... to the stratosphere that is. As Fox News reports, the U.S. patent office granted a patent (9085897) to the Canadian company Thoth Technology Inc., for a "space elevator", sort of an inflatable incline or similar structure for cars, that you are supposed to be able to use for driving up, all the way to a height of 12 miles (~ 20,000 m) above ground.
If you aren't dizzy enough from driving to the corner store, that really ought to make your day.
12 Miles High
There used to be jokes about the "10 mile-high club;" I guess they are outdated now, it's gotta be at least 12 miles these days.
The purveyors of "self-driving" cars must be elated. Just imagine what new gadgets and other "needs" could be flogged while your car is driving up that giant roundabout.
A typical parkade has ramps at a grade of 15 degrees arc or so. Using that kind of rise or decline, you'd get to increase/decrease your elevation by ~75 % of the mean diameter of the "roundabout" with each full turn (diameter times pi). Depending on that (undescribed) radius and the permitted/recommended speed, you could be driving in a circle for a long time.
What's even better, such "drive-up" towers are supposed to be inflatable structures (perhaps using carbon dioxide for that purpose; "carbon storage" and stratospheric ascent in one fell swoop!) or, as the patent describes it "a pneumatically pressurized structure formed from flexible sheet material ...." In other words, it ought to be easy to move it from one place to another. Furthermore, with a launching/landing pad for astronauts on top, the future astronauts that may just like to drive up to the top to get a cup'o tea at the next space station should be delighted. Sound's wonderful, where can I sign up?
Caveats
Just some small caveats though. The idea could only work if the system can maintain the pressure, no failure permitted, otherwise your decline may be more rapid than your ascent. Also, material and pressure differentials need to be worked out in detail; that might take a while. Of course any cyclones, typhoons, tornados and other atmospheric disturbances must be outlawed for sure; storms with lightning strikes are also forbidden; they could limit your enjoyment of the tea-in-waiting.
If you haven't had your daily laugh yet, I think now is a good time for that.
... to the stratosphere that is. As Fox News reports, the U.S. patent office granted a patent (9085897) to the Canadian company Thoth Technology Inc., for a "space elevator", sort of an inflatable incline or similar structure for cars, that you are supposed to be able to use for driving up, all the way to a height of 12 miles (~ 20,000 m) above ground.
If you aren't dizzy enough from driving to the corner store, that really ought to make your day.
