Monday, August 18, 2008

Speedometers For Flying Cars


The modern speedometer-odometer is an engineering high-tech marvel and yet it is about to become obsolete. Why you ask? Well the stage is set and you can expect PAVs or Personal Air Vehicle to be available soon. But remember aircraft have airspeed indicators and they work of changes in air-pressure measured from the static port and ram air from the pitot tube and a speedometer-odometer works of revolutions of the wheel on the ground - see the problem?

Oh, I already see your mind thinking there, you are saying ah ha? No more traffic tickets, no speedometer officer? Indeed, you wish it were that easy. Still did you know that aircraft are suppose to stay under 250 knots under 10,000 feet? If your PAV had a speedometer and odometer rather than an airspeed indication well it will not work once airborne, nor will your warranty ever expire. I just think GM will not go for that.

Aircraft have another way of measuring TBO or time to overhaul, they use a tachometer which measures the engine time usage. Nevertheless, if we do not revise the speedometer for our future flying cars or PAVs then you will never know how fast you are going while flying above the traffic without an airspeed indicator.

Most people do not understand how a speedometer works and it may look complicated if you take one apart, but it is relatively simple and perhaps that is the genius behind it? Speedometers are use a magnet to work and a cable is attached normally to the transmission. If you would like to learn more about how speedometers, odometers and air-speed indicators work or look at some diagrams online?

http://www.flightsimbooks.com/flightsimhandbook/CHAPTER_02_23_Airspeed_Indicator.php

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

0 comments: