The Conservative Cave
Current Events => The DUmpster => Topic started by: Alpha Mare on March 16, 2010, 10:14:07 PM
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:thatsright:
Kablooie (1000+ posts) Wed Mar-17-10 02:17 AM
Original message
Solar paneled road surface - generate energy by replacing asphalt
First test of the pedestrian warning system: When the kids step onto the crosswalk panel, the Road Panel warns drivers to slow down. In an actual system, the road would warn drivers in plenty of time to stop. The wildlife protection feature will work in much the same way:
(http://solarroadways.com/images/Website/KidsOnSlowDown.jpg)
http://solarroadways.com/news.html
DUmp link ---> http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x236748
You gotta see their website; this crap solves ALL our problems-from terrorism to climate change.
Imagine being able to put “eyes and ears” on the ground anywhere in the world without putting human lives in danger. Drop a Solar Road Panel into the hills of Afghanistan via parachute. The parachute detaches upon impact and is retracted beneath the panel. Camera modules open and aim in every direction. A satellite dish configures itself for communications to anywhere in the world. Marines at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina control the direction of the infrared cameras and watch the images on their computer screens and call in strikes when needed.
The Department of Transport has seen fit to award the project $100,000 to construct the first 12' by 12' panel. Each panel costs $6912- and how did they arrive at that figure? Using DUMMY math! The average cost of asphalt roads in 2006 was roughly $16 per square foot. We plan to design the Solar Roadways to last at least 21 years (three times that of asphalt roads), at which time the panels would need to be refurbished. Adding no additional cost to the current asphalt system, this will allow us to invest about $48 ($16 x 3) per square foot. This means that if each individual panel can be made for no more than $6912.00, then the Solar Roadway can be built for the same cost as current asphalt roads. However, asphalt roads don't give you anything back.
http://www.solarroadways.com/numbers.html
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wonder how well they'll work covered with ice and snow
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The roads in northern climates heat themselves, eliminating ice and snow buildup.
Imagine the number of deaths and injuries that will be prevented just by keeping the roads safe and dry! Hopefully, this will lead to an added benefit of lowered insurance rates for all of us.
They have it all covered. Recession, water management, underdeveloped areas, health.
Slightly increasing the conservatively low 15% efficiency would allow the U.S. (the "lower 48") to produce the entire world's electricity needs.
:lmao:
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wonder how well they'll work covered with ice and snow
Probably about as well as the energy/money saving LED traffic lights worked when they became snow covered. The LEDs don't produce enough heat to melt the snow and drivers couldn't see them.
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BWAHAHAHAHA !!!!
The site asks for donations to make Solar Roadways a reality.
I am laughing my be hind off over here ! They need investors.
OH OH, they mention God at the end. The DUmmies won't like that.
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nashville_brook (1000+ posts) Tue Mar-16-10 11:24 PM
Response to Original message
4. we totally thought of this just two days ago!! dammit. i hate it when that happens.
We was robbed!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=115x236748
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Kablooie (1000+ posts) Wed Mar-17-10 01:08 AM
Response to Reply #5
7. On the website they discuss the possibility of having internal heating to prevent icing up.
And they will be made from specially hardened glass.
Yeah, that'll work.... :lmao:
The phrase "Slicker than snot on a doorknob" comes to mind.... :rotf:
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BWAHAHAHAHA !!!!
The site asks for donations to make Solar Roadways a reality.
I am laughing my be hind off over here ! They need investors.
Those donations won't go to invest... thats for lobbying government for your money.
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wonder how well they'll work covered with ice and snow
Or just plain old dust. The actual cost of these things is about equal to paying a school crossing guard (Well, it would be, but most school crossing guards are either kids or adult volunteers, neither one of which actually costs anything at all).
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Or just plain old dust. The actual cost of these things is about equal to paying a school crossing guard (Well, it would be, but most school crossing guards are either kids or adult volunteers, neither one of which actually costs anything at all).
Some crossing guards (http://biggovernment.com/libertychick/2010/02/11/union-bosses-target-86-yr-old-volunteer-crossing-guard/) are union, and they don't like volunteers.
