Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2020 i Popular Mechanics South Africa

1 APRIL 1971 The Incredible Skyshark – First Amphibious Jet The Skyshark was due to become the world’s first amphibious jet, able to land on terra firma and water, and reach cruising speeds of up to 885 km/h at 30 000 feet. Key to its performance would’ve been its telescoping wing, but sadly the project never came to fruition. The full story was featured in this issue, including a schematic of the jet. 2 APRIL 1973 What It Takes to Build and Fly a Radio-Controlled Model Copter Here we dived into the sport of R/C whirlybirding with our kit-built Whirlybird 505. At first, fixed-wing model enthusiasts weren’t impressed with mini helicopters. But popularity grew fast, and ready-to-assemble kits became hot favourites with aviation hobbyists. 3 APRIL 1955 He Irrigates With…

Modern processors and the photo-enhancing software that runs on them means current smartphones take incredible photos. But keeping smart-phones small enough to fit in your pocket means they’ll never accommodate the hardware that makes dedicated cameras so good at their job. specifically, real cameras have bigger sensors, so that they can capture more light, and therefore more detail. The same thing applies to all the glass on big camera lenses that feeds light to those sensors. and anyone who wants to really control aperture or shutter speed should know that the sliders on smartphone-camera apps are simply a simulation of the mechanical parts on a real camera. all that said, for most of us who take photos and look at other people’s photos, backup and sharing is so convenient that,…

NOT BEING able to see properly, coupled with crippling poverty and an inability to get access to adequate healthcare solutions leaves the majority of the world’s 285 million visually impaired people in desperate circumstances. When British ophthalmologist Dr Andrew Bastawrous left the UK’s National Health Service to help low-income populations in Kenya, he radically changed the way the country takes care of its visually impaired citizens. Dr Bastawrous soon began performing eye-care tests on more than 5 000 people in rural areas of the country and quickly realised he needed a cost-effective alternative to help where eyesight problems are rife, specialists are hard to come by, and diagnostic services are limited to non-existent. In most of the places in which he was operating, there was no electricity and often no…

So maybe there aren’t aliens inside area 51. That doesn’t mean your own encounters need be ignored. if you’ve found yourself amid extra-terrestrial entities or technology, you’ve probably wondered what you should do with that information. A number of organisations accept these types of reports. However, you have to be careful about where you send your data as many require personal and contact information to file a report. That’s why we recommend the mutual UFO Network. Since 1969, MUFON has handled more than 80 000 reported cases of alien-related claims from around the globe. Taking detailed data from original reports and following up investigations, their experts thoroughly examine your case, whether that’s a UFO sighting, abduction, or entity interaction. and they go through every inch of your case, from shape,…

IT’S EASY TO imagine what a kitchen will look like in the future. Smarter appliances are already available, connected and making food prep that much easier. From fridges with built-in AI that let you see inside without opening the door, to apps that tell you exactly which appliances you’ve left on (or even better, apps that allow you to turn appliances on and off) and more, we’re already living like the Jetsons. If anything, it’s never been simpler to get the heart of your home – the kitchen – connected. From fruit dehydrators to hotdog makers, smart scales, sous-vide machines and even high-speed toasters, there’s always a fun gadget to add to your culinary wish list. Here are some of our high-end, high-tech favourites: INSTANT WHAT? Imagine if, instead of…

WHETHER it’s on YouTube or elsewhere, the internet is packed full of experts such as Deadly Sharp, Scary Sharp and Magic Sharp and their tool-sharpening systems. The truth is that most of them work well because their basic principles remain the same. I choose to stay far away from sharpening on belt sanders and bench grinders, simply because the inherent danger of overheating the blade and changing the temper of an expensive edge tool is all too real. I prefer to use the ‘cool method’ instead of the hot one, which gives me infinitely more control over the entire process. STEP 1: GETTING THE BACK MIRROR-FLAT The first process is to get the back of the blade absolutely flat. Never assume that if the back of the blade looks flat…

