http://www.physorg.com/news74351551.html
In the future Hybrid cars use the "BallBot" concept to conserve fuel and increasing the vehicle speed.
Imagine as the car gaining speed on the freeway all four wheels retract and the
"BallBot" finds the center gravity of the car and lowers itself to the ground ..in a way taking over the job of the wheels.
Since the car is rolling over the ball the friction will be cut dramatically , the speed will increase proportionately and lets not mention the fuel conservation.
As the car slows down , the wheels come out , and take over.
but any time you wanted to accelerate (ie: break heavely, turn to avoid things) you could not.
FutureBoy,
Nice concept, but what about the safety issues. A car traveling at those speeds with just a ball under it would in my mind have to be on the road with no other vehicles and on a perfect kept up road. And you and I both know how roads can be. Imagine driving... lets say 75 mph and slamming on your brakes at a split second, your "Ballbot" would have to drop your car at 75mph, could you gain control? Its something to think about. Also, traction would be an issue with rain/ice/snow.
In ideal conditions your concept would probably work. Not bashing your idea in any shape or form, just throwing out some speed bumps for ya.
Nice concept, but what about the safety issues. A car traveling at those speeds with just a ball under it would in my mind have to be on the road with no other vehicles and on a perfect kept up road. And you and I both know how roads can be. Imagine driving... lets say 75 mph and slamming on your brakes at a split second, your "Ballbot" would have to drop your car at 75mph, could you gain control? Its something to think about. Also, traction would be an issue with rain/ice/snow.
In ideal conditions your concept would probably work. Not bashing your idea in any shape or form, just throwing out some speed bumps for ya.
It would be nice to have cars that have balls instead of wheels. They would be much more maneuverable and much more easy to park.
QUOTE
Since the car is rolling over the ball the friction will be cut dramatically
The problem with this logic is there is NOT a lot of friction involved between the wheels and the car. The little friction that exists is between the wheels and the road.
Lose that friction, you lose the ability to maintain control of the vehicle.
Arthur
How do you change a flat ball?
what you're suggesting with the car-balls is basically a car that can fly from a few inches to a foot above the road and when landing, it will have the ability to land like an airplane (pull out the wheels). in this case, why even bother to use the balls, we're talking star wars.
Well its nice to see that you guys can visualize what Im describing ...the problem of traction and how much you need of it , in bad weather or if you decide to punch the gas to go faster or even slow down to exit a ramp , all gets handled in fraction of a second by computers ...just like an airbag , in fraction of second computer makes a decision to lower the wheels for breaking or additional speed ..or even making a turn .
once the computer makes a solution that the vehicle is on a straight path gives the wheels a signal to retract ..the "BallBot " lowers down to the new center of gravity of the car ..and the vehicle proceeds.
It was nice chatting with you!
FutureBoy!
once the computer makes a solution that the vehicle is on a straight path gives the wheels a signal to retract ..the "BallBot " lowers down to the new center of gravity of the car ..and the vehicle proceeds.
It was nice chatting with you!
FutureBoy!
A slightly deflated ball wheel will give you all the friction you want.
As mentioned, I doubt that is possible with speed, turrning, fine close contact maneuvering, instant braking, brisk directional movements and keeping traction with the road surface, especially under abnormal conditions, such as rain/ice.
What about suspension systems and ride comfort?
What about suspension systems and ride comfort?
QUOTE (Guest_FutureBoy+Aug 11 2006, 12:01 AM)
Well its nice to see that you guys can visualize what Im describing ...the problem of traction and how much you need of it , in bad weather or if you decide to punch the gas to go faster or even slow down to exit a ramp , all gets handled in fraction of a second by computers ...just like an airbag , in fraction of second computer makes a decision to lower the wheels for breaking or additional speed ..or even making a turn .
once the computer makes a solution that the vehicle is on a straight path gives the wheels a signal to retract ..the "BallBot " lowers down to the new center of gravity of the car ..and the vehicle proceeds.
It was nice chatting with you!
FutureBoy!
If you are going to pursue this the first thing you'll need to do is figure out how to raise and lower the wheels in a fraction of a second. Remember, the more time spent on them the more braking time required.
once the computer makes a solution that the vehicle is on a straight path gives the wheels a signal to retract ..the "BallBot " lowers down to the new center of gravity of the car ..and the vehicle proceeds.
It was nice chatting with you!
FutureBoy!
