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Can't we banish human misery with our technos; no more starving hunted refugees, lost children....? A sweet dream is for flocks of versatile personal flying agents to care for folks. Applications include shuttling food, medicine, water, communications, education... anything good. Flying robots already exist as nightmares of war.
Flight loves lightness; as technology shrinks it takes wing naturally. Few folks realize that aviation is, in theory, more efficient than land or sea transport, not even counting short "as the crow flies" routes, extracting energy from thermals and winds, and other tricks.
An effective system is reliable and cheap. A nice personal flying robot would have a wingspan around 3 meters, carry a payload of three or four kilos, use stock hobbyist's components, consumer grade GPS, broadband video/data link, and so on. The cost of this bundle should drop as low as a couple hundred bucks in the next few years, especially in mass production.
Two scenarios... distress demands timely intervention. Flying machines could scout and relieve, soaring from crisis to crisis with a high duty cycle and maximum benefit. The ultimate path is a utopian return to idyllic nomadism, with artificial birds enabling the good life. One could cross toughest desert lightly provisioned as winged assistants fetch distant water. I've sketched concepts for wings with solar thermal distillation/pasteurization inside. Such a bird would fly to the sea, skim up salt water, distill it on the wing (or beach), and arrive far inland with chilled sweet water.
Solar electric power and propulsion makes sense; the bird basks prior to flight. Sustained solar flight becomes practical as batteries, solar cells, and motor controls improve. Another source of power is to ridge or thermal soar and windmill the prop to generate electricity. A charge pump can convert voltage upward to charging level.
A barrier to dreamy schemes is the cultural change required; great initial effort and long term perseverance.
It seems the bats never migrated away this year. It's a wonder they endure the scarcity of insects.
The new cart is in tender blossom. Small parts are coalescing into large assemblies hanging off the placental jig.
The latest twist on the handcart meditations is a native concept, the vaquero chuckwagon, a shepherd flagship crossing prairie ocean. The chuckwagon made possible a unified mobile community of considerable technological means. Blacksmithing gear was commonly carried, as was every sort of tool, food reserves, the kitchen, of course, medical supplies, plus the vehicle served as an ambulance for man or calf.
Spending hours refining ultralight camp equipment made from mostly cast off materials. A complete pack load (not counting food & water itself) for a cart associated party of 4 could weigh as little as 20 lbs., including shelter, cooking, water handling, tools. This tiny mass allows eased weight constraints for the tech payload. The camping gear divides flexibly to allow use of the cart as a base for roaming on foot.
Progress continues on low cost solar distiller/ pasteurizer. Pasteurizing only handles biological content. For chemical pollution distilling works, but consumes much more energy. I am grateful to fine work on the net, which gave me a solid base upon which to elaborate. Dreaming of a solar forge, large but simple, and only practical in full sun. A solar/electric/hydrogen system can store power over a long period from a small collector, but is complex and expensive. Hydrogen is a premium welding and cutting gas, already preferred in many industrial processes.
The old nagging feeling returns.... what next is new? Regi Tomas has finally gotten her hot glass studio on a full war footing, and is keen to experiment with the long discussed synthesis of architectural glass, iron, and stone. I made some spoonbill glass tongs out of some blacksmith pliers made by Bill Bastus and some stainless soup spoons dating to my childhood. My old collection of glass lenses will be consumed in the production of Chicano Optics.
Hot glass is wonderfully reckless compared to iron and stone. It drips and slumps and cools so fast only a cool headed juggler tames it. I was able to blow a crude bottle on first try, but only by supreme concentration, luck, and the fact that Regi is a great teacher.
Extreme Ultralight Nomadics
Pack- Lightest daypack modified with suspension.
Lighting-
flashlight- wheat bulb soldered on to AAA lithium cell, covered in shrink-tubing a drop of epoxy potting for microswitch/bulb/foil reflector,
candle lantern- small candle pieces with alu-foil reflector and cooking bag wind screen and bits of piano wire to hang and hold shape.
Fire- small clear orange lighter, plastic sealed matches, plastic burning lens, 3 grams gunpowder, tinder (toilet paper), alcohol fuel (methanol & Everclear),
Stove- homemade from various aluminum cans, pearllite, alu-foil, clear cooking bag, etc.
Knife- start with a small jigsaw blade with a medium tooth. grind a curved knife edge on the back of the blade 2" up from point. Sleeve shank into a small piece of dayglo orange nylon tubing leaving 2" blade exposed. Sheath is made from a small piece of airfoil section tubing, crimp-cut at pointed end to fit blade. Two nylon ties are slid down tube from blade. the tie heads are slightly filed to allow pinched sheath to "lock" on. Heavy threaded needle stowed in tube handle.
