Industrial Design of the Week: TOPIC SUGGESTIONS

[Norsehound]

How about a plausible spaceship design within the next 50-100 years? (i.e. rotating sections, mass-driver or laser-based weapons, etc).

The kind of thing Nasa would design if pressed to create a warship in space within the next 20-50 years.

[Vulgar`]

NASA's Secret

[Trashy]

Okay, just going to shoot some ideas out there. Sorry if these were mentioned before.

Restaurant Cleaner-Some kind of operating system/droids that clean for the cooks and chefs.

Demolition Bot- Inspired a lot from the demolition machine in I-ROBOT.

Spy Drone- Kind of along the lines of the cipher machines the military are working on and using -http://psychicspy.com/cypher1.jpg

Futuristic Junk Yard Compacter

Highway Builder-inspired a lot by the terrible construction job on our highway here.

[MasonL]

With only one week to do the topics why not build a specific driver into the design brief. This way a research component becomes required and final solutions are less dependent on some optimistic future technology.

"Fun" topics:

Redesign batman's tool belt/kit

Instruments for the band _________(choose a group with a strong brand identity: kiss, tool, NIN, The Beetles, etc.)

Powertools in the style of _________(architectural era; mannerist, gothic, bauhaus)

Dukes of Hazard vehicle redesign(pick a different time period or setting)

Siberian(or any extreme climate) UPS delivery truck

More "serious" topics:

As the hummer replaced the jeep, what will replace the hummer(considering current military requirements, and environmental issues)

Wristwatch made in _________(design reflecting a region or country with an identifiable tradition of craft and/or aesthetic)

[Lege1]

Iam with Michamachtlos on this one! Bio Mech Tattoo Gun!!!

[Maieth]

MASON

As the hummer replaced the jeep, what will replace the hummer(considering current military requirements, and environmental issues)

Interesting you should mention this. British military is currently in the very beginning stages of designing a new vehicle which will replace the Land Rover as a backbone military vehicle. They want something stronger and a bit bigger that can withstand modern warfare wile still carrying fully geared squad dies efectively (ie surprise attacks, roadside bombs, ambush, urban conflict etc)

**or at least so i imagine, i couldn't possibly say whether any of this were true as it is entirely my own conjecture and i nor any of my relatives have been privy to any MOD demonstrations regarding said project, opening up the form for ideas to British industries. ever. honest. i know nothing. don't lock me up. please**

[Maieth]

Right, my twopenny worth...

Did Hideyoshi's Medic droid get done yet? think this is a vey interesting idea with plenty of colutions that could easily catch people's imaginations.

Yoitisi: coming back to the idea of doing sets of concepts, how about grouping things by month. So four weeks/briefs around a central theme? I know coming up with these themes won't be easy, but thought it might make a good way to work it without people getting bored.

As for my own ideas...

1)
Sports/Military/family/cargo (etc) submersible Thinking of an alternate or future reality where parts of civilisation have moved underwater. What would the vehicles look like once we moved away from typical exploaration submersibles and military submarines?
Submissions could all be focused around a single theme, or people could pick their own ideas.
What would the propulsion be? power source? how would you get in and out? etc

k, so i dont have any more just yet, but i might be back...

[yoitisi]

Maieth: I sort of incorporated Hideyoshi's idea for a medic droid into the topic of IDW 50: Maintenance Droid. If I feel like doing a droid again, I think I'll have to find something that will set it apart from that particular challenge in which case a simple Medic Droid is too similar. Thanks for adding your thoughts though

Actually, I've been playing with the idea of doing a round of IDW about a sort of plant for a while now. I'm not sure if this would strictly fit in this activity though, but I've seen people try it in COW where it is not allowed and EOW is more about creating a whole environment instead of 'designing' a plant as such. I think it'd fit in here, as plants can be sort of designed, but I'm not sure if you people agree on that

[XXITheWorld]

Here are a few wiki articles

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Von_Neu...al_constructor
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_assembler
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_goo

A universal constructor / Von Neuman machine could be a good topic, some very interesting designs could come out of this

[Digital_Blacksmith]

Superhero gadgetry!

[darthnader]

monster powered ship- can be powered by squids, sea monsters, or something more exotic

pyromaniac bot- close quarters robot that utilizes fire for attacks

chemical warfare combat suit- sealed, balistic, armor for protection against acid, poison gas, radioactive fallout, and biological agents.

[Digital_Blacksmith]

Ok, I already PMed you with this idea Yoi, but since you told me to post it here, why not.

