Ideas and creative technology solutions to problems both green, envrionmental and otherwise. All my own, some more viable than others, best viewed with out great seriousness.

Friday, January 29, 2010

Yes its a crazy idea but it should work

Odd week,
I've found a few patents which overlap quite a lot with what I'm thinking about, that was a bit of a down moment.

On the plus side I had a great meeting with Derek Taylor a lecturer from the OU who has been doing a broad range of eco projects and has done some fascinating work on using buildings to augment wind turbines. He definitely had his head on the right way and had some fantastic ideas to help push things on. His big suggestion was using a normal wind turbine during the proof of concept phase to be comparable. He also suggested trying the idea out in water and thinking about keeping the turbine at normal turbine heights before trying to go high ( and get all the aircraft problems sorted). I liked him very sane. It was he who made the crazy but workable statement. He also counciled  against relying on anometer data. Putting a real load on the turbine produces different result.

While we were chatting Godfrey Boyle the new professor turned up and also said he thought the idea was original but not with out merit. Definitly worth pursing in more detail. They both made a couple of offers which I'm not going to hold them to but the idea of getting a student to do some CFD work as floated. So in the end very very encouraging.

In the afternoon Dominc the Technology transfer office came over. He is all set up to do part 2 of the RCUK competition ( deadline mid march ) and told me the OU can cover patents but you need to fill in the form and wait for the OU to think about it and really have a reason for doing it (i.e exploitation in mind).  I told him the simple patent was out of the question and I need to think of something more sophisticated and detailed - perhaps when I've finished the next round of development.

After that I discovered Dominc is a manic iPhone user so we ended up having a great chat. Turns out the OU's biggest patentors are the biologists.

So what now - well no response from the airship people ( I think they have guessed I'm mad) but perhaps the existence of the previous patents means I can talk to people more freely.

I said to D. that I could go for writing the paper with the results and not jepodieze the patent with the research paper.

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Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Am I crazy

I've just emailed an OU lecturer Derek Taylor with the whole  aerostat idea and I hope he doesn't think I'm too crazy.

On the good news front I've got a return email from Theo Botha, Head of Sales a Blade Dynamics.

I've also got a response from Siobhan Dunn from Lindstradtech.

My big worry is how much to tell them. How open should I be.

Monday, January 25, 2010

PRT for Perimeter Center

It is with some delight I found this link  (here), it looks like the people at GRTA finally got the idea. I was a big proponent ( read PRT bore ) while I worked at GRTA and it looks like now Ultra have a working system they managed to get more cities interested. 


I always believed this, 
once we have a successful modern working system other cites will see the advantages and have a track record they can get funds against. 
Once one city has a succesful PRT system then we will see other PRT systems begin to compete. 


I believe the logic for PRT is in escapable.

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Wednesday, January 13, 2010

royalsociety Brian-Mercer-Feasibility-Awards

he Brian Mercer Feasibility Awards were established by the Society in 2001 as the result of a generous bequest received from the late Dr Brian Mercer.  Dr Mercer was an enthusiastic inventor and entrepreneur and these awards aim to encourage these qualities in the next generation of scientists. Six of the awards are being supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and one award specifically in the general field of electrotechnology is being supported by the ERA Foundation.
The Mercer Feasibility Awards provide initial support to test the feasibility of a project, enabling holders to investigate the technical and economical feasibility of commercialising an aspect of their scientific research, possibly in conjunction with a third party.


If the idea or concept is at an later stage of development you should apply for the Brian Mercer Award for Innovation which provides funding for individuals or groups to develop an already proven concept or prototype in the general area of the built environment, clean technology, energy and nanoscience/nanotechnology through to the creation of a near-market product for commercial exploitation, ie to a stage where an approach for venture capital becomes a reality.




Subjects Covered:
Built environment, clean technology, energy and nanoscience/nanotechnology.  One award will be specifically in the general field of electrotechnology (including telecommunications and IT systems), and this award is being supported by the ERA Foundation.

Eligibility:  The Mercer Feasibility awards are open to applicants of any nationality who have a PhD (or are of equivalent standing in their profession) and who hold a substantive post in such an establishment and will be in post at the host organisation for at least the duration of the project.  The project must be commenced within three months of the date of notification.
Length of Tenure:  Awards are not expected to exceed 12 months in duration.
Value of Grant:
Up to £30,000 (this figure includes VAT where applicable).

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