carbon – DesignApplause

2011 Ducati diavel.

Nov 3, 2010

a radically new bike offering an all carbon body, speed, style.

above: the diavel carbon.

The Ducati Diavel, 2011’s hottest new bike from the Italian motorcycle manufacturer, showcasing the brand’s continued innovations in design and technology.

A radical new approach to blending comfort and performance, the Diavel combines lightweight agility with exceptional sporting characteristics, resulting in a truly commanding new motorcycle.

Continuing the technological standard recently set by Ducati’s own Multistrada 1200 S, the Diavel features Ducati Traction Control, Ducati Riding Modes (Sport, Touring and Urban), Ride-By-Wire throttle and ABS brakes that combines to deliver the most dominant ride available. The lightweight and sleek Diavel weighs approximately 450 pounds. With strategic design in mind, the Diavel features excellent handling and an unmatched sense of confidence and control, while embodying a nimble athlete on starting blocks.

The Diavel’s comfortable ride features one of the lowest seat heights (30.3in) in the Ducati range as well as wide tapered aluminum handlebars beautifully shaped to fit the lines of the bike. Other technological advancements include LED lighting, keyless ignition and LCD split-level instrumentation with a TFT control panel display.

“The Diavel is confident and muscular; this stylized and innovative bike is shaping the future of motorcycle design as riders demand comfort, style and performance in a user-friendly package.” said Cristiano Silei, CEO of Ducati North America. “This Ducati introduction embodies both attitude and ability by offering an ownership experience unlike any other.”

Developed from the world champion Testastretta Evoluzione Superbike engine, the Ducati Diavel comes equipped with the Testastretta 11° power plant, able to harness the power of a Superbike yet produce a smooth ride, which can be adapted at the press of a button. Via the Ducati Traction Control system, the Diavel offers eight levels of traction sensitivity, which significantly increase the bike’s active safety and performance levels. What’s more, the Ducati Diavel boasts 162-horsepower in Sport and Touring modes for an adrenaline-fuelled ride, or 100 horsepower in Urban mode for a more relaxed experience.

The Ducati Diavel is available in two versions: the Diavel, $16,995, and the Diavel Carbon, $19,995, featuring a body formed entirely in carbon fiber, and forged aluminum Marchesini wheels that shave 5.5 pounds of unsprung weight from the motorcycle. The Ducati Diavel will be available at authorized showrooms beginning in February 2011. Color selections for the Diavel include traditional Ducati red or pearl white and red or black carbon on the Diavel Carbon model.

Founded in 1926, Ducati builds racing-inspired motorcycles characterized by unique engine features, innovative design, advanced engineering and overall technical excellence. The company produces motorcycles in six market segments which vary in their technical and design features and intended customers: Superbike, Streetfighter, Monster, Multistrada, Diavel and Hypermotard. The company’s motorcycles are sold in more than 60 countries worldwide, with a primary focus in the Western European, North American and Japanese markets. Ducati competes in the MotoGP World Championship. In World Superbike, Ducati won the 2009 Manufacturer’s title, bringing the total to 16 of the last 20 Manufacturers’ titles and 13 Riders’ titles. Competing in MotoGP since 2003, Ducati won both the Constructors’ and Riders’ world titles in 2007.

producer: ducati

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The whip. Snowboard.

Feb 2, 2009

A radical new design that sets out to improve on almost every aspect of snowboard riding – more speed, higher jumps, quicker turns, better fit and less chatter. Now, after four years in development, “The Whip” as it’s known has been officially launched.

The design retains a 4×4 mounting system so it can be used with most conventional bindings but a stiff binding with minimal padding is recommended. While the The Whip will perform well in regular powdery conditions, it’s not built for deep, off-trail powder.

The Whip represents a total rethink of several elements of snowboard design, but at first glance, there are two glaringly obvious features that stand out – the elongated cutout that runs through the center of the board and the raised, carbon-composite mounts dubbed “Spider back suspension”.

The purpose of the Open V Hull shape is to reduce the amount of surface area in contact with the snow and in turn reduce drag for greater gliding speed. The straight inner edges boost directional stability and are positioned lower than the outer edge resulting in a slight V-shape that is designed to improve edge to edge transition.

The second – and most striking – design element is the Spider back suspension, a system which was inspired by Leonardo Da Vinci’s famous Vitruvian Man sketch. Lin explains that the SBS fulfills several key roles – it acts as a suspension system to reduce chatter and because it’s edge mounted, allows for easier transfer of weight directly to the outside of the board, which is curved like a conventional snowboard for turns. The SBS mounts are tilted slightly toward the center of the board for a more natural stance and further assist turning by raising the center of gravity. The inner arms also act like leaf springs to give the board more “pop”.

The board is hand-built from wood, plastic, steel edges and carbon composite while the SBS is constructed with carbon composite. The suspension role played by the SBS also means that there’s no need for a dampening rubber sheet to be added to the board.

Only one model of will be released this year with the company expecting to produce a few hundred this season. The first, 158cm model is known as “The Whip F-117” (see below for specs) and there are plans to introduce more boards by next season.

