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Automated Underground Bicycle Parking — Parallax Forums

Automated Underground Bicycle Parking

ercoerco Posts: 20,256
edited 2013-06-21 12:22 in General Discussion
Simply amazing service in Japan! Unless something gets out of alignment and it crushes your metal steed. RFID recognizes your bike.

Comments

  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2013-06-18 10:49
    There is gnome that lives in the storage area and makes sure each bicycle arrives and departs safely.
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2013-06-18 10:57
    Those gnomes do good work. One of my twins' favorites! If nothing else, watch the hysterical "Terrafirminator" lawnmover commercial, featuring the voice of Hulk Hogan at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqTvnC0RCSg&feature=player_embedded#t=1877s
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2013-06-18 15:31
    200 bikes, 14 seconds to store each...

    That's 2800 seconds, or 46 minutes 40 seconds to fill.
    With 3 or 4 of these parking machines, there won't be much problems when a lot of customers arrive to park their bikes in the morning(maybe to take the train to work), but imagine in the afternoon, when maybe 50 people at a time wants to retrieve their bike from one machine...

    Frankly, while it's a good idea, the implementation leaves a bit to be desired, yet.
    Also, the circular shape of the underground system is a space waster.

    You need multiple robots working on a common storage area if it is to be efficient.
    Then you can also queue store and retrieve operations to minimize wasted time during the rush.
    (Warehouse robots for online stores already do this)
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2013-06-19 07:21
    Clutter is so appealing to me... so Asian. If you don't have to climb over the bicycles and motor scooters to get to the front door, where will one ever find the time to exercise?

    The Third World is where all the adventure is. The First World is just getting too tiddy.

    Besides, bicycle thieves have to eat too.

    Of course I do wonder what happens when all the lazy people fill one of this sites up and no one can get them to remove their abandoned bikes.

    In sum, humanity needs to be managed by humanity... not robots.
  • PublisonPublison Posts: 12,366
    edited 2013-06-19 08:06
    Cute movie erco!

    Enjoyed it.
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2013-06-19 09:34
    Loopy Byteloose wrote: »
    Of course I do wonder what happens when all the lazy people fill one of this sites up and no one can get them to remove their abandoned bikes.

    Lazy people probably won't bring their bicycle there anyway, but...
    I assume that as soon as their subscription expires, their bicycle is removed to a remote storage somewhere, then later sold on public auction if it's not claimed.
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2013-06-19 11:14
    Loopy, is this you cycling?

    http://youtu.be/D_W4xE7_7TI

    Try guessing the message of the movie...
  • skylightskylight Posts: 1,915
    edited 2013-06-19 11:15
    I'd like to see it trying to accomodate that flying bike from the other thread :lol:
  • ercoerco Posts: 20,256
    edited 2013-06-19 13:43
    Gadgetman wrote: »
    Loopy, is this you cycling?

    http://youtu.be/D_W4xE7_7TI

    Try guessing the message of the movie...

    For those who do not have nine lives...
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2013-06-19 14:20
    You missed the second line...

    Share the road!
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2013-06-20 02:35
    Gadgetman wrote: »
    Lazy people probably won't bring their bicycle there anyway, but...
    I assume that as soon as their subscription expires, their bicycle is removed to a remote storage somewhere, then later sold on public auction if it's not claimed.

    And so the device has or should have a back door that automatically spits out unwanted bicycles to be hauled off to auction?
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2013-06-20 02:38
    Gadgetman wrote: »
    Loopy, is this you cycling?

    http://youtu.be/D_W4xE7_7TI

    Try guessing the message of the movie...

    My dear grandfather was very wise...
    He always asserted that most people in graveyards HAD the right of way.
    IOW, one lives longer by avoiding trouble rather than asserting rights.
    The road is like a tiger's mouth... a popular Chinese saying.
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2013-06-21 03:12
    Loopy Byteloose wrote: »
    And so the device has or should have a back door that automatically spits out unwanted bicycles to be hauled off to auction?

    No need. Just use a 'master key' to override the system and have it deliver the bicycles the normal way.
  • prof_brainoprof_braino Posts: 4,313
    edited 2013-06-21 06:29
    This system would undermine the ancient Japanese tradition of drunken salarymen getting off the train, grabbing the first bike they see (the standard bike locks can be circumvented with a flick of the wrist), riding it near their home, and dumping it under a bridge to rot. It would devastate the crappy disposable bike industry.
  • LoopyBytelooseLoopyByteloose Posts: 12,537
    edited 2013-06-21 12:22
    prof_braino wrote: »
    This system would undermine the ancient Japanese tradition of drunken salarymen getting off the train, grabbing the first bike they see (the standard bike locks can be circumvented with a flick of the wrist), riding it near their home, and dumping it under a bridge to rot. It would devastate the crappy disposable bike industry.

    Yes, it is amazing at all the odd behaviors and bad habits that are actual industries that support people with jobs. We really must not be so concerned with cleaning up everything or we just might starve.
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