I have been scouring the Newsgroups and I believe have found a better
scooter scenario. The added bonus is that they are autonomous.
High tech Scooter -$1000.00 -Single wheel or a simplified modification of
the I-BOT
GPS -$200.00 - includes maps or scooter trails
GSM Phone -$200.00 - for location services, bluetooth
communication with nearby scooters
Control computer -$400.00 - to control scooter for planned trip
sensor system -$400.00 - Extra safety
Fuzzy dice -$ 4.00 - Gotta have 'em
---------------------------
$2204.00
We can argue numbers later.
If you network them all together, and they were semi automated, you can have
a safe comfortable trip at a reasonable speed.
You get routed using OSPF protocols (internet router routing logic for the
Non-Nerds - open shortest path first), so the transportation system routes
around slow spots and can even load-balance the scooter traffic. Unmanned
scooters can deliver packages through the same system.
If the cities open up a one normal traffic lane, and you can get twice the
number of people through the same space. The scooters ride straight down the
yellow line, and they avoid accidents.
This could be considered revolutionary.
I suspect that Kamen was wanting to expand out the I-Bot, where he realized
that everyone could use an ultra-safe scooter. He is leveraging what he
learned from the I-Bot. This combined with modern stirling engine
technology, a safe, energy efficient, non polluting scooter could be
created.
In all of the research I did today regarding the top problems cities face,
Transportation was #1. Second was water/land pollution, and the third, Air
pollution. If the scooters used efficient non-polluting power, you solve two
out of three.
This would be more popular in Europe, where they use public transportation
more, and they have wireless Location services running already (You can
thank the FCC for the US being three years behind the rest of the modern
world).
The 2002 timeline may be related to Location services being available here
in the States.
I think I can sleep tonight, now.
Nerd From Hell
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Christopher Gwyn [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2001 4:31 PM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: What is *IT*?
>
>
> Gary Nunn wrote:
> > During our humble discussion at work, we decided that it
> might be a easily
> > and cheaply mass produced fuel cell technology. As Joshua
> wrote, something
> > along those lines does fit all of the criteria.
> yes.... and given the current flap over power, and Middle East
> politics such a thing would certainly fit the descriptions given.
>
> > I ran across an article on ABCnews.COM that has a drawing
> > and speculates that it might be a personal scooter.
> Personally, I would be
> > disappointed if that's all it was.
> i would also be very disappointed if that was all it
> was....and i
> don't see how a scooter could possibly fit the descriptions given.
> but if it is a flywheel technology that made energy as storable and
> portable as gasoline then using it to make a personal scooter would
> be one of the many consumer uses.
> after cold fusion i'm sceptical, but i can't see the
> collection of
> people listed as supporting it being taken in by anything that wasn't
> clearly demonstrated. i am curious though as to why the secrecy. the
> only reason i can think of is in order to facilitate manufacturing
> without interference by competition - which would mean that the news
> we are hearing now is an artifact of how hard ot is to actually
> _keep_ a secret. we may know a lot more in a few weeks.
>
> cheers,
> christopher
> --
> Christopher Gwyn
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
