Wind-Powered "Greenbird" Seeks Land-Speed Record 38
Mike writes with this tantalizing excerpt: "Dale Vince of Ecotricity and engineer Richard Jenkins are setting up on the salt flats at Lake LeFroy in Western Australia, hoping to catch the right breeze and break the wind-powered landspeed record of 116.7 mph in their sleek wind-powered vehicle, the Greenbird."
apparent wind (Score:2, Insightful)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apparent_wind [wikipedia.org]
Re:Transportation? (Score:3, Insightful)
From TFA:
The team plans to take the knowledge they gain from these experiences and apply it to the real world, incorporating aspects from the design into the next generation of vehicles and micro turbines.
So there may be something useful achieved. But even if not, it's still a pretty cool thing. Besides, not everything has to be useful.
I think you need to get out more.
Re:Transportation? (Score:3, Insightful)
A lot of knowledge is gained by these types of endeavors. Even if they seem pointless.
Why do motor companies continue to invest in various forms of automotive racing? It isn't like they can sell F1 cars to very many people? They do it because they can learn things under extreme conditions. They learn about tire wear, aerodynamics, engine performance, etc. (and of course, they also get brand exposure, but that is a side benefit).
Setting the wind powered land speed record will aid in aerodynamics, harnessing wind (which could be useful in converting it to electricity) and I'm sure several other areas. And in the process, they get to put their names in the news (and possibly the book of world records).
And besides, have you ever written a program "because you can" or maybe modded a case "because you can" or built a robot "because you can"?
Layne
Re:3-5 times actual wind speed? (Score:3, Insightful)