Take a normal challenge, like a Missile Launcher with Missile, but instead of just letting everyone go on there way with whatever idea, do something like the last challenge. But this time, give about 50 small reference pictures, from syringes to an old winner of a challenge, and let the people choose from 3-5 of those pictures to come up with something. This is kind of like when you get a job, and they say they want something like such and such with some random shit thrown in there. If you need help gathering pictures, ill be able to help find some random pieces of junk. Got about 5 billion reference pictures of junk laying about on my PC.

[fughi from yuggoth]

Yoitisi,the Starfighter and the Carrier stuff are really cool to me,but if u continue strictly into that direction,like every week the same three pics or stuff, there will be stagnation(at least for me) one day.please make some breaks some time.

but on the other hand, it would be nice, to do like a whole fleet for IDW 100...maybe with that reference pics Digital Blacksmith had talked about.
like do.... a carrier,a battlecruiser, a destroyer,a fregate,a gunboat,a specialist ship and a sum smaller snubfighters like a bomber,fighter and interceptor,maybe shuttle,blablubb.
maybe a decision would be necessary,which kind of ships are needed.

[Legato]

Yoitisi,the Starfighter and the Carrier stuff are really cool to me,but if u continue strictly into that direction,like every week the same three pics or stuff, there will be stagnation(at least for me) one day.please make some breaks some time.

but on the other hand, it would be nice, to do like a whole fleet for IDW 100...maybe with that reference pics Digital Blacksmith had talked about.
like do.... a carrier,a battlecruiser, a destroyer,a fregate,a gunboat,a specialist ship and a sum smaller snubfighters like a bomber,fighter and interceptor,maybe shuttle,blablubb.
maybe a decision would be necessary,which kind of ships are needed.

i personally think 4-5 solid weeks of drawing similar things is just the stretch many people need

[Digital_Blacksmith]

A bomber/scout would be fun to do. Or maybe we could do solar weaponry, like satellite laser blasters, death stars, such and such.

[darthnader]

MOTHERFUCKING COMBAT EXOSUIT
completely enclosed and independent.

[IcyM]

Um, I'm not sure on the criteria for suggestions, such as being always original or using someone else's IP. But how about redesigns of more known pieces of industrial design? For example, we all know Transformers, but Alex Jaeger re-imagined them for the movie, along with a few Star Trek ships. The Battlestar Galactica was redesigned from the old 1970s show to a new design on Sci-Fi channel.

Now, I'm not saying that major pieces is approached (like the Millennium Falcon), but something like re-imagining Cyclone mecha bikes from Robotech anime series? Doctor Who's sonic screwdriver? A Klingon shuttle craft?

I guess in a time where a lot of old shows and IPs are being re-introduced, its not so crazy to update them for the current generation?

Just a thought!

[Digital_Blacksmith]

Oh screw that, go big. Do the Millennium Falcon or as someone said earlier, the General Lee (or an old TV show car redo in general)

[IcyM]

Haha.. yeah, you're right. If we go there, we should go all the way. Total commitment!

I guess I was thinking in the terms of IPs thats probably getting a movie or new TV series. You know? Seems like it isn't too crazy to consider taking an old vehicle or prop to remake as if we were working on the new series/movie. Like Toby's Maguire possibly working on the Robotech movie. They'll probably never just go with the original designs for mecha, costumes, and such, but they will use it as inspiration.

I'm not saying we should go and redesign something thats already been done, like Transformers, Iron Man's armor, or a star destroyer. The films are in recent memory. But one that haven't been yet, like Robotech or GI Joe (ie a Cobra HISS tank or trouble bubble? Yes, I'm ancient)

Considering you mentioned someone thought of the General Lee, I guess the idea had been already brought up.

[yoitisi]

IcyM, Digital Blacksmith: Sounds cool to me Might try this for a future round. Have to brush up on some movie history first though.

[darthnader]

MOTHERFUCKING COMBAT EXOSUIT
completely enclosed and independent.

4srs. just a simple concept.

[silliKONe]

how bout a redesign of HAL or the discovery from 2001

[D-Holme]

Some ideas (I try to keep a track on what's been suggested before but apologies if I repeat anything):

Arctic/Snowscape transport truck - required to haul large loads over snow and ice in poor weather. Problems with cold, breaking through the ice and bad weather.


Dropship - a craft to carry large loads from orbit to planet surface (and typically back again), not necessarily a military craft it could be a cargo hauler or civilian craft.


