Friday, August 31, 2012

Amphibious cargo truck rides on top of water

As Isaac and the new hurricane season role in, emergency responders are looking for efficient ways to deal with the storm and its outcome. The infrastructure destruction and the flooding that often occur are usually worse than the damage caused during the storm.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) develops experimental technologies to help with disaster relief, including Para foil-style unmanned aerial delivery vehicles, motion stabilized cranes and self-powered core support modules that fit into standard shipping containers.

Recently DARPA built a prototype for a cargo delivery vehicle that can literally walk or ride on water.

The Captive Air Amphibious Transporter (CAAT) uses a tank tread-type system that is fitted with a series of air-filled pontoons that create buoyancy and distribute the weight of the vehicle, letting it float on top of water while retaining the ability to drive on solid ground.

For more of the Fox News story: foxnews.com

More Newswire stories

GE designs high tech, low emission freight locomotive

Port of Oakland truckers faced emissions inspections this week

Finland to invest in tech to green its shipping industry

New cargo ship design combines bio-gas engines and wind power

Click to browse past stories on these topics:

Logistics

Ports & Infrastructure

Economic Outlook

Environmental Impact

Technology