Feb 8 2008Revolving Door Energy Harvester Concept
The Revolution Door from Fluxlab is a revolving door that would create energy via generator. Apparently the idea for such a device is old, and the implementation is difficult because weaklings already have enough trouble with revolving doors due to the seal created and their lack of hot, sweaty, rippling muscularity. However it was designed as more of a conceptual piece to get people thinking.
By mechanically harvesting a negligible amount of human energy and converting it to a tangible display through the use of a generator, the Revolution Door will directly communicate a single person's contribution to an energy cycle possible through the metabolic relationship between people, technology, and architecture.
I have no idea what that meant but I vehemently object to the part about people having relationships with technology and architecture. That's just wrong. I mean sure I humped a photocopier at an office party, but I was drunk and didn't even call it the next day. So it doesn't count. And neither does my brief fling with the Chrysler building.
A diagram of how the door is constructed after the turn.
Revolving Door Generates Energy, Maybe [treehugger]
Thanks to Sebastian, who can make doors open just by thinking about it, for the tip
Reader Comments
1. VincentV - February 8, 2008 2:29 PM
first... <_<
2. damn luddites - February 8, 2008 2:35 PM
it's got a flywheel, so it must be good
3. groonk - February 8, 2008 3:29 PM
must we be more like rats?
really??!
4. damn luddites - February 8, 2008 3:44 PM
rats... there's an idea. we get homeless people to walk around in circles in these doors, powering entire skyscapers.
I know, you're thinking "how are we going to get the homeless to keep walking?" simple enough - just put a empty soda can in door section in front of them. they'll keep trying to walk over there so they can get back the 5 cent deposit. of course the doors will probably need to be made large enough to accomodate their shopping carts.
"but how will you get them to show up for work the next day?" again, easy solution - just lock them in at night.
now we still need to work out the finer details, but this could be the solution to all our energy needs. eventually we'll get to the point where you just make a trip into the city and pick up a homeless person to power your own home. of course, not all homeless people would be suited for this - got to get the ones who walk aimlessly around a lot.
5. imd14u2b - February 8, 2008 4:49 PM
could put in a heart rate monitor and selections for fatburning , interval training or mountain..
6. Dr_Freak - February 9, 2008 2:22 AM
I think we could also start harvesting all that wasted energy used by lawers on jogging machines... Then when you pay your legal bills, you know that you're helping power the electric chair! You wouldn't have to sneer at them when you go past those gyms with the glass fronts. Ok, maybe you'd still sneer but not as much...
7. guate6 - February 9, 2008 3:41 AM
#6: Lawyers perhaps?
Damn luddites: yeah I thought about that too, but there's a lot of places where they don't do cash back for cans/bottles. Crazy, I know, but they lack existence in places. Anyway...I always wonder where homeless people get their sharpies for their signs...still can't figure that one out.
Oh and regarding the article: eh, sounds good...figure out a way to harvest more energy from people...energy that's being wasted...but honestly, the sun puts out a shit ton of energy, so it would be more than enough...SOLAR POWER ALL THE WAY!!
8. Monkeybytes - February 9, 2008 11:58 AM
This is a lot like that orphan-powered mill in the beginning of Conan the Barbarian. The great ideas just keep coming back around.
9. Dr_Freak - February 9, 2008 11:59 PM
#7, maybe i did misspell it but it's interesting how you still knew what i meant...
You got nothing better to do than correct the spelling of some dumb comment on a geek/tech/comedy forum? Oh... right...
Forget i said anything.
Moran.
P.S. Even tho I agree with you about solar power, i feel the technology is incomplete untill you incorporate wind & water power into it so the energy still flows when the sun's not shining. You gotta look at the bigger picture dude, bigger than your computer monitor at any rate.
#8, i'm running my computer on orphan power right now! I get an excellent output from 1 bowl of gruel...
10. guate6 - February 10, 2008 1:42 AM
#9: Seriously, how long do you think it takes to read and write a response? Yeah I knew what you meant, anyone could figure it out...I was a friendly reminder, but if you want to make it into something else, then you go ahead and be the bigger man by trying to insult me. Do I have better things to do? heh, of course I do, but that doesn't make it any less amusing on some level.
I'm glad you agree on solar, and I"m sorry I didn't elaborate that I too support wind and water generated power as well...I didn't think I needed to.
Oh and about my computer monitor...if you'd been reading previous posts, I run a 123" screen. I could school you on monitors, and on photography (regarding pictures)...yeah I know you didn't mean literally, but if you did, there's my response. If you didn't, then do you think you're special or something by assuming that I would honestly rely solely on solar power (especially when the lights are out)? Clearly you're far superior than I for having thought of this before me...I didn't know the sun didn't shine at night on both sides of the planet, stupid me.
Cogito ergo sum.
11. SlowMonkey - February 10, 2008 8:28 AM
damn luddites for President !!
12. SlowMonkey - February 10, 2008 8:46 AM
With just a little more thought: why not utilize the innovative techniques of the early nuclear reactor power plants who went and gathered up the homeless and offered them bottles of alcohol (of their choice) for being the human sponges that they are (match the skill with the job) to walk around inside the plant to soak up excess radiation? Not only is this more considerate, it is more ecologically sound - (1) they are only gathering up soda cans to get money for booze and cigarettes - save additional energy by skipping to the chase and pay them with booze and cigarettes (leave the soda cans for the orange jumpsuit gang) (2) further conservation could be harvested by letting them sleep on the roof with jumper cables attached to them to power those solar panels during the night or during inclement weather when the sun's energy is not available.
Why not put benches in these revolution doors much like multi-leveled bunk beds - where their energy can be harvested while they sleep it off?
The Homeless - perhaps one of our greatest resources.
13. damn luddites - February 11, 2008 10:15 AM
using sleeping homeless to generate power. like a smelly version of the Matrix?
14. ashleigh - February 11, 2008 2:59 PM
is that a cat on a leash in the foreground?
15. louis vuitton - September 27, 2009 11:57 PM
must we be more like rats?
really??!
16. louis vuitton - September 29, 2009 5:24 AM
could put in a heart rate monitor and selections for fatburning , interval training or mountain..
17. penis enlargement - October 6, 2009 7:34 AM
I like the idea