Bo Andersson built a wind-powered generator just because he wanted one to use as a foundation for more experiments. When people said his idea to use a truck "rear end," or differential, to transmit wind power to a generator on the ground wouldn't work, he went ahead and put it on top of a 30-ft tower. Now Bo puts power back into the grid. And he can truly reap the wild wind.
Bo didn't listen to the nattering negative naysayers and got the job done. The reason it worked is because it's been done successfully many times and beginning years back. Differentials from old junked cars, etc. have been a convenient source for mechanical drives since the Model A. Considering he's been around a few years, Andersson may have even seen such a setup or read about one. Actually seeing or knowing firsthand something works is better than any number of people who think they know why it won't. Good for him!
Almost every automaker has had to 'pick a side' when it comes to alternative fuel options and ways to divest from a reliance on gasoline. Fiat is looking to back compressed natural gas or liquid propane as an interim solution.
Designing and filling a new type of water bottle might take less engineering work, but the description will help kids understand how science, math, and engineering influence their lives even through things that seem mundane.
Against a backdrop of mounting product complexity and a need to keep a lid on development costs, companies are recognizing a need to make simulation a more integral part of the design process. In response, vendors in the CAD world are building out CAE functionality as part of their CAD suites while simulation vendors are building tighter integrations to leading CAD tools. Keith Meintjes, Ph.D., Practice Manager, Simulation and Analysis at CIMdata, Inc., joins Design News CAD Editor Beth Stackpole in this radio program to explore the new face of integrated CAD and CAE, how companies are benefitting from this tighter partnership between platforms, and how integrating CAE earlier in the development cycle pays off in optimized product designs.
To save this item to your list of favorite Design News content so you can find it later in your Profile page, click the "Save It" button next to the item.
If you found this interesting or useful, please use the links to the services below to share it with other readers. You will need a free account with each service to share an item via that service.
Tweet This
7 
