Who doesn’t want a fit and healthy body? It’s not the desire that people lack, it’s sometimes the determination. Many people would kill to have a fit physique but the journey to obtain one can be very challenging. Exercise is key but it’s not necessarily a fun activity to participate in. Have you ever gone running on a treadmill or pedaled on a stationary bike and thought to yourself, “this is boring, how much longer do I have to do this?”
An Italian firm from Carlo Ratti Associati created a brilliant way to make exercise less boring and actually inspire people to do it more. They designed a boat that requires the people within to exercise in order to keep it moving down the Seine River in Paris.
The boat is 65 feet long (20 meters) and is designed to hold up to 45 people. “The Paris Navigating Gym investigates the potential of harnessing human power,” said Carlo Ratti.
“It’s fascinating to see how the energy generated by a workout at the gym can actually help to propel a boat. It provides one with a tangible experience of what lies behind the often abstract notion of electric power.”
Don’t pack your bags just yet, the boat is still in development. Nonetheless, the designers have given an estimate that the project will be done in 18 months.
The boat moves by converting the pedal power into utility grade electricity. In order for the navigating gym to have enough electricity, it needs a certain amount of passengers on-board.
However, the boat will be able to use renewable energy sources (like the photovoltaic cells on its roof) during times when there’s not enough passengers.