Readers write
By Design News Staff -- Design News, March 11, 2001
Going up!!
I enjoyed reading your article on the "space elevator" ( DN 01.22.01). I found it very thought provoking, and it reminded me of a book by Arthur C. Clark named "The Fountains of Paradise." In the book, the hero is an engineer who is commissioned to build a space elevator to a satellite station in a geosynchronous orbit.
In your article you referenced the need for continuous carbon nanotube strands. Interestingly, the only real "hole" in Clark's story was the material employed for the same purpose as would be needed in your article. I don't believe he went beyond describing it as a material with very high-strength intermolecular bonds, due to limited knowledge of the subject at that time. Yet the entire story described such a mechanism in very good detail. If I'm not mistaken, Clark also described a communications satellite to the British Interplanetary Society in the 1940's, and now that invention is taken for granted.
Robert McKechnie
R & D Engineer
Electrolux
Fly by night?
Following up on your story about the scooter technology ( DN 02.05.01 pg 30), when I was a lad there was a one-man vertical takeoff flying "backpack". It was real, not sci-fi. They talked about it revolutionizing the way people commute.
We all went "Wow." I think it killed a number of the people test flying it. I can see these fan powered "scooters" falling out of the sky just as easily. Motor failures, collisions, bad piloting, overhead wires, bad weather, you name it. Just look at the stupid things people do.
Imagine that kind of mentality in the air. Imagine three people all trying for the same parking space in San Francisco! I'm not saying don't try. Ultralights and their kind do serve a purpose, especially in applications where other "flying machines" might not be practical. But for mass commuting? Come on!
Mark Bremer
Benicia, CA
Greater insight
I take exception to much of what was written in your article "Insight—or out of mind?" (10.02.00). I am the proud owner of a 2000 Honda Insight and bought it because my principles dictate that a primary factor is fuel economy, and I trust Honda to make a superior product.
The two big factors in your review (and others I have read) are noise/comfort and actual fuel economy. Evidently, these reviews compare all cars to each other. This is not fair—will you compare the acceleration performance of a Ferrari to a Chrysler minivan?
Evidently, your reviewer is accustomed to very quiet, soft riding vehicles such as a Cadillac or other land yacht. If he understood that the Insight is in the class of small, economy cars, he would find it to be very quiet and comfortable.
I drive around Denver, accelerating very briskly, and I anticipate lights, slowing gradually to utilize the regenerative braking (I still get there just as fast as others, unless they are speeding). By driving sensibly, I routinely get 60-65 mpg, and even more on long trips.
Brian Autenrieth
Aspen Labs, Inc.
A Division of Conmed Corp.
Denver, CO
Senior Technical Editor Rick DeMeis replies: "Is it fair to give special treatment to one class of car (hybrids) over others in driving them for a review? In order for their acceptance, the 'hybrid' in these vehicles will have to be transparent, or at least not inconvenient, to most drivers. Driving any car (in our reviews) just like any other in traffic will bring out how well it performs. No way was the Insight quiet or comfortable for my six-foot frame.
I agree with Brian's driving tips for maximizing mileage in any car, which can often better the EPA ratings. The initial issue for hybrid buyers is that you can get great mileage in many small cars without paying a hefty premium for a hybrid system that admittedly does somewhat better. But as their prices hopefully drop, thanks to early adopters like Brian, hybrids will become a viable initial purchase for more people.
By the way, I'm not old enough to drive a Cadillac. I drive a 1997 BMW 528 (bought used) and routinely get over 30 mpg on highway trips, while still keeping up with traffic, feeling safe and in control—and enjoying the drive. (For a Design News review of Toyota's Prius, see the news section of our 02.26.01 issue.)
Water, water everywhere but…
Until yesterday I would have agreed with Ken Foote in his 12.04.00 article on low flush toilets. Unfortunately, yesterday my well pump decided to stop working. I live in the country and it's my main source of water.
Fortunately, because of the big Y2K scare I stocked up on fresh water. I congratulated myself on this foresight—I should easily have enough water for drinking, bathing, etc, to last until the pump was repaired—that is until I had to fill my old-fashioned toilet.
My smug sense of security slowly trickled away as I used 4 gallons from my water stash just to achieve one flush. When you have a seemingly endless supply of water, 4 gallons doesn't sound like a lot. However, when you have a very limited supply, four gallons can seem like Lake Erie. The idea behind low flush toilets is good; the execution just needs to be improved.
Dan Fritzinger
Senior Design Engineer
Dana Corp., Dana Towing Group
