DTV Shredder – Militarised Skateboard

When the zombie invasion strikes and we all need to find ways to get around, maybe a motorized skateboard with giant caterpillar tracks might not be the most practical. But anyone riding this bad boy will definitely be the envy of everyone stuck in boring armored trucks. The DTV Shredder promises to go where no skateboard has gone before, and to look kind of awesome doing it. It was actually designed by creator Ben Gulak to be a first-response military vehicle for soldiers who need all-terrain access.


Because of the DTV Shredder’s low center of gravity, it can travel at high speeds over pretty much any kind of land conditions. With or without a rider, it speeds along over terrain that a regular ATV wouldn’t be able to handle, let alone a traditional skateboard.

The impressive contraption can reach speeds of up to 30 miles per hour and take on 40 degree slopes with no problem. Its creator says it can be used for various military operations: reconnaissance, surveillance, medical evacuations and rescues.

If the situation is too dangerous for a human rider to swoop in on the motorizedskateboard, the DTV Shredder can be operated remotely. We’re guessing that characteristic would also be pretty handy when deploying decoys to distract the zombies – just don’t try to do any grinds on it.

Extrasensory Blimp

Tracking the enemy location and operations from a clairvoyant distance of 20,000 feet is an advantage in itself. The possibility of this vision is about to become true in the form of a $211 million cash program called Blue Devil. It is supposed to be the size of seven Goodyear Blimps equipped with updated cameras, radars and listening devices.

In the past, U.S. planes have already performed tasks of preparing surveillance videos, but it is still a lengthy time-taking procedure. But Blue Devil will be integrated with sensors and a supercomputer which will provide the information to ground troops within 15 seconds. Retired Lt. Gen. David Deptula says that “It (the blimp) could change the nature of overhead surveillance.”

The first phase of the project is already on its way. Last year, four modified planes were shipped to Afghanistan comprising an array of surveillance gear. In the second phase, bigger and more complex ships will be introduced which will be built of TCOM LP – longer than a football field at 350 feet. One of the sources working on the project has concluded that “It’s freakishly large, one of the largest airships produced since World War II.”

The U.S. Air Force contends that its size would play a huge role in the war zone, as it can be fueled for a week’s time. It will be a significant technological flight as the previous lighter than air models flew just up to 3000 feet. Mav6 is working on the embedding work consisting of sensors connected through pallets of electronics.

The wide range of on-board listening devices includes: day/night video cameras, communications relays and receivers for ground sensors and wide area airborne surveillance system (WAAS). These sensors integrated with different cameras can film areas up to two-and-a-half miles around.
Gen. James Cartwright, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has calculated the requirement of 2,000 analysts to process the footage collected by a single drone fitted with WAAS sensors. The point here to be noted is that the next-generation WAAS will derive information from 96 cameras – that would generate 274 terabytes of information.

The supercomputer supporting the blimp is equivalent to 2,000 single-core servers that can process up to 300 terabytes per hour. Its processors will also crunch the information by adding meta tags of geographical location and time zone. So the task will be easier forground troops as it will provide only that information in which they are interested. The first flight of Blue Devil is scheduled for October 15, 2011.

Skylon Spaceplane Concept

Whenever we think of space endeavors, organizations such as NASA, European Space Agency or even ISRO crop up in our heads. But a private British aerospace company – Reaction Engines Limited (REL) is all set to rather develop a more inclusive system of space traveling, with their Skylon spaceplane concept.


The Skylon concept will be a single stage to orbit combined cycle powered orbital spaceplane. A single stage to orbit (SSTO) vehicle reaches orbit from the surface of a body without jettisoning hardware, in the process expending only propellants and fluids. That means the Skylon will not use booster rockets of any kind (though SSTO vehiclesstill remain in conceptual stages).

And here comes the part about fuel efficiency that interests us – if the researchers canwork it out, the cost of launching a payload to geostationary orbit would be fifteen times cheaper than it is now! The concept will be using the company’s own SABRE engine (Synergistic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine), and according to European Space Agency:

“ESA has not identified any critical topics that would prevent a successful development ofthe engine.”

Again it should be duly noted that the SABRE is also at its conceptual stage (though a engine derivative has already being designed for a passenger jet). The system basically calls for a hypersonic precooled hybrid air breathing rocket engine for launching the proposed Skylon into low Earth orbit (LEO). The precooling mechanism cools the hot, ramcompressed air, in effect creating a high pressure ratio within the engine. Thecompressed air is further fed to the combustion chamber, to be ignited with liquid hydrogen, while the high pressure ratio provides the high thrust at very high speeds and altitudes.

Land-Walker Exoskeleton

The Land Walker exoskeleton is a product of Japanese company sakakibara-kikai. Used mainly for product promotion and display, the intimidating weaponry fires nothing but harmless soft plastic balls. And with a top speed of just 1mph it’s not going to replace the wheel just yet.

However, standing over 3 metres in height, and weighing in at 1000kg (2,205 lbs) the Land Walker’s shuffling gait is an impressive sight to behold. Although it would probably run into problems with anything but a completely smooth surface.

The single seat Land Walker is powered by a 250 cc engine and movement is controlled by four foot pedals. P.A. Technology supplied the computer software which helps to control the Land Walkers movement.

If you want to get your hands on your own moon-walking exoskeleton, price is in the region of $350,000 (£185,000).

80M “Military” Style Yacht

Italian superyacht designer Carlo Cafiero in cooperation with TechMarine shipyard has presented a new 80m motoryacht concept.

This daring project is characterized by aggressive design solutions and features high prow and aft-deck overhang. The hull is made from steel and aluminium.


The superyacht is powered by twin 2.260hp Caterpillar diesels and would deliver a 16-knot maximum cruise speed.

The new superyacht features new side windows, slightly rounded to provide perfect sea view. On the bow of the superyacht, there are helicopter facilities for an Augusta Grand, which can be stored in a dedicated hangar below the heli platform.

The lower deck area aft offers infinity pool, gym, steam-room and protected “platform on the sea”. The four deck layout offers rooms for the owner, 28 guests and 30 crew.

Ord Evos Concept