Tag: Inventions

Improve Your Bike Commute by Re-Inventing the Wheel

Posted on by robbie

Bicycling is a great option for an outdoor fitness routine, but even if you’re not training for a long ride or racking up miles on uphill climbs, you can still take part in the practical benefits of riding a bike. A bike commute, for example, helps you reduce your carbon footprint, save on gas money, and turns your commute into a workout, rather than a stressful ride through traffic. Some cyclists, especially commuters, are looking for a little extra boost in their ride, and while a few bikes come with small motors, the FlyKly Smart Wheel is a unique bike addition that has already raised four times as much money as its original Kickstarter goal. It’s designed to fit on almost any bicycle, and the motor, which takes two or three hours to completely charge, kicks in as a rider starts pedaling and cuts out upon stopping. The high-tech side of this product shows up in a mobile app that allows cyclists to lock the motor or track the bike if it gets stolen; it also lets riders set a top speed. It’ll even monitor the wheel and provide alerts when it’s time for maintenance.

 

Teenage Scientist Invents Nuclear Devices for a Safer World

Posted on by robbie

Are you ready to feel a bit…under-accomplished? Nevada 19-year-old Taylor Wilson aspires to develop clean nuclear fusion energy, and few who’ve met him doubt that he can do it. Wilson built his own nuclear reactor at age 14 in his parents’ garage, teaching himself the process by studying information on the Internet and learning from professors at Reno’s Davidson Academy, a public school for gifted students. Wilson is the youngest person to ever build a reactor, and since completing that project he’s built a series of inventions involving nuclear energy, including a method for making less expensive medical isotopes for cancer screening and a device that can detect weapons-grade plutonium at shipping ports, a feat that won him first prize at the Intel Science Fair. He’s currently working on designs for safer, smaller power plants that would not have meltdowns and other accidents. He’s skipping college to have more time to work on his inventions.
 
 
 

$95 Device Lets You Charge Your Phone With Energy From Riding Your Bike

Posted on by robbie

Engineers have created several ways for you to convert bicycle energy into power. But often, the options involve an expensive (and heavy) wheel buildout onto your bike. The Siva Cycle Atom is a generator that easily snaps onto your bike to charge electronic things like a phone, lights, and battery pack as you ride along. The website says, “We started Siva Cycle to transform the energy and passion of cycling into usable electricity for everyday.” They launched a successful Kickstarter campaign earlier this year to put the charger into production; the first round of chargers should reach people this month. The device not only represents a renewable energy solution for electronic devices, but also promotes a healthy lifestyle and helps reduce carbon emissions. Next time you need to recharge, consider grabbing your bike.