If you are going to pursue this the first thing you'll need to do is figure out how to raise and lower the wheels in a fraction of a second. Remember, the more time spent on them the more braking time required.
there would actually be more friction on one ball opposed to 4 tires since the weight of the car would be distributed to one spot instead of four. plus you would have uneven wear, you would end up riding on an egg after awhile.
put a robot in place of the human on the segway ;-) Segway Launches Overhauled Scooter:
QUOTE (FutureBoy+Aug 10 2006, 03:39 AM)
http://www.physorg.com/news74351551.html
In the future Hybrid cars use the "BallBot" concept to conserve fuel and increasing the vehicle speed.
Imagine as the car gaining speed on the freeway all four wheels retract and the
"BallBot" finds the center gravity of the car and lowers itself to the ground ..in a way taking over the job of the wheels.
Since the car is rolling over the ball the friction will be cut dramatically , the speed will increase proportionately and lets not mention the fuel conservation.
As the car slows down , the wheels come out , and take over.
The infrastructure needed to implement this type of idea would be staggering. And what about weight distribution? What about air resistance? I'm assuming the ball wouldn't be able to reposition itself under the car... Sorry, there's just no way this would be practical...
The money would be better spent on hydrogen systems. (IMO)
In the future Hybrid cars use the "BallBot" concept to conserve fuel and increasing the vehicle speed.
Imagine as the car gaining speed on the freeway all four wheels retract and the
"BallBot" finds the center gravity of the car and lowers itself to the ground ..in a way taking over the job of the wheels.
Since the car is rolling over the ball the friction will be cut dramatically , the speed will increase proportionately and lets not mention the fuel conservation.
As the car slows down , the wheels come out , and take over.
The infrastructure needed to implement this type of idea would be staggering. And what about weight distribution? What about air resistance? I'm assuming the ball wouldn't be able to reposition itself under the car... Sorry, there's just no way this would be practical...
The money would be better spent on hydrogen systems. (IMO)
I think the practicality of this concept is to be able to keep it lightweight for use as a robot. On a car you need friction for braking, turning, for propulsion, friction requires wear- ask any tire mfg, balls don't wear evenly when ridden on. A ball that a car can balance on will require a lot of weight and probably not be inflatable. Finally, a car hardly ever has even enough weight distribution to make the single ball concept seem plausible to me. Different passenger and cargo configurations need to be considered.
Back to the bot concept- They need to incorporate this into a model able to navigate stairs to be practical. I think that is why they stated the office environment because they figured elevators would be available. I live in a 2 story home which keeps me from purchasing a roomba. I want a robot that can navigate steps- this doesn't.
Back to the bot concept- They need to incorporate this into a model able to navigate stairs to be practical. I think that is why they stated the office environment because they figured elevators would be available. I live in a 2 story home which keeps me from purchasing a roomba. I want a robot that can navigate steps- this doesn't.
I'm not sure about the vehicle concept put forth in this thread, but the BallBot robot is very intriguing. As we strive to make machines that eventually mimic the human experience, when does Hollywood fantasy become a harbinger of things to come. In our quest to humanize machines that can process information faster than a human, control more of our envirionment than a human, and become stronger than a human ... shouldn't we fear when they become self-aware? Who says Terminator or Battlestar Galatica or iRobot is all in the movies?
To understand more why there is a need to use alternative fuel like E85 ethanol fuel, let's first venture into the reason why gasoline doesn't burn cleanly. Gas is made from pure carbon and hydrogen, and is a liquid substance. It also includes carbon chains of different lengths...
You can check out my Green Car (www.greenthingy.blogspot.com) blog for more information...
You can check out my Green Car (www.greenthingy.blogspot.com) blog for more information...
that's an interesting idea. i don't know though if a hybrid car will still be using the same auto parts like the ones we have today. after all, that piece of technology would have to displace some of the parts on a car if it is indeed to be applied to hybrids.
There are a few used Volkswagen Rabbits, that are just sitting near where I’m at.
After gasoline goes through the roof and people cant get to where they need to go, then more than likely their owners will consider changing them to electric capabilities.
After gasoline goes through the roof and people cant get to where they need to go, then more than likely their owners will consider changing them to electric capabilities.
QUOTE (EthanolE85+May 30 2007, 01:24 AM)
To understand more why there is a need to use alternative fuel like E85 ethanol fuel, let's first venture into the reason why gasoline doesn't burn cleanly. Gas is made from pure carbon and hydrogen, and is a liquid substance. It also includes carbon chains of different lengths...
You can check out my Green Car (www.greenthingy.blogspot.com) blog for more information...
