Robotic Clouds Will Provide Shade During Qatar World Cup
By: Nick Carbone
By: Nick Carbone
Organizers have taken heat over the potentially dangerous summer temperatures in Qatar. But the Arab emirate has come up with a futuristic solution, and as usual, cost is not an issue.
Summertime temps in Qatar can reach 122°F (50°C). Players and spectators alike face serious health risks in such sweltering heat, even leading FIFA president Sepp Blatter to (albeit unsuccessfully) lobby for playing the World Cup in the winter months.
So it was back to the drawing board for the desert nation, and scientists have hatched a plan to hover giant robotic clouds over the venues to keep out the sun. The clouds are essentially massive blimps, filled with helium, and will be floated above stadiums. Four onboard solar-powered engines will allow the clouds to be controlled from the ground, shifting along with the sun's zenith, serving as a huge umbrella in the sky to shade spectators and athletes.
The clouds come at a cost of $500,000 each, pocket change for the Middle Eastern nation. The emirate is touting their World Cup hosting endeavor as an event where we can “Expect Amazing.” Robotic clouds – that definitely qualifies. What's next, Qatar?
Source: www.time.com
GUIDE QUESTIONS:
What do you know about Qatar?
A country in the Middle East. They have an absolute Monarchy for a Government. They have like four months of Summer season. The hottest was last year; it soared to 53 degrees Celsius.
Why did President Sepp Blatter request to have the World cup in winter?
Was he successful in convincing them to hold the WC in winter?
What other solutions do they have to solve the problem of sweltering heat?
What are those Giant Robotic clouds made of?
How much was the cost of each cloud?
