Using a technology similar to that of the flocking road cones that protect your car from pot holes, you park on the first available slot in the lot at the station and turn your engine off. When a pump is available, it makes its way over to your car and fills it up.

When your car is filled up, the pump waves its hose in the air and tootles its horn, informing you it has done its job. You walk/drive to the station shop and pay for your fuel, while the pump flocks to the next car in the vicinity.
-- phoenix, Mar 10 2003

Flocking http://www.halfbake...on=flocking&ok=+OK+
Surely there are enough flocking echos? [vincevincevince, Nov 07 2007]

There seems to be some kind of technology like this in play for window washing services at some big-city intersections. But I think the sensors that detect grime on windows may be overly sensitive.
-- beauxeault, Mar 10 2003


Ya know in the video game F1 super space galactic racing where your Rick Weeling or something, its like your ship recovering from dammage?; when you zoom through the neat colored energize strips...
-- abadon, Nov 06 2007


[marked-for-deletion] magic
-- vincevincevince, Nov 06 2007


Fuel cap on top of the car, hoses hanging down from the canopy over the petrol station, suspended from mobile gantries. Park where there's a space, the fuel hose will come to you. I disagree with the [mfd].
-- david_scothern, Nov 06 2007


I might just have to post "Flocking Wallpaper".
-- wagster, Nov 06 2007


I contest the m-f-d. Silly perhaps, but not magic. Welcome to the halfbakery!
-- phoenix, Nov 07 2007


Okay... [marked-for-deletion] echo.
-- vincevincevince, Nov 07 2007


"Surely there are enough flocking echos?" - [vincevincevince]

Surely there are people around here better able to make that decision.
-- phoenix, Nov 07 2007


hee, hee. my 2 son always advises me to read the f***king manual...
-- po, Nov 07 2007


Flocking manuals...
-- phoenix, Nov 08 2007


I'm letting this idea stay, but I wish it made just a little more sense to justify the borrowed theme.

- Unlike road cones, fuel pumps are connected to underground tanks. They can't roam.

- The queues don't come from lack of movements, they come from lack of pumps. So this doesn't fix what it is supposed to fix.

- I like david scothern's mobile hose system, but that's not flocking; I'd call that a robo pump or something.

- Flocking has something to do with group behavior; but one gas pump is really all you need.
-- jutta, Nov 16 2007


Yeah, I wish it made more sense too. I'm not saying it's a great idea, just that it's not magic.
-- phoenix, Nov 16 2007



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