Alternative power, from sunlight to human muscle, tops out this week's Tasty Tech gallery.
1. Futuristic Quantum Airplane
Oscar Viñals is at it again. From the designer who brought us Sky Whale, comes the AWWA·QG Progress Eagle concept plane, which has six hydrogen fuel cell engines, rear wind generators for electrical power and quantum solar cells to harvest sunlight. The sweeping curves reduce drag and produce 75 percent less noise than current planes. Viñals thinks the plane could be airborne by 2030. We can only hope. [Video]
2. LED Aurora
Everything is illuminated. The Netherlands' Studio Roosegaarde, who brought us the glowing bicycle path and glow-in-the-dark roads, offers a new project, Waterlicht, a light installation that uses LEDs and lasers to light up the heavens with a display reminiscent of the aurora borealis. The sea of light is meant to bring awareness to the Dutch dykes nearby that keep seawater from flooding the country.
3. Electric Pickup Truck, Kangoo
The French company Kollé is offering a conversion kit that can transform the Renault Kangoo Z.E. into an electric vehicle. Kollé claims this light-delivery truck will have a top speed of 81 mph and a payload capacity of around 1,400 pounds. Range on a full battery charge looks to be around 106 miles.
4. Aston Martin Vulcan
This week at the Geneva Motor Show, Aston Martin will be showing off its latest creation, the Vulcan. It was designed by chief creative officer Marek Reichman and sports a 7-litre, V12 engine to produce more than 800 horsepower. Live long and prosper.
5. Hybrid Car Bike
If a V12, 800-horsepower engine sounds a little over-the-top, then set your sights on this hybrid pedal-powered bike. It uses a flywheel to augment pedalling energy so that the cyclist can get the vehicle's speed up to 100 miles per hour. Let's hear it for human power. [More at Kickstarter]
6. Polar Interactive Content Presenter
You can't help but think of Minority Report when seeing this interactive, gesture-based display. It uses a Leap Motion sensor to pick up hand motions to control four HD projectors. An iPad controller is used to switch content. Watch the Vimeo video for an exciting peek at the future.
7. Cloud Sculpture
Installation artist Charles Pétillon wants us to look twice at otherwise blank or abandoned spaces. He uses clusters of white balloons to fill empty houses, playgrounds, golf courses, forest clearings and more. The series is called Invasions and you can see more images here and video.
8. Dutch Windwheel
More cool stuff from the Dutch. This proposed structure called Dutch Windwheel is a a 571-foot building that would house a roller coaster, apartments, a hotel, a restaurant and a bladeless wind turbine that would generate electricity. Several local businesses have partnered to make it a reality, showcasing the country’s clean energy industry.
9. LED Snake Lamp
This funky LED lamp from Oikimus Design can be twisted at the joints into a variety of shapes to suit your whim. See the video for inspiration.
10. Nomadic Plants
These sensor-ladened plants grow on robots programmed to move into the light. Soybots, created by Shannon McMullen and Fabian Winkler, roam a museum exhibit hall seeking out the optimum light. On-board sensors transmit data to a computer screen that displays daily averages of light absorbed and distances travelled. It hints at the future where gardens could become mobile and grow without human intervention.
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