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Eco Pods Architectural Design with Robotic Arms

TheFuture — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 11:38:11 +0000

The Eco Pods are a structure concept that can act as a temporary algae bio-reactor in vertical way. This concept is specially designed for Boston and features robotic arms, powered by micro-algae mechanism, which will continuously rearrange the pods to different positions to ensure the best possible growing condition for the algae. Moreover, these eco-pods are intended to inform people about the potential of micro-algae as a bio-fuel that can be produced vertically.

Aside from being just a bio-reactor and a local renewable energy source, the Eco-Pod will also be a good research incubator where scientists can examine algae species and ways of fuel extraction, including innovative methods of using low energy consuming LED lighting for modifying the algae growth cycles. This module can easily be placed to various places around Boston, infilling empty sites, examining new proposals, and creating initiatives with other communities in order to meet the growing energy requirements.

Designer : Howeler + Yoon and Squared Design Lab

Futuristic Landstorm Concept Vehicle for The Year 2058

TheFuture — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 09:21:42 +0000

Landstorm concept is a vehicle that is designed for future, when airborne vehicles will not be much effective to reach a particular area because of frequent natural disasters which is the result of future global warming. This vehicle has been designed as an all terrain vehicle that is equipped with a collection of hidden gadgets or compartments and the ability to interchange the pods located on its back. There is a variety of Pods that can be enclosed with the vehicle before it is sent to a particular location. These pods have been designed considering scouting missions, food and water transportation to a disaster affected area, medical pods that can treat 2 patients simultaneously, excavation pods that can work as a robust crane to remove large pieces of wreckage, and fire rescue pod where the tank can hold 750 gallons of water and can drain water from lakes with outboard pumps.

The 4 hydraulic legs of Landstorm can move independently and are providing great functionality by navigating over tremendously difficult terrain and raising itself up to reach the target. The use of these hydraulic drive-train attached with several powerful electric motors and powered by hydrogen fuel cell, have made the vehicle lightweight by removing the mechanical parts to impel the wheels. Moreover, it can be airdropped when the destination is far from the closest depot and then continue to reach the target on land.

The wheels of Landstorm are uniquely designed that feature small pods, allowing more grip on surfaces like loose dirt, mud or snow by increasing to compress surface area or just by using the edges to grip onto the surface. These are not just wheels, they feature a grapple gun or hook winch that lets the vehicle drag heavy debris or towing a standard vehicle. Once the Landstorm reaches the destination, the team will start rescuing and treating the survivors for emergency injuries.

The driver and navigator of Landstorm will have no problem finding out how far the destination is and how to get there by using the state of the art HUD technology along with a built in MultiSight camera (Infra Red, Night Vision and Cold Vision) powered with an advanced Computer AI. The heads up display features the most interactive information system which is controlled by the user’s neural patterns, which means, the information is controlled by the users thoughts. The rest of the cabin remains free for storage compartments for various equipments. There is a small backup unit that will start working if the main power source fails for any reason.

Designer : Peter Spriggs

Slimo One Seater Public Transportation System

TheFuture — Mon, 25 May 2009 04:54:58 +0000

Slimo is a concept public transportation system that is anticipated as a design that would have been done by VW if they have opted to. Slimo is a one-seater pod specially designed for individual ease, includes a computer terminal for connectivity purposes and a bus-like chain can be formed by riding all these pods together. This feature will also be helpful for promotional activities like displaying a cohesive message across the surfaces of chain formed Slimos. This innovative design will certainly leave a brilliant impression among general users with its circular seating arrangement, open specious environment and extraordinary miniature tires.

Designer : Sunguk Kim and Young Roh Yun via [Dvice and Automotto]

The Green Eye Candy and Orange Tequila Sunrise Bicycles

TheFuture — Tue, 19 May 2009 05:13:59 +0000

With the sunrise orange color and the perfect white shades, the Tequila sunrise bicycle is really offering an ideal visual according to its name. Even you can compare the body of this bicycle, made of laid fiberglass over steel frame, with a rising sun. During giving the final shape, fabrication of the bicycle’s body has not been done with molds; rather the designer chose to put fiberglass over the top expanding foam. This bike may not seem quite ridable at the very first look but the designer has worked hard to make things easier. The curved handle allows the rider to maintain a comfy sitting even though the distance of the seat from the front wheel is considerably longer.

Eye Candy is a green bicycle with an innovative design and all steel body, ideal for all range of riders. The bicycle was designed to keep a lightweight bike concept in mind and therefore, it doesn’t include any unnecessary body parts. This candy green painted bicycle includes completely functional tail lights in the back pods which maybe the most uncommon feature of a bicycle. Besides, it has grilles and hand made backrest to ensure the riders comfort and fork support in the wheels to offer better durability.

Designer : Jason Battersby

Transport Heavy Items with Special Designed Helicopter

TheFuture — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:43:59 +0000

Use of Helicopters for lifting heavy items are not that trendy in the recent world but still there is always a need of a helicopter that can lift gigantic items for easy and quick transportation. This heavy lift robotic helicopter concept was designed during last 2008 with keeping giant lifting capabilities in mind. The innovative design will let the helicopter to pull a remarkably high object and the placing of the propellers have made them easy movable to offer better control. Both of the landing beams are supported with three hydraulic legs that can increase or reduce the height of the giant lifter.

Jon says:
The basic principle for the helicopter is to serve in the military as an unmanned helicopter to help out the construction crews build bases quickly. Dual propellers mounted on either side give stability as well as an incredible amount of lifting capacity considering the size of the vehicle. It’s just near the size of an average sedan but could easily lift a military grade hummer or whatever supplies the crew/troops need.

