RicRicho

I came up with a simple fix for addressing the ongoing problem of side mirror blind spots… see the attached photo… the problem to date is that the only way to see the “blind-spot” (ie the area beside a moving car that most side mirrors cant display) is to place a little spherical bubble mirror some place on the side mirror. The mini mirror is too small to see properly and does not give a clear image of what is beside you… as the example drawing shows, by simply adding an angled extension to the existing side mirror the problem is solved simply and elegantly.. plus its easy to manufacture…. the solution also doesnt change the magnification ratio or depth of field for the driver looking at the mirror. All in all it’s a simple approach that seems not to have been done before.

This from Gizmodo: Execellent concept.

Is it a bus or a train? This dual-mode mini train is both. The JR Hokkaido Railway Company in Japan has been testing a bus that can switch between steel wheels and street-ready rubber tires, tooling around on the train track as a solo vehicle and avoiding accidents with satellite assistance, and then driving on city streets just like any other bus.
After its successful test run last month, the company vows to make its first trip with paying passengers next April. In addition to its versatility, the vehicle’s $150,000 cost is just a seventh of the price of a conventional diesel rail car, and it’s easier and cheaper to maintain, too. When these babies hit the road, every street wil be a potential train station. – Charlie White