LET ME EXPLAIN (1) I choose to surround myself with quality items that will last. (2) The process of starting the fire and tending it is a beautiful dance, with many more steps than gas. (3) I make my own wood cream from mineral oil and beeswax. (4) From wrapping a finger together on the way to get stitches, to tying my hair up and away from spinning wheels, I have at least 50 colourful handkerchiefs handy in the shop. (5) My anvil was made 100 years ago in Brooklyn. It belonged to my grandfather, my father, and now me. (6) Practising estimation strengthens my intuition and creativity. What a delight when muscle memory knows where the edges are without a preset! (7) If the process isn’t fulfilling, then the…

INSIDE THE CABIN, this is really a tiny little sports car, especially if you’re a human of larger proportions. But, it packs a punch, in features and performance. BMW engineers have outdone themselves with the ergonomics and styling, inside and out, as well as with the responsiveness of the 2.0 L turbo-petrol four-pot. That’s right, our test unit wasn’t the more burly 3.0 L straight six, but it turned out to be far from disappointing. Once I’d adapted to the spacial confines of the cabin, I found the drive responsive and nimble, perhaps expected from a sports car clocking in at only 1 405 kg, some 130 kg lighter than the flagship derivative. I’m no Lewis Hamilton, but I did turn up the G-forces on some corners, and the cosseting…

US MARINES assigned to the Amphibious Vehicle Test Branch (AVTB) manoeuvre a new amphibious combat vehicle (ACV) on to the well deck of the USS Somerset during late January. This was the first time they had operated the new vehicle while boarding and departing a ship. The Marines of this division have been testing the US Marine Corps’ latest amphibious vehicle, which will soon replace the existing hardware. This test was designed to verify how well the new ACV would integrate with naval shipping operations.…

NEVER HAVE you cherished a petrol-station stop on a long road trip more than when you get to walk around for a bit to let the aches and pains in your backside subside. Well, groundbreaking work from Jaguar Land Rover has delivered a unique way to ensure you won’t have to suffer from a pain in the bum for much longer. The folks who make the world-famous Defender are busy developing a shape-shifting system in their seat to help mitigate health risks that may arise from sitting down for too long. Using constant micro-adjustments, the seat uses a series of actuators in the foam to almost trick your brain into thinking you’re walking and not sitting. The manufacturer says these adjustments could be tailored to individually suit each driver and…

IT ALL STARTED WITH A BUSINESS DEAL GONE BAD. IN 1963, HENRY FORD II, ‘THE DEUCE’, DECIDED HE WANTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO GO RACING. THE ONLY PROBLEM: FORD DIDN’T HAVE A SPORTS CAR IN ITS PORTFOLIO. The quickest way to acquire a sports car, the Deuce thought, was to buy Ferrari, then a race-car company that only sold street-legal machines to fund all its track exploits. Ford sent an envoy to Modena, Italy, to hash out a deal with Enzo Ferrari. The Americans offered $10 million, but as the negotiations neared their conclusion, Ferrari balked at a clause in the contract that said Ford would control the budget (and thus, the decisions) for his race team. Ferrari, known otherwise as ‘Il Commendatore’, couldn’t stomach the surrender of autonomy, so…

CAT S52 TO BE THE most rugged one among your group of friends, you really ought to don a pair of CAT boots, boasting that old-school allure. They’re the ideal toughie companion. Now CAT’s taken it further, by developing the perfect smartphone companion for the modern, rugged guy. Or gal, of course. The S52 is CAT’s latest entrant into its rugged range, and, wow, is it tough as nails. The best part is that it doesn’t even need a screen protector or a cover. The sleeker design (it’s only 9.69 mm thick) and lightweight properties (210 g) give it everyday-consumer appeal. It’s the thinnest rugged phone in the brand’s line-up. The folks at CAT have done their homework on this one, with multiple drop tests performed on concrete from up…

MODEL: SONY DSC-RX100 VII WHEN I ATTENDED the Los Angeles launch of the new electric Ford Mustang late last year, I needed a camera that was powerful, but also compact. I knew we were going to be constantly on the go, and didn’t want to be bogged down by a large DSLR camera plus all the lens accessories that go with it. Luckily for me, just prior to my trip, Sony launched its all-powerful DSC-RX100 VII, a compact, pocket-sized model marketed as a comprehensive blogging camera kit. To say this piece of tech is like dynamite in the palm of your hand is an understatement. Ergonomically, it’s beautifully styled, if not a little too easy to drop because of its small dimensions and smooth finish. If you’ve got chubby fingers,…

