Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Gas-Powered Shoes?

Posted by Roblimo on from the outrunning-the-competition dept.

Glen Davis writes: "A Russian inventor has created motorized shoes! The shoes weigh 2 pounds apiece, and work by means of foot-long pistons which trigger a plate attached to the shoe's sole. Single strides are up to 13 feet long, and wearers can attain speeds of up to 25 mph! The shoes are gas-powered." (BBC article with pictures here, submitted by Ave.)

14 of 185 comments (clear)

  1. Bored? by Signal+11 · · Score: 3

    This is another example of what happens when you get a bunch of bored engineers in a room.

  2. Boots of speed +10 !! by Benjamin+Shniper · · Score: 3

    Now all I need is some gloves of power and I'll rule the world!

    HAHAHAHAHA

  3. Hmmm.. by deefer · · Score: 3
    This could cheapen the Helium3 mining operation from the moon!!! You could leap 100m in a go! Better make sure they are properly fitted, though, or quite a few lunar miners could end up in the Sun...

    Strong data typing is for those with weak minds.

    --

    Strong data typing is for those with weak minds.

  4. Forget practicality! by Signal+11 · · Score: 5
    Well, gas powered equipment typically puts out a alot of heat, I suspect these aren't any different. So you have the heat production issue. On a hot day this could be a problem. So, using my previous overclocking experience, I added peltiers and an alternator to the shoes. I also strapped on a bunch of heatsinks and used heat pipes to extend the heatsinks up the side of my leg. It's now a boot instead of a shoe.

    So I was thinking, now that I have this alternator, how about I add a couple shoelights to them so people can see me at night? Not being one to be outdone, I used flourescent lights.. I'm environmentally friendly, afterall. Gotta add a ballast for that though. We could save on weight by running the wire up the side of the pants leg and back down the other, though I can't say I like the idea of 450v going by my precious jewels. But, in the name of science, I did it anyway. They work great too.

    So I have these peltier-cooled flourescent gas-powered walking boots. Doing all this required that I supercharge it to about 10psi and use a higher octane fuel. I got a great deal on peltiers though from Melcor, they're offering me volume discounts now. I painted them black 'cuz black looks cool. There's wires all around it, but that's the "in" thing now, so I'm not too worried. I added some fuses to the outside for easy replacement, as I've found the flourescent lights can overload the alternator and short when they first turn on. Should add a capacitor and a power inverter.

    You know, since I've got this nifty power source, I decided to make it wireless. Why not power up the shoes and make them walk to me in the morning? Forget the stupid dog! That'll require a bigger starter engine though 'cuz of all the electronics... Done.

    I also decided to add a computer heads-up display. We're using over 3000w of power right now, so I decided to go with a transmeta. Besides, heat production being what it is, a pentium would be too much. And I have to mount it on my chest now. I also added a belt-keyboard and mouse .. plus USB ports.

    Infrared would be good for tracking down lusers, so I've also integrated that into the HUD display. I don't know why people keep running away from me when I'm wearing my shoes (what's so bad about them?!) but now I can track them down. Hey, I'm getting a transmission on my wireless downlink....

    *cackle* We are the borg...

  5. The Picture by Seumas · · Score: 3
    Okay, so now we have the picture at the BBC to look at and, just as I imagined it would look, it's basically flat shoe-platforms with springs encased inside, and pistons along side your legs, strapped about your knee.

    The first thought that went through my mind when I saw this picture was "what a great way to have the lower part of your legs completely torn off from the rest of your body".
    ---
    seumas.com

  6. mid-air turning? by TheTomcat · · Score: 5

    I'm sure this is going to sound stupid until you think about it. Remember playing playform scroller games? Like Super Mario Bros. The play control in the 'Mario' games was decent -- you could do things like adjust your trajectory in the middle of a jump or fall, but remember all those other games where it was impossible to move while not on the ground? Where if you jump forward, the direction buttons do nothing until you're back on the ground?

    Without a way to adjust your destination, mid-flight, wouldn't these things be incredibly dangerous? This would be somewhat like running on ice, or losing the brakes on your car while driving.

    Sure it's a cool idea, but is it practical?

  7. Acme[1] engineering at its finest by EngrBohn · · Score: 4

    Just don't go after any roadrunners with them.
    [1]ACME= A Company that Makes Everything

    Christopher A. Bohn

    --
    cb
    Oooh! What does this button do!?
  8. Dangerous? by BrianW · · Score: 3

    What happens when someone runs into a wall or lamp post at 25MPH? Or worse, hits another pedestrian?

  9. Um, I'm wondering... by FreeJack1 · · Score: 3
    The one thing that comes to my mind when I read this; is there a tube that runs up into your arse and all you have to do is eat beans or corned beef and cabbage and you'll have a limitless supply of energy for the motor!

    "More beans, Mr. Taggart??"

  10. This must look ridiculous... by Griff · · Score: 5

    It sounds like something I'd like to try (but probably only the once :)

    One question though - how do you stop? The BBC article says the pistons are triggered by the foot hitting the ground, so presumably once you have started you have to wait until the things run out of fuel.

    (This brings up another interesting question: What happens if your left foot runs out of fuel before your right foot? This would probably make for some painful accidents).

  11. Can I be a superhero now? by Paul+Crowley · · Score: 3

    Combine these shoes with the Ursus Mark VI armoured suit, arrive in your personal helicopter... from Slashdot, I can get the tech I need to become a superhero! Now all I need are some nifty superhero-style weapons!
    --

    --
    Xenu loves you!
  12. lack of details by mirko · · Score: 3
    It's a pity we don't have not only some pictures but also some ideas of the way it is supposed to work :
    • How much gas refills do these shoes require per... hmmm say... kilometer ?
    • If I understood properly, these shoes allow their wearer to just walk the same way but make his steps longer.
      • What if he wants to climb stairs down ?
      • Won't he just be thrown in the air ?
      • How is precision stepping handled ?
      (a typical French expression in this case is "Adorable mais si on danse?" - "Lovely, but what about dancing?")
    • Walking with one kg of shoe per feet can also not be as natural as the guy tries to describe it...
      Especially if you happen to be out of gas in a country that is known for its penuries...

    --
    --
    Trolling using another account since 2005.
  13. Yep. by hey! · · Score: 3

    Professor Kunikov believes that,as well as being fun, the shoes could be used by rescue services to reach quickly areas inaccessible to vehicles with wheels.

    Yep. Same strategy as army ants use to cross rivers.

    --
    Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
  14. I'm having a flashback... by fudboy · · Score: 3
    Yes, I'm having a flashback to the cold war. Aren't you guys afraid of what the Russian military could do with this technology?

    1. Bouncing Battallions of Bolshevics Batman!!!


    :)Fudboy

    I guess I'm just a Fudboy, looking for that real Transmeta...
    --

    :)Fudboy

    I guess I'm only a Fudboy, looking for that real Transmeta