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"Tokyo homeless people reiterate the whole nature of living in Tokyo in cardboard boxes, they're only slightly smaller than Tokyo apartments, and they have almost as many consumer goods. It's a nightmare of boxes within boxes."
- William Gibson
 |
| Steel Tortoise | ||
| An all-terrain vehicle, grandfather to the four-wheeler. |
I like the term and the device. It is interesting to note how it is designed to be essentially free of any additional stuff - doesn't need gas, doesn't need maintenance, doesn't have parts designed to be replaceable like tires, and so forth.
| He turned and commenced loading his steel tortoise. Under the romantic influence of the classic literature of a bygone day he had considered using a string of burros, but had been unable to find a zoo that would sell them to him... The vehicle he had chosen was not an unreasonable substitute for burros. It was extremely rugged, easy to operate, and almost foolproof. It drew its power from six square yards of sunpower screens on its low curved roof. These drove a constant- load motor, or, when halted, replenished the storage battery against cloudy weather, or night travel. The bearings were 'everlasting', and every moving part, other than the caterpillar treads and the controls, were sealed up, secure from inexpert tinkering. It could maintain a steady six miles per hour on smooth, level pavement. When confronted by hills, or rough terrain, it did not stop, but simply slowed until the task demanded equaled its steady power output. The steel tortoise gave MacKinnon a feeling of Crusoe- like independence. |
| From Coventry,
by Robert Heinlein. Published by Not Known in 1940 Additional resources -
|
I really think there is a future for a device like this. If you are exploring or trekking, you don't really care how fast you're going. The fact that you are completely free of filling stations gives a remarkable dimension to the vehicle.
On the other hand, you might want to check the entry for sunpower screen. With today's technology, this baby might have more power than you think - a tortoise that could beat the hare fair and square.
For an alternative power source on a similar vehicle, be sure to check out the power-wagon, a creation of Jack Vance in The Last Castle.
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Additional
resources:
More Ideas
and Technology from Coventry
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and Technology by Robert Heinlein
Tech news articles related to Coventry
Tech news articles related to works by Robert Heinlein
Steel Tortoise-related
news articles:
- Cool Robots At Dartmouth (And Greenland)
- Who First Thought About Solar Powered Cars?
- REX Infantry Robotic Porter Follows Soldiers
| BMW Plans Fully Autonomous Cars By 2025 |
| EU Parliament Requires Electric Cars To Make Noise |
| Pepper The Parrot's Bird Buggy |
| Tesla Model S Declared Car Of The Year By Motor Trend |
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