Colony transport - could be anything from pilgrim settlers to an off world mining colony - though my original idea would be to limit to only land transport (rather than a space ship or plane as they're more done - boats might work well still tough). Would need to support there particular requirement of the colony type chosen.


Atomic Tank - post WW2 powers that be considered a requirement for large super heavy tanks to fight on desolate nuclear battlefields. The requirement to design a super heavy tank capable of withstanding close nuclear strikes and protecting it's crew from the hazardous environment. Optionally harnessing the power of the atom these tanks could be driven by nuclear generators and even armed with short range nuclear weapons.


The Great Waste Hauler - in a society overcome by waste from its own excess great vehicles are needed to dispose of this rubbish. Could work for many periods/technologies, the main requirement is to take waste as far away as possible an leave it there.


Space stations
-Defence space station
-Orbital shipyard
-Orbital colony


Asteroid Mining Craft – a utility vehicle for mining asteroids, my original idea was for a small one man craft but might work equally well for a large factory ship.


War Idol – as civilisations go to war they take with them to the battlefields great idols of their nation/religion. These mobile icons inspire they're troops to greater deeds of valour and inspire fear into their enemies.


Submersible fighter – a submarine dogfighting craft, small one/two man craft. (Saw there was a similar suggestion above).


Landbased ICBM (nuclear missile) carrier – a vehicle capable of launching a intercontinental nuclear missile but also able to move around to avoid enemy detection. Was thinking of it being landbased (originally soviet missiles trains and lorries) as the marine and air version already are designed out.


Fantastic Navy Super-Warship - Choose from the usual fantasy setting races and design a new flagship for the Admiral of the fleet, something powerful and capable of dominating any other ship of the line.


The mysterious machine - dug out of the ice in a desolate location the discoverers of this device are at a loss. The function of this machine is as much of a mystery as its origin, is it a relic of a lost civilisation, a government experiment or an a piece of alien technology. Challenge with this would be to draw something lacking a clear function but still looking interesting and to really bring across the mystery of its function and origin.

----------------------------------------
Hope that's inspiration for someone atleast.

[darthnader]

legged artillery- large field guns and howitzers that get to the battlefield by way of immense load bearing legs. might have its own protective turrets and such

beast powered ship- ship that is pulled by an animal, series of animals, or built on an animal. the animal can do more than just propel the ship

meat powered machine- robot that has vat grown muscles attached to joints in place of motors or hydraulics. or it uses completely organic limbs attached to a metal frame.

riot control- machine or robot that uses nonlethal force to deal with dangerous crowds with the aid of tear gas, batons, rubber bullets, tazers, tranquilizers, etc.

kamikaze- robot or vehicle that is loaded with explosives and suicide bombs insurgents.

air fortress- large flying fort, with its own fighters, guns, missiles, troops, artillery, and other supplies. can be in the air for years without touching down.


please comment on my suggestions, i think that they are legit.


(not a topic suggestion, but when you post the topic winners, can you provide a link to all of the entries like they do in COW? i am tired of searching for the old forums)

[hippl5]

I hope nobody suggested this before me.

The artist's nightmare - A machine that reads the users mind, and whatever image the user is thinking of, gets projected onto a screen and saved. Why is it the artist's nightmare? Because artists won't be needed because the machine takes no talent to use. The machine can be as big or as small as you want, maybe take up an entire building and require massive power, and have the user stand in a liquid filled glass chamber.

Basically, design a machine that will steal your job.

[Jim_Hatama]

I hope nobody suggested this before me.

The artist's nightmare

Basically, design a machine that will steal your job.

Hehe I think most complex part isnt to draw what u have in mind(thats just techniqe), but more to have clear picture in mind. ))


Anyway how abt starlift of some sort. Some thing that lift starships (or maybe not starships) from Earth to space?

[chuck18mp]

simple killing tree-a-like machine
or
soda pop distributor

[arttorney]

Yoitisi- you can even get a patent on a new plant design, at least in the United States.

Here are some suggestions:

Plant prosthesis

Re-entry warbot

The laziest person in the world's exercise machine.

[Lex.W]

Well, These may sound boring, but I could see there use in modern day society.

-Soil revitalised, turns previously non-arable or used farmland into new revitalised soil, allowing an increase in crop production.

-A mobile desalinizer, can turn salt water into fresh water on the move, could be used for extended naval voyages, or in drought areas.

-A Biomass converter, can convert any biological matter into a form of productive material such as a metal or form of energy.

[miniphase]

personal, portable glider

low impact, urban, single person vehicle

portable house