As many of you know one of my primary interests is Mecha. I believe there is a future to this sci-fi dream of writers like myself. We see things in our heads that make sense to us and we think why not. I continue to research the topic and figured I would share two of bolder attempts by individuals to build these massive machines.
Granted these examples are crude and wouldn’t last 30 seconds on a battlefield, but then again the first automobiles were jokes by today’s standards too.
The first is one that was built in here in Alaska several years ago by an ambitious fellow; I have tried to track him down but haven’t had much luck. The flamethrower is kind of cool effect but with I would have liked to see it walk.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dhs7t70_YVg&feature=related
The second was built in Japan and is much more functional from what I can see. Though it really can’t walk at this point it does manage to slide through the movements well enough. The crude air weapons are a nice touch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c2ZjEflcps&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtovadY4lYk&feature=related
Regardless of their current rough state I can tell you that we will continue to see improvement in the related technologies and in time these will become viable. Until then I will just have to keep writing and dreaming, with the rest of you.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Top 10 Strangest Things in Space... uh don't they mean 11... ;)
Well after a bit of a hiatus... I am back with another slide show of interest from Space.com folks. I love their site.
It is entitled the "Top 10 Strangest Things in Space", oddly enough though there are eleven slides... Oh well inspite of thier obviously questionable ability to use their fingers and toes to count the list is quite cool. One I am going to incorporate into my sci-fi story, Azmathia.
Enjoy!
It is entitled the "Top 10 Strangest Things in Space", oddly enough though there are eleven slides... Oh well inspite of thier obviously questionable ability to use their fingers and toes to count the list is quite cool. One I am going to incorporate into my sci-fi story, Azmathia.
Enjoy!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Rumors of my untimely demise...
Contrary to the rumors circulating I am indeed still alive; just working two jobs... Hence the decrease in actual blog time available to me. I have mostly adjusted to this new schedule and I hope to be able to post once a month from this time forward. If you are wondering why this is the case I suggest you stop by my financial councilor's website . It is all his fault as he has modivated me to get out of debt FOREVER! Hence, I actually have need of a breif burst of income to help move my debt snowball downhill faster.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
THE SPACE EDUCATORS' HANDBOOK
I just stumbled across a really cool site. It has tons of stuff from the archives of Space history. Especially pleasing to me was all of the cool concept sketches from the early days of the space race. What a treasure trove!!!
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
I am sooooo hungry I could eat a HIPPO!!!
I know I have said it before! But I know I didn't mean it. Appearently, this snake didn't know the serious side effects of such a meal... WOW!
This is one of those videos that makes you realize that the creatures we often don't give much thought to just might eat us if we are not careful.
This is one of those videos that makes you realize that the creatures we often don't give much thought to just might eat us if we are not careful.
Friday, June 15, 2007
The Planet Formerly Known as Pluto
When the International Astronomical Union's 2500 members voted to demote Pluto from our ninth planet to a founding member of the subclass of dwarf planets, I was initially annoyed. Over the ensuing months I have reconsidered my annoyance. While it is true that the solar system order has changed on one level of classified thinking, it is also true that this change is for the betterment of our under standing of the vast vacuum that surrounds this blue paradisaical marble in space. It pompted a discussion about the solar system with my oldest son and that is always a good thing. Hence, I too have joined the club of folks who now recognise the planet formerly known as Pluto, as a planet no more but as a dwarf indeed. Especially, in the light of new observations that show us just how lucky Lowell was when he discovered the large frozen rock of Pluto.
here is an interesting article that confirms Pluto's place as the first of the Kuiper Belt objects. Eris is actually larger than Pluto and in the coming months and years the other objects being tracked will also emerge from the blackness and who knows maybe one of them will be even bigger still.
here is an interesting article that confirms Pluto's place as the first of the Kuiper Belt objects. Eris is actually larger than Pluto and in the coming months and years the other objects being tracked will also emerge from the blackness and who knows maybe one of them will be even bigger still.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Trojan Armor System
This is the second time I have written this post today. I was 95% complete when I saved it and exited the system figuring to polish it up a bit more before posting. I was greatly surprised to find that the only version of the post that existed was missing the entire text of the post previously written. Garrr!!! So let the bell ring! Here goes round two for the Trojan Armor post.
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I discovered a cool site called technovelgy - where science meets science fiction. A quirky name but the site is chalk full of cool stories of the sci-fi world of tomorrow becoming the science world of today.
I began exploring with Armor the first section listed on the site and my there are quite a few others. One article jumped out at me; it was titled "Exoskeleton Like Halo Suit" - The subtitle gave me the clue that it was the latest from Troy Hurtubise it read, "If you can build a suit to fight with bears, you can build a military exoskeleton with some practical experience built in. " (Technovelgy, 2007) . I clicked the link and was pleased by the image of armor before my eyes. I seemed practical in and it did indeed have that MJOLINAR-esque look to it. Towards the bottom I found the link to the reference article from The Hamilton Spectator titled, From bears to bullets. I learned more and figured there had to be more so I googled "Trojan Armor System" and "Troy Hurtubise" several other combinations looking for additional information on this cool armor prototype. I found these few choice items for you my loyal readers.
