h a l f b a k e r yNot so much a thought experiment as a single neuron misfire.
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Large cars, such as mini-vans, SUVs, vans,
and even station wagons, have only one
level. My proposal is a removable
compartment, seven or eight feet long,
and 2 or 3 feet high, that would fit onto
the top of a car. It would be streamlined in
design to allow unhindered airflow over
the car.
A hatch would be fitted onto the
car, large enough for a person to slide
into. Inside the compartment would be
decorated to the owner's tastes, with gel
sleeping pads. The sleeping pads would
be equipped with straps, so people could
buckle themselves in. The compartment
could interface with the cars air
conditioning, heating, and audio systems,
so the users would recline in maximum
comfort. This compartment would allow
more passengers in a car, as well as
comfort on a long car ride. It could even
be used as a sleeping area for camping or
road trips.
Roof storage pod
http://www.shop.com...MOUNT-prod-17115197
I guess you could fit windows. [DrCurry, Jan 05 2006]
an icon of london
http://www.tfl.gov....-heritage-buses.asp
[po, Jan 10 2006]
icons of england.
http://www.icons.or...tions/toweroflondon
are the beefeaters there? [po, Jan 10 2006]
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Please note that I am not suggesting a
roof storage pod, like the one linked
below, but a people storage pod. |
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I think the good doctor only put that link there to demonstrate the approximate size of your doohickey. |
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A small child could lay in comfort in that storage system. "Hey kids you get to ride in the space shuttle today" |
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I think the compartment would be a
little wider, and small children are
usually the ones who get impatient on
car rides. |
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Why stop at just one? Make these things modular, and tack a whole stack together! Think how many more people would fit into a bus packed full of pods instead of seats. And planes! |
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Admittedly, the center of gravity would
be a little higher, but not much, as the
pod would only be a couple feet high. |
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The centre of gravity wouldn't move up much when you consider that the engine and chassis weigh about 500-1000kg and a person weighs about 80kg. |
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I had to vote for this, as I had the same idea a while back.( when I heard that they discontinued Double-Decker buses in London except for tourists) I thought to call it Double-Decker Auto. |
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[wagster] I disagree - an 80 kg person plus a 40 kg structure at say 1.5 metres above the vehicles designed centre of gravity is going to make it unstable. The inertia of that roof weight would be enough to lift the tyres off the road when taking a 100 meter curve at 70 kph. |
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Also, no Transport Authority is going to OK this from a safety POV. |
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Thanks [miasere] Having not yet ever been to London, I was saddened to hear that news, which obviously was not entirely true! |
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//conductor at the back // actually he/she was free to move all over the bus. |
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