Scoobike By Ardhyaska Amy

 As you might have guessed by the name, the Scoobike combines push and pedal power to form one perfectly minimal and super-accessible system of public, hybrid bikes for getting around the urban jungle in a jiffy. Pedal-powered LED lights provide added safety beyond generic reflectors and an adjustable seat means one size fits all!

Fifty Years Of Aviation - The Big Picture

NANOQ Mobile Media-Centric Habitation And Work Unit

NANOQ mobile media-centric habitation and work unit has been designed specifically for workers in extreme as well as temperate climates. This mobile unit features renewable powered hydrogen/oxygen energy supply. The energy production comes from vertical axis wind turbine supported by photovoltaic generators and fuel cell. The skin of NANOQ is made of carbon fiber plates combined with vacuum insulation system to keep the cold away in extreme cold environments.

Hover Car - Prototype

Lucky Punk – Electric Concept Car

Innovative concepts always manage to transcend all limits of conventionality to appeal to our ‘audacious’ side of nature. Well, we are lucky enough to come across Lucky Punk, a four wheeled vehicle concept that certainly falls under the innovative as well as audacious bracket. Conceived by the design squad of Lucky Team 21, the futuristic all-terrain vehicle is inspired by a myriad of influences ranging from aircrafts to bio-engineering.

The petite, aerodynamic form shrouded by a flashy ’see-through’ material, will be supported by a four-wheel system driven by electric hub motors. They in turn will be powered by an exclusive and conspicuous (in comparison to the size of the car) magnetic engine, which according to the designers will have the capability to produce 5 times more power than it consumes. The energy generated by the engine can be stored in batteries for further convenient and practical usage.

 Coming to the unique and rather advanced wheel system, the tires used would be literally self growing. Constructed from a composite of bio-rubber and mushroom, the tires will ‘grow’ around their fixed central system of molds. When supplied with electricity, the augmenting process will become faster, thus helping the bio-engineered tires to reach their fullest form around the molds.

 Other features like the distinct aircraft inspired fin on the back section of the vehicle will help in dissipating heat. The paint job will vary from matte (for absorbing heat) to glossy (for reflecting heat), while the body steering will be controlled by an adaptive suspension mechanism by the wheels. So all in all, the energy efficient, low emission futuristic vehicle will be perfectly suitable for an adventurous romp fueled by green technology.

Renault R4 Rally Is Constructed From Stretched Textiles Over a Tubular Structure

 Parisian designers’ yann terrer in partnership with jérôme garzon has unveiled a new concept car as part of Renault 4 Ever competition, called Renault R4 Rally, focusing on the energy cycle. The competition itself asked its participants to redesign the Renault R4 to feature its historical lineage, contemporary aesthetic and sustainable design.

 Being powered by solar energy, the concept car integrates nanotechnology with eco-friendly materials. The Renault R4 rally adds factors for improving the competence during the sedan’s manufacture and its use. In fact, this concept car earns the honor for being shortlisted among the 3200 submissions from 92 different countries in the competition. This concept car has been made of stretched textiles over a tubular structure, while its body employs less energy during production in comparison to a conventional one that is made of steel.

Since nanotechnology has been used, the sedan’s body fabric lets solar energy to be assimilated and harnessed. The doors are designed to have open structures that necessitate minimal material for manufacture. Renault R4 rally concept gives the other parked sedans the innovative function of generating electricity.

Chevy Volt Batteries

General Motors has demonstrated an end-of-life reuse plan for spent Electric Vehicle (EV) batteries in partnership with ABB, the power electronics and automation giant. The environmentally conscious auto buyer, who opts for buying an Electric Vehicle, remains concerned about what happens to the batteries at the end of their warranted life. In the past, used lead-acid car batteries ended up in landfills that led to heavy metal contamination of ground water and streams that needed expensive cleanup operations.

GM and ABB conducted a laboratory demonstration at the University of North Carolina campus in Raleigh that combined a bank of “used” EV batteries with an Inverter pack to produce 25 kilowatts of power for 2 hours. The 25/50 kWH pack could provide standby power to five homes. The batteries used in the demo were not really used batteries. The Chevy Volt warrants its batteries for 8 years or 100,000 miles and the car has not been on the roads for long enough to generate “used” batteries. The application , which is planned to be field tested in 2012 with help from the Electric Power Research Institute ( EPRI) aims to apply this Inverter to applications like storage batteries for renewable energy sources and as a standby power source connected to a transformer that feeds five homes on a street.

