The Levytator

From the “Why Didn’t I Think of This?” files comes the Levytator,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC_se2zrmLM

The Levytator is a more efficient and flexible take on the escalator.  It runs in a circuit, instead of conveyor-belt style, so you don’t lose half your steps to the useless, upside-down underground path, like in a traditional escalator.  Thus, you get more transportation per square foot of step.

In addition, the interlocking steps are curved and not rectangular, meaning that not only can the Levytator turn around corners, but essentially it can be designed to follow any kind of path a planner might need.

Be sure to check out the video for some cool demonstrations (which remind me a lot of closed-loop integrals).