What's the worst that could happen?

Will Campbell

Will Campbell

EF2
Joined
Jun 14, 2010
Messages
119
Location
Omaha, NE
Every ounce of me says this shouldn't be in "advanced" weather... but how quickly would someone die in this thing... and they are serious about it :eek:


https://www.facebook.com/417CandC/p...798446&notif_t=like&notif_id=1493854216325304



Please welcome our project car that will be periodically making appearances at our event!
It's called the Tornado Puncher and it's underway being built by a company called Storm Mapping!

When completed, this built Chevy 6.6 liter gas motor powered, full time 4X4, vehicle will be able to withstand the most powerful of tornadoes to help keep our communities safer by better understanding the movement and predictability of deadly storms.

Check it out this Saturday, May 6, at Coffee and Cars! The chief engineer will be there to answer questions for everyone!


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Will - I gotta say, your post on Facebook seemed really agro, angry, holier then than thou BS. I'm not on Facebook and maybe that's what's it's all about, but you sure didn't take that tone on here. Why the difference?
 
And frankly... because that thing will get people killed.

I'd agree with all of your statement but the last part. Not sure where you get "holier than thou" or "BS". :rolleyes:
 
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Looks like it's Michael Phelps. He's a pretty experienced chaser. Not being an engineer myself, or having any knowledge of this vehicle, I can't say whether it would be safe or not. Not exactly an original idea, though. Personally I don't think video from inside the tornado is any good.
 
That Coffee and Cars blurb only really mentions something akin to "chasing to save lives". Can someone explain how this vehicle is going to lead to "better understanding the movement and predictability of deadly storms"? It seems more likely that the only thing to result from it will be nice video very close to or inside a tornado. *shrug*
 
The craziest part (Quoted from FB), " It will not be manned when it is driven into a tornado. It will be controlled by remote into the path of tornadoes to gather crucial data. "
 
I don't care if other people want to drive themselves into tornadoes, for whatever reason. My main concern is this: I feel like this thing presents a monumental safety hazard for the general public and/or storm chasers who are trying to get close to tornadoes the old fashioned way. Remotely driving a steel missile battering ram car on public streets during a natural disaster in which people could be fleeing, and yet more people could be chasing/filming, just seems like a terrible idea destined for a catastrophic end. Looks frickin schweet though.. My 2 cents.
 
Where on earth did they get such a brilliant idea?

However, since it's for life saving research to gather data that will soon answer the final questions regarding tornadogenesis, then I guess they might be wise to start a Kickstarted project. I'm really worried they may not be affiliated with an actual research organization. What if their instruments are not scientifically calibrated? They might overlook the need for multiple data sets from several points to confirm their findings. I just hope they don't forget to produce a peer-reviewed scientific article in a major scientific publication after the project ends to allow said research to be immediately applied to life saving applications. I'm sure they will. Fake news or fake meteorology, it's all the same -- half the public drinks the Kool-Aid while the smarter half sees through the smoke.

Like Sid said, I personally don't care if they kill themselves -- but I fear for my EMS brothers and sisters who will have to respond, risking storm hazards while taking resources away from the public. These types of vehicles may withstand an EF0-3 tornado, but I would advise them to study the physics of an EF4-5+ tornado. Objects in motion stay in motion until they stop - sometimes abruptly. About 18% of fatal automotive accidents involve a torn aorta from abrupt deceleration. Would this or any armored vehicle offer injury or death protection from a Joplin class tornado -- no. Vehicles are crushed under massive debris, thrown into lakes, ponds or impaled with pointy metal objects. The uninformed public sees this behavior and it subliminally suggests any vehicle (armored or not) has some degree of protection. Some of the world's best vehicle engineering comes out of NASCAR and Formula 1, but drivers are still killed and injured in crashes under 140pmh. Having said this, the Darwin Award is yet to be awarded in scientific endeavors.
 
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According to a post yesterday they added 5 tons (or around that amount, not entirely sure because of short term memory issues) of "armor", so basically if they drive it into anything it can't handle (EF4-5) it's going to be a 5 ton+ projectile.... fun.
 
I wonder what legal hoops they have to jump through (and if they have addressed those) to operate it remotely? Insurance, permits, local and state laws....

I'd leave it to someone else who is much better connected to the scientific community, otherwise I fear their credibility (indicating it's based on research) will become an issue as Warren alluded to.
 
I think all of these types of vehicles, including the "first two" are pretty ridiculous, why chance risking life when it could be done in another way? But to each their own. This one takes it to another level... I've seen more aerodynamic and down-force inducing school buses. I feel like a strong RFD could roll that and certainly a stronger tornado would turn it into a steel missile.
 
This HAS to be a joke...

Last thing I want to see when out there is an armored vehicle travelling at any speed on public roads being controlled by some guy who would probably rather watch the tornado live than through his "screen".
 
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