Star Wars Kites Are Cool, Unfortunately Don’t Have Lasers

It’s so sunny here in Madrid. I wish I could be out flying these Star Wars spaceship kites, instead of working here. OK, I lied: I actually wish I was out having tapas and wine.


August 20, 2008
Science

Kite Surfer Goes Out During Tropical Storm, Learns Valuable Lesson About the Power of Nature

Kite surfing is a fun sport that involves using a large kite and a surfboard to get a lot of speed up on the water. It’s like wakeboarding without a boat. Naturally, you need a decent amount of wind for it to work properly. There’s a limit to how much wind you should use, however, as a dimwitted kite surfer discovered when he tried to unleash his kite during a tropical storm in Fort Lauderdale and ended up getting flung across the beach and into the side of a building right in front of local news cameras.


August 13, 2008
Cameras

Spy Kite Flies High to Capture Low Blows

Any child older than seven knows that there are times when ground surveillance just won’t do. And while we’re waiting for the best airborne military concepts to be democratised to our Wal-mart toy aisle, we’ll have to settle on the Spy Kite. This “high performance” fiberglass-framed kite packs a digital camera capable of taking shots from 24 metres in the air.


June 5, 2008
Cars

Nereus Kite-Powered Water Pod Racer Can Dive

The Nereus is a kite-powered watercraft which looks like the product of an orgy between a hammerhead, a manta ray, a Japanese bike and a Storm Trooper. Inspired by kite-surfing, the designers of this water pod racer say that it will “achieve relatively high speeds on and under water.” We don’t know how high speed diving can be possible with the sea dragging you, but we know how you make it work.


December 14, 2007
Gadgets

Biokite: Is Flying a Kite Indoors Weird?

There is something a little bizarre about the idea of flying a kite indoors —but in reality, that characteristic makes the BioKite is ideal for the disabled.Thanks to a super aerodynamic structure and extreme light weight of only 10 grams, the BioKite can fly in completely windless environments. It can also be accurately controlled using the fishing rod and reel attachment. Just don’t this sort of cutting-edge kite technology to come cheap. Available for 11,000 Yen or $110. [Product Page via Japundit via InventorSpot]