Short Summary
Some background on the problem and solution: In America, we consume about 100 quadrillion BTU's of energy per year. (Global consumption is about 500 quads.) About 40% of this is oil, and about two thirds of that is for transportation. In addition to moving people, vehicles of course transport materials and goods. Energy to move materials and goods is typically boiled down to units of BTU's consumed per ton of payload per mile of transport, or BTU per ton-mile. The most efficient movement of material and goods is by water, rail, and pipeline, all typically on the order of a few hundred BTU/ton-mile. The US trucking industry moves payloads for a few thousand BTU/ton-mile. When we move goods with our cars though, we are using a few thousand BTU's per mile whether we are carrying anything or not, and how often are we carrying a ton of goods? Let's take an example of driving to the local sandwich shop in the morning for some breakfast sandwiches and a gallon of milk. The milk weighs a whopping 8 pounds, and the sandwiches might add up to another pound, but let's just say two. The whole payload then is 10 lbs, or 1/200th of a ton. If the car were a Prius getting 57 mpg, it is still burning 2,000 BTU per mile. So the payload is moving for 400,000 BTU per ton mile... one way! (The driver had to make a round trip.) The CargoFish system will be able to move this same payload for about 20 BTU's per mile. (That's energy burned at the electric plant, and counting all the losses of conversion to electricity, distribution, and vehicle efficiency.) Our almost universal assumption that in order to move anything any reasonable distance on an immediate basis requires a car, is actually incorrect. It requires moving only what matters, and as little else as possible. Imagine if we all had to transport every gallon of water home as if from the grocery store. Driving it all wouldn't be a very effective solution, would it? Please feel free to ask about any concerns you have. My concern is that it is unsustainable to continue putting thousands of pounds of motorized machinery in motion every time we want to get a few pounds from here to there. I think we can do better, and I hope you agree because I need your vote to win first place, which will help immensely with getting a faster pace going on developing and implementing this technology. Thank you very much. I will not let you down.
What We Need & What You Get
- In order to prove the technical and fiscal feasibility of this system well enough to warrant investment, people are going to need to see it. I need to complete the demonstration prototype of about 400 feet of track and at least one vehicle. The current material cost for track adds up to $6 per foot, totaling $2,400 for this phase. I also need to progress the first vehicle, whose first wheel set is nearly done, by finishing this assembly, building another identical wheel set, then constructing the main body frame and assembling all three into a completed vehicle. The motor, controller, wheels, racks, gears, pulleys, belts, bearings, shafts, fasteners, and frame materials for the first wheel set totaled about $1,000. Another $1,000 will be needed for the second wheel set assembly. My present estimate for the components and materials necessary to complete the main frame, assemble these three into one vehicle, and install an initial control system is another $600. With this total of $4,000 for parts and materials, I will be able to complete a system able to demonstrate semi-autonomous control of one vehicle over any emulated arbitrary path.
- I have a website for the project, where I will post a list of every contributor to this campaign. Every contributor will be invited to selected project milestone(s), such as first public demonstration. Other perks include bundle(s) of free service, redeemable when this system becomes available at the contributors' primary abode, vacation house, or place of business. (See the specific perks for details.)
- The first $1,600 of funds raised will go toward completion of the first vehicle.
- The next $2,400 of funds raised will go toward test track construction.
- Additional winnings will be used to build 3 additional vehicles.
- Funds beyond that will be used carefully, in support of the project.
The Impact
This project will raise our standard of living. This technology is the closest thing to the Star Trek transporter that the world will ever realize. It will become the Physical Internet, connecting most households in the US. Even before reaching that level of adoption, early installations in senior living complexes will restore a significant measure of self-sufficiency to many of us as we age, as independent travel by driving or otherwise becomes more inconvenient, difficult, or altogether impossible. Other early adoption communities will have residents enjoying more free time as they do not find themselves compelled to travel for needs that must be met more immediately than mail order, Fedex, or UPS. Businesses will exchange documents and/or other physical objects at levels of service exceeding the best and fastest courier companies, at a fraction of the cost. More workers will be able to telecommute because they will not be limited to exchanging only voice and information over the telephone and Internet. Because this technology will prove worth installing, an entire industry will grow to install, maintain, and expand it, providing local construction, maintenance, operation and administration jobs wherever it goes. The reduction in transportation fuel consumption will boost the economy. In addition to small payloads, all of these benefits can be delivered by this technology.
This will be no more expensive than municipal water or sewer. Those systems involve miles of underground infrastructure, yet are the most effective and inexpensive way to deliver water and remove waste. The household bill for those services is low enough that most people have to look it up to tell me how much it costs. Don't jump to premature conclusions about something "totally not plausible", or too expensive to prove practical. Infrastructure does cost, but returns enormous value, and, spread out over millions of customers the costs are more affordable than the alternative of doing without. Please take the time to browse the comments, where I have re-posted several of my favorite correspondences received.
I’ve recently given a presentation to the Rowan University Honors Engineering class of 2016, as well as another to several officials at the New York State Energy Research Development Authority.
Your contribution: financial, comments, or just spreading awareness, will help me accelerate development, build and prove this technology.
Other Ways You Can Help
Even if you can’t contribute financial support, I could still use your help:
- Please spread the word.
-
Like this campaign page, tweet this campaign page, etc.
-
Like my facebook page: CargoFish Physical Internet
-
Offer your comments, or ask any questions. here, or through the contact form on my website: www.cargofish.com.
- Compare my campaign to the others in the Philips Innovation Fellows Competition.
-
Interested in collaborating on the project? Contact me through my website.
- For reading down to here… THANK YOU!