GM senior manager for battery life-cycle management , Pablo Valencia says that even after a 10 year use on the Chevy Volt car, the lithium ion batteries would still have 70 percent residual life that could well meet the utilities requirement of a 15 year further life for any standby power source they install. He also says that more spent batteries than needed could be used in the Inverter application to provide for any deficiencies in battery residual life. Valencia says that battery energy storage capacity declines in the first few years and then it “levels off”

Some battery researchers disagree.They say that as batteries age, they undergo changes in structure and chemistry that would make the performance hard to predict. Other critics point out that battery technologies are evolving fast and in 10 years when the EV used batteries become available in large quantity, then technology would make these batteries unattractive for use.

Nissan has also announced a partnership with Sumitomo Corporation to use spent EV batteries to store solar power. They have installed seven Leaf recharging stations at the Nissan Headquarters that have solar roof panels charging battery packs at the ground level.

TriMove – Three Hubless Wheeled Motorbike By Mohammad Ghezel

 Here is a design from Mohammad Ghezel that will blow your mind away. Primarily a three hubless wheel concept sets this one visually apart from any other bike on a top notch. When you first see this bike, you will only be wonder struck at the three wheels that it boldly flaunts. Unlike all other big, boring three wheeled bikes the TriMove is designed so sensually that agility and speed is a certainty. Very narrow and the tilting three wheels of TriMove redefines a trike for you.

Not just with its looks, this bike also charms with its fantastic features. It has a splendid three-disc braking system that needs very less braking space, making it perfectly safe. Also for all you people who are wondering about how this bike will help you balance; it has a triangular footprint, that balances brilliantly even when it is stationary.

The design, even though criticized for some so-called unergonomic characteristics, it is still avant-garde and highly fancy. There is nothing extrinsic about the bike, but because it is a new concept, its technical potency is not yet explored to the fullest.

Supersonic Futuristic Car

 The Supersonic is developed by Marko Lukovic of Serbia, a professor of industrial design. The structural design of SUPERSONIC is very essential and unique compared to other cars. Supersonic can carry two people seated one behind the other. It’s been designed with superb aerodynamics where main inspiration was established based on high-speed Supersonic flying aircrafts. The principles of the aerodynamic and easy styling are now radically emphasized. The very large Xenon head-lights are installed with blue LEDs, which produce the very striking and eye-catchy exterior design.

This futuristic vehicle has been designed with three wheels where the front wheels are hidden and each of back wheels is driven by its own controlling electric motor. It has extra-durable lithium-ion batteries which are located at the rear part of the supersonic. The steering is composed of Drive-By-Wire system and the transmission is automatic. It satisfies all future needs and is very light and safe. Automatic pilot mode is a typical feature.

Stinger Concept Bike Combines A Scooter and A Motorbike

 Stinger is a concept bike which includes nearly every available ecological niche that a traditional bike generally lacks. The main difference between conventional high-emission bicycles and Stinger is, this bike is helping the environment by keeping it pollution-free by using fuel cells. Moreover, renewable resources were used to make the adaptive, versatile and eco-friendly bicycle which would be a true alternative to traditional ones. This bike is very much adaptive and robust just like an insect that can adapt the narrow space situations of metropolitan areas. Considering the functionality, stinger is neither a scooter nor a motorbike – it combines the assets of both.

Nimbell Electric City Tractor

 The Electric City Tractor project was all about designing a conceptual city tractor, which works entirely on electricity. A team of entrepreneurs at the Chalmers School of Entrepreneurship worked on the concept and developed it. Eventually, it was used by Nimbell Motors to get investors for their company. According to the team members, ensuring perfect balance between the eco friendliness of the tractor and its credibility was a tough task. After comprehensive user studies and complete understanding of ergonomics, a life size mock-up was built. The design team which in totality had eight members was bifurcated, with each team having four members each. The work load was evenly divided, with one team handling the interiors and the other being responsible for the exterior expressions.

 Every person who owns a farm knows the importance of using electric tractors. However, if you are going to buy a tractor, then initially you may be only concerned about the budget, the type of work you need to do with the tractor, how much land you need to work and in which months of the year you will be using your tractor. After being satisfied with all these parameters you really get concerned about how much energy-efficient and environmentally friendly your tractor is. But this mindset needs to be changed. As the time is progressing, so is the technology, making our machines more nature friendly. The Nimbell Electric City Tractor is certainly a step forward toward ensuring sustainable development, which is the need of the hour.

