It is hard to say which would be scarier: waking up to an earthquake, or to being trapped inside of a jumbo coffin-like contraption containing your bed and emergency supplies.

Wang Wenxi developed and patented this bizarre panic-room bed prototype, which drops a top and side on your snuggly shelter when disaster strikes (or, in certain variants: drops you down into a solid shell, with the lid folding over the top after your fall).

Food, water, masks and fire extinguishers are contained in the bed frame as well, and the structure itself is designed to take a beating as well as loads from above. Of course, there are a lot of criticisms one could level at this design, including: it would be difficult to move the bed inside of a home to begin with, and one could be injured by the closing operation (say you like to sleep with your feet hanging off the edge).

Then, assuming one survives, how long will the air inside last, or will you slowly suffocate your in your modern sarcophagus to be found years or centuries later by curious archeologists? If all else fails, perhaps the patent holder will find success at a different scale, designing animal traps instead of human shelters.

The post Vault 101: Freaky Earthquake-Proof Bed Locks You Inside first appeared on Gajitz.

Developed by engineers at Hiroshima University in Japan, this mobile folding ‘scissor bridge’ platform can carry people, cars and supplies across gaps in emergencies, like earthquakes, for instances, for which its country of origin is all too well known.

Designed for portability and inspired by origami, the steel structure can be deployed to help deal with landslides and floods that wipe out area bridges, or new voids that form when the ground shifts. The entire system fits on the back of a typical flatbed truck, able to make its way along conventional roads with typical size and span limitations. Its creators claim it is  “the world’s fastest, largest, strongest, and lightest expanding temporary bridge.”

Dr. Ichiro Ario and his team created the Mobile Bridge Version 4.0 as a prototype, but even this draft version is fully functional and able to unfold and refold in less than 5 minutes (though setting it up still takes a full half hour). While it could be a boon in emergency situations, the same system could be used to temporarily replace or work around bridges that are being repaired or rebuilt as well. As compact and efficient as the current design already is, no doubt additional iterations will also help improve it on all fronts.

The post Origami Crossing: Portable Flat-Pack Accordion Bridge first appeared on Gajitz.

Designed to disorient its targets when rolled or thrown into place, this tactical strobe lamp produces light and sound on demand, creating confusion prior to an incursion by police or military users.

While its bright 360-degree lighting is being sold primarily for hands-free use by officers of the law, the company behind the Strike Light also boasts other capabilities, from illuminating crash scenes, disaster sites or search areas.

Pitch, toss, place or hang the light anywhere for full surround illumination in essentially any situation. A remote lets users cycle through strobe lights or blaring sirens. The element of surprise, according to its creators, is the key: targets are unsure what the ball will do beyond its disorienting effects, thus running from it when it is sent in and turned on.

More about the ball itself: “Hands-free and rugged military grade polycarbonate housing to endure throwing or rolling into the most demanding of situations. (6) Powerful Cree XTE LED’s pushed at 200 lumens per LED; always remain upright for 360° illumination. The Strike Light can be hung from two attachment options from any overhead structure to provide an abundance of light. Rechargeable LiPo battery pack with quick charge VIA USB port.”

A user review: “As a tactical operator, I am always looking for the advantage in any dangerous situation. Having the Throw-Light to throw during a tactical operation means I have created a distraction, one that can not only help save the lives of my team, but also those of the assailants. Getting the advantage in a bad situation allows for faster apprehension. The first evolution of the Throw-Light gives me that advantage, and there are development plans to enhance and add new features to the Throw-Light in the near future.”

The post Tactical ‘Strike Light’: Throwable Strobing LED & Siren Ball first appeared on Gajitz.