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Smarter speed bump using non-Newtonian liquid

badennova.es

71–80 of 168 posts

Re: Smarter speed bump using non-Newtonian liquid

#71
post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My guess is their nemesis, the snowplow.

how do normal speedbumps deal with snowplows?

"Raise Plow" road signs near the speed bump.

This would work for non-Newtonian speed bumps as well, though the first time a plow driver doesn't see the sign, and there's always going to be one who doesn't see the sign, you end up wiping out the speed bump instead of just dinging it.

Re: Smarter speed bump using non-Newtonian liquid

#72
post #24

Can someone enlighten me on why we need a smarter speed bump? If cars going too fast are going to be damaged either way, there's no benefits on that end. If the motivation is that cars can go slightly faster overall over the bump to reduce traffic... then don't put a bump there!?!? Slow traffic will still be slow?

Because speed bump design varies greatly; many are very hard on your vehicle to go over at very low speeds, the size/shape of the bump has nothing to do with the speed limit, it seems. Often I need to go 5mph over a speed bump in a 25mph zone. It's bad for everyone. Wear and tear, noise pollution, brake dust+emissions pollution from speeding up and slowing down, etc.

Sometimes there are big long speed bumps that are actually MORE comfortable to take at higher-than-legal speeds. And it's encouraged an arms race in vehicles in the US; it undoubtedly influences people to buy bigger/heavier/taller vehicles with longer-travel suspension.

Re: Smarter speed bump using non-Newtonian liquid

#73
post #69

Earlier quoted context omitted.

how do normal speedbumps deal with snowplows?

"Raise Plow" road signs near the speed bump. This would work for non-Newtonian speed bumps as well, though the first time a plow driver doesn't see the sign, and there's always going to be one who doesn't see the sign, you end up wiping out the speed bump instead of just dinging it.

Maybe you could have protective ridges at the side of the road which would act as hard stops for the plough while staying out of the regular path of traffic?

I'd also be concerned about the effect that widely changing temperatures would have on the viscosity and hence critical speeds. It'd suck to install one in summer, get used to driving over it at 40km/h, then during the first cold snap find out it'd turned as hard as rock.

Re: Smarter speed bump using non-Newtonian liquid

#74
i mean, the real problem I feel like is that there are people walking too, and this is kind of a major trip hazard for the elderly and disabled, and/or pretty much everyone. "I'll just step here and WHOA WHAT HAPPENED WHY IS IT JELLY?!"

I suspect this was a problem that didn't need to be solved.

Re: Smarter speed bump using non-Newtonian liquid

#76
post #45

Does it allow emergency vehicles to proceed quickly? :/ That's my main criticism of speed bumps

I think that that is exactly the reason why this will not get used. Many speedbumps are actually designed in a way that they are imperceptible when you go sufficiently fast (80km/h is usual)

Sounds like expert-level trolling ;)

Re: Smarter speed bump using non-Newtonian liquid

#78
post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s so that when you go the appropriate speed you don’t feel the bump.

I wonder if that would make people drive progressively faster over a stretch of road until they notice the bump. Or more common, people will speed towards the bump and again, brake right before it.

...and the neighborhood Concerned Mothers Association (TM) that worked so hard to get the town to install them will then start complaining when they have to listen to every motorcycle and riced out Civic accelerate after the bump.

Re: Smarter speed bump using non-Newtonian liquid

#80
post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

No tears shed by me. Speed limits are to be obeyed, not ignored.

Are you always driving exactly 5 MPH in a garage?

I would wager that he's much more likely to be caught driving a Prius at the speed limit in the left lane than a person who hasn't made a comment like that.
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