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A stroll around the park may soon be enough to charge the
raft of batteries needed in today's power-hungry gadgets.
US and Canadian scientists have built a novel device that effortlessly
harvests energy from human movements.
The adapted knee brace, outlined in the journal Science, can
generate enough energy to power a mobile phone for 30 minutes
from one minute of walking.
The first people to benefit could be amputees who are being
fitted with increasingly sophisticated prosthetics.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/
filed under:
energy,
genetics
Property spectrum: Action coordination
This principle describes the coordination between components,
systems, and their environments towards a common goal. Evolution
is from a non-coordinated action between subsystem, system,
and super-system elements to increasing coordination and synergy
between them
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Of all known concepts for effective and sustainable alternative
propulsion of merchant vessels, SkySails represents the only
suitable model: no bothersome masts on deck, no restriction
of stowage space, no hindrances to loading and discharging,
no risk to the crew, cargo or ship as well as reliable overall
performance. Utilisation of wind energy by means of the towing
kite makes it possible to provide relief to the main engine
- 10 to 15 percent less bunker consumption is expected in the
initial phase of operation.
The MV "Beluga SkySails" is equipped with a kite measuring 160
square metres. Later, when the sail is scaled up to 320 square
metres in the course of the coming year in order to increase
efficiency on the high seas, potential savings of 20 to 30 percent
are definitely feasible and realistic. Beluga Shipping GmbH
initially reckons with a reduction in the existing bunker costs
for the vessels diesel fuel within a low four-digit US dollar
range per day of operation of the towing kite system.
http://www.beluga-group.com/
filed under:
energy ,
physics,
travel
Property spectrum: Size
Producers of all kinds of products are making their products
smaller and smaller. Increasing the size of a product also has
its advantages, such as an increased surface area for towing
a cargo ship.
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Pump spray bottles really suck. As soon as you turn one
a teenzy-weenzy bit off its upright position it stops spraying.
Getting the last of the contents is also virtually impossible.
With this extra flexible piece of tube with its weighted end,
most pump spray bottles can be made to work in most any position.
The SprayRite tube is supposed to replace the original tube
inside the bottle.
http://www.solutions.com/
filed under:
gadgets,
household
Property spectrum: Flexibility
Increasing flexibility is one of the most applied properties.
Many products evolve from rigid to completely flexible. The
main benefits that can be gained from making a similar evolution
are better damage protection, more compact folding and the ability
to make variations in size and shape.
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TLT represents the technology behind the principle of a
usual golfball dimples. A golfball with "Dimples" on the surface
flies at 4 times the speed of a ball with a smooth surface.
Transferred to other surfaces the TLT surface reduces the resistance
from loss of currents by up to 35% and/or improves the heat
transfer by up to 460% in relation to smooth surfaces.
TLT represents, as it were, the invention of the "wheel" for
air and water, because each medium (air, water, the ground...)
has a specific density. The greater the density, the greater
the friction resistance. Therefore one needs another "wheel"
for each medium according to its density.
http://www.inventors-network.de/
filed under:
aerospace,
technologies,
travel
Property spectrum: Surface
This property describes the evolution of surface texture. Surfaces
tend to evolve from flat, smooth surfaces towards bumpy surfaces.
Dimpled surfaces may bring reduced drag, improved heat dispersion,
and additional traction.
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This month we selected the submission of Ignaas Caryn from
KLM.
Test aircraft A380 MSN004 has flown between Filton and Toulouse
with one engine powered by alternative fuel. The test, part
of Airbus' research programme into alternative fuels, was run
in collaboration with Shell International Petroleum and Rolls
Royce.
The tests were run on an A380 as it is the most modern aircraft
flying today, however the fuel could equally have been tested
on any Airbus aircraft. The alternative fuel used on the test
flight was gas to liquid (GTL), which looks like kerosene, but
is clear coloured. It is a natural gas, which has been cleaned
and has undergone the Fischer-Tropsch process - the conversion
of synthesis gas to liquid fuel.
http://www.airbus.com/
filed under:
automotive,
energy,
environment
Property spectrum: Liquid
One of the most prominent property spectra is the state. It
describes an evolution of products and processes starting with
solid matter and then moving to liquids, gases and finally fields.
Here the fuel takes the reverse step from a gas to liquid.
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If
you enjoy CREAX newsletters, you will enjoy our hands-on MoreInspiration
course seminar. Our next 2-day seminar is scheduled for the
26th & 27th
of March 2008 and the following course for the 29th & 30th of April
2008. This first course in French will be given on
21st & 22nd
of May 2008. 
The following events have been planned for the coming months:
Knee
dynamo 
Beluga
sky sails 
Spray
in all directions
Tornado
like technology
A380
on alternative fuel
Company
news