Alstom Loop Train-Tram By Alex Nadal

 An easy way to travel and connect oneself with the whole city is through trams. Small and convenient, a tram is like a bus on road. To make trips around the city easy, a new concept in trams called the Alstom Loop train-tram is here.

Designed by Alex Nadal, it consists of total three coaches. While two being adaptable and one fixed for seats, it looks extremely cute. With an open door distance of 140 cm, it allows freedom in movement for passengers. Muddling through any kind of movable inconvenience is the last coach, including wheels. With a flexibility to work as a short distance train and a tram, Loop is capable of adjusting under various situations.

Riparian Project By Adam Voorhees

 Historically, the static form language and program of a yacht has been at odds within the always dynamic context of its environment, a stagnant set of ideals bound up by history and tradition. Every yacht has been classified and segregated into specific and discrete categories based on its limitations. What if these limitations are removed and a yacht is created to perform optimally in all conditions in any location?

The Riparian project explores the potentials of adaptive and flexible systems to redefine the yacht and to provide the ultimate experience of living on the sea.

 The Riparian is a new moving landscape whose purpose is to create a provocative conversation between the user, the yacht, and the environment. These three interdependent and essential elements define a condition where the yacht must adapt and transform to reflect the dynamic context of its surroundings. A facilitator for enhancing possibilities rather than an object for consumption, the Riparian creates new opportunities for clients wanting their yacht to have more purpose in their search to participate in life.

 The focal point of the Riparian is the innovative superstructure which transforms continuously through a spectrum of positions, intelligently responding to environmental conditions and user inputs. These physical transformations use a Shape Memory Alloy (Nitinol) structural skeleton with specific active and passive nodes. The nodes control the shaping through large scale movements and fine tuning individual sections.

 The superstructure is able to change and reduce its aerodynamic profile to increase efficiency and reduce harmful live loads. Ventilation is performed by changing the physical shape of the superstructure to create high and low pressure zones with prevailing wind direction to encourage and direct ventilation. The volumes of the spaces contained within the superstructure can be changed for heating and cooling requirements, and natural light and views are controllable through adjusting the physical location of the skin or modulating the transparency of the surface.

Juxtaposing the dynamic statement of the superstructure, the form language of the hull and decks create an artificial landscape that undulates and flows along many levels. This reference to terra firma creates a sense of connection to the familiar while offering unique opportunities to circulate around the yacht.

Water plays an important role to reinforce the feeling of landscape and to further connect the users to the nautical environment. The pool on the aft deck and the reflection pond on the perimeter of the Venture deck level blur the distinction between the boundaries of the yacht and that of the sea. Six levels of living spaces are centered around freestanding and functional objects organized like a gallery exhibit. These spaces are purposefully ambiguous yet playful. Veiling the immediate understanding of the arrangement of the living spaces encourages the users to explore each area, heightening their awareness of it.

Self-sufficiency of a yacht is inherently tied to its sustainability. A strong motivator for the design of the Riparian is a respect and concern for the environment. The yacht does not rely on fossil fuels, in turn reducing its carbon footprint by using only hydrogen and the sun for power generation. An advanced fuel cell system and photovoltaics embedded in the superstructure provides all the needed energy for propulsion and onboard systems.

All of the materials used regard sustainability, eco-friendliness, and longevity. The Riparian also complies to RINA Green star regulations, RINA Secure Yacht certification, and IMO Alternative Design initiatives. The Riparian erases the limited boundaries of traditional yacht design, representing a new direction of transformability and flexibility for the ultimate in sophistication.

Sunbeam Tiger Concept By Ryan Skelley

 With the advancements in the field of batteries and electric motors, new transportation concepts are popping up, promising high performance and stylish design. The new “Sunbeam Tiger Concept” is another concept that can answer the question raised on the performance and speed of electric cars as compared to other vehicles. The concept was designed as a part of final year project of Coventry University’s design course by Ryan Skelley. It’s a two-seater lightweight vehicle powered by a lithium-titanate battery pack. That means a zero emission engine with better performance

 If you remember, the Sunbeam Tiger holds the land speed record achieved in 1925. This new concept can be considered as a rebirth of its previous version. Theoretically, the vehicle can achieve a 0-60 mph speed in 2.3 seconds and can go up to an electronically limited 160mph top speed. Once the battery is fully charged, which will take 4 hours with an optional charger, the Sunbeam can take you up to 800 miles. It’s not at all a bad performance for an electric car.

