Boat Moves Without an Engine Or Sails 234
coondoggie writes "Researchers say technology they have developed would let boats or small aquatic robots glide through the water without the need for an engine, sails or paddles.
A University of Pittsburgh research team has designed a propulsion system that uses the natural surface tension that is present on the water's surface and an electric pulse to move the boat or robot, researchers said. The Pitt system has no moving parts and the low-energy electrode that emits the pulse could be powered by batteries, radio waves, or solar power, researchers said in a statement."
Is it the Red October? (Score:5, Funny)
Watch the video (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Is it the Red October? (Score:2, Funny)
Listen to it at 10 times speed.
Oblig (Score:1, Funny)
Yeah, but does it run Linux?
There is however one down side. (Score:3, Funny)
The low-energy electrode that emits the pulse could be powered by batteries, radio waves, or solar power, researchers said in a statement."
Caveat: said boat must be 8 inches long or less.
Glittering diamond of hope *cough cough* (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Problems with their explanation (Score:3, Funny)
This is the worst poem I've ever read.
Boat moves without engine, paddles or sails (Score:5, Funny)
Re:for real (Score:3, Funny)
Just break everything to 2cm pieces and send millions of boats.
Yes but.. (Score:5, Funny)
How effective is it at killing Manatees, hobo's of the sea?
I refuse to use any sort of boat that doesn't maim or injure an endangered species. That's just the kind of forward thinking person I am.
Re:Oblig (Score:5, Funny)
In this case, it should be "does it run in Linux". (The answer is no. The surface tension is too low. The kernel mailing list tension, on the other hand, would be perfect.)
"Boat Moves Without an Engine Or Sails" (Score:5, Funny)
Boat Moves Without an Engine Or Sails
the vikings fixed this problem long ago.
Re:Yes but.. (Score:2, Funny)
How effective is it at killing Manatees,
Oh, the huge Manatee!
Re:There is however one down side. (Score:1, Funny)
That's what she said.
Re:Practical use? (Score:5, Funny)
What are the advantages of this over using an engine or sail? Would it be friendlier to the environment, faster, or efficient?
Whatever the practical application, this is cool!
It's a brilliant way to ship your toothpicks overseas one at a time.
Re:Is it the Red October? (Score:5, Funny)
It's even lower energy!
Re:"Boat Moves Without an Engine Or Sails" (Score:4, Funny)
Boat Moves Without an Engine Or Sails
the vikings fixed this problem long ago.
They sure did. [imagehost.org]
Re:for real (Score:5, Funny)
I think that's called the BoatTorrent protocol.
Re:Better Article (Score:5, Funny)
Raising the rear end of a RORO ship or passenger cruiser a millimetre or two isn't going to have much of an effect, methinks.
RORORO your ship,
Gently down a slope,
Surface tension's far too weak,
The whole idea is broke.
Re:Is it the Red October? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Is it the Red October? (Score:3, Funny)
Surface for a picnic?
Re:Calm water (Score:1, Funny)
You were lucky to have a lake! There were a hundred and fifty of us, living in a shoebox in the middle of the road!
Save the Sea Kittens from the electric pulses! (Score:2, Funny)
The tinfoil hat wearing members of PETA won't stand for such sea kitten torture and distress!
Re:No, it is not even remotely similar. (Score:3, Funny)
Re:No, it is not even remotely similar. (Score:1, Funny)
Picture a large, straight colon, shoving diarrhea rearward via peristalsis:
Yeah...thanks for the visual. Couldn't you have used some sort of car analogy?
Re:No, it is not even remotely similar. (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Calm water (Score:3, Funny)
Can this really work outside of a lab, where the water surface isn't like glass ?
It sure can work outside the lab. Check out [mit.edu] the pics (search for figure 2 / figure 3) to see photos!
I love how Figure #9 has the naughty bits blacked out!