Post Your Craziest Tech Ideas - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2017, 10:18:01 pm
content: There might already have been a thread on this, but I couldn't find it, so here's a new one. Anything you can imagine, doesn't have to be possible with current tech or practicle. Although try to keep it from violating any major laws of physics (no free energy or stuff like that) but we can discuss how the devices could or wouldn't work (based on physics, not current tech). Although if your idea is possible, and is simple enough, feel free to start a project thread on it.Here's a few of mine:Lightning Harvester: A giant device that uses superconductors and superinsulators to harvest the power in lightning bolts. It would have a giant tower that connects through to a superconductor transformer (or series of transformers), which, since lightning is only a brief surge thus creating induction, would step down the voltage to a point where it can be passed through a bank of superconductor diodes and into giant capacitors the size of oil refinery tanks. The power would then be used to drive a giant switching converter (using more superconductors) which would step down the voltage further untill it could be handled with conventional systems. All the extreme voltage systems would be insulated with superinsulators (all with cryogenic cooling of course). Where would this be practicle? Catatumbo of courseCathode Ray Beam Switch: A device that acts as a modified CRT that uses a high emmision cathode material and directs the beam onto a series of recieving electrodes at the other end. This could be used to switch or even multiplex high voltage signals and power. Similar to an old RAM tube but with no storage. Practicality? IDK, just thought it was coolPlasma Pinball: A life sized game of extreme amounts of electricity. A plasma cannon shoots out a plasma ball (ball lightning) that bounces around a series of electrodes, tesla coils, and other extremely high voltage stuff giving points. There would also be a "refueling station" to replenish your ball. Your turn would last untill your ball hit a grounding rod, runs out of energy, or explodes. If your ball explodes or dies immediately before scoring any points, you get a free spare. (I think this is a video game somewhere, if not it totally should be). The entire play field would be surrounded with a giant metal cage to keep any electricity from escaping.

author: Syntax_Error
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: June 15, 2017, 11:48:58 pm
content: I'm mundane compared to your grand ideas. I have always wanted an autonomous lawn mower and weeder, and pretty much just automated household chores: laundry, dishes, cleaning. I understand this lends itself to various jokes, but I am actually serious.Many advances in quality of life over the past centuries have come down to automation and convenience. Dish washers, ovens, microwave ovens, clothes laundering, indoor plumbing. All have served to make the daily chores of life quicker and with reduced effort.I just want more.

author: igendel
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 16, 2017, 12:16:03 am
content: [Warning: Total noob question ahead]Quote from: Cyberdragon on June 15, 2017, 10:18:01 pmWill lightning attract to a tower where it has no direct connection to ground?

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 16, 2017, 12:21:43 am
content: Quote from: igendel on June 16, 2017, 12:16:03 amIt just has to offer an easier path to ground than the surrounding air...

author: Cyberdragon
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 16, 2017, 12:51:53 am
content: Of course it would pass to ground, there has to be a circuit somewhere.Also, robot lawnmowers do exist and are available on Amazon. They may have ones with edger trimmers too.

author: MarkS
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 16, 2017, 06:54:57 am
content: My craziest idea deals with the future of automated vehicles. I noticed that we're spending millions of dollars making systems react to infrastructure designed specifically for humans. This is unnecessary. My thought was to bury radio antennas connected to an off-site transmitter along regular intervals of roadway. These transmitters would give speed limit and location data to the vehicles along with road layout information like curvature and elevation, allowing for the vehicle's on-board computer to create an accurate 3D map of the road without requiring computer vision. Essentially, create infrastructure that is machine readable to go along with the human readable infrastructure already in place. This would be coupled with vehicle-to-vehicle communication and simple radar or lidar for accident avoidance.