Maneuverability is key and so the engine pods can pivot in any direction needed to fit into small spots or to find its way through a city. Two cables come down from both ends of the vehicle to attach onto the object needing transport. The landing gear can also be used to pick up objects or to give the object some stability when in motion.

Designer : Jon Russel

Second Solar Spaceship Design for Kids

TheFuture — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 07:12:53 +0000

The Second Solar Spaceship, designed by Different Futures, placed in the German city of Boblingen is the most elaborate children’s toy. The spaceship as the name suggest is the replica of any regular spaceship minus the ability to fly. This three level toy is interactive spaceship also has a 3-D cinema, a laboratory and even an alien breeding ground! The concept has jet engines and the circular docking pods are used for connecting to orbiting stations. This toy is a nice means of educating the kids as to how a real space ship works so that they are more knowledgeable.

Designer : Different Futures

HUG : Sleek and Sexy iPod Dock Charger

TheFuture — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 06:03:57 +0000

Now this is something sleek and sexy. I have not been wowed as of late with any other iPod for the looks and design. HUG is affordable and comes with a stylish iPod stand. You can now seamlessly charge and play your iPod while it is kept on its stand. HUG comes with two magical speakers. You must have seen many iPods but this one has really stood out because of its stellar design. Overall, this whole set of iPod is certainly an attention grabber and a piece of décor.

Designer : Sebastián Fernández

Brunopasso, An Expresso Coffee Machine That Looks like an Italian Sport Car

TheFuture — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:56:29 +0000

Japanese designer Tadahito Ishibashi has come up with an espresso machine which he has named as “Brunopasso”. He has called the same as design for style because the design is truly majestic and can be termed as a masterpiece. It looks in every bit more like the Italian Sports Cars complete with console panel. While looking stylish it is also very simple to use and even works with pods. These gadgets are very much available commonly at the supermarkets. So just go ahead and make a style statement by having an espresso machine right on your table.

Designer : Tadahito Ishibashi [ProductPage]

New Arts Building by Will Alsop : The Public

TheFuture — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 06:53:09 +0000

The Public, West Bromwich, England is a new arts building designed by architect Will Alsop. As per the architect, the building is born out of the thought that for renewing a generation, architecture can act as a catalyst. It inspires new ideas from the creative users and in itself the building signifies the creators’ belief in art. It has five levels and the building caters to various creative heads to explore their creativity. It’s intended to be a center for people to take part in art projects, and also engaging in learning wide range of skills and subjects, with special emphasis being given to IT and digital arts.

The Public represents a radical gesture for community architecture, born from the conviction that art and architecture can be catalysts for regeneration and renewal. On five principal levels, the building is intended to give great scope to exhibition designers, artists, educators and users of all kinds, while encouraging and challenging all users to work in innovative ways. The Public is intended to inspire new ideas from its creative users rather than simply make way for them. The building itself is a statement of its creators’ belief in art, in the broadest sense, as a means to empower communities and individuals, and to permeate lives in surprising and beneficial ways.

Among its many functions, The Public will host exhibitions of local and international interest, exploring new kinds of visual art, by new kinds of artists, for diverse audiences. It will be a centre for people in the community to take part in art projects, and to engage in lifelong learning in a wide range of skills and subjects, with IT and digital arts given special prominence. There will be events, performances, art, dance and drama workshops, conferences, seminars and meetings, with spaces specially designed to accommodate them.

Contained within a simple rectilinear form, The Public was conceived as a ‘Box of Delights’ offering a wide variety of spaces, forms, angles, curves, surfaces, vistas and atmospheres.

The 113m x 21m x 22m box envelope of the building is punctured by a scattering of ‘jelly-bean’ shaped windows that pierce the sides of the aluminium cladding. Those approaching the building are able to glimpse its interior through these openings and through a glazed ’skirt’ at ground level on which the rectangular form sits.

Inside, simplicity of form gives way to complexity: rugged, multi-faceted or curved forms appear to balloon into the space at random, sitting on, or suspended from a table structure — a wandering, large-scale ramp links the spaces. These forms are containers for the many different functions in the building. There are, for example, ‘pods’ for displaying art, as well as a huge ’sock’ containing two large galleries; a ‘ramp’ contains a major proportion of the displays; an events space ‘rock’; and a WC ‘pebble’. At the top of the building, suspended from the roof, a series of ‘lily-pads’ — dish-shaped floors with brightly colored interiors — house lettable workspaces.

Designer : Will Alsop via Dezeen

Ammonite Washbasin Shaped as A Fossil

TheFuture — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 06:45:48 +0000

Say hello to Ammonite washbasin, a unique-shaped washbasin designed by HighTech. It is a concrete washbasin shaped as fossil which is inspired by the archaic beauty of ammonites. You can get this washbasin installed in your bathroom in widths between 90 cm and 30 cm with a depth of 56 cm. Not only this, there are many colors available for you with a table mounted or wall mounted tap. The mesmerizing shape of ammonite fossil resembles a rolled up corkscrew. The way water reaches to the bottom of the hole is just amazing. Wish all manufacturers can really be this creative with shape, really can’t wait to get it installed in my bathroom.

“Ammonites are an extinct species of cephalopods which lived in the sea about 400 million years ago. Their shells are found all over the world and they are very much sought-after by fossil-hunters, their collector’s value depending on size and the state of preservation. The fascinating shape of ammonite fossils – which resembles a rolled up helix – is the basic design element in the new HighTech washbasin. The association of water and fossil design is a clear allusion to the prehistoric inspiration for the Ammonite washbasin.”

Designer : HighTech via Trendir