A zero emission engine is not the only factor that makes this ride environmentally friendly, but even the materials used in construction also include eco-friendly material. Recycled aluminum makes the chassis that also features integrated rollover protection for the user. Body panels are made from hemp fiber and are eco-painted as well. Further, making it more ethical, the design incorporates an interior made from soy foam seats covered with natural bio-fabric.

Wait, it wasn’t the last eco-friendly feature; lastly we have tires made up of cornstarch and natural fiber for the brake pads. Honestly, if this concept ever hits the road, it will be a green landmark.

Voronoi Yacht By Hyun-Seok Kim

The designer of Voronoi yacht, which is 125 meter long, said that he tried to build an exclusive and enjoyable opulent yacht. He named this megayacht as Voronoi that originated from Voronoi pattern. This 20-meter beam max single hull megayacht will certainly satisfy guests while they are on board. The most striking feature of this yacht is that it is surrounded by voronoi structure plus indoor garden and alluring swimming pool being outfitted on the bridge deck. There is a main salon where everyone can relax and just hang around. Nonetheless, the yacht features a bar, galley, and a stage for playing music as well as dining room. According to the designer, this megayacht will make the most of your yachting experience.

Amantide Electric Trike

 The prime dependency for today’s transportation needs is on fossil fuels. These fossil fuels being non renewable in nature and contributors towards pollution, efforts should be made for increasing usage of alternative sources of energy. In the recent times, there have been quite some attempts towards developing two as well as four wheelers that run on electricity. The awareness towards these modes of transportation has also simultaneously increased.

 A recent invention that’s based on utilizing energy from electricity is the Amantide Electric Trike. This three wheeler mode of transportation designed by Florentin Hortopan has a revolutionary design. It has seating space for a single person, with one wheel to support on the backside, and two wheels on the front side, with leg rests attached to the extensions supporting these wheels.

 A handlebar attached near the base of the seat has an accelerator on the right hand side similar to a motorbike, whereas the braking mechanism for the trike is activated by pulling the entire handlebar towards the chest of the rider. Additionally, there is also a spring like suspension beneath the seat that acts as shock absorber for the jerks that might be encountered during riding the trike. The source of power, a rechargeable battery would also be located besides this spring suspension.

What makes this trike more desirable as well as (supposedly) theft proof, is the fact that post the ride, the user can fold it up and carry it with him to his next destination or store it inside his room/cubicle. No doubt, the trike looks elementary and maybe a tad funny, but there is no denying the fact that it is a safe and convenient alternative for commuting short distances and contributing a bit towards the environment.

Autonomous Sailboat

 You must have heard of UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), also called drones. But did you know that there are drone boats too? In fact, these autonomous sailing boats even have a world championship devoted exclusive to racing on the high seas. This year’s Microtransat Challenge — a transatlantic race — is planned to start between August 31st and September 30th 2011.

 These tiny ships have microprocessors to help with navigation but are propelled by the wind. The race takes between 40 and 60 days to complete. The boat, or call it a Ro-boat if you will, which crosses the Atlantic and reaches the finish line in the shortest time is the winner. To do this it has to battle a host of hostile conditions. These include facing storms, winds of over 50 knots, tropical storms and even hurricanes common in latitudes close to Ecuador.

The microprocessor has to decide the course of the boat based on wind speed, weather conditions, etc…all without any human intervention. Before leaving, each team must
choose a field of 50 kilometers in diameter along the fixed line.

Man sure has come a long time from rickety rafts and boats with oars which could barely cross rivers, leave aside oceans. Wonder what Columbus would have thought of tiny robotic boats making the same journey that he did in a fraction of his time and most importantly with much greater accuracy.

These tiny sail boats require a lot of time and research and very few actually manage to complete the journey. Last year, only the team from Aberystwyth University were able to launch during this time.

In order to avoid collision at sea, the boats are equipped with an AIS class B transponder. Additionally, for it’s remote tracking they have a satellite transponder. Tech that, Columbus.