In spite of the happy ending and life revelations experienced throughout 'The Wizard of Oz,' it is clear that being in the eye of a serious storm is a very dangerous place to be, unless, of course, a person has something like the Dorothy Storm Chase Vehicle. Created for the Iowa Storm Chasing Network, it is an armored car, essentially a heavily modified Ford E-350 van, that will keep its occupants safe as they go on 'Twister'-like adventures.
Built by Brennan Jontz and Dan Auel, the Dorothy Storm Chase Vehicle has been covered in sheets of steel, which are reinforced with Linex, a material that is literally bulletproof. A skirt was added along the bottom to prevent the wind from pushing the van over as well as protect the tires from flying objects.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Storm-chasing Vehicles
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop more advanced and specialized storm-chasing vehicles that provide maximum safety and functionality in extreme weather conditions.
- Armored Vehicle Modifications
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create innovative armored car modifications using advanced materials and technologies to enhance protection and durability.
- Extreme Weather Safety
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop advanced safety solutions and technologies to protect individuals and vehicles in extreme weather scenarios.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Automotive
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Collaborate with automotive manufacturers to develop specialized armored vehicles for specific industries such as storm chasing and emergency response.
- Materials Science
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore advanced materials and coatings to create bulletproof and weather-resistant solutions for vehicles and other applications.
- Safety and Security
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Innovate safety and security technologies for vehicles, focusing on protection against extreme weather events and other hazardous conditions.
