vast majority of urban dwellers do. Most cities I've been in are filled to capacity with single occupancy cars driving at 10mph, 20 blocks across town (ask yourself how often do you do this?)
The Segway offered the possibility of reducing the amount of wasteful urban transportation. It takes up a significantly smaller footprint, it doesn't emit pollution, and it's quiet.
RE: DeKa Slingshot
A car protects you from the environment. Segway doesn't.
A car will go significantly faster than you can by foot or bicycle. Segway doesn't as I recall, can't remember the actual top speed.
A car allows you to carry shopping/luggage/other people... Segway doesn't so much.
It's foot print isn't significantly less than a small scooter/moped or similar.
The Segway is cool, it's interesting but frankly I don't think it's much of a solution to Urban congestion/transportation needs. It's a gimmick, and hence it's main market has been as such.
KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...
RE: DeKa Slingshot
RE: DeKa Slingshot
- Steve
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KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...
RE: DeKa Slingshot
RE: DeKa Slingshot
- Steve
RE: DeKa Slingshot
The police in Schiphol airport use Segways too. Seemed like a good idea - get around at a decent speed, and an extra foot or so of height to see what's going on.
RE: DeKa Slingshot
- Steve
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POINTLESS.
V
RE: DeKa Slingshot
http:
Believe it if you need it or leave it if you dare. - Robert Hunter
RE: DeKa Slingshot
So that's really cool but I'm not sure how big that market is.
KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...
RE: DeKa Slingshot
No, dispite the few small markets for the Segway, I completely agree with you. It's clearly not a disruptive technology.
RE: DeKa Slingshot
It balances frontwards and backwards. That's a cool achievement. But otherwise, it doesn't do anything a little rechargeable $300 scooter doesn't do. The idea that it would revolutinize transportation was ludicrous, on the par of thinking roller skates will do so.
One of the things that hurt is that the inventors envisioned it as a replacement for walking, but legally, it's a replacement for car. Which means you can't use it on a lot of sidewalks, etc.
Basically, the Segway gives you all the disadvantages of a bicycle, but without the exercise, and at a much higher cost. If you're lazy, but still want to get rained on, get sweaty, go places slowly, get run over, have your means of transportation stolen, and pay $3,000 to do so, the Segway is for you. Otherwise, get a bike or a car.