Speedometers don't really give any visual reference to actual speed, but everyone can relate to rapid motion of a galloping horse or a cheetah.
Given the volume of reference material photographically recording the actual movements of various animals (and people of course), I see no reason why this cannot be built into the speedometer of a car to provide a visual reference.
Crawling along? You get to see the baby creeping across the carpet. Little bit faster? you get to see a running man. Faster again? You get the horse or zebra. Flat out speeding? You get the racing pigeon.-- xenzag, Apr 11 2013 Are the corresponding road signs to be changed as well? A sign displaying a zebra would confuse me; I would wonder how a zebra found itself in northern Maine, and why it would be more likely to cross the road in the vicinity of the sign than at any other point.-- Alterother, Apr 11 2013 A hamster can reach a speed of 78mph, but it doesn't fly straight unless the barrel's rifled.-- MaxwellBuchanan, Apr 11 2013 At least a hamster has a better ballistic profile than a Guinea Pig, which is inherently unstable even when at rest.-- Alterother, Apr 11 2013 ^^ [marked-for-tagline]-- FlyingToaster, Apr 11 2013 //have a better ballistic profile than a Guinea Pig
I thought the M93A discarding sabot guinea pig shell had taken care of that? Not to mention the extra bulgy cheeks of the guinea pig allowing for a higher payload of DU.-- not_morrison_rm, Apr 11 2013 Naked mole rats have better aerodynamics than hamsters or guinea pigs.-- whlanteigne, Apr 11 2013 //Naked mole rats have better aerodynamics than hamsters or guinea pigs.
Yes, but without uniforms, they would tend to be treated as unlawful combatants.-- not_morrison_rm, Apr 11 2013 // Naked mole rats have better aerodynamics //
That's true, but they have very poor target recognition.
Lately I've been handloading woodland jumping mice in 40mm Mk19. They have excellent eyesight and previous flight experience, but lack penetrative qualities. As a bonus, they enjoy participating in the experiments and usually coming hopping back for another go, save of course the minority that develop inner ear trouble and can only bounce around in circles. For them we offer an attractive retirement package involving a thimble of bourbon and a very efficient cat.-- Alterother, Apr 11 2013 Wouldn't flying squirrels (subject to availability) be a more logical choice, as they can change direction in flight? Also, being completely non-metallic, they have built in stealth capability.
I have in mind something like flying squirrel cluster bomb, where the munition breaks apart and a very quick plane-mounted projection systems projects an image of a piece of cheese on each individual soldiers helmet.-- not_morrison_rm, Apr 11 2013 The Imperial Japanese baked that one about seventy years ago with a plan to deliver disease-infested rats, bats, fleas, pigeons, and yes, flying squirrels to the mainland US via long- range helium balloon. I think it was part of Operation Chrysanthemum, but I may be confusing that with something else. It didn't work, anyway.-- Alterother, Apr 11 2013 random, halfbakery