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ZDK Institute Library - X-Vehicles Articles

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Experimental Vehicles:

PONTIVATOR GROUND EXPLORATION VEHICLES...

Return of Old ZDK Institute PEVy Recreation Vehicles for new Space Exploration, Research Vehicles, All-Terrain Vehicles, and even Military Vehicles

In the American Wild West, the horse was considered essential property. And to deprive a man of his horse was considered murder, and a hanging offense. (Unfortunately, this did not seem to deter horse-thievery all that much.)

Now, in modern American Life, the car has become pretty essential, too. And in many places, because work, and shopping, are often far away from your home, the automobile has become very vital, too. But, perhaps not to the extent of the Wild West. For even with Country Roads and Lanes, someone comes along, eventual, and can assist you in a disaster.

However, as the Privitization of Space continues, and Commercial Space Flight become available more and more, the space vehicles or even ground exploration vehilces, are going to become essential to life, and survival--perhaps even more so than they were in the Wild West! Consequently, the regular everyday Earth automobile is not likely to cut it on the Frontiers of Space.

Consequently, with the rising tide of the New Space Race, we at ZDK.I went back in our files and dug out some designs that we have had, and now present them on the Net, for anyone who may like to license the designs or purchase their use.

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PONTIVATOR RECREATIONAL VEHICLES

Our X-Vehicles have not had quite as long a history as the LBS and our other Space Vehicles. But, in 1992, we came up with a unique design for an all-terrain recreational vehicle. (And this led to related vehicle concepts and applications, below). Then, in 1993, attempts were made to secure a manufacturing facility (the Stevenson Plywood Plant) to produce some of the vehicles. However, this project did not go through. So, the recreational vehilces (and the other vehicles developable from them) were put on the shelf.

REVy BASIC DESCRIPTION:
The original Pontivator was conceived as something of a jet-ski, with a motorcycle like body, suspended from which were two rotating pontoons (with internal screws for propulsion), and a transverse mounted motocycle like engine--to provide better fuel efficiencies.

[Information Age (Sun) Shield] The primary trick for making the Pontivator work was the internal screw design. Now, some space exploration vehicles had been designed with large screw-like drives on either side, to help the exploration vehicles get through deep sands. However, rather than having the screw blades point outward (which really chews up the terrain and the roads), Pontivator turns the screw blades inward, so that a smooth or rounded surface is presented to the terrain or road. And in soft terrain, the sand or mud seeps up into the internal blades, giving it a good grasp in loose soils or even water. (And for picturing purposes, think of the pontoon as being a long corrugated colvert, which is where we got the design concept. So, that the smooth, rounded edges meet the road or ground, but the indentations allow for mud or even water to be grasp and used for propulsion in soft grounds.)

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PONTIVATOR Exploration Vehicles...

PEVy: The All-Terrain Vehicles for Research

Almost as soon as the Recreational Vehicle or REVy was designed, a few weeks later, it was extended to produce some very good all-terrain vehicles that would have some very good research applications. Not only would this be so for Space Exploration Ground Vehicles, but mineral and oil and gas exploration rigs could make good use of the Pontivator propulsion system. all we need is someone to recognize this, and use it with us! And, thus the PEVy or Pontivator Exploration Vehicle, was born.

EXTENSION DESCRIPTIONS--The PEVy:
These All-Terrain Vehicles are considerably larger than the original motorcycle sized Recreational Vehicles. And while the smaller versions were placed on long (6ft to 12ft), skinny, ski-like plntoons, the longer Research Vehicles required fatter pontoons (to float more tonnage) and the pontoons were divided in half, with a hinge in the middle and added suspension rigs, to allow the vehicles to get over bumps in the road, more easily. In addition, the front Pontivator could be set to go one way, while the rear one set to go the other, allowing the vehicle to turn around in about its own length! Moreover, this longer, divided Pontivator set-up allowed not only an enclosed upper body for carry passengers (like a car or van) put allowed even pick-up or perhaps larger truck-like bodies for hauling considerable tonnage over soft or even water-bound terrain.

PONTOON SECTIONS:
And, a couple of weeks after this basic extension was developed, we came up with yet a further extension. As the Pontivators were now divided in half, we saw that they could also be divided in 3 or 4 (or even 5 or 6) for long, semi-tractor-trailer like vehicles. Moreover, while the original design was primarily to be a catamaran, there was no reason that a trimaran version could not be built, producing wider, more stable platforms (and better suited for exploration vehicles or even as portable oil rigs).

PONTOON COATINGS:
Then, along with this improvement, came yet another advancement For in the original REVy, to pontoons or Pontivators were made of metal or fiberglass (or plastics, ceramics, or even cement)--some hard and sturdy substance (perhaps even Wood?). But, with the PEVy, it was realized that some road movement was going to be needed, so to protect the pavement and the roads, it was decided to coat the pontoons with some hard rubber or soft plastics like substance, to provide some flex and give with the road surface. (And this would have the added advantage of softening some of the bumps in the road!) Consequently, while the PEVy acts as, and has the advantages of, tracked vehicles, not only is readily amphibious, but it can also travel along the roads and cross pavement surfaces with a minimum of wear and damage. (Morover, it may be possible to even make Pontivars of all rubber or plasics--or in sections: part hard materials and part flexible materials.) Thus, the PEVy really is an extremely versatile vehicle!

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SPACE EXPLORATION - Ground Exploration Vehicles

Now, while the above Pontivator designs are for All-Terrain use on Earth, there is no reason why they could not be used as Space Exploration Ground Use Vehicles. And, while the current convention is to go with large, round wheels, Pontivators would provide a better All-Terrain Vehicle, especially when navigating soft grounds like sands or marshes (though water seems scarce on other Planets in our Solar System, at present). So, with the new Space Race, and the increasing Privitization of Space, we offer these on the Net for some enterprising person or group to join with us in developing these and using them for further Space Exploration.