Writing- Solar subnotebook, pen- a half used bic with outer tube removed, ink tube cut in half, shrink tubing shrink at nib end and at top (leave tiny vent hole). This tubing can be cannibalized if needed; paper- handmade booklet with thin airmail stationary.
Shelter- Tyvek house wrap for groundcloth; 2 mil 8 x 10 poly drop cloth for tarp; mosquito netting; bivy sack; fine braided nylon twine (50 ft.)
Feet- medium weight running shoes chosen for light weight, good support, quick dry; light removable insoles for extra padding & better drying. Polyester or nylon socks; Moleskin & petroleum jelly for blister control.
Compass- 1/2 inch micro compass with all extra plastic cut off.
Map- 50% reduced color photo copy, printed both sides, of relevant portion of topomap. Wax or Scotchguard treated.
Timepiece- small children's digital ring watch with ring removed.
Reading- Subnotebook loaded with literature. Small Samizdat style pamphlet of dense poetry.
Sleeping- Light polyester sleeping bag augmented by clothing and shelter, wearable "tube" style if needed; light fleece bag liner; mummy cut pad of aluminized bubble wrap (doubles as solar reflector for cooking).
Electricity- Small 5 volt solar panel with charging for subnotebook.
Mini cell phone, mini AM/FM radio with head phones,
Bags- High temp cooking bag, porous bread bag, various trash bags, various ziplocks, mesh fruit bag.
Canteens- 2 liter soda bottle, 1 1/2 liter bucket from cook kit, one gallon polybag (aquarium supply, use with mesh bag).
Repair kit- 10 grams epoxy, fiberglass cloth, balsa, mylar tape, Styrofoam, piano wire, plastic and aluminum tube pieces, etc.
New gizmo- I'm designing a series of wave powered boats. As they rock in a seaway this moves paddles underwater which produce lift in a given direction. A catamaran plan seems to offer better performance than the original lenticular hull. The position of paddles is determined by the wave length and a rolling beam sea acts on the paddles as well as a pitching following or head sea. Last week's toy was a wind walker that walks into the wind, as described in a post to the airship list.
A new cart payload package under development is an environmental stewardship toolkit. Contents include water testing kit, seed assortment, garden tools, sample jars, microscope, binoculars, species links on net, etc.. An electrophoresis it would be waycool, and is actually simple enough to hack. Another long-standing wish has been to create a solar powered vehicle with an air cannon that fires seed pellets up to a quarter mile or so, generating enough ballistic speed to plant themselves. These pellets may include an ice binder that acts as a germinating fluid.
Some patterns are emerging to a nomadic cart migratory life-style. There needs to be a network of caches to store seasonal payloads. These may be small vault like structures surrounded by fencing and sensors, which contact the owner in case of intrusion and open a webcam com channel. These structures may also be in the form of dachas/cabin shelters that stand empty until needed.
There needs to be wearable systems suitable for running, to extend the life-style to places just out of reach by cart. I did find some info on technical climbing with odd loads such as rescue stretchers. The rigging is simple enough, with the main innovation being a hole plate to harness all the various carbiners, cables, and ropes used in slinging, so they don't jumble up under tension. I'm going to adapt this idea cart side, sort of making the cart itself such a tool.
So many threads are coming together now, that I am now committed to making some epic trek with the new cart. The effort has been approved by the prestigious Expedition Research organization, and there is great hope of finding partners and opportunities with other expeditions.
The new cart is now on the verge of full assembly, almost all the little stainless pieces are ready to weld up. There still is no anti sway bar due to lack of suitable material. I have a small fiberglass bow which is not quite right. There are some VW bug axle springs which also don't perfectly fit the bill. I may use some chrome moly thin wall square tubing that I have on hand, although a round tube is preferred.
Have been surfing rickshaw links. There are many cool pictures of traditional rickshaws which have continued to evolve and thrive in many part of the world. The early ones are true to type, large wooden spoked wheels, leaf spring suspension, bimini top, and a particular balance. Some variations are fantastic, especially in Bangladesh, where rickshaws are baroque in decoration and elaboration. The evolution of the rickshaw has mirrored that of the bicycle, first metal frames and wheels, then the emergence of the pedicab, and somewhat sadly, motor scooter driven versions. At least these produce far less CO2 than cars, even if the two stroke engines are sooty.
The cart has been down due to a transient electrical error in the charging loop. Since the last report much has happened.
The new cart is further along, almost ready to weld up in its 3D jig. I've done two drafts of the electrical spec., dreamily chewing over issues such as console layout, metering, number of circuit breakers v. weight, and so on.
