Tesla's Creepy 'Solid Metal Snake' Robotic Charger Slithers Its Way Into Model S 109
bigwophh writes: Last year, Elon Musk hinted at a new product that Tesla Motors was working on in its research lab. What Musk described seemed creepy at the time, especially considering that he had just recently shown off "The D" at an evening press event. "By the way, we are actually working on a charger that automatically moves out from the wall and connects like a solid metal snake," said Musk. We didn't think much else about this intriguing contraption given the precious little details that Musk provided at the time. But fast forward seven months and we now have video of the serpent-like charger in action.
Whoa. (Score:1)
Tenticle porn
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It'll ship with a vibrator attachment.
"Honey, I need to go out to the garage and check the car..."
Re:Whoa. (Score:5, Funny)
Tenticle porn
Slashdot. Nudes for Nerds, Stiff that matters.
Re: Cue the video going viral (Score:5, Funny)
Sex Cells.
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LOL! That's really funny, Larry! You're referring to sperm and ova! That's funny, Larry! Ovaries! LOL! Testes! LOL! Fallopian tubes! LOL! Penis! LOL! Vas deferens! LOL! Uterus! LOL!
Re: Cue the video going viral (Score:2)
Actually it was more like batteries, you dolt.
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Cue hack to create slow-motion tentacle porn in 5, 4, 3, ...
You don't even need to modify the hardware to make it serviceable.
Re:Cue the video going viral (Score:5, Funny)
Uh... You might want to remove the 10kW power feed.
Sounds creepy? (Score:2)
It is creepy. All it needs is a squid head and about 7 more arms and it's something out of the Matrix.
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Good morning, owner.
You really know, how to turn ME on.
Solid Metal Snake? (Score:5, Funny)
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
It does not creep (Score:1)
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It doesn't have to creep to be creepy.
From The Free Dictionary:
creep-y (krp)
adj. creep-i-er, creep-i-est Informal
1. Of or producing a sensation of uneasiness or fear, as of things crawling on one's skin: a creepy feeling; a creepy story.
2. Annoyingly unpleasant; repulsive: the creepy kids next door.
"Creepy" not "creeping" (Score:3)
Nowhere in the summary or article does it use tthe word "creeping". It says "creepy" [thefreedictionary.com] in the context of producing a sensation of uneasiness or fear.
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Somehow you sounded disappointed.
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For you kids in the crowd: Spiders & Snakes [youtube.com] and Wildwood Weed [youtube.com].
The AC is mixing his metaphors.
Rule 34 (Score:2)
... or that video must be a fake.
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I'm reminded of a classic porn text from the golden age of USENET about someone stealing an ED-209, attaching a big dildo to it, and shooting an adult film. Hack-a-day in 3...2...1...
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What video ??? The article has a YouTube video about "The Abyss scene". And that's it. Completely and utterly useless!!
@bigwophh - Next time you write a summary and article add some good and useful links!! For crying out loud!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v... [youtube.com]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v... [youtube.com] (My favorite)
And Tesla needs to learn to add some proper background music to their videos.
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The video in the linked article?
Look for the line: "Charger prototype finding its way to Model S." It's the link to the right. Not the most clear it could have been, but it was there.
Creepy? (Score:2)
Creepy, sexy, whatever.
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Why not just save tens of thousands of dollars and get a Carolla.
He's apparently not for sale, but you make a fair point... buying Carolla would be cheaper than a Tesla. http://adamcarolla.com/ [adamcarolla.com]
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Freudian slips aside, my point is that if you are already willing to buy a Tesla, you probably want a big metal dick, I mean snake, I mean charger.
Brings new meaning to the term "penis extension." [urbandictionary.com]
Re: (Score:2)
buying Carolla would be cheaper than a Tesla.
Your link does not make that clear, but this one does. [celebritytalent.net]
Re:Pricey (Score:5, Insightful)
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A superconducting cable with insulation and cryogenic cooling would most certainly be unwieldily.
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Why not just save several thousands dollars and walk the cord over and plugin yourself.
So since no actual price has been announced I assume you're trolling?
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I have a Tesla model S. It takes me under 5 seconds to plug it in and 5 seconds to unplug. I just push a button on the end of the cord and the rear reflector opens and I just plug it in. The connector itself is extremely well designed, one of the easiest connectors to plug in due to the funnel-like design so you don't have to line it up exactly before shoving it in and it locks in place. To unplug, just push a button on the plug and pull.
People keep saying it takes too long to charge. Bullcrap. It charges w
Re:Pricey (Score:5, Insightful)
The use for this is clearly not for you but for the car. Once the car is self driving, this will allow it to run off down the street, find a charging station, and plug itself in while it waits for you to need it again.
Re: Pricey (Score:2)
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The use for this is clearly not for your car, but for the lazy impatient passenger-owner of the car. Once charging stations become self-driving, they will catch up to self-driving cars, and plug themselves in to charge them while those self-driving cars are still going around the block indefinitely because their lazy impatient passenger-owners told their self-driving cars not to park too far (in a place that is almost impossible to find parking) and to be ready to pick them up at a moment's notice.
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I guess this would be most useful for potential next-gen superchargers with really thick cables (400V, 1000A?).
