Excellent idea: flat outlet pulls out to allow extra plug

One must be careful when re-inventing industrial design that has been around for a long, long time. Chances are, it was like that for a reason. The Node Outlet, for instance, looks cool at first, but upon reflection has some serious and dangerous problems. I don’t see any similarly obvious issues with this pull-out plug, but hello, I’m a blogger. What the hell do I know?

I suppose the major challenge with something like this is making sure there’s no current interference. Or… resistance… polarization. Never mind, I give up. Can you guys think of any reasons why this shouldn’t work?
More info and pictures at Art Lebedev’s site.
[CrunchGear]

Israel Innovation Generates Electricity by Driving on Roads [Green Energy]

An Israeli innovation succeeded in generating electricity from the traffic on roads. The power generator is based on a piezoelectric layer that is installed 5cm under the road pavement. Cars driving on the road applying their weight on the generators to create electricity which is stored in batteries on the sides of the road.

Currently the researchers tested the technology on 10 meters of single lane highway and managed to create 2000KW/h. If applied to 1 km of a 4 lane highway it is estimated, deduced from this experiment's results, to be able to create 1 MegaWatt/h of electricity, enough to supply electricity to about 2500 homes.

For the drivers nothing is changed in the driving experience. The electricity will be able to power street lamps, traffic lights and any road side consumer. Weather has no effect on the generators productivity or maintenance.


This is the first time roads are used to create electricity ever. Hoping to see more and more power generating road in the future.


Update: A physical conundrum came to my mind. How is possible to create energy without wasting energy? The weight of the car is creating the energy you say? Who will pay for this energy? The piezoelectric crystal materials which are the "Power Generators" change their physical properties when the traffic, the cars, runs over them and them they "stretch" back with their elasticity. But this is as if the cars is driving in a constant, although very small, climb. This is where the energy comes from - the fuel you and me pay for to fill our tanks. We will pay for this electricity without any reward (unless you count streetlights ROI, which we already pay city tax for!!!).


Let me know what you think in the comments.


[TheMarker (Heb)]

Backpack Generates 40 Watts Just By Walking [Gadgets]

Defense Tech's Bryant Jordan was at the Disneyland of military gadgetry—the Modern Day Marine event at Quantico—and came across this power-generating backpack, which has stepped from prototype to reality. It can generate 40 watts just by walking.

It works great, apparently. The backpack itself is mounted on rails, so it moves up and down when its wearer moves. The movement generates enough electricity to power your gadgets, and the design actually relieves stress from the user. [Gizmodo via Lightning Packs via Defense Tech]

Electric cars don’t excite you? How about a BRAMMO?

If you have $12,000 burning a hole in your pocket, you should check out the BRAMMO Enertia Powercycle. This electric motorcycle has a top speed of 60MPH and a range up to 42 miles or so per charge. It has no gears and clutch, so that means no shifting. Just charge it up using a standard … [visit site to read more]
Filed in categories: Spotlight Gadgets

originally appeared on The Gadgeteer

Japan to Spend $21,000,000,000 on a Power Plant in F%#king Space [Space]

Jolly shit, Japan is getting prepped to drop $21 billion on a solar power station in space, one that will beam enough energy back to Earth to power 294,000 homes. With no cables.
The whole deal is being put together by Mitsubishi Electric Corp. and industrial design company IGI Corp. The plan involves a gigantic solar panel floating around in space, soaking up a gigawatt of energy and beaming it to Earth without the use of cables. And they hope to have it ready to rock within four years.
Pretty amazing stuff. Here's hoping it works well and doesn't end up giving the entire country of Japan cancer. Thanks for testing that whole thing out for us, guys! [Bloomberg via Inhabitat]