Have given much thought to integration of tele-nomadics, ritual running, eco stewardship, sustainable gathering, seasonal migration, global trekking, absentee gardening, wireless local mobile collectives, and such.
Am now carrying the bubble tent on the cart, but haven't fully filled in the cart to tent rain cover. Even so, merely by cutting out one wall and setting the cart in place, it looks the very vision of the new life. This is the glorious final phase of the first solar cart's gestation, and given the new cart, its time to look for a new keeper of the first.
One problem with modern tents is that they only last a couple of seasons before UV and other insults ruin them. Surely there are better materials and practices that can make a more durable maintainable tent, even if a bit heavier and a little more expensive.
Proper nomadic practice may call for a solar shade tarp over tent for prolonged camps. Perhaps covering a modern tent with palm, pine, banana, etc. fronds makes sense. Straw mats (petates) are wonderful for floors walls or ceilings. A petate dome tent with light pitching and cotton mosquito netting would be very sweet and seems would last as long as a modern tent, and recycle better. Velcro seems more robust than zippers, the deep green equivalent would be natural burrs and woolly fiber set in resin, pitch, or gum. speaking of gum, it makes an excellent patching adhesive for many cases, just by keeping some gum on hand. I will try some string/gum lashing composites, for the flavor ;^) Perhaps automated aeroponics will enable lightweight turf roofing.
Water must be planned for. A standard three gallon jerobaum(?) has emerged for drinking water and these containers are essentially free. They have some transverse stiffening grooves perfect for brackets or ties. I will try to provide for one central mount, with the option of lashing a second somewhere forward. The old cart only carries 1 liter. I may never yet have mentioned that I carry a plastic drinking cup and fork, spoon, and knife, which come in very handy.
Loose migratory flocking using wireless networks has cool possibilities. Community can be sustained without being in each others way, with cooperation possible to share goods and services, for safety, fellowship, and not being tied to even the cart. A family size unit would be just right, with cooperative sharing of expenses such as satellite data links making them cheap.
One could roam a wide area around the cart, even monitoring it for visitors. One would be free to climb mountains, or kayak, and such, coming back to recharge batteries and supplies, and access distance communications, as needed. Stewardship duties, checking biodata collectors, shepherding, planting and many similar modes would be facilitated. An interesting exercise would be to rendezvous with microship and exchange sea goods with land goods.
Stopped at a party down the street on the way home. The cart likes parties. Food and beer good.
Odd cart tip. If you want to vary your computing posture, or keep chair stowed, run the cart up a knee high retaining wall or similar object, and standing at the lower level, you can work on the computer "a gusto". This is awkward to do with a desktop system. This trick is also the best way to work on lower parts of the cart.
Flying Sculpture-
Still not really a field, but there are precedents.
Recently discovered the work of "flight" sculptor Panamakenko, whose work resembles mine in sentiment. The big disappointment was that his work never flies, but this was perhaps too much to ask in the sixties, when he began his aero themes. Aerogami is a more modest thing, but really flies.
Concept development at full steam of GyroSculpture, work that relies on rotation to modulate acceleration v. gravity, light, sound, and lift/drag.
A field of the future- Sacred Flight; scared running has long existed and is undergoing a revival. Flight has always been tinged with awe. Sacred flight would ritualize and estheticize every aspect of the flight routine. Cargo cults must have some relevance. Flight is a central metaphor in religion and literature, with a great cultural wealth accrued. There is also a sense of real sacrifice, in that the saints of flight have often crashed to death. Prayer has always been common before flight, particularly in war.
A sacred aircraft would be different than a merely utilitarian one. Special elements might include symbolic features, artistic design; a sculptural quality. Surely someone has painted a crucifix on the cruciform plan of some aircraft. We almost worship the icons at the National Air & Space Museum.
Perhaps what's implied here is a spirituality of locomotion, of swimming, walking, running, flying, the mystique of the road trip, the pilgrimage.
Migration as pilgrimage, that would be a synergy.... I've been pondering foot based migration, say along the Appalachian trail, south for the winter, etc., as the means to be a comfortable and happy nomad. Flight based migration would be even cooler if done right. A solar powered airplane that charges enough for a few miles of flight a day, weed hopping its way with in harmony with the seasons and weather.
Many nomadic cultures practiced rock art, even building elaborate shrines and sculptures. Its quite easy to carry a small set of stone working tools. The ultimate nomadic architecture combines permanent masonry features, even megaliths, with tents and huts that collapse and move on.
