What is the slingshot system?
But it is only the beginning. Critical Next Steps. The Slingshot system of vapor compression distillation basically boils and then condenses any dirty water source. It is versatile and can use energy from many sources — a standard electric grid, solar cells, batteries, or even methane from animal dung.
What is the Slingshot?
It is called Slingshot, a vapor compression water purification machine produced by inventor Dean Kamen, the man best known as creator of the Segway transporter. Slingshot can produce roughly 30 liters ...
When did Deka R&D sell his company?
When he sold his company, Auto-Syringe, in 1982, he acquired the means to set up a lab for further inventions. DEKA R&D went on to develop — in the face of many skeptics — a home kidney dialysis machine. The iBot wheelchair, with gyroscopic stabilisation, shared the technology seen in the Segway.
Who invented the slingshot?
A certain well-known engineer has a product to add to the mix. Here's a hint: He rides a Segway. Dean Kamen, who invented the Segway and several groundbreaking medical devices, has put a decade of work into a water purifier that he calls the "Slingshot.".
How does the Slingshot water purifier work?
The rest of the population must go directly to the source in rivers or natural storm-water reserves, which could be purified by the Slingshot. See more green science pictures .
How does Kamen black box work?
Let's see how it works. Kamen's black box first connects to an electricity source. Next, you hook it up to a water source by dropping the hose in some water. The dirty water gets sucked into the system, where it warms to its boiling point (212 degrees Fahrenheit or 100 degrees Celsius).
Does a slingshot need electricity?
The Slingshot doesn't scrub contaminants -- from the culprits causing cholera to typhoid fever -- from water for free. It needs electricity. It's not much electricity, though -- about 1 kilowatt, which is a mere coffee-maker's requirement. But electricity can be hard to find in places that need clean water.
Who invented the slingshot?
Inside the big red box sits a smaller one, about the size of a dorm fridge, called a Slingshot. It was developed by Kamen, the mastermind behind dozens of medical-equipment inventions and, most famously, the Segway personal transportation device. Kamen is the closest thing to a modern-day Thomas Edison.
Why did Kamen want clean water?
As the plan for his water purifier took shape, Kamen found himself thinking a lot about disaster relief. Whenever an earthquake or tsunami struck, aid organizations would request clean water before anything else because local supplies were tainted with sewage or chemicals.
How did Kamen start?
The question was how to get the purifiers mass-produced and into the hands of those who needed them. Kamen started by approaching global aid organizations. Jim Scott, who works in business development for Deka, says the groups simply weren’t set up to scale the technology.
What did Kamen invent?
Kamen’s instinct: Invent a medical-grade water purifier, so that patients could use water from their faucets as the base for their dialysis solution. He knew that existing purification systems, mostly based on filtration, weren’t exacting enough to meet his needs, so he looked to distillation.
What is Kamen's unique brand of genius?
Kamen’s unique brand of genius is that he can recognize those connections and see their potential where others can’t.
Can a slingshot reach sewage?
For communities that lack clean water, the benefit is obvious, but to realize that potential, the Slingshot needs to reach them first.
Where were slingshots invented?
Tracing back to the earliest types of slingshots, it is learnt that they were invented in Russia. It was known by the name of ‘rogatka’ in Russia. The name was derived from the word ‘rog’ that means horn in Russian. The slingshot was invented to be a smaller version of an actually bigger weapon known as the ‘rogatina’.
When did Wham-O start making slingshots?
The commercial versions of the slingshot were available from very early on but Wham-O came up with their first product as a slingshot in 1948 .
What is a slingshot?
Also known as shanghai and a catapult or katty in the UK, the slingshot is a small hand powered projectile weapon. A traditional slingshot features a simple design but possesses strategic power. The slingshot is kind of an extension to our own hand. It adds to the power exerted by our hand and we can throw stones or similar items ...
Who made the wrist shot?
In 1954, a modern wrist braced version of the slingshot was produced by Saunders Archery Co. known as the Wrist-Rocket®. The early production of the Wrist-Rocket® slingshot was a joint effort between Saunders Archery Co., who came up with the trademark and developed the automated forming machinery, and Mark Ellenburg who came up with ...
Who wrote the article about the slingshot?
Robert Hertzberg wrote an article in April 1951 in Mechanix Illustrated. It said, “Despite the slingshot's reputation as a tool of juvenile delinquents, the NSA reported that 80% of slingshot sales were to men over 30 years old, many of them professionals.
How long has the history of slingshots been around?
The new latex formulas have taken slingshot shooting to a whole new level! Yes, the history of slingshots is very fascinating. It goes back almost 2,500 years since the first catapult was invented.
What are slingshots made of?
Juveniles started making DIY (Do It Yourself) slingshots made from the fork of tree branches. The earliest versions of slingshots were primarily created for vandalism. Even still, small game such as rabbits, squirrels, quail, pheasant, and dove commonly became dinner at the hand of a slingshot.
How fast can a sling bullet go?
In the hands of an expert, a heavy sling bullet or stone could reach speeds of up to 100 mph (160 km/h). "The biggest sling stones are very powerful — they could literally take off the top of your head,". Shepherd's Sling.
When did slingshots become popular?
It wasn’t until after World War II that the slingshot saw a surge in popularity and legitimacy. Up till now, most slingshots were homemade. In 1946, Popular Science had an article that detailed a slingshot builder and hunter using slingshots to take small game.
Where did the slingshot come from?
The History of Slingshots go back to the Roman era and used very effectively as a war weapon. Many believe the invention of the first Catapult came from a Greek town founded between 743-734 BC called Syracuse. the Gastraphete was the first known version of the Catapult. The Greeks were highly impressed with the destructive capabilities ...
Which countries are shooting slingshots?
Countries like England, Scotland, China, Australia, Africa, The Philippines, and more. The United States is actually behind the curve, but we are seeing slingshot shooting rise in popularity. Competitions, casual target shooting, plinking, and hunting are all gaining popularity across the United States.