THE CHAIRS around our dining-room table are an eclectic bunch, collected over the years as, and when, finances and opportunity allowed. Some are probably approaching 100 years old and are quite rickety. One even collapsed a while back, dumping a good friend on to her bum, which prompted me to get on with some necessary repairs in my workshop. What to look for: Typical damage to antique chairs will be loose joints. This usually occurs when they’re rocked back, causing the mortise and tenon joints to loosen and pull apart. When anyone sits on the chair, it will wobble back and forth, and when picked up, it will sag away from you. Tools for the project: Atleast four sash clamps, long enough to reach across the depth of the chair.…

DREAMS OF our transportation future may still include flying cars and jetpacks, but there is a more practical (and just as techie) alternative that’s already rolling through cities: the electric-assist bicycle. Most of the available options are more utilitarian than visionary. But that’s about to change. Specialized, the company that developed the first readily available mountain bike 38 years ago, has now built an e-bike with that same radical departure in thinking, design, and tech. Called the S-Works Turbo Creo, this bicycle is lighter, more efficient, and more thrilling to ride than anything on two wheels you might experience on the road right now. The Creo costs $13 500 (around R205 500), but it introduces key designs that could improve all kinds of e-bikes – lower-cost versions of the bike…

THE TWO cars tested this month have one thing in common – they’re both small. But that’s where the similarities end, and yes, it isn’t fair pitting an affordable budget model against a top-end compact sports car, so we didn’t. We drove this little entry-level Renault without any preconceived notions. First things first – since its launch, the Kwid has been Renault’s proverbial cash cow, selling by the thousands to South African buyers. That’s because it’s affordable, and you get a reasonable amount for your buck. Still, it has many oddities in its design, most notable of which is the perched driver and passenger positions. Being tall, I had to adjust the backrest of the seat backwards, just so my view of the road ahead wasn’t obstructed by the bottom…

I’ve been studying the recent fires that have swept through Australia, killing so much wildlife and wiping out entire ecosystems in the process. It concerned me so much, I couldn’t help but apply my mind to think of various ways to help firefighters combat such a devastating force. I’m no firefighter, but I made a few observations that raised questions I feel need answering. I thought about it, and after analysing the fires, I came up with some discussion points that could really help matters: First, the sheer size of the flames was too large – some reached almost 20 m! It was discouraging to see a brave firefighter stand with a two-inch pressure hose trying to extinguish or pre-wet the trees enough to stop a wave of blazing fire…

IT’S AN ISSUE that has plagued photography since its creation: blurring, even when everything is in focus. No matter how high-quality the camera is, maths has dictated that the curve of spherical lenses means that rays of light coming through won’t converge on the exact same spot. At least, that was the problem until Rafael G González-Acuña, a doctoral student at Mexico’s Tecnológico de Monterrey, up and solved it. The problem goes back thousands of years to the Greek mathematician Diocles. A contemporary of Archimedes, Diocles wrote a book that was titled On Burning Mirrors, in which he describes what would become known as a ‘spherical aberration’. As light rays fall on a lens, different rays don’t meet in a single focal point. Even the most high-end lenses can’t totally…

SUFFERING from a stroke can change your life forever and, in many instances, forces you to relearn how to function with everyday tasks. Patients are quite often left struggling to get through intensive therapy sessions to help them be mobile and walk again. By combining textile science with robotics, Irish biomedical engineer Dr Conor Walsh and a team of experts at Harvard Biodesign Lab have come up with an idea to revolutionise how patients suffering from trauma can learn to walk again. They conceived an idea for wearable robots, specifically to help patients through their recovery process. Dr Walsh says, however, the tool isn’t meant to be a replacement for traditional rehabilitation methods, but rather to act as a means to help accelerate and extend the therapy. The team developed…

