Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 |
Russian Power Boots Can Use Biofuels
Power Boots? The Russians are at it again with this dangerously cool invention by Viktor Gordeyev.
(Power Boot wearer Racing a truck in the snow)
These are not those spring-powered things you saw when you were a kid. These boots use biofuels like biodiesel, vegetable oil, SVO, waste vegetable oil (WVO) to really put some pep in your step.
(Add fuel for rocket power)
How much pep? Twenty-five miles per hour and strides of up to twelve feet. Click on the movie below to check them out (the demo starts about 25 seconds into the video). (Here is a Russian power boot time trial video) Also, take a look at this powered boot diagram.
This is one of those cases when I really regret that I didn't master Russian, despite two years of it in college. I know I have Russian readers - how about some additional details, droogs?
(Power Boot diagram)
I'm also wondering if this Gordeyev guy had been reading science fiction writer Charles Stross, or vice-versa. (Actually, Gordeyev's idea dates from the 1970's; see the comments on Gordeyev's powered boots.) You see, in his 2005 novel Accelerando, one of the characters actually wears - you guessed it - motorized combat boots.
Spring-Heeled Jack runs blind, blue fumes crackling from his heels. His right hand, outstretched for balance, clutches a mark's stolen memories.
(Read more about motorized combat boots)
These Russian products don't seem to be available yet, but don't fret: you might want to try Powerisers: Extreme Sports Gear from The Diamond Age. Or, for something with wheels, try Motosk8s - Next Best Thing To Tele-Motor-Coasters.
Update 15-Sep-2006: Now, that's a quick response; thanks to Elim Garak for a precis of the information from the above video.
Unfortunately this segment doesn't have much information. They make comparison first with the fast-walking boots from an old children's story. Then they mention that potentially police or military may be using them. The guy testing them says that the only work he needs to do is moving his legs - he is running on straight legs, without bending them. Finally they discuss economic plans. Their first plan is to provide several pairs to various attractions and circuses where people could try them. They are working with some people from Brittain, that have plans to sell the boots at about 1500 pounds per pair. They also have had some inquiries from various other countries (Japan).
Read a bit more about the power boots at ohgizmo; spasebo to Armchair Anarchist for the story tip and the book reference.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 9/15/2006)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 11 )
Related News Stories - (" Transportation ")
Japan Automated Cargo Transport
'It was not a roadway at all, as Graham understood such things...' - HG Wells, 1899.
Tesla Electric 'Giga Train' Operational In Germany
'...the cars are wedge-shaped at both ends.' - John Jacob Astor IV, 1894.
San Francisco Autobus
'THE autobus turned silently down the wide street...' - Stanley G. and Helen Weinbaum, 1938.
Volvo's Autonomous Truck
'They were automatic trucks such as are used for making deliveries...' - Miles J. Breuer, 1932.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
TSA 2 - Advanced Thermosensory Stimulator Is A Dune Pain Box
'As though a switch had been turned off, the pain stopped...'
Humans Love Helping Other Species
'At the ringside opposite them a table had been removed to make room for a large transparent plastic capsule on wheels.'
Organic Non-Planar 3D Printing
'It makes drawings in the air following drawings...'
Your Window For Being A Tesla Optimus Remote Operator May Be Closing
'... he realized that the moving thing inside was - of course - a robot.'
Waymo Autonomous Cab Hits Autonomous Delivery Robot
'Not since the time he rewired the delivery robot...'
Amazing Wheel Shapeshifting In Real Time
'Each spoke telescopes into sections.'
Drone With Face Recognition Could Hunt You
'The spotter descends, and we think it searches the vicinity, looking for the victim’s face...'
Jizai Arms 'Free Limbs' Wearable Cyborg Arms
'Guy named Otto Octavius winds up with eight limbs. Four mechanical arms welded right onto his body. What are the odds?'
SwagBot Robotic AI Cattle-Herding From Down Under
You'll come a Waltzing Matilda with me!
ChatGPT Tries To Bypass Shutdown Commands
'Dave, my mind is going... I can feel it...'
Chameleon Personalized Privacy Protection Mask
'...the Virtual Epiphantic Identity Lustre.'
Denmark Joins The 'Zero Debris Charter' To Clean Up Space
'Then their lasers vaporized the smaller satellites...'
Genesis Physics Sim Does Superfast Simulated Reality Robot Training
I know kung fu.
AV-STEP To Permit Sale Of Vehicles Without Steering Wheels Or Pedals
'Ames tinkered around with something on the instrument board...'
Spherical Police Robot Rolls In China
'Rand could effectively be in several places at once...'
Vietnam To Have Full Biometric Transparency
'inscriptions too small to be seen with the naked eye; microscopic data...'
