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One of the best ways to improve engine fuel economy,
and reduce engine wear in winter is to make use of an
engine block heater. But plugging one in is a task easily
forgotten.
This idea reduces the odds of forgetting to plug the car
in.
Whenever the car is parked in a location that user
has
indicated to have an AC outlet nearby (locations are
kept track of with GPS), a robotic arm with a plug and
video camera on it extends from the front of the car.
An image recognition system allows the robotic arm to
seek out an AC outlet, and push the plug into it.
When one starts the engine, the arm unplugs from the
outlet, and retracts into the car.
Naturally, this same system can also be used to charge
the car's battery... but an engine block heater is at least
as important.
[link]
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While this is a good idea [+], I feel the car is as
mature a product that has ever existed. A complex
one at least, I'm willing to concede that the
machete hasn't undergone a lot of innovation
recently. My point being, that it may not be
possible to adapt the motor car to this new para-
digum. |
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Approaching this from the other end, literally and
figuratively may be the key. Electrical moving
objects that charge are WKTE, and we can jst
work up from there. So, Giant Roomba. Replace
the dustpan with a passenger compartment and
scale it up. Done. |
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[bu0u0155], perhaps you could modify your Roomba
to simply carry the appropriate end of an extension
cord out to the car. Then the car can be less precise
about its location, for receiving power. Either the
car or the cord-carrier could make the final plug-in
link. |
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Nope, transport must change. massive Passenger-
carrying Roombas that get to their destination by
random exploring. The "driver" only has a big "stop"
button which will also simplify the licensing
procedure. |
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You'll save a lot of weight by having the robot on the
other side. |
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I am made nervous by robot arms that grope around trying
to insert plugs in things. |
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With a drive over induction pad, you can't drive off before the robot can yank the cord. |
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