[RobAutoblog]

Hey guys, I need your input. I'm a senior in Industrial Design... I have a solid portfolio, I have 4 products in production, I have user-interface, tools, ecofriendly designs, cool car designs... I've worked with a lot of big name companies... and now it's my last semester. Unsure of what to do. Then I thought... of something.. totally ridiculous. I want your opinion.

First, watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dvn_Ied9t4M

Alright you know how mountains used to kill people? And now we play on them with skis? And deserts used to kill people? And now we have dune buggies? And waves used to kill people? And now surfboards?

I was trying to think of an environment that wasn't conquered by man yet, and try to design a vehicle/product to turn it into an extreme sport, so out there that it goes way past anything reasonable and straight into the 'completely insane' category...

So then I thought of an acrobatic stunt submarine designed to be dropped into hurricane environments.... very dangerous... hence why the vehicle would have to have an isolated cockpit to protect it's occupant....with shocks on all sides to suspend it from impact. My teacher called it mental masterbation. It was definitely a controversial idea... 50% of my class thought it was cool, 50% hated it, 100% thought it was ridiculous.

So what's your take?

[AKcrab]

Just use a tank.

Welcome back.

[iMOTOR]

Dropped into hurricane environments from where? Outer space?

[Face Ache]

Lava skiing hasn't been done yet.

[Albert Pujols]

Sounds ridiculous. But if you're ambitious and determined I'm sure you could pull it off. Just remember it's your thesis; you probably will want to put it on your resume or in your portfolio or whatever. Just think of what a prospective employer would think about your project.

[RobAutoblog]

A lot of people mention volcanoes; but that seems way more implausible due to the temperatures involved with molten rock.

As for where they'd be dropped from... I have no idea. Maybe you could be dropped in the path by a seaplane, and wait for it to come to you?

[Face Ache]

Even during the nastiest storm, 20 feet under the sea remains quite calm. The only thrills to be had are on the surface and I'm not sure being tossed around by 20 metre waves would be much fun.

[Albert Pujols]

Surfing on a rocket?

[- - e r i k - -]

Tsunami-surfboard?

[Spheric Harlot]

MacNN-surfing with a "rob" nickname?

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by RobAutoblog 

I was trying to think of an environment that wasn't conquered by man yet

Vacation in Canadia ?

-t

[mattyb]

Originally Posted by RobAutoblog 

So what's your take?

The pills aren't working.

[Mrjinglesusa]

That is one of the most idiotic ideas I have ever heard.

[Doofy]

Bullion-running in Peckham. Without a tank.

[lyanma]

Do you know what is like to be home during a hurracaine? Or outside, which is even worst....
If you haven't then you don't know what you are talking about.

[SpaceMonkey]

I totally misunderstood the thread title and thought he was asking us for money.

[- - e r i k - -]

To be fair I thought he was offering us money for our input.

[Visnaut]

Whenever I come up with a crazy idea that no one thinks will ever work, it's always a rewarding challenge to prove them wrong. And your idea, although downright ridiculous, does kind of give me that gut feeling that it could work if you really work at seeing it through. It kind of reminds me of the dolphin though...

One thing to consider though, is that any kind of extreme sport has to be filmed. The popularization of surfing, extreme skying, and the like has relied on the ability to shoot from these sports from good vantage points. Well, the wind conditions in the environment you're going into are not conducive to that. So you either have to accompany your thesis with an equally brilliant design or solution to film your invention, or focus entirely on just that.

So give that some thought, and don't listen to these nay-sayers.

[GreenerGadgetsEntry]

Well, update. I'm doing aerodynamic upgrades for existing tractor trailers to improve the MPG, reduce diesel consumption, reduce dependency on foreign oil, and help the environment. I got sponsored by Volvo! I will post progress (maybe), or at least the end result. Thanks for the help guys!

[turtle777]

Good stuff. Good luck, Rob.

-t

[Cold Warrior]