A new patent filed by airplane manufacturer Airbus turns passenger cabins into cargo containers, designed to be inserted and removed as a whole from the vehicle.

Using a docking module, the removed unit would then be transported across the runway and to the airport for passengers to board. Once everyone is in their seats, the cabin would then be taken back to the aeroplane and slotted into place, ready for take off.

“In addition, the boarding method makes the presence of waiting rooms in the aircraft building superfluous, and thus makes possible substantial economies in terms of area,”according to the patent filing. It all makes some intuitive sense, for flyers as well: might as well be seated in advance rather than waiting in the airport.

Aside from that more obvious application, however, the modularity could lend itself to other benefits, including the ability to reconfigure the interiors of planes on demand or over time, by adding or removing seats, lounges or other spatial features. Alternatively, the removed units could tie into other transit systems, becoming cars of an inter-terminal train or even an extra-airport transport truck, following the lead of containerization in the cargo shipping industry.

The post Modular Swappable Plane Cabins to Enable Faster Boarding first appeared on Gajitz.

Location-independent, portable and scalable, this novel approach to agriculture applies principles already used in cloud computing and other high-tech services to the growing of everyday essentials, effectively tucking a 1-acre farm into a 350-square-foot box.

Each Freight Farm container has space for 4,500 plants, stacked and ready to grow: “Built entirely inside a 40’ x 8’ x 9.5’ shipping container, freight farms are outfitted with all the tools needed for high-volume, consistent harvests. With innovative climate technology and growing equipment, the perfect environment is achievable 365 days a year, regardless of geographic location.” The units can also be moved to market to sell directly, carried easily (just like any cargo container) on the back of a standard truck.

Constant monitoring of temperature, CO2, pH and other essential data means instant feedback and easy remote adjustments as well, while a built-in 4G hotspot lets these farms stay connected from anywhere in the world. Optimized LEDs allow for maximum growth and minimum energy. Modular and stackable, farmers can order more units delivered on demand and expand their operations as needed.

Someone new to the game can also start out small: “Designed to be easily implemented and operated, The LGM is a complete farming system delivered ready-to-use for immediate crop production. The modular and stackable design makes it easy to integrate into any operation and add farms to scale quickly. Every LGM comes equipped to handle every aspect of commercial production, from seed to harvest.”

Cargo containers for non-standard purposes are nothing new, but this goes more than a step beyond turning shipping containers into homes or offices. More on the ecosystem: “Vertical hydroponic system for mature plant growth.  The vertical towers create a high density growing environment with four rows providing space for over 4,500 plants.  Drip irrigation, nutrient delivery system and spectrum focused lighting supports climate conditions to maximize plant development.”

The post Freight Farms: Shipping Containers as Mobile Farming Units first appeared on Gajitz.

Like skateboarding to work but hate carrying your briefcase along for the ride? Someone had to invent a solution eventually, and the Briefskate is that solution.

Invented by Alexei Novitzky, the Briefskate has a hinged top that opens up to reveal a shock-proof interior that can used to carry all of your important office accessories, including your laptop, phone, important papers, and other everyday necessities.

The interior chamber is lined and, honestly, looks a little like a tiny coffin. But it protects your stuff and lets you continue to ride your skateboard to work without the danger of a backpack throwing off your balance.

There’s always the risk of a wipeout hurting the precious cargo inside, but that risk also exists when you carry a bag while skating. Made in both short and long configurations, the Briefskate might just be the next big thing among tech-savvy business people who also happen to love skateboarding.

The post Skateboard Opens Up to Carry Valuables While You Ride first appeared on Gajitz.

Revisit your childhood and turn that bicycle into a tricycle. Or, more practically, transform your bike into a cargo-lugging machine with the farcically titled S-cargo carrier. You’ll be the envy of your block.

Israeli designer Ofir Yadan created this piece of utilitarian biking hardware for his graduation project at Jerusalem’s Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design. The invention has two wheels and replaces your bike’s standard front wheel. Its current prototype form comes with a knapsack-like section that’s perfect for transporting your groceries. The next version is expected to feature accessories like racks, boxes or child seats.

One of the coolest features of the S-cargo is that once removed from your bike’s drop-outs, it can be readily removed and pulled by its handle as a cargo dolly. While still in prototype form with no actual plans for mass production, I’m sure it will easily capture the interest of both cyclists and environmentalists.

The post Two-wheeled Contraption Turns a Bike into a Cargo Trike first appeared on Gajitz.

Someday in the future we may very well find more efficient ways to transport goods than large diesel-powered trucks, but for now making those big trucks more fuel efficient would go a long way toward lessening their environmental impact. This simple product from ATDynamics takes a concept already used to make airplanes more aerodynamic and applies it to the massive numbers of trucks on the road.

The little bits on the tips of airplane wings that point up are called “winglets.” Their purpose is to reduce drag and help planes fly more efficiently. By putting similar winglets onto the backs of semi trucks’ cargo areas, a similar effect is gained. The flap-shaped attachments can reduce fuel consumption by up to 6.6 percent, a number which may sound small, but spread out over the some two million tractor trailers in the U.S. could have a huge impact. Just one truck using the device can save as much fuel as the typical car uses in an entire year.

ATDynamics calls their product TrailerTail. It attaches to the rear of the trailer and, when the truck is moving, sticks out about four feet at an angle that reduces wind drag. Made of little more than plastic sheets and metal springs, the TrailerTail can fold flat against the back of the trailer or lie flat against the side of the truck when the doors are open. Far from being an out-there idea for future generations to refine, the TrailerTail could become a necessity very soon thanks to the EPA tightening standards on truck fuel efficiency.

The post Happy Tails: Simple Flaps Give Trucks Fuel Efficient Wings first appeared on Gajitz.