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Gas-Powered Boots As Metaphor For Cold War
News.com has a piece up looking at a set of gas-powered boots that were developed during the cold war. While the technology itself is interesting, article author Andrew Kramer uses it as a launching point for a discussion of Russia's technological stagnation during the cold war. Outside of military applications, many of the innovative ideas developed in the former USSR during the 80s and early 90s were left to rot on the drawing board. The boots were eventually brought to market, but failed sometime last year. They do, of course, also go into how the boots work: "Taking a step down will compress air in the shoe--as in a typical sneaker, said Enikeev, who was a designer on the project. But then, a tiny carburetor injects gasoline into the compressed air and a spark plug fires it off. Instead of fastening a seat belt, the institute's test runner, Marat D. Garipov, an assistant professor of engineering, strapped on shin belts at a recent demonstration. Then he flicked an ignition switch."
In Soviet Russia boots run you!!
What? Doesn't he deserve compensation for all of the uses his idea has been put to? The stacking of multiply shaped bricks to create large structures? Every building in the world was constructed using his methods. If it weren't for Tetris, there would be no construction, anywhere! The world owes him a huge debt.
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When I lived in North America, that particular usage confused me almost as much as `homo milk'.
Did you enjoy your time in North America?
There are shills on slashdot. Apparently, I'm one of them.
Honestly ! I am aware that the average american has next to no grasp of their external geography but to describe the USA as a little island in the Atlantic is verging on frightening.
Reminds me of the seven-league boots they experimented with at the Soviet Scientific Research Institute of Sorcery and Wizardry. The problem of course was that with the very first stride your leading foot would end up seven leagues away from the rest of your body.
From the article...
"They should work like a Kalashnikov," he said. "Reliable in anybody's hands."
That's all we need...a bunch of speedy terrorists carrying AK-47s.
On a more realistic note...if you think Heelies are bad can you imagine the kids in the mall wearing these things?
This gives me a great idea. As the piston enters the cylinder, it compresses the air and a small amount of fuel is injected....
Resulting in reciprocating action even if the wearer is to tired to propel the engine themselves. My calculations show that speeds of up to 3600 RPMs and durations of 4 hours may be possible on a single tank of gas. This should be a great boon for exhausted soldiers and sailors to make the most of their limited R&R leaves.
The fuel injection is all handled peristatically so the only complex part is the magneto for the spark. I'm working on eliminating that by going to a diesel version, be so far the glow plug in the tip has just cause nasty burns.
Some drink at the fountain of knowledge. Others just gargle.
Those things reminded me too much of the super boots in the Super Mario Bros movie. Please tell me I'm not alone in this.
And when they put in the last brick... it all disappears!
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"They were also pretty dangerous."
That's easy to believe; they were sold by "Chance Manufacturing." When I'm buying an explosive device to put near my privates, I'll take a Chance© every time.