Sterling Engine..........just another 'IT'

[sejeff]

Remember IT, you know the most awesomest invention ever. Get ready for 'that', as in 'that was another waste of our time'. Kamen thinks he developed a sterling engine, oh goodness. NASA hasn't even been able to do that, and they have sent people to the MOON. A feat much more complicated than installing gyroscopes on a two wheeled platform. Don't get me wrong, I love Kamen, he has made my gf's life so much easier with the insulin pump, and giving clean water to all the malnurished dessert people in Africa. BUT, this is another waste of our time!


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/mai..._deankamen.xml


What do you all think of this???

[Kyle]

So I am going to guess that who ever made this just violated forum rules by making a second account just to post this.

Also just because NASA couldn't do it doesn't mean that it can't be done.

[sejeff]

Sorry kyle, I use to have an account on here forever ago, but I forgot the username and password, and the email it was connected to is no longer in service. I never posted back then, I thought it would be nice to give back to the community now. I saw that article on REDDIT.com today, and just got furious!

[Stu Bloom]

Originally Posted by sejeff

Sorry kyle, I use to have an account on here forever ago, but I forgot the username and password, and the email it was connected to is no longer in service. I never posted back then, I thought it would be nice to give back to the community now. I saw that article on REDDIT.com today, and just got furious!

So, how do you consider this thread to be "giving back to the community"? I enjoyed the article, and am very impressed with most of the things Kamen has done. Have you seen any of the video of the prosthetic arm that he developed in less than a year? It's AMAZING! Just what is it that you think is such a waste of time? The Sterling Engine? And whose time is being wasted?

From the article you linked to:

Both devices have already been proved amazingly effective: one six-month test has used a Stirling engine to provide electric light to a village in Bangladesh, powered by burning the methane from a pit filled with cow dung; Slingshot has undergone similar tests in a settlement in rural Guatemala.

I'm honestly having trouble figuring out what your problem is ...

[MrForbes]

I agree that the Stirling engine could be a big waste of effort...but I'll be interested to see how he does with it....

(the basic problem with the Stirling engine is that it is indeed efficient...if you have the operating fluid at a very high pressure....which usually results in an expensive, finicky machine)

[sanddrag]

Originally Posted by sejeff

What do you all think of this???

Excellent article. Thanks for the read.

Originally Posted by sejeff

this is another waste of our time!

If research and engineering is a waste of our time, perhaps we should all just become businessmen and play games with other peoples' money all day long. That worked out well recently right?...

Just a note, I don't think you'll become too popular on these fora by being "furious" at Dean Kamen. His work will one day save the world by improving the quality of life for all. He is an incredible man with an even more incredible dream. It is unfortunate you cannot fully realize this.

[sejeff]

Originally Posted by sanddrag

fori

Hey, sorry to sound pedantic, its just that forum is a neuter latin noun, and thus its plural is fora! =D don't mean to be mean, just trying to increase the knowledge level of everyone!

[Sean Schuff]

Originally Posted by sejeff

Hey, sorry to sound pedantic, its just that forum is a neuter latin noun, and thus its plural is fora! =D don't mean to be mean, just trying to increase the knowledge level of everyone!
------
__________________
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not parrish but have eternal life.

Normally I am a positive, optimistic person, however, I just can't let this go. I also understand this is off topic for this thread but it illustrates the double standard this anonymous poster is exercising.

For someone who is "pedantic" (and based on the formal definition of the word I PRAY you are not a teacher!) I'm appalled at the accuracy of the quote in your signature line.

First, He, His, and Him should all be capitalized.

Second, "parrish" isn't even a word unless you're referreing to a particular person with the last name Parrish. It should be "perish".

Finally, if you're going to post the works of others at least show enough respect to give them credit.

As for your original post which basically calls Dean Kamen a hack, I detect a bit of jealousy. My guess is your envy of his creative spirit has gotten the best of you and, based on your general "can't do" attitude, you'll never come close to his accomplishments. You may not want it but you still get my pity.

Prove me wrong!

Sean

[EricVanWyk]

Originally Posted by sejeff

Remember IT, you know the most awesomest invention ever. Get ready for 'that', as in 'that was another waste of our time'. Kamen thinks he developed a sterling engine, oh goodness. NASA hasn't even been able to do that, and they have sent people to the MOON. A feat much more complicated than installing gyroscopes on a two wheeled platform. Don't get me wrong, I love Kamen, he has made my gf's life so much easier with the insulin pump, and giving clean water to all the malnurished dessert people in Africa. BUT, this is another waste of our time!


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/mai..._deankamen.xml


What do you all think of this???

I am disappointed by your post.

As a FIRST alumnus, I am disappointed that you were unable to gain the respect and wonder that FIRST attempts to instill.

