Planet Mechanics

Yesterday I was watching this on National Geographic, this is the kind of stuff I enjoy most on TV. The programme was about coming out with a moped which does not pollute the air and should be good enough to carry a person a few KMs within the city's traffic and most importantly should not use any fossil fuels.

Two guys Dick and Jem who design, build and anchor the show. The frame of the moped which they picked I think was from a nearby junkyard, it only had the frame and wheels, no engine or chains. These guys mounted two cylinders on either side of the bike. The air is pumped into these cylinders, the pressure each cylinder can hold is greater than 300 times of atmospheric pressure (thats what I remember).

These guys designed the sprockets and mounted chains on them and on the day before the D-Day they wanted to test this and Dick was all set to take off, the bike was making all sorts of sound but would not budge. Both men looked very disappointed (I dont know whether they really were or just doing Steve Irwin) and redesigned/alligned the sprokets and then it happened, the bike started moving, Dick rode it first being a skinny among the two and then it was Jem's turn, it could move and can carry a person more than 100 Kilos.

And then they went to the experts and did all sorts of tests to prove that it works.

The best part I liked about the program is that they did something which people only can think of. Its so satisfying after hard days work and it comes out as planned. I also loved Junkyard wars on Discovery, I would love to be a part of it someday.