Trends: Primordial Robots and Hacked Hondas
In this trendwatching podcast, Nora Young talks about an intriguing research project from the University of Tokyo. Yoichiro Kowaguchi and his team are exploring artificial life by creating organic robot designs that might mimic, say, centipedes, rather than mammals. (via Pink Tentacle).
Plus, Cathi Bond is very jazzed about the AeroCivic, a hacked Honda Civic designed to reduce drag. The designer/hacker is Mike Turner. We’d love to know what car/design savvy listeners think about this project!
February 13th, 2009 at 4:32 am
This is just weird. I listen to CBC all day as I work on stuff … like writing/talking about eco-modding cars for better efficiency, and making web sites for guys like Mike who have made particularly outstanding examples such as his Aerocivic. (FYI, he’s in SC, not LA … and I’m in NS this winter, but usually ON.)
From this car/design savvy listener: yes, the claims Mike makes are legit.
But you need to put the breathless claims of “95 mpg” that you may have read on other blogs about the Aerocivic in context. That’s his fuel economy in best-case circumstances: on a level road, in warm weather (cold weather is brutal on fuel economy) with a fully warmed up car. His fuel log shows an average in the low to mid 60’s mpg (all figures US gallons) in all-around driving in the winter, and low to mid 70’s in the summer. Still shatters the figures current hybrids offer, though.
I’m a big fan of the work he’s done, for so many reasons.
Anyway - glad to see someone else appreciating what he’s accomplished!
Cheers - Darin
March 3rd, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Great, thanks Darin. Very interesting. I know zippo about cars, so good to have the perspective. Thanks for listening!