Wind-powered vehicle hits 126MPH, nabs world record
By Darren Murph 
posted March 27th 2009 11:11PM
posted March 27th 2009 11:11PM
[Via BBC]
posted March 27th 2009 11:11PM
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Hopefully the technology will progress so that one day cars like this won't look quite so phallic.
Wait a second. Where's the source for the 30mph wind claim? I don't see it on any of the supplied links.
I'm not claiming it's not real, I'm an engineer, I get the math. Just wondering if the 30mph is correct or not, as I don't see that claim anywhere but on engadget.
It's more of a wing on the top of the car, rather than a sail.
Have air flowing over an airfoil, and you have a force perpendicular to the wind.
For someone who made such an insightful comment, I'm surprised you didn't know that most "sails" act as wings most of the time. Lift is the primary movement force in sailing boats. Modern sails are just flexible "wings" (or airfoils).
I think the best way to think of this is a wakeboarder being pulled through he water. When he goes straight he goes the same speed as the boat but when he cuts in at an angle he will be going faster.
I guess if this takes off the weather gage will become an important factor to consider in your travels.
"Wind on demand?" Isn't that called... oh, I don't know... a fan?
So, it sounds to me like the basis for my favorite mathematical formulaa which is based on the "Angle of The Dangle"
or is it also related to that other formula that allows crap to flow up hill?
Man I do like math.
So, it sounds to me like the basis for my favorite mathematical formula which is based on the "Angle of The Dangle"
or is it also related to that other formula that allows crap to flow down hill?
Man I do like math.
Go easy on me for the Double Post mistake.
I can only offer an excuse of Old Age, it is way late at nite and last, I apologize.
Engadget, shouldn't that be "Brit" not "Briton"? considering "Briton" is strictly the name for an ancient people from the UK... as a Brit myself I am offended.
a vid of the beast!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPOqlkzW8KU
their youtube channel has the world record video
http://www.youtube.com/user/greenbirdproject
Its like squeezing a watermelon seed.
Your fingers are moving slowly, yet the seed is propelled much faster, in a direction different than the seeds propelled direction. Your fingers are the wind. The seed is the land-sail-boat.
Those of you trying to solve this quickly are looking a bit too simply at the model. Keep in mind that at a certain point sailboats are able to "create their own wind" thanks to the wonders of fluids (apparent wind).
Took a course in college called "physics of sailing"- it was pretty incredible and on par if not harder than a lot of my aerospace classes.
could just hit up the read link http://www.greenbird.co.uk/about-the-greenbird/how-it-works
from what i understand, its the combination of the wind from the side that pushes on the sail to get the car going forward. This creates "wind" as the vehicle moves through the air. The sail is similar in shape to an airplane wing, that is upright. The wind that is "created" as the craft moves forward, and the natural wind combine to create the apparent wind at a point inbetween the two. The sail is matched to this wind. Thanks to the bernoulli principle, an area of low pressure is created on the front side of the sail, and an area with higher pressure on the back which helps push the vehicle forward.
thats just how i understand it, hope its right.
Ok so it seems no one knows how the wind functions. I been windsurfing for over 15 years and always get going faster than the wind. Also it's not the wind thats blowing you along. You are infact being sucked along because of the lower pressure area behind the sail. If you can lower the resistance between you and the surface then speeds like this are easy possible with the correct sail size and shape. There is a method to work out BHP from the size of the sail and you would be very surprised at how much power these new sail/wing designs and make.
"Now, if only we could figure out a cheap and easy way to generate wind on demand, we'd really be onto something."
Mmmm how about nuclear winter?
Why did you call him "Sir Richard Jenkins"?
The BBC source does not use that title...
LMFAO those guys are REALLY excited.... lol and proud to be british... damn son.
I'm guessing that record wasn't set by taking an average on a round track then eh.
i see a green penis
This is the funniest string of comments I've seen in a long time. Bravo!
Now if they could just get it to look like something other than a transvaginal ultrasound transducer.
Meanwile here in the US we are still driving cars that look like boxes.
if you want wind on demand...buy a fan...plug it in...and aim it at your car...
Perhaps it is best explained by saying it is not the direct pressure of the wind on the wing that results in the forward movement, but instead the pressure differential on either side of the aerofoil created by the wind moving over its surfaces. The "higher" you sail into the wind, the speed of the wind apparent to the aerofoil is also increased, increasing the pressure differential and therefore forward force on the car. This aerofoil effect can be much greater than just the direct pressure of the wind. (Think of how the many tonnes of a commercial airliner can be lifted by its wings but not by the engine thrust alone)
To related it to sailing, think of the difference between a mainsail and a spinnaker. When using a mainsail and sailing across or towards the wind the mainsail tends to act like a wing and the principles of an aerofoil apply (I.e. propulsion comes from 'lift'). When sailing downwind the spinnaker tends to act more like a large kite (propulsion mainly from direct pressure).