Moreover, Pontivator Exploration Vehicles or PEVy would match well with the LBS. And as the LBS could hover for a good landing sight, once down, the PEVy could then be dispatched from the back landing doors of the LBS to do Ground Exploration and Terrain Research functions.

Yes, ZDK.I has a very good, coordinated Space Exploration and Research Package!

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MILITARY APPLICATIONS:

PEVy - Amphibious Landings and All-Terrain Manouvers

And, almost as soon as the PEVy concept was developed, we came up with Military Applications. For, the PEVy is a good All-Terrain Vehicle, and would allowed high-speed amphibious operations, with the PEVy disembarking out at sea from the Landing Ships, speeding to the beachhead, and then running across the sands at high speeds (and without getting bogged down in soft-sands or even marshy like terrain). And once they were up and off the sandy beachhead, they could still function as normal vehicles or tanks.

MILITARY DESCRIPTIONS:
Well, there would be military use for the normal PEVy described above, where the car, van, pick-up, and even trucks could be used for supply operations (something like an amphibious humvee?)--and for normal logistic transport. But, in addition to transport, a varied of PEVy combat vehicles could also be produced.

An ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIER or APC could be build with a PEVy propulsion design, allowing for amphibious operations (rather something like an amphibious or all-terrain Bradley?).

[Flaming Arrow (E-Mail) Shield] Moreover, a more COMBAT TANK style could be developed, providing an amphibious light-weight tank, something perhaps like the Sheridan(?)--with light-weight amphibious armor and a large ordinace piece (doubling as a missile launcher?) for hardened sites and armored targets, along with our standard design of a co-axial mounted mini-Gattling Gun (for dealing with infantry concentrations). There could also be some tow missle launching packages, perhaps on top of the turret? Or, missle launchers embedded in the sides, above the tracks or Pontivators, to be elevated for launch and then down (in the body) for concealment and protection.

Furthermore, the large, stable platforms of the Research Vehicles would make good amphibious, MOBILE ARTILLERY PIECES, even able to carry and shoot heavy bore, long range cannon, or launch missles or even large mortars!

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MARINE APPLICATIONS AND NAVAL PEVy

Without doubt, and just as the military would use normal PEVy for tranport and logistics, the Navy could make similar use, too. With the added benefit that the PEVy would be amphibious, and allow ship to short direct transport and cargo carrying, without stops or handling delays in between. A sweet and smooth logistics system!

NAVAL DESCRIPTIONS:
Well, as we said, there would be military use for the normal PEVy where the car, van, pick-up, and even trucks could be used for supply operations (something like an amphibious humvee?)--and for normal logistic transport.

But, the larger, Reseach Vehicles, could be made even larger still, producing a variety of marine platforms and fat-ships. The Pontivators could be made even bigger, to float even heavier tonnages. With Trimarans being used to give even more float to whatever tonnage you needed (and to supply added stability). Morover, pilons or pillars could be fitted, to lift the body of the marine vehicle high above the ocean waves, producing something of a large, amphibious drill rig-like plaform--and to which could be attached a variety of naval weapons (air-to-air missles, cruise missles, or perhaps even ballistic nuclear missles?) as well as a variety of communications and detection systems. Moreover, these platforms would make good, stable helicopter or V/STOL landing sites, or as carriers to support whatever ground or amphibious operations were in progress, near by.

(And as an added plus, for ASW or Anti-Submarine Warfare, the low rotation of the Pontivator could provide something of a stealth propulsion system, that would make it hard for subs to track who was tracking or attacking them from the surface!)

(In addition, if you wanted a more ship-stealth craft, you could make the pilons lower, and at a slant, and cover the body with defelcting angles, and the Pontivator Sea Platform would be hard to detect!)

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ZDK.I and HISTORY ... PONTIVATOR BUD

While people (and the government) don't like to admit it, ZDK.I (and its research and developemt) has had a significant impact on your daily life. And your future is changing considerably, from what we are doing in our labs! (And as you should be able to gather from our Web Site.)

However, in preparing this Article, someone asked us if we thought Pontivator would replace the ordinary family auto. Well, I think that is highly unlikely. The PEVy is an All-Terrain Vehicle and preforms best, off the road. And while it can travel on roads (unlike tracked vehicles or tanks), it will not have the smooth ride and road handling charisteristics that people buy cars for. But, out in Space, and for Ground Exploration Missions, the PEVy will far out-perform the car or auto. (And for some military applications, it is superior, too.) But, I think the auto is safe, for some time to come. (And people are just too hooked on their cars to give them up!) So, I think we are looking at a supplemental industry here, rather than a replacement one.

But, whatever the theory, it is just that, on paper. What we really need to do is to get this bud out and blooming. And to do that, we are going to need the help of others out there. So, care to join us? Or, would you like to license or purchase some of the Pontivator components?

If so, contact us soon!


ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS?

Please, before you try to burn up our E-Mail connection, consult the various FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) Sections, in the various Heritage Pages!

On the other hand, if you really do need to contact us, reach us at:

ZDK Institute
Shaddox Space Society
P.O. Box 44
Underwood, WA 98651 U.S.A.

Phone: (509) 493-1674 screened--leave messages

And, E Mail: zdkinstitute@veldantia.com (Mark subject box: X-VEHICLES.) NOTE: we are working on our e-mail. If the above does not go through, use staff@veldantia.com and they will forward it on to us.


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PUBLISHED BY LAMPSTAND MEDIA
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Filed: 04-27-04 ... Up-dated: 04-28-04