First there is a good YouTube Video of a press release session by Troy. It is worth watching and has some fun antidotes concerning his inspiration and motivation for designing Trojan.
Second is another blog called Defense Tech there is some good discussion on the Trojan Armor vs Dragon Skin body armor. Several good points were made here and I would recommend the read to you all.
Third is a bit of information from the Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner concerning the critical holes in the existing body armor system in use by the United States Armed Forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. Which when examined in connection with this post and the Defense Tech blog's points on body armor it make Troy's commentary on the Military Brass and Politicians all the more scorching in my opinion. There are good men and women dying because they are being forced to wear substandard armor that the OAFME has clearly shown to be deficient in areas that both Dragon Skin and Trojan seem capable of defending with their armor. Why serious effort by the US Armed Forces haven't done more with these two options I have no
Take a look at the graphic below and draw your own conclusions.
OAFME Armor Analysis
Finally this next bit is a strong editorial observation. The deprivation of improved armor systems is nearly as criminal an act when committed by the Military Brass; as is the failure by political leaders to properly mobilization of the army. REMF'ers should never dictate front line policies. PERIOD!
When one sends out the Armies one is supposed to do so in accordance with Sun Tzu's most practical instruction found in The Art of War; I will paraphrase it rather simply as "Stay out of your General's hair once you engage the Army. "
Ultimately the Army has one purpose and one purpose alone, for some this will seem harsh but it is truth and truth must never be ignored. That purpose is TO BREAK THE WILL OF THE LIVING ENEMY AND TO KILL ALL ENEMIES WHO WILL NOT BE BROKEN. And the way to do that is as Patton said "No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country." If winning the war is not the reason you are sending forth these brave soldiers then it is unconscionable act, of shame and possibly even murderous treason. The soldier is to be respected especially by the politician; it is the soldier who supports the politician. There reverse should be true. Insuring that our soldiers have advanced armor is critical to this effort because it grants your troops the tactical advantage to carry out that wise observation of one of the greatest military generals of all time; 'Old Blood and Guts' himself!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I discovered a cool site called technovelgy - where science meets science fiction. A quirky name but the site is chalk full of cool stories of the sci-fi world of tomorrow becoming the science world of today.
I began exploring with Armor the first section listed on the site and my there are quite a few others. One article jumped out at me; it was titled "Exoskeleton Like Halo Suit" - The subtitle gave me the clue that it was the latest from Troy Hurtubise it read, "If you can build a suit to fight with bears, you can build a military exoskeleton with some practical experience built in. " (Technovelgy, 2007) . I clicked the link and was pleased by the image of armor before my eyes. I seemed practical in and it did indeed have that MJOLINAR-esque look to it. Towards the bottom I found the link to the reference article from The Hamilton Spectator titled, From bears to bullets. I learned more and figured there had to be more so I googled "Trojan Armor System" and "Troy Hurtubise" several other combinations looking for additional information on this cool armor prototype. I found these few choice items for you my loyal readers.
First there is a good YouTube Video of a press release session by Troy. It is worth watching and has some fun antidotes concerning his inspiration and motivation for designing Trojan.
Second is another blog called Defense Tech there is some good discussion on the Trojan Armor vs Dragon Skin body armor. Several good points were made here and I would recommend the read to you all.
Third is a bit of information from the Office of the Armed Forces Medical Examiner concerning the critical holes in the existing body armor system in use by the United States Armed Forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. Which when examined in connection with this post and the Defense Tech blog's points on body armor it make Troy's commentary on the Military Brass and Politicians all the more scorching in my opinion. There are good men and women dying because they are being forced to wear substandard armor that the OAFME has clearly shown to be deficient in areas that both Dragon Skin and Trojan seem capable of defending with their armor. Why serious effort by the US Armed Forces haven't done more with these two options I have no
Take a look at the graphic below and draw your own conclusions.
OAFME Armor AnalysisFinally this next bit is a strong editorial observation. The deprivation of improved armor systems is nearly as criminal an act when committed by the Military Brass; as is the failure by political leaders to properly mobilization of the army. REMF'ers should never dictate front line policies. PERIOD!
When one sends out the Armies one is supposed to do so in accordance with Sun Tzu's most practical instruction found in The Art of War; I will paraphrase it rather simply as "Stay out of your General's hair once you engage the Army. "
Ultimately the Army has one purpose and one purpose alone, for some this will seem harsh but it is truth and truth must never be ignored. That purpose is TO BREAK THE WILL OF THE LIVING ENEMY AND TO KILL ALL ENEMIES WHO WILL NOT BE BROKEN. And the way to do that is as Patton said "No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country." If winning the war is not the reason you are sending forth these brave soldiers then it is unconscionable act, of shame and possibly even murderous treason. The soldier is to be respected especially by the politician; it is the soldier who supports the politician. There reverse should be true. Insuring that our soldiers have advanced armor is critical to this effort because it grants your troops the tactical advantage to carry out that wise observation of one of the greatest military generals of all time; 'Old Blood and Guts' himself!
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