A boat on the street, a steam-powered bicycle, or a spacecraft tugging asteroids… These are just a few fascinating inventions related to transportation around the world.
A Boat on the Street
This unique creation is showcased at a car exhibition in New York. On the road, this bizarre machine is truly an authentic American vehicle. On the water, it floats thanks to its completely sealed hull. The engine attached at the rear allows it to glide like a patrol boat.
The only significant drawback is the lack of a roof for rainy conditions. While in the city, one can temporarily use an umbrella, but when speeding down the highway, you must hide behind the seat to avoid getting wet.
The First Electric Hot Air Balloon
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The Electroplume 250. Photo: tovima.dolnet |
“Electroplume 250” is the name of the first electric hot air balloon, a type of ultra-light aircraft manufactured by a balloon company in France.
Filled with 250 cubic meters of helium, measuring 18.6 meters in length and 5.2 meters in diameter, this single-seat flying device is powered by three 2 kW engines. It is equipped with a battery pack and can fly for 2 to 3 hours at a speed of 50 km/h, but can operate all day at a slower pace.
Silent and non-polluting, the Electroplume does not disturb the areas it passes through, a feature highly appreciated by scientists. A two-seat version containing 500 cubic meters of gas is currently under research, and this is a fantastic idea for couples who wish to soar together.
A Steam-Powered Bicycle
Another inventor has transformed an antique into a modern marvel. Inspired by a bicycle model from World War II, this resourceful Englishman has tirelessly tinkered for decades to create a steam-powered version.
With its classic design, this quirky bike can eventually reach a speed of 20 km/h. The only inconvenience is that when starting, you must wait a few minutes for the steam pressure to build up sufficiently to move the piston that turns the wheels. While waiting for a ride on this timeless creation, one must resort to pedaling.
Next-Generation Supersonic Aircraft
The Japanese supersonic aircraft has reached speeds of 2,450 km/h during a test flight, potentially representing a future Concorde. It was launched to an altitude of 19,000 meters by a rocket, then flew solo for 15 minutes. Currently, it is just an 11.5-meter prototype.
With this model, the Japanese hope to create a larger and faster aircraft. When flying at a speed of 2,940 km/h, it could reduce the flight time from Tokyo to New York to just 6 hours instead of the current 11 hours and 30 minutes.
A Tug for Asteroids
What should one do if an asteroid threatens Earth in the near future? Push it away with rockets, like in Armageddon? Certainly not! The debris from such an approach could be more harmful than the asteroid itself.
A group of American scientists has proposed a more delicate method: simply use gravitational force to divert the asteroid without physically touching it. According to the law of gravity, two objects exert a gravitational force on each other proportional to their masses; thus, researchers have the idea of launching a spacecraft close to the asteroid to attract it toward itself. This way, the gravitational pull will act like an invisible cable stretching between the two objects.
Therefore, a spacecraft weighing 20 tons could redirect an asteroid with a diameter of 200 meters, pulling it away for months until it no longer poses a threat to Earth.