The Whip is patent pending in the U.S., EU and most of Asia and the “F-117” model is now available for pre-order at the Cheetah Ultra Sports website at a price of USD$1899. Shipping is slated to begin this month. via cheetah ultra sports

The Whip F-117 Specs:
* LENGTH: 158cm
* WAIST WIDTH: 23.5cm
* EFFECTIVE EDGE: Outer 127cm, Inner 86x2cm
* NOSE WIDTH: 29cm
* TAIL WIDTH: 28cm
* OPENING WIDTH: 7cm
* STANCE LOCATION: 10.5 Back
* SPIDER HEIGHT: 3.8cm
* RIDER WEIGHT LIMITS: 135-195 lbs.

Designer: Adams Lin

ThisWay bicycle.

Jan 29, 2009

ThisWay bike concept.

Description:
A comfortable pedal powered bicycle with weather protection.

Emphasis is made on automotive qualities in the design, to attract non-previous cyclists used to cars and motorcycles.

Another selling point to attract more people riding a bike (particularly here in Europe) is weather protection – ThisWay has a roof.

Built in composite materials (carbon or flax fiber) and some hydro-formed aluminum, this vehicle is very lightweight (approximately 11-12kg). It has built-in LED lights front and rear, powered by a rechargeable battery obtaining its power from roof mounted solar cells. For minimum maintenance ThisWay’s built-in belt drive is well protected and all cables are hidden within the frame.

The car-like ergonomics offers a riding position lower than a traditional bike to keep a low center of gravity and optimal aerodynamics.

The design has simple controls for ease of use; single hand brake lever and hub gears type Torpedo Duomatic providing Low and Hi gear.

The rear of the frame has a “luggage connector”, where the user plugs-in his/her luggage (e g briefcase, helmet box or rack for shopping bags). The design also benefits from flexibility and comfort for riders of different sizes, as the crankset and seat is adjustable in length/height.

A “hybrid” version (pedal power/electric motor) is possible and additional battery pack plugged-in into the luggage connector will extend the range further.

Although this design is more expensive to manufacture compared to its traditional rivals, it is still just a fraction of the price of a car and virtually zero in running costs…

Motivation:
There are roofed bikes out there on the market already such as rickshaws, recumbents, HPVs (Human Powered Vehicles)/velomobiles etc., so covered bikes do exist since a long time but the challenge is to design a functional and desirable bicycle that even appeals to non-previous cyclists.

It makes sense for a commuter bike here in Central and Northern Europe to offer some degree of weather protection for improved comfort. Instead of creating a totally enclosed design similar to other HPVs/velomobiles risking the user to feel isolated, a more open design will allow a higher degree of interaction with the surroundings.

Winner Bicycle Design “commuter bike for masses” design competition. See the Bicycle Design list of finalists .

Designer: Torkel Dohmers

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS CONCEPT? — comment below.

Carbon dioxide scrubber.

Jan 21, 2009

It is cool to be green these days, and David Keith and his team think the Carbon Dioxide Scrubber could be the next big thing. This device is supposed to capturing CO2 straight from the air and purify it, making our air much cleaner.

Also known as the eCO2, this personal scrubber unit aims to help an individual reduce or even erase his/her personal carbon footprint throughout the day. How does it do this? Fashioned after a futuristic looking wristwatch, it relies on kinetic energy to power it, pulling in air via intake vents to collect CO2 and expelling clean air through its exhaust vents. We wonder whether wearing five of these on each arm will help us offset more than our fair share of carbon footprint. As an added bonus, the eCO2 also doubles up as a timepiece, and we think it has plenty of potential when used with a Wii while you’re busy trying to knock your opponent out in Wii Boxing.

Designer: james kershaw & Chad Garn

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS CONCEPT? — comment below.

Sexy green car show. 2008

May 30, 2008

The world’s first eco car show opened at the Eden Project in the UK last week. Let’s discover which type of green motor we’re most likely to be driving in the future.

Love them or hate them, cars are not going away. But road transport accounts for a fifth of our carbon dioxide emissions in the UK, so it’s time to transform the way we buy and use them.

The good news is that in the UK the government’s King Review of transport tells us we can reduce road transport CO2 emissions by a massive 80% by 2050 if we start buying the right vehicles now and take our old bangers off the roads. Now, the technology is out there and our Sexy Green Car Show brings it to you.

Traditionally, environmental organizations have not had much to say about cars, except to try and persuade people not to use them. But at Eden, based in rural Cornwall, people are acutely aware of a dependence on cars. For many it’s just not practical or affordable to travel another way. (more…)

Earth Hour 2008.

Mar 24, 2008

Earth Hour 2007 was a Sydney, Australia event to fight global warming by saving energy and raising awareness. On March 29, 2008, Earth Hour goes global.

