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Kite-Powered Ship Launched
The Grand Poobah writes "The big-kite technology we discussed last month has officially launched in Hamburg, Germany. Reuters has a writeup of the new technology, which aims to cut fossil fuel use on sea voyages by an estimated 20% by means of a huge computer-controlled kite. The link includes a video."
german scientists improve fuel consumption in cars by 60% using tiny horses for initial acceleration.
film at 11.
perhaps they have succeeded but I still want a giant balloon on top of ships so I can go to Narshe with ease again and again
- Cold fusion based power plants
- Jet-packs
- Mars terra forming and subsequent colonization
- FTL travel
and Duke Nukem Forever
For the perfect anti-Unix, write an OS that thinks it knows what you're doing better than you do and let it be wrong.
What, upgrading ships from combustion engines to sail? You kids and your newfangled fancy stuff! Next thing you'll be wanting oars!
For a second there -- just for a second -- I thought there was some hope for humanity. Then I saw what it was carrying in those pictures.
-1 not first post
I think this technology has obvious military applications.
When fighting enemy warships, a kite ship can get close enough to fire a shot, then the kite kicks in and they move away, out of range of the pursuing enemy ship, all the while firing shots at them. Using this tactic they could easily draw an enemy warship far from their lines and away from possible assistance to an area of the sea where additional friendly warships can be brought to bear upon it.
"Waste not one watt!" - CZ
Why would you want a bunch of Jews rowing your ship? It's not like they are stereotyped as being overly strong. I wonder if they have better stamina.
Ohhh!!! Wait . . . sorry, my bad . . . it says Kite-Powered Ship Launched.
The trick is to research gunpowder first, so you can see the saltpeter on the map before your opponents can. If you don't have any in your territory, attack and acquire it before they can use it to make musketmen.
Gosh yes, this does appear to be a fatal flaw in their plan. Here's what I suggest you do. First of all you need to send the beermat or envelope with your calculations and these general principles of wind dynamics off to the company and include a written warning in the strongest possible terms outlining why their years of planning, development, testing and implementation have been in vain. Doubtless initally they may horrorstruck with your revelations but eventually you'll almost certainly be called in for some well paid and top level consultancy where you can use your years of expertise to get this failing project back on the rails. Why, I imagine you could do this in your spare time without even breaking a sweat. You're so wonderful.
To this i can only say:
http://xkcd.com/357/