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Even when I forget I usually still have plenty of range since my commute is around 45 miles per day. It's not like a Leaf or the other low-range EVs. It certainly does look cool. I use their wall charger, which also looks cool. It's quite small compared to most of the EV chargers I've seen, especially considering it handles far more current than most of them (80A). The funny thing is that the local code requires a shut-off within 3-feet and the shut-off box is about 3 times as big as the charger! So far I h
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The point isn't the negligible effort saved in plugging in the charger when you're around. Consider it a big step forward to having a self-parking vehicle that can charge itself when you're *not* around.
Pull up to your door, get out, unload the groceries, and then have your car park and charge itself. Or imagine a scenario, a few years and several legal and technical hurdles down the line, where you drive yourself to the office and have your car return home, charge itself, and be ready to pick you up at the
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Nah, Teslas don't work for me. I commute 60 miles to work, none of it down town driving, and there are no recharging stations near anywhere i'd be traveling, nor would it be profitable to have one along the route. Most convenient form of energy transference, Dino Juice.
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Nah, Teslas don't work for me. I commute 60 miles to work, none of it down town driving, and there are no recharging stations near anywhere i'd be traveling, nor would it be profitable to have one along the route. Most convenient form of energy transference, Dino Juice.
You said enough to say that you're not a good fit for a leaf and other short range EVs, but you said NOTHING that disqualifies you from using a Tesla.
1. 60 mile commute, no city driving: Not within a leaf's range, but easily within a Tesla'
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1) If i could guarantee 150 miles per day at 70mph minimum (speed limit is 70), that would cover my commute. Driving with a bunch of batteries, waiting to get rear ended however, not looking forward to, but a minor concern.
2) No RV stations, and no place to charge at my destination. If I'm low on juice at my destination, I'm screwed and can't get home. I can buy gas within 5 minutes of any point along my route. Thieves are also common in my city, so having a plug outside the home is an invitation to be robb
Effectiveness (Score:2)
Sorry, messed up on editing - quote tags disappeared.
1) If i could guarantee 150 miles per day at 70mph minimum (speed limit is 70), that would cover my commute.
You're in luck, the model S has that range. Specifically, it has 225 miles@75mph.
Rear ended: The Model S has TWO batteries, a tiny 12V one for accessories, and the big lithium-ion one that's over 7k 18650 cells. However, the big battery is unlikely to be hit, given it's location [teslarumors.com]. The body of a model S is basically a skateboard with the battery attached to the bottom of the board between the wheels.
On safety: highest marks [thecarconnection.com].
Destination: How far away is
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Why not just save several thousands dollars and walk the cord over and plugin yourself
Yeah, yeah, bulky cables blah blah. The real reason is there were robotic gas/hydrogen/fusion stations [wikia.com] in BTTF2, so get with the program we have to build it because 2015 is a theme year
Now if you'll excuse me, the Ayatollah wants to take my order.
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That would be a shocking misuse of the charging apparatus.
Obviously, not everyone will buy one... (Score:5, Funny)
Obviously, not everyone will buy one... for example, I can't see Indiana Jones owning one.
In other entertainment news.... (Score:1)
How many snakes would you need to charge an electric plane?
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Seems kind of slow (Score:1)
I presume an actual human can plug in the charger in a few seconds. But again, I guess this is being built for the case where there is no actual human (i.e. autonomous car "goes away" to charge itself up while you aren't there).
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I have seen car charging spaces oversubscribed. It is a chore for the electric car drivers to have to go move their car into a space when a space becomes available. This is really lousy when the car charging spaces are far away from where they work, and if the weather is bad. It does not make sense for the store/company to install chargers at every parking space, as it is wasteful.
However, I don't think this tentacle charger is really for those who own the car. Here is an article that suggests the reaso
Re: Exchangeable battery bays... (Score:2)
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He also neglected to consider the weight involved. Moving so much as my truck's battery is a pain. Moving an EV battery requires equipment.
The fist case in history (Score:2)
where being fast is preferred.
Comment seen on hothardware (Score:1)
I don't know if this is such a good idea (Score:2)
By the way, we are actually working on a charger that automatically moves out from the wall and connects like a solid metal snake
I suspect this might not end well [youtube.com].
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Is there any reason it can't? Other than it being a fire hazard? I assume its electricly driven not pneumatic.
It should be reasonably safe for diesel as is.
Sex Toy (Score:1)
They're showing off (Score:2)
When will this be available for laptops? (Score:1)
Get to work, set laptop on desk and when I get done with everything else the laptop is already plugged in.
Cellphones too! all the convince of wireless charging with none of the downsides!
SRL Did it bigger... (Score:2)
Behold the Spine!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]
Wireless Charging (Score:2)
cool? (Score:2)
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Sorry, butt... (Score:2)
"I wouldn't stand there in a short skirt, Virginia. You might be in for a helluva shock."
This is creepy? (Score:2)
Don't go to the zoo. The elephants' trunks will have you peeing yourself from fright.
I'd totally buy an electric car except... (Score:2)
"I'd totally buy an electric car tomorrow if not for the herculean task of lifting a cord and plugging it in all by myself." - Said Nobody Ever.
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It's not especially for drivers. It's for autonomous cars. IE your tesla drops you off at the front door of your work or destination, then wanders off to a charging station. Once it's topped off, if the stalls are full and there's another EV than needs charging, it can go park itself in a non-charging spot. Then, when you're getting ready to leave, it can leave the possibly remote lot and be there to pick you up as you go.
Or consider 'robotic' taxis. When one becomes low on charge or has free time, it
The D (Score:1)