Future Bug out gear/SMALL human powered portable generator

Z

Zero_Time

Joined
Dec 28, 2006
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Trying not to link without comment, but... for all the people here that can be disdainful of city folk and there types, I found myself drooling... no announcements on when it will be available, or how much, but... wow. As they said, all their requirements are just about the SAME as those for survivalists. Needs to last a long time, be powerful, no maintenance- again, for an extended period of time, or better, for recharging batteries in the wilderness- I can't imagine all the applications. Maybe you guys can. Here's a video of it, link in the article to the company website.
http://blog.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/03/video-the-lates.html

Edit: Just letting you know, I WAS conflicted about putting this into here or gadgets/gear- but I wanted to focus on use of this in field, or if this would suit a survival/off the grid sorta lifestyle more than just the gadgetiness of this. If the topic is to be moved, so be it. I wanted to see what the survival/outdoor guys had to say.
 
I like the fact they designed it to be very robust and long-lasting. Should reduce backcountry failures for us first-world users.

Thanks!

DancesWithKnives
 
I'd like to see what that technology could do attached to a stationary bicycle, (powered by Lance Armstrong).
 
It looks like a great idea. I like the fact that their goal is to make it affordable to low income countries; but i wonder what the mark up will be for it here in the U.S.?
Personal power generator in Rowanda--$5.00
Mark-up for personal power generator in the U.S.--$94.95
Greedy money grubbing companies--pricesless
 
It looks like it would be difficult to couple a system and 25 Watts wouldn't do much but trickle charge a battery. If one could connect it to a waterwheel or a windwheel and a battery so it could run continuously, it could be an option. As it is, that doesn't seem to be a suitable return for the calories expended especially in famine-hit areas where people likely aren't getting enough to eat in the first place.

If you're trying specifically to use human power, something like a cycling trainer coupled to an alternator would probably produce more useable power per calorie expended and would incorporate more muscle groups, especially the body's 'power' muscles. Plus you have transportation by removing the bike from the stand.

The pros: it would be easy to transport a whole whack of 'em and apparently they're pretty robust. It's a cool idea, just not for that application IMO. Maybe putting a wheel around the outside of it with a handle so people can push or pull it while they walk around doing other stuff (like this?)...maybe some rechargeable D batteries in the handle to store the power.

But that's just my .02
 
I could see some kind of a portable windmill, that would come with a small collapsable tower that could be set up in a few minutes, and be charging up batteries. Something that would fold up and easily carried and transported.
 
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