As a FIRST mentor, I am disappointed that you would put effort into denigrating the value of engineering to FIRST students.

As a Chief Delphi community member, I am disappointed that you chose this place to do so.

As a world citizen, I am disappointed that you do not choose to see this as a well intentioned attempt to provide a more accessible energy source that can provide electricity to those who so desperately need it.

As a DEKA employee, I am disappointed that you are unable to share in our philosophy: Impossible is a fleeting notion.


Many of the projects we work on will never see the light of day. This is a direct consequence of the difficult nature of what we do - if we limited our projects to the realm of the easily feasible, we would never be able to do things like the prosthetic arm. We try to limit ourselves only by physics. As the first person on the planet to communicate over a quantum encrypted AOL instant messenger session, I try to ignore those limits as well.

If you do find a team that needs a "very smart engineery person", my sincere hope is that the students on that team will provide you with a second chance to become inspired by FIRST. I know that my students changed my perspective, I hope your students change yours.

[sejeff]

Originally Posted by EricVanWyk

I am disappointed by your post.

As a FIRST alumnus, I am disappointed that you were unable to gain the respect and wonder that FIRST attempts to instill.

Who said anything about my wonder and respect about FIRST? I love FIRST! its just... You know, sometimes people are good at one thing (organizing competitions like first) and bad at others (inventions). It's not really a huge dig at DK, its just.. my mom always told me to stick to what you're good at, you know?

[GeorgeTheEng]

Originally Posted by sejeff

You know, sometimes people are good at one thing (organizing competitions like first) and bad at others (inventions). It's not really a huge dig at DK, its just.. my mom always told me to stick to what you're good at, you know?

How do you define "good at" inventions? I did a cursory search the Patent and Trademark office for patents with "Kamen; Dean" in the inventor name field and got 127 granted patents and 75 applications. That seems to me to fit most follks definitions of "good at".

There are a large number of things I would define as a waste of time and money long before naming Dean's invention which are intended to better the living standard of people who may not be able to do it on thier own.

I think also that you are missing the point be calling the Segway "Dean's most awesomest invention". I for one, think he will change many more lives in much larger ways with the iBOT. It may not change the life for the entire population, but it will effect the lives of many individuals.

[Andy Baker]

Originally Posted by sejeff

Don't get me wrong, I love Kamen, he has made my gf's life so much easier with the insulin pump, and giving clean water to all the malnurished dessert people in Africa. BUT, this is another waste of our time!

What do you all think of this???

Originally Posted by sejeff

... You know, sometimes people are good at one thing (organizing competitions like first) and bad at others (inventions). It's not really a huge dig at DK, its just.. my mom always told me to stick to what you're good at, you know?

Here is what I think (since you asked):

Dean Kamen is one of the best living inventors. For you to bash him for being "bad", even while knowing that he invented something that makes the life of your friend easier, is extremely short sighted.

Even so, if I turn your logic onto other famous people...

Babe Ruth probably should have "stuck" to pitching for the Red Sox. He was a pretty good pitcher.

Albert Einstein should have "stuck" to working for his uncle and father.

Nikola Tesla probably should have backed down to Thomas Edison and not tried to develop this new sort of electricity called AC.

Dave Grohl probably should have relaxed and lived off of Nirvana royalties.

I vehemently disagree.

Andy B.

[Greg Needel]

Originally Posted by Andy Baker

Even so, if I turn your logic onto other famous people...

Babe Ruth probably should have "stuck" to pitching for the Red Sox. He was a pretty good pitcher.

Albert Einstein should have "stuck" to working for his uncle and father.

Nikola Tesla probably should have backed down to Thomas Edison and not tried to develop this new sort of electricity called AC.

Dave Grohl probably should have relaxed and lived off of Nirvana royalties.

I vehemently disagree.

Andy B.

how about this one. Andy Baker should have "stuck" working at Delphi as an engineer instead of making products which help young inventors with their creations.

[Chris Hibner]

Originally Posted by Greg Needel

how about this one. Andy Baker should have "stuck" working at Delphi as an engineer instead of making products which help young inventors with their creations.

I've been trying to convince him of that, but there's no talking sense into that Baker guy.



Seriously though, nothing fun is easy. Breaking the sound barrier was once "impossible", too.

[Brandon Holley]

i rather enjoyed the article.

my roommate made (from scratch) a small model stirling engine....it works rather well. it will run off the heat of your hand, sunlight, an ice cube, or anything else that is relatively hot or cold.

i've also looked a lot into research others have done on making stirling engines more practical, and i am excited to see dean putting so much effort into them!


as for the original posters views, i think its safe to say he is in the minority on his opinion so lets not make a big deal about it...