No disrespect intended, but the best information I have seen tells of 1 gallon of gas to produce 1.3 gallons of ethanol.
These numbers should increase in the future but just look at the prices of corn recently. As more farmers switch crops to corn it is driving the price of other dramatically higher.
Wheat, flour and cereal etc. have gone through the roof and will continue to rise.
BTW I recently interviewed for a job at UTC Power, the tour was quite impressive.
They power most of the plant with a Fuelcell that they use natural gas for the cracking process. IMHO, nuclear power the best source in cracking hydrogen at this time.
No oil or other natural resources are consumed in the process.
Wish me luck, I was laid off three days after the interview. The company of which I was employed as been constricting for years, I was lucky to evade the ax as long as I did giving I was the least senior.
You can check out my Green Car (www.greenthingy.blogspot.com) blog for more information...
No disrespect intended, but the best information I have seen tells of 1 gallon of gas to produce 1.3 gallons of ethanol.
These numbers should increase in the future but just look at the prices of corn recently. As more farmers switch crops to corn it is driving the price of other dramatically higher.
Wheat, flour and cereal etc. have gone through the roof and will continue to rise.
BTW I recently interviewed for a job at UTC Power, the tour was quite impressive.
They power most of the plant with a Fuelcell that they use natural gas for the cracking process. IMHO, nuclear power the best source in cracking hydrogen at this time.
No oil or other natural resources are consumed in the process.
Wish me luck, I was laid off three days after the interview. The company of which I was employed as been constricting for years, I was lucky to evade the ax as long as I did giving I was the least senior.
how about helium balloons to make a car lighter?
that's a damn good idea, right there.
sorry if it sounds mickey mouse, LOL!
that's a damn good idea, right there.
sorry if it sounds mickey mouse, LOL!
QUOTE
that's an interesting idea. i don't know though if a hybrid car will still be using the same auto parts like the ones we have today. after all, that piece of technology would have to displace some of the parts on a car if it is indeed to be applied to hybrids.
The key benefit to electric cars is *regenerative braking*. If there were some way to capture the kinetic energy of the car when you hit the brakes, and reuse that energy to speed the car back up when the light changes to green, then the only energy losses would be from rolling friction and aerodynamic drag.
So far, the only way to do regenerative braking is with electric cars.
I think there's a purely mechanical way of implementing regenerative braking, which could be retrofitted to existing vehicles.
Flywheels could be incorporated for energy storage, but you need a continuously-variable transmission to do the braking and acceleration. It doesn't take much of a flywheel to store a car's kinetic energy of, say, 45mph (representative commute speed) for 3 minutes or so (average red light duration). A flywheel capable of storing that much energy would be about the size of a coffee can, maybe a little bigger. Certainly smaller than a hat-box. You could splice the thing to the drive shaft.
there recovering heat as electricity on hybrids, too.
QUOTE (newton+Aug 3 2008, 12:02 AM)
how about helium balloons to make a car lighter?
that's a damn good idea, right there.
sorry if it sounds mickey mouse, LOL!
A car's weight helps it stick to the road, especially on curves. Also, the volume of helium necessary to significantly lighten a car's weight would be so large that it would impose a large amount of aerodynamic drag, enough to counteract any benefits from lightening the car. That's a damn stupid idea right there.
that's a damn good idea, right there.
sorry if it sounds mickey mouse, LOL!
A car's weight helps it stick to the road, especially on curves. Also, the volume of helium necessary to significantly lighten a car's weight would be so large that it would impose a large amount of aerodynamic drag, enough to counteract any benefits from lightening the car. That's a damn stupid idea right there.
well, if you put the balloons inside the exterior panels, they wouldn't add drag, and the fact is lighter cars get better mileage, so, i don't think it's that stupid.
i didn't mean to imply that the car should be floating and frictionless. just 'weight-relieved'.
i still think it's a good idea.
i didn't mean to imply that the car should be floating and frictionless. just 'weight-relieved'.
i still think it's a good idea.
QUOTE (newton+Aug 6 2008, 02:50 PM)
well, if you put the balloons inside the exterior panels, they wouldn't add drag, and the fact is lighter cars get better mileage, so, i don't think it's that stupid.
i didn't mean to imply that the car should be floating and frictionless. just 'weight-relieved'.
i still think it's a good idea.
Apparently you've never been nearly blown off the road in your Geo Metro by a passing semi truck. Light cars are dangerous. And just how much lighter do you think a car would be with only its "exterior panels" filled with helium? How much helium do you think there is on this planet and how quickly do you think helium would escape from "exterior panels?"
i didn't mean to imply that the car should be floating and frictionless. just 'weight-relieved'.
i still think it's a good idea.