One might have a summer and winter "palace", favored places marked by a carved megalithic constructions in progress, that one works on while camped for a season.
Mysticism has taken a lot of abuse lately, a backlash against so much superficial belief. Bruce Sterling has banished the subject from consideration in fashioning his Viridian eco art movement. I myself am a diehard rationalist, but my impulse to fight for the underdog puts me in a mood to defend mysticism.
First, it seems foolish to declare the death of mysticism while we are still surrounded by so much mystery. Sure, all mystic fads pale and crumble under critical examination, but just as the validity of faith cannot be proved by science, neither can it be disproved. finally, science itself is but a special case of a particularly powerful religious impulse, ever improving, but ever flawed, What Galileo and Newton believed would classify as rather primitive faith today, but they were scientists. Einstein, no dummy, well understood this issue. Science is the study of creation, the primal religious event.
So what would an up to date belief system look like? It would consider, not ignore, efforts such as biphilia and Gaia theories. It would study all traditional belief systems with scholarly interest, looking for good ideas. It would glory in the creation on an experiential level as well as from a state of the art scientific perspective. Above all it would deliver a rich mental and physical life, without making the fatal error of dogmatic conclusion that both fundamentalists and materialists make.
The modern outlook would blend secular and sacred gracefully, finding value in all sincere ontologies, the Great Spirit as revealed by science.
Collaborating with UT design students has been pleasantly exciting. They are expanding ideas along some of my favorite paths, with ambition unbridled by massive technical knowledge or practical caution. The current concept calls for something resembling a new global religion, complete with dazzling effects. For once I feel I could kick back and twenty souls would keep moving things along nicely. Of course there is the need to fill in gaps and foolproof the unknown elements.
The working name of the project has been Traveler, but some misc. names for things are still under consideration- Gyroart, "Revolutionary" art, Skywheels, MediaTornado, Whirlwind, Cyclone Drifter, Nomad Whirlwind, Sky Pilgrim, GyroDrifter, Sky Traveler,
GyroArt- Sculpture using the physics of revolution for effect. Language- rpm, offcenter mass, flywheel, hoop stress, gyroprecession, stroboscopy, G-force, colorwheel effects, electrical commutation, hysteressis, axial, radial, balance, airfoil, bull-roar, multi-element-single-axis, counter rotation,
A mobile could be animated by flywheels that when tilted cause the arms to swing in reaction. This might be more elegant than actuators in roots. Flywheels might allow a mobile to resist wind gusts. A viridian fly wheel mobile could aim solar panels, user interfaces, and maybe even roll about on its flywheels as a vehicle.
Some hard questions need to be addressed regarding event concept- 1) How does the concept of interaction balance single interactions with global state? The state machine needs to define multiuser states more fully. 2) Community is the goal, what is the community to do once defined? A student said they were supposed to "thrive" thereafter. it would be cool to explore this. 3) The logistics of a world tour are daunting, would simultaneous events be better, encouraging teams elsewhere to network events in parallel? If Audience all sit facing outward, won't this mitigate against community? Perhaps an ampitheatre with a visitor accessible "backstage", a performing stage in front of the Central Object.
Summer's dying light is an amber glow in the soul's hearth. The seasons are eternal time travelers. There is one old trick; one can move with the birds to make the calender almost stand still.
The next chapter of this journal is about shelter. Soon I will carry a bubble tent with a tube wall that fits over the desktop and cargo portions of the solar cart, leaving the wheels and solar panel outside.
At this point the cart truly becomes an integrated nomadic architecture, a digital igloo dedicated to the life of the mind. This final phase will usher in the glorious New Cart, a nearly perfect thing, as things go. Next fall, or sooner, will see the integration of shelter to that vehicle and the real adventures will have begun.
The New Cart is materializing in the open air. I began to bend the stainless steel tubing with electrical conduit benders, the toughest curves first, too see how hard it could go. My heart ached as the tubing initially dented and kinked. Would this work at all? Working thru despair I began to get the hang of it, even resorting to bending the tubes au natural, by wrestling them across my instep and thigh. Soon the pieces began to fall out sweet , and the sexy lines of the new ark began to emerge against the full size patterns.
I'm naming the various parts of the cart using naval nomenclature, the upper and mid deck, the hold, port and starboard keels, the helm, the mast, and so on.
The new Solarex "Megapanel" is in hand, and despite its larger size is nicely fitting various space and aiming constraints. The wind turbine is almost in hand, like a child's anticipation of Christmas gifts.
Some thought is going toward mountaineering with the new cart; hoist points, roping tactics, rolling up and down cliffs with a small ratchet drive. A tree house might be a nice base if this stuff proves practical.