CLIMATE CHANGE is the prominent issue dominating science and technology talks around the world. The facts don’t lie: environmental conditions have become increasingly unpredictable, ever-extreme, and seemingly ready to radically change. But three South African friends won’t accept the inevitable and are intent on doing their part in changing the world using a local staple: mielies. Trent Pike, Erik Bourlov and Renato Marchesini banded together to produce delivery mailers that can be used by e-commerce companies and couriers alike. The difference? The mailers had to be totally, 100 per cent compostable – able to completely degrade into H2O and CO2 without leaving harmful toxins in the soil. ‘I lived in Australia for a bit and they’re just ahead of us in this regard, with South Africa only catching up now,’…

1966 Superformance GT40 Mk II Superformance’s GT40 is so historically accurate that two-thirds of the car’s rolling chassis is interchangeable with a 1966 Le Mans car. You can opt for a more modern engine or go all-in with a bruising 427 (7.0 litre), just like the original race winner. Tall drivers will want the Gurney bubble on the roof, for a little extra headroom. 2005–2006 Ford GT The GT returned in the mid-2000s – but minus the ‘40’ – with retro styling and a supercharged 550-horsepower (410 kW) V8. A straight-line rocket but not much of a track car, the GT is nonetheless one of the few modern cars that hasn’t depreciated. New, they were $150 000. Now, they cost $216 000 and up. 2017 – current Ford GT Reborn…

OUT ON A private airfield, somewhere on the fringes of Knysna in the Western Cape, a bright orange unmanned aircraft is about to shoot up into the air and embark on its journey with a small payload and an impressive flight distance. The Garden Route town is the birthplace of one of the first commercially viable ultra-long-endurance vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) fixed-wing aircraft in the world, and it’s completely home-grown. Duran de Villiers, owner and creator of the business, had the idea for his aviation company ALTI Unmanned Aircraft Systems when he began using drones to capture aerial photography for his successful media production company Motion Pixel. But his love of aviation soon took over and he pivoted the company towards drones, or unmanned aircraft. ALTI now boasts a…

WHAT started out as a conversation between two friends, Prof De Wet Swanepoel and Prof Herman Myburgh, who were deliberating and conceptualising the possibility of testing hearing on a smartphone, has now evolved into a company that has conducted more than 700 000 tests in 38 countries globally. Developing a solution to improve the accessibility of hearing healthcare was the idea that sparked the hearX Group. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are 466 million people in the world with disabling hearing loss – that’s 6.1 per cent of the world’s population. Some 432 million (93 per cent) of these are adults, while 34 million (seven per cent) are children. Approximately one-third of people over the age of 65 are affected by disabling hearing loss and, unless action…

PRODUCED: CHINA TIME TO DISASSEMBLE: 1 HOUR, 59 MINUTES NOTES: If you’re a plumber, electrician, or militant DIYer with a bunch of pipe to cut, Milwaukee’s M18 Cordless Band Saw is a gift from the tool gods. It’s a favourite of contractors because this saw is as burly as they come. Power comes from a high-speed brushless motor (1) that rotates the toothy metal band (2) at 115 surface metres per minute. The 127 × 127 mm cut capacity is the biggest you’ll find on a cordless bandsaw, allowing you to blast through wide pipes, thick fence posts, and steel bollards. It’s also less prone to breakdowns, thanks to a direct-drive system that removes the need for a chain, a component destined to stretch and require servicing. At 5.9 kg,…

'EXOSUITS’ or ‘exoskeletons’ may have been the stuff of science fiction, but no longer is the technology relegated to the realm of fantasy, as more and more motor-manufacturing plants begin dabbling in it to increase productivity among their workers. Transport manufacturers, from Ford to Hyundai and BMW to Boeing, are using exoskeletons in their manufacturing plants, with increasingly positive feedback from their employees. The aim of introducing exoskeletons into the production line is to help ease the strenuous physical load placed on workers who often have to exert themselves on cars overhead. Deep in Germany, in the heart of Bavaria, lies the town of Ingolstadt, famous for being the home of Audi. The town is well-known for hosting the Audi Forum and museum of classic cars, and to this day…