Apparently you've never been nearly blown off the road in your Geo Metro by a passing semi truck. Light cars are dangerous. And just how much lighter do you think a car would be with only its "exterior panels" filled with helium? How much helium do you think there is on this planet and how quickly do you think helium would escape from "exterior panels?"
I am a female and know little of how cars work but I found this thread interesting. If I am allowed to add my two cents; I wish some of you smart guys who obviously understand what goes on under the hood or bonnet ,if in England, would invent the solar car that runs on the sun. It should be made as such to store the sun's energy for several months in case of too much rain. The sun is free. It is a nuclear furnace that will continue for at least 7 billion more years so the supply is unlimited from our stand point. We do not have to beg the Arabs to use the sun. The sun does not pollute the air. When you invent this really cool car give it to national security so the oil companies won't submarine the invention as with other cool solar cars of the past. I know this is a little off the balls topic thing but while you guys are thinking, I would love someone to make a car that does not pollute but you can still drive fast if you want.
I like the guy who referred to Star Wars because that would be really cool if someone could understand the laws of physics as to defy gravity to have the car float above the road rather than on it. But I think that technology is further off than the idea of a regular wheeled car but with a solar engine.
I like the guy who referred to Star Wars because that would be really cool if someone could understand the laws of physics as to defy gravity to have the car float above the road rather than on it. But I think that technology is further off than the idea of a regular wheeled car but with a solar engine.
I guess you are referring to a hovercraft with the star Wars reference? Can't we do that already? As far as the solar car goes, if we can use solar energy efficiently enough to propel a car at high speeds then it is only sensible to assume that we will also be able to efficiently use solar energy to charge battery type systems that will allow solar energy to be used when access to the sun is restricted.
To the best of my knowledge there are no cars that I have seen that civilians can purchase that float like Anakin's speeder or Luke Skywalker's vehicle in Episode IV.
We have solar panels that can heat or cool a home but no storage ability. Tesla invented a solar thing that heated water back in the 1890's. In the 1970's the solar panels that we are familiar with was invented. Both times solar was invented and both times the big oil companies submarined it. So I wish some hot shot brain could invent it and get around big oil threw the military or NSA.
We have solar panels that can heat or cool a home but no storage ability. Tesla invented a solar thing that heated water back in the 1890's. In the 1970's the solar panels that we are familiar with was invented. Both times solar was invented and both times the big oil companies submarined it. So I wish some hot shot brain could invent it and get around big oil threw the military or NSA.
Report on current grassroots research that I have seen.
Hybrid car that parks in its own solar garage that charges batteries all day for charging the car, producing hydrogen/oxygen for the hybrids engine that can also run on natural gas, propane or regular gas.
Batteries also power a variety of household needs, but not all yet!
This car went for 40 days with no power other than that supplied by the garage.
One 380 mile trip needed .7 gallons of gas in addition to electric and hydrogen power.
This using currently available tech and will only get better with better batteries and other advances.
The reason big companies are not on board is twofold....
No profit in home based energy production and immense cost to switch to alternate electric/hydrogen source or provide infrastructure for delivery of hydrogen that can be charged for.
Don't get me started on the technical/sociological aspect versus the political/economic forces at play..it gets scary fast.
Bruce
Hybrid car that parks in its own solar garage that charges batteries all day for charging the car, producing hydrogen/oxygen for the hybrids engine that can also run on natural gas, propane or regular gas.
Batteries also power a variety of household needs, but not all yet!
This car went for 40 days with no power other than that supplied by the garage.
One 380 mile trip needed .7 gallons of gas in addition to electric and hydrogen power.
This using currently available tech and will only get better with better batteries and other advances.
The reason big companies are not on board is twofold....
No profit in home based energy production and immense cost to switch to alternate electric/hydrogen source or provide infrastructure for delivery of hydrogen that can be charged for.
Don't get me started on the technical/sociological aspect versus the political/economic forces at play..it gets scary fast.
Bruce
Thank you for the up date on where we are today with regard to alternative cars. Sorry if the politics bothers you. I just naturally think of the reasons we are headed for disaster. I hate greed and stupidity. We have evolved past our lizard brains and have the cerebrum for a long time now. I would think by now we should use our brains to advance mankind rather than continue aggressive competitive behavior of our lizard ancestors. There is a reason I like Carl Sagan, he reminds the world what our minds should be capable of but are ignoring it.
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