Issue number: #20 - August 1st, 2024
Imagine a speed bump that vanishes if you drive slow—but fights back if you don’t. No moving parts. No electronics. Just smart material design.
Installed in Villanueva de Tapia, Spain, this speed bump doesn’t make noise or call the cops. At first glance, it looked like any ordinary speed bump. But drivers quickly noticed something different. When they drove slowly, it felt like driving over a soft sponge—barely noticeable. But if they speed up? The same bump turned rock-solid, jolting their wheels and sending a loud message: slow down. Designed by a Spanish company and gaining interest from places like Israel and Germany, this speed bump doesn’t rely on electricity, sensors, or moving parts. Its magic? A strange, almost sci-fi shapeshifting material: non-Newtonian fluid. It knows how fast you’re going based on the force you apply. And it responds. Fairly. Instantly. How it works:Most liquids—like water or oil—behave the same no matter how you handle them. Pour slowly, pour fast, stir hard—it doesn’t matter. They always feel the same. These are called Newtonian fluids. They're predictable. But some liquids break those rules. They act weird when you mess with them. Push them gently? They feel soft and liquid. Hit them hard or move quickly? They stiffen up like rubber or even solid rock. These are called non-Newtonian fluids. 
Now back to the speed bump. Inside this smart speedbreaker is a layer filled with non-Newtonian fluid. When a car moves slowly over it, the pressure is low. The fluid stays soft, and the bump gives way—barely a bump at all. But when someone speeds, the wheels hit with force. That sudden impact makes the fluid harden instantly. The bump stiffens, jolts the car, and sends a very physical reminder: slow down. No motors. No sensors. Just smart use of material science doing the job of a traffic cop. Design Takeaway:This speed bump doesn’t need a processor—it responds using the laws of physics. It’s a reminder that design can be reactive without electronics. By embedding intelligence into materials, we unlock a world of passive interactivity that requires zero maintenance or energy. Think about:
Smart doesn’t always mean digital. Sometimes, it’s just cleverly passive.
That’s all for today’s Daily Dose. Cheers, |