Shinkansen and The Kingfisher
Innovation can be inspired from other contexts
The Shinkansen, or Japanese Bullet train, is a well-known Japanese train that can travel between regions at lightning speed. They are quick, safe, and convenient, so we feel comfortable traveling with them.
The train had a major difficulty in the late 1990s. They went at a speed of around 200 kilometers per hour on the first generation Shinkansen. The following generation attempted to boost the speed to 300 km/h, which was a simple task.
However, the issue arose when they entered a tunnel. Sonic Boom was created by a quick speed and a tight tube-like tunnel which produced a tremendously loud noise. This deafening noise has an impact on the environment, those living near the tunnel, and passengers.
The technical team attempted to fix the problem and eventually came up with several possibilities. They saw the kingfisher, which is one of the birds with promising abilities.
Kingfishers like catching fish underneath the surface of the water. They target and sprint towards their target while submerged in water, catching them quickly and silently.
When we jump into water, the water usually resists our weight and creates a large wave. The kingfishers, on the other hand, are not like that.
With its tiny and pointed jaws, the kingfisher can dive to grab fish quickly and with little resistance to the water.
Finally, after many experiments, the team has developed a new N500 Series with a long and thin nose train that can drive more silently and produces no Sonic Boom when passing through a tunnel.
There aren’t always Eureka moments when it comes to innovation. On the other hand, It can be generated by connecting the dots of numerous things in different natural contexts. hen you’re looking for a fresh idea, consider merging experiences from other fields or contexts, and you could just come up with something that will benefit a lot of people across the world.