Throughout my daily commute I see many people making U-turns, some with ease, but the majority seems to encounter difficulty. The process itself isn't difficult, but dealing with your fellow commuters while performing the move can be. I feel that if vehicles were equipped with a U-turn signal drivers would be less likely to rear-end you and perpendicular drivers less likely to turn in front of you. The signal would apprise other commuters of your intention to make the sometimes dreadful maneuver, while possibly preventing an accident due to confusion.Reward: Further assistance or advice on making this idea a reality, or an idea of equal or greater value.
Main features: * 2-3 kitesurfing type sails * 2 catamaran hulls * hydrofoils under both ends of each catamaran hull * some kind of deck to hold passengers and cargoDetails: * the kitesails would be staggered from front to farther back (exact locations need to be worked out) * the angle of attack of the sets of hydrofoil blades on each corner would need to be controllable to facilitate the boat rising out of the water for less drag but not getting tipped over by gusts of wind * the vertical members that hold the hydroil blades would also act as daggerboards and be steerable to control sideways slipping and enable tacking against the wind * a small auxiliary energy system would be very helpful for "power steering" and to power onboard computer circuitry and sensors to respond to wind gusts and make rapid adjustments to avoid tipping overBackground * boats using kites for propulsion date back to 12th century in China (see http://www.kitesurfingnow.com/kitesurfing-facts/history-of-kitesurfing.shtml)Reward: A lot of free publicity for California State University, Pomona in advertising, literature, web sites, etc. related to commercial sales of products based on this concept.
Over ten years ago the ultimate fluid drive bicycle was invented by Douglas Brackett. This idea will transform that invention into the ultimate augmented drive cycling machine for commuters by introducing a micro-engine driven hydraulic rotory pump that feeds the same hub motor as does the variable piston pump driven by the pedal cranks. A control/relief valve will govern the top speed to meet legal requirements regardless the engine speed.Reward: The duel independent drive systems will meet Federal requirements for cycling streets and trails w/o any need for license, registration or insurance. The problems this closed system will solve are: exhausting commutes, chain, rear tire and friction wheel excessive wear and maintenance/replacements; bike imbalance due to side mounted engines; and inconvenient adjustments for wet weather conditions. Other rewards include the 200 mpg ecomomy of using a micro-engine as well as its possible application on a fold up bike. An all round happy ride.
Today airline passengers travelling on "low cost" airlines do not want to waste their precious luggage allowance checking in heavy suitcases. Many low cost airlines restrict passengers to exceedingly low permitted weights of check in luggage. Ryanair allow 15 kilo and charge $20+ per kilo for excess. There is a market for a strong ultra lightweight wheeled carrier combined with for an ultra lightweight bag. Ideal would be a "hi tec" folding wheeled carrier which can be used in combination with "check in" and "carry on" luggage. The days of "designer label luggage" could be over if the traveller could opt for a trusted engineering product which would deliver a practical solution to a 21st century problem. Have more ideas about this design.Reward: Contribution to an agreed charity
We manage parking slots in a first come first use policy. This idea change it to reserve and use.Combine with network, the parking slots are allocated with reservation. This have many benefits:1. No waste of time and gas. 2. You may always plan for a best route before. 3. No parking meters required. Just a networked reserved system. 4. Works well even on high demand situation, in a sport event, every body reserve their parking slots, and people can not reserve one have no hope. 5. Never forgot where you park your carThe key success of this scheme is police strictly and promptly remove cars that occupy un-reserved parking slot.After the discipline develops, people will adapt to the new system.When you want to go out, you may not have a specific destination, when you want to park into a slot, check it with your car computer or a mobile phone, if it is available then you reserve it and park, if it is not, you were suggest a secondary choice, then you may reserve and park.When you reserve a parking slot, you enter the time you want it. You release the parking slot when you do not need it. You pay for the cost during. A monthly bill will sent to you and you pay it as your electrict bill.In case of car parks with entry control, it can be issue a reservation on the spot. The reservation will allocated the nearest parking slot for you.