Just a few days left before Earth Hour—March 29, 2008. 8-9pm. Between now and then send a reminder to your blogosphere connections to participate. You can continue to remind people about conserving energy for the rest of the year too! Here’s how…

1. Forward this information or create an original. (The image in this post is a photo taken from one of the many posters, billboards in Chicago.)
2. Place your Earth Hour post on your blog along with these instructions…
3. Send a minimum of 5 bloggers—or your entire blogroll—to do the same. Notify them of the tag.
4. ADD your site to the list and place your blog’s name and url in a comment here to let DA know you successfully forwarded this info. DA will acknowledge your success with a comment in your post. Email webmaster [at] designapplause.com if you have questions. (more…)

water. money. power.

Mar 4, 2008

above> tu_fin

All you need is water, money, a Darth Vadar fetish. One you burn calories. One you burn 951 gallons an hour. Both burn holes in pockets.

There is little info on the Tu-fin save a link to their site. “TU_FiN Walking on Water—das Fun und Fitnessboot.” But here is a story on Wally…

118 WallyPower (above) is a high speed luxury yacht created by Wally Yachts. It is narrow and angular in design with black glass housing. It is 118 feet long and is capable of reaching speeds as fast as 60 knots (70 mph, 110 km/h).[1] It is capable of this feat due to three Vericor TF50 gas turbines generating 16,800 HP. The three gas turbines each drive a Rolls-Royce Kamewa water jet, two steerable outboard and a non-steering booster on centerline. The steerable water jets also have a diesel engine input for a 370 hp Cummins diesel hence these two wing drive trains are Combined Diesel and Gas Turbine (CODOG). The 118 WallyPower won the MYDA, Millennium Yacht Design Award,[2] organised by Seatec (the yachting and shipping technology show of Carrarafiere) for the “Layout of the Third Millennium.” The WallyPower is also being honoured by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art as the sole boat in its major architecture and design exhibition, ‘Glamour: Fabricating Affluence’, which ran from October 9 2004 to January 16 2005.[3] Wally Yachts has only produced one, and it currently resides in the Mediterranean.[4] The 118 is known by most from its role as the “Renovatio” in the 2005 science-fiction film The Island.

Construction
The sleek lines of the 118 WallyPower are the result of an extensive R&D program that included the tank testing at the SSPA facility in Gothenburg, Sweden, and smoke testing in the Ferrari Wind Tunnel Facility in Maranello, Italy. The air inlets of the gas turbines were optimised to verify any turbulence and back flow of the exhaust gas on deck and living areas, and to have further confirmation of the geometry of the hull and superstructure.

The bottom of the hull is built in solid fibreglass. Topsides, from the waterline up, are hybrid fibreglass/carbon composite with balsa core. On deck this becomes a Nomex/full carbon composite. The deck superstructure is made of a carbon frame to which the glass panels are glued. The glass is composed of Lexan and a triple laminate of glass. The interior bulkheads and cabin soles carry no structural loads so they are constructed entirely of thin wood and laminate veneer skins with cores. At speed, the 118 WallyPower is comfortable and stable as a result of the deep V (22 degrees) hull shape combined with a straight stem bow designed to pierce waves. The bathfixtures and dining tables are even made from carbon composites to reduce weight.

The 118 WallyPower’s chameleon-like paint finish is metallic dark green and changes reflections and colour depending on the light and landscape. The 118’s deck, cockpit, navigation, dining and saloon areas have been conceived as one continuous element. Inside the superstructure, the atmosphere is that of a New York style loft. The open space incorporates three areas, from stern to bow: The saloon, the dining/seating area, and the navigation cockpit. Transparency is a main feature of the yacht’s interior. When dining, guests can enjoy the 360-degree view. Underneath the table, the skylight allows light to filter down to the lower corridor. The lightweight carbon fibre dining table seats eight people, and the port and starboard teak cabinets alongside serve for storage of china, silverware and glassware. The dining and lounging cockpit is forward of the superstructure, to provide maximum privacy as well as being in the coolest area at anchor, away from the engines.

Two fore dining tables can be mechanically lowered to provide a large cushioned relaxing area in the bow of the Wallypower. Inside the yacht the owner’s stateroom is forward, featuring a king size bed. Plenty of storage is provided by the side cabinets. A 20″ plasma screen is mounted in the aft bulkhead. The cabin has plenty of natural light coming from the top skylight. Two identical guest cabins feature queen size beds and en-suites. Each cabin has a 15″ plasma screen in the aft bulkhead.

The spacious galley includes the crew mess, again featuring a 15″ plasma screen. The galley (kitchen) is equipped with a professional oven and stove, as well as plenty of fridges, and is made enitrely of stainless steel, including the ceiling.

Technical specifications
The cost of the 118 Wallypower is US$24.83 million for the triple gas turbines or $16.55 million for the twin diesels only. It has a range of 1500 miles at 9 knots, or 300 miles at 60 knots. The fuel capacity of the 118 is 22,000 litres or 5812 gallons. If the gas turbine engines are all out, the 118 WallyPower uses 14 gallons for every mile at 60 knots. At this rate it uses 951 gallons an hour. The displacement of the 118 WallyPower is 95 tons. It can accommodate 6 guests and 6 crew.

via wikipedia and today and tomorrow