Latest By
Category:
Armor
Artificial
Intelligence
Biology
Clothing
Communication
Computers
Culture
Data Storage
Displays
Engineering
Entertainment
Food
Input Devices
Lifestyle
Living Space
Manufacturing
Material
Media
Medical
Miscellaneous
Robotics
Security
Space Tech
Spacecraft
Surveillance
Transportation
Travel
Vehicle
Virtual
Person
Warfare
Weapon
Work
 |
Comments on Hoverbike Is Stuff SF Dreams Are Made Of
Perhaps this reminds you of other sf favorites? (Read
the complete story)
| "Great! If this will work, there could sometime be a smaller version... like... lets say the size of a skateboard!" (McFly 1/6/2012 4:56:26 AM) |
| "Nice try, McFly! No way that two, four or even eight miniaturized propellers (sized to a skateboard scale) would lift a human, let alone allow him to ride such a contraption like a skateboard.
Small jet engines and antigravity are the way to go!" (Tannen 1/6/2012 8:17:48 AM) |
| "I forgot to point out that this general idea is an sf standard; fans should recall some of the following examples:
The skimmer from Roger Zelazny's 1966 novel This Immortal and the skitter from Frank Herbert's 1977 novel The Dosadi Experiment; the surface slider and the platform flyer, both from Jack Vance's 1964 novel The Star King. Finally, check out the original idea for this kind of craft - the flitter from 'Doc Smith's 1941 story Vortex Blaster." |
| "Tannen, you might like the Hawking Mat from Dan Simmons' 1989 novel Hyperion. (Mad) scientists are trying to make one (sort of) - see Princeton's Magic Carpet." (Bill Christensen 1/6/2012 10:02:57 AM) |
| "looks more like those speeders that the storm troopers used in the Star Trek movie with the ewoks." ( 1/6/2012 5:58:11 PM) |
| "I think you mean Star Wars - and I think you're right, at least from the side, they do look similar. Judge for yourself in this video:
" |
| "My first Sci Fi connection seeing this was Larry Niven's Skycycle. The description in "Ringworld" was of it looking like a flying dumbell where the rider straddled the bar that connected the two weights. From above that's what this looks like!" (Erik Glenn 1/10/2012 1:36:46 PM) |
| "I totally forgot about that example, Erik. Readers can take a look at the entry for the flycycle from Larry Niven's 1970 blockbuster Ringworld. " (Bill Christensen 1/10/2012 5:14:41 PM) |
Get more information on Hoverbike Is Stuff SF Dreams Are Made Of
Leave a comment:
Tediously, spammers have returned; if you have a comment, send it to bill at this site (include the story name) and I'll post it.
More Articles
Mechazilla Arms Catch A Falling Starship, But Check Out SF Landing-ARMS
'...the rocket’s landing-arms automatically unfolded.'
A System To Defeat AI Face Recognition
'...points and patches of light... sliding all over their faces in a programmed manner that had been designed to foil facial recognition systems.'
Robot Hand Separate From Robot
'The crawling, exploring object was V-Stephen's surgeon-hand...'
Hybrid Wind Solar Devices
'...the combined Wind-Suncatcher, like a spray of tulips mounted fanwise.'
Is Optimus Autonomous Or Teleoperated?
'I went to the control room where the three other men were manipulating their mechanical men.'
Robot Masseuse Rubs People The Right Way
'The automatic massager began to fumble gently...'
Solar-Powered Space Trains On The Moon
'The low-slung monorail car, straddling its single track, bored through the shadows on a slowly rising course.'
Drone Deliveries Instead Of Waiters In Restaurants?
'It was a smooth ovoid floating a few inches from the floor...'
Optimus Robot Can Charge Itself
'... he thrust in his charging arm to replenish his store of energy.'
Skip Movewear Arc'teryx AI Pants
'...the terrible Jovian gravity that made each movement an effort.'
'Robovan' Name Already Taken - Elon, Try These
There are alternative names that are probably in the public domain by now.
How Old Are Tesla Designs?
You be the judge.
Is Your Autonomous Tractor Safe?
'The field-minder finished turning the top-soil of a two-thousand-acre field.'
Smart TVs Are Listening!
'You had to live -- did live, from habit that became instinct -- in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard...'
Police Drones In China Would Like To Have A Word With You
''OVERRIDE,' the City Fathers said suddenly, without being asked anything at all.'
Oh Great (Part 2), Fence-Climbing Robots
Please, no stingers.
Are The Thought Police Listening To Everyone All The Time?
'... they could plug in your wire whenever they wanted to.'
Finally, Robot Conductors On Autonomous Buses
'Wardour Street,' he told the robot-conductor.'
RoboShiko! Sumo Exercises Still Good For Robots
'... the expressionless face before me was therefore that of the golem-wrestler, Rolem, a creature that could be set for five times the strength of a human being.'
Giant Robotic Hands At Gundam Next Future Science
'Waldo put his arms into the primary pair before him; all three pairs, including the secondary pair mounted before the machine, came to life.'