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Or just plain old dust. The actual cost of these things is about equal to paying a school crossing guard (Well, it would be, but most school crossing guards are either kids or adult volunteers, neither one of which actually costs anything at all).
How about cement trucks and gravel trucks?
Those things are gonna last about 1 day before they're too scratched and damaged to work.
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wonder how well they'll work covered with ice and snow
Global warming should solve that.
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How about cement trucks and gravel trucks?
Those things are gonna last about 1 day before they're too scratched and damaged to work.
Dammit Badcat I wanted to be the first to say.......
Those that ride on glass roads shouldn't haul rock.
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Stoopid idea.
They'll get several billion in government research money no doubt.
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Some crossing guards (http://biggovernment.com/libertychick/2010/02/11/union-bosses-target-86-yr-old-volunteer-crossing-guard/) are union, and they don't like volunteers.
Wisconsin. It figures.
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In the 19th century, European peasants believed that American streets were paved in gold. That might be cheaper.
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How about cement trucks and gravel trucks?
Those things are gonna last about 1 day before they're too scratched and damaged to work.
Along with the scratching, there are always people like me who know what a spark-plug ceramic can do to tempered glass...... :fuelfire:
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wonder how well they'll work covered with ice and snow
Shhhhhh...GlowBULL Whoreming will render that moot.
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Oh, I can't wait until the first time a fully loaded 80,000 pound 18-wheeler rolls on this shit...or the first time a plow scrapes it off after a snowstorm...or the first time said plow truck also puts salt and sand on it....
DUmmies and plans. They never seem to end well, do they?
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Oh, I can't wait until the first time a fully loaded 80,000 pound 18-wheeler rolls on this shit...or the first time a plow scrapes it off after a snowstorm...or the first time said plow truck also puts salt and sand on it....
DUmmies and plans. They never seem to end well, do they?
Yep. More leftist fantasy BS. They really do approach life as if it's a fantasy land, never stopping to realize real world implications of their ideas. It's why so many are professional students, and "educators."
This particular idea is silly. While the concept of generating power and on the fly signage is interesting, they are forgetting the main purpose of roads; to allow the movement of people and goods. That silly road panel won't hold up to any amount of weight, not without an underlying support structure. In other words, it would only be possible after having laid down a road first. So the silly math showing it's cost being the same as roads now means that it would double road construction costs - at best.
Add in trucks and other heavy loads, weather, accidents, etc. and it quickly becomes a ridiculous amount of maintenance. Plus, the highway crews would have to be retrained in electrically interconnecting the road panels. Can't just send out a crew and patch up holes.
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Oh, I can't wait until the first time a fully loaded 80,000 pound 18-wheeler rolls on this shit...or the first time a plow scrapes it off after a snowstorm...or the first time said plow truck also puts salt and sand on it....
DUmmies and plans. They never seem to end well, do they?
How about a few hundred Canucks on studded snow tires?
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Yep. More leftist fantasy BS. They really do approach life as if it's a fantasy land, never stopping to realize real world implications of their ideas. It's why so many are professional students, and "educators."
This particular idea is silly. While the concept of generating power and on the fly signage is interesting, they are forgetting the main purpose of roads; to allow the movement of people and goods. That silly road panel won't hold up to any amount of weight, not without an underlying support structure. In other words, it would only be possible after having laid down a road first. So the silly math showing it's cost being the same as roads now means that it would double road construction costs - at best.
Add in trucks and other heavy loads, weather, accidents, etc. and it quickly becomes a ridiculous amount of maintenance. Plus, the highway crews would have to be retrained in electrically interconnecting the road panels. Can't just send out a crew and patch up holes.
Honestly, they don't seem to see the most obvious problem of all - rain.
Not that the rain will necessarily short the system out, but as anyone who has ever washed a dish realizes -- just how slippery glass gets when its wet. How fast will one need to travel on a wet glass surface before hydroplaning, 15 miles an hour ?
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Dammit Badcat I wanted to be the first to say.......
Those that ride on glass roads shouldn't haul rock.
:lmao: :lmao: :lmao:
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I second that !
:lmao: