Maglevs and bikes

[IgnusDei]

I just finished watching Akira (again), and whoa, it hasn't lost it's charm. My favorite part? the laser rifle. but more to the subject, my second favorite part has to be the BIKE!


And upon closer examination, it seems that the wheels use maglevs instead of conventional mechanics in order to move.

Needless to say: i want one of those. The thing is, is it even feasible? Or even effective?

[Nova]

Well, aside from requiring massive ammounts of energy to power the magnets and the fact that you'd have to baby the bike while driving it (as dents in a magnet will ruin the field), it is possible. Feasible and effective? I don't know, with todays technology, definatly not.

But yes, I must agree with you on the Akira being a wicked movie.

[sajuukar]

Maybe you don't really need magnets thou... maybe real hovering stuff should use air jets!

[Nova]

The bike didn't hover, it had wheels, but it didn't have the convential engine and drive train. An air bike would also be interesting, it would work off simplier concepts but would have more moving parts.

[Walker]

Magnetic-born bicycles are more than possible, they've been made. Dunno about anything else though.

[oneredpanther]

do-able.... yes
feasible....not really
efficient....not even in your dreams.

why bother in the first place?

[zenogias]

do-able.... yes
feasible....not really
efficient....not even in your dreams.

why bother in the first place?

Why not?

[Mazar_Paktu]

because it's cool!
Walker: do you mean bikes powered by magnets or bikes that float above the ground using magnets?

[Nova]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
do-able.... yes
feasible....not really
efficient....not even in your dreams.

why bother in the first place?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Why not?
The Electro-magnets would require too much energy only allowing the bike to be one for short amounts of time before needing to be refuled or have its powerpack replaced. THe bike it's self would probably cost more then a two story house and the extra cost of the fuel would begin to add up quickly.

At this point in time, the bike wouldn't be woth the time and money used to develop it.

BTW, Ignus was talking about the bike in this (http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B00005JG6Q.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg) picture.

[zenogias]

Yes, yes . . . power this, mechanics that.

That's not the point. I was just tweaking Panther's tail by being a smart-ass.

Besides, sometimes people feel the need to do things not because they should, or because it makes any sense, but because they can. If people did not feel this need, we'd have no climbing of Mt. Everest, moon walks, art, or extreme sports.

And yes, we all know Kaneda's bike is cool. I don't even like motorcycles, but I'd give my left-nut for Kaneda's bike because, as mentioned, it is cool. Ungodly so.

;) (because somebody would think I'm serious about that "nut" comment).

[Walker]

Mazar: Bicycle with no spokes or axle - a thin rim that interfaces with the frame at the top, where the brakes are, where there is a series of magnets that hold the wheel in place. There are similar magnet arrays around the specialised frame wheel arch, which extends forward of the brakes one way and almost to the ground the other. The rim contacts the frame at no point, allowing the most frictionless movement.

Although I last saw only concept models many years ago. Braking was a problem, as the wheels would jerk into the sensetive magnet arrays around the rim and wear them down. Gearing and drive was a nightmarish affair with gyroscopic compensators that allowed the entire mechanism to hang freely from the rear wheel, hard to explain. And when all was said and done, it just seemed like a big gimmick to me. Give me graphite steel gearing, bearings and a can of oil anyday.

[Rodimus]

Originally posted by Walker
Mazar: Bicycle with no spokes or axle - a thin rim that interfaces with the frame at the top, where the brakes are, where there is a series of magnets that hold the wheel in place. There are similar magnet arrays around the specialised frame wheel arch, which extends forward of the brakes one way and almost to the ground the other. The rim contacts the frame at no point, allowing the most frictionless movement.

Although I last saw only concept models many years ago. Braking was a problem, as the wheels would jerk into the sensetive magnet arrays around the rim and wear them down. Gearing and drive was a nightmarish affair with gyroscopic compensators that allowed the entire mechanism to hang freely from the rear wheel, hard to explain. And when all was said and done, it just seemed like a big gimmick to me. Give me graphite steel gearing, bearings and a can of oil anyday.

lik tihs? :)
http://elfwood.lysator.liu.se/zone/b/o/boulard/bikes.jpg.html

[deadguy]

I forgot about those! I love Boulard - his stuff is so heavily influenced by Masamune Shirow (who is my God), and it rocks.

[sajuukar]

Ooo, those are really nice, but wouldn't this (http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/apj888/vwp?.dir=/My+Documents&.dnm=Kinetica.jpg&.src=ph&.view=t&.hires=t) be fun to do?!?!

And check this (http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/apj888/vwp?.dir=/My+Documents&.dnm=Bikergirl.jpg&.src=ph&.view=t&.hires=t) bike out :D

[Mr.Popo]

lol, try going directly from airsoft forums to Relic forums. My head almost exploded.

[TheBob]

Bumpage provided 100% pure and free from your man, kepping it real, Dr. B.

:D

[Rodimus]

you don't really need to bump in the relic forums anymore


sigh.....kidna sad really

[TheBob]

I'll try to keep that in mind.

[Rodimus]

no, i meant that it's sad there are so few relic boardies left :)

at least boardies who post

[Noname_MiB]

there used to be a few hundred posts a day (UBB forums)

[RBA-Wintrow]

I WOULD give my left nut for such a bike.
But I can't, I already mailed it to Relic for Homeworld 2 :)

(Anyone remember the"Will give left nut for Homeworld 2" Thread? Sigh, those where the days). :)

[Noname_MiB]

it was "Will Give Left Nut For HW Mission Pack" :D
hehe i have it archived here:
nut thread (http://www.strategyplanet.com/homeworld/rbarchive/archives/Nut.htm)
UBB archives (http://www.strategyplanet.com/homeworld/rbarchive/GDA.htm)