From Behemoth to Microship [Paperback]

Steven K. Roberts (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1929470002 | ISBN-13: 978-1930110069 | Publication Date: July 15, 2000

Since 1983, Steve Roberts has been a technomad – alternating between open-ended periods of networked wandering and increasingly ambitious machine-building layovers. Though it began simply as the Computing Across America high-tech solo bicycle adventure (expected to last only a year or so), the project gained momentum though the symbiosis of constant media attention and increasing collaboration with hundreds of sponsors and volunteers. Unexpectedly, the tools and techniques of nomadness became interesting to a vast population of individuals who yearn to combine physical freedom with solid connectivity. "Once you move to the Internet," Steve says, "your physical location becomes irrelevant."

This book begins with a substantial overview of the computerized recumbent bicycles, Winnebiko and BEHEMOTH, then describes system design and early adventures with the Microships – amphibian pedal/solar/sail networked folding micro-trimarans that will carry Steve and his partner, Natasha, through the next level of aquatic technomadness. In so doing, it serves as the introduction to the whole family of Nomadic Research Labs publications that detail every aspect of this state-of-the art project, from engineering-level Microship internal details to spirited tales of prowling the world’s backwaters with a boatload of gizmology.

Beyond all that, this publication is intended as a standalone statement of what happens when passion, technology, freedom, romance, and adventure are blended into a single obsessive fantasy. It is our hope that we will continue to trigger mini-epidemics of wanderlust and foment outbreaks of restlessness and curiosity.

This, more than anything else in the our publication series, is a standalone response to the question, "so what is it you guys do, anyway?"

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About the Author

Steve has been immersed in microprocessors and embedded controls since the early 70's, when he built one of the first 8008-based personal computers. He published a text on microcomputer engineering and continued in a general freelance consulting and magazine writing vein until 1983, when the combination of chronic restlessness and midwestern torpor launched him abruptly into the technomadic life. To the horror of friends and family, he sold his suburban house, moved to a recumbent bicycle, and began a 17,000-mile bicycle trip around the US -- stopping now and again to write books about the adventure or rebuild the substrate. The third version of the bike sported 72 watts of solar panels, a network of on-board computers with handlebar chord keyboard and head mouse, heads-up display, satellite Internet link, 105 speeds, ham shack, and other goodies.

But by 1991, asphalt was losing its appeal and Roberts started schlepping his 580-pound BEHEMOTH around the country on speaking tours via diesel mothership while working on the design of his next escape pod. Work on the bike's aquatic successor began full-time in 1993 and filled the following 8 years. Now flickering to life in his Camano Island, Washington laboratory and undergoing a series of rigorous test mini-expeditions, the Microship project is based on a pair of canoe-scale amphibian pedal/solar/sail micro-trimarans with on-board linux servers, live telemetry to a public server, video production tools, a complete suite of communications resources, deployable landing gear, and 480 watts of peak-power tracked solar panels per boatlet. Roberts still earns a living by speaking and writing about his adventures, along with the technology that makes them possible

Product Details

• Paperback: 110 pages
• Publisher: Nomadic Research Labs (July 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1929470002
• ISBN-13: 978-1930110069
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,832,069 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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