FulanoDetailhttps://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/UF/E0/04/24/30/00001/jagdale_v.pdf
(PDF) Variable Geometry Wing-box: Towards a Robotic Morphing Wing
Expanding mesh transforming fidget. 3D Printed Huge Flexible transforming and extendable Ball Fidget (as strange as it sounds, for some reason I thought of using a similar concept to this digit sphere for the morphing wings. Using the stressed skin/monocoque structure design, but the actuation system is always a problem for morphing wings…)
There are also magnus effect wings, normally they are meant to reduce the chances of flow separation in wings.
But I saw somewhere that adding flexible flaps (like feathers) to the top of the wings also does the same effect, but without much complication.
However, I was wondering about the possibility of mixing both for a cycloidal wing/propeller.
Sources: CN103434637A - Novel aerofoil by utilizing magnus effect - Google Patents How would a belt sander wing perform? - Aviation Stack Exchange EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF MAGNUS EFFECT OVER AN AIRCRAFT WING - pdfcoffee.com
What are the advantages of a Spinning Wing (Magnus Effect) and why haven't any been commercially produced? (One of the comments suggests using cloth-propellers for the magnus effect for maximum lightness, the centrifugal forces would make them rigid)
Bird-like wings could help drones keep stable in gusts - Michigan Engineering News
Sources: A Novel Propulsion System Based on Cycloidal Rotors coupled with Pair-wing for VTOL Aircrafts; Cyclo-Craft Research on Distributed Jet Blowing Wing Based on the Principle of Fan-Wing Vortex-Induced Lift and Thrust
For some reason this one gave me an odd sense of deja vu, as if I already posted this and someone made a lengthy comment explaining it to me…
The Genius of Cycloidal Propellers: Future of Flight?
Cycloidal Rotor Airplane: The Cycloplane
How a Voith Schneider or Cycloidal Drive Propulsion System Works
Earth sized warp drive?
Well, for some reason I was wondering how much energy you would need to move the entire planet earth with a Warp Drive.
It is said that the Alcubierre drive would consume around 800kg of mass in energy to work.
But I couldn't find at what speed and the weight of the spacecraft these values translate to.
So I will assume it consumes that much energy to go 10 times at the speed of light and move a 5 ton ship.
Since 1 gram of weight converted into photons is around 300 megawatts, I will take 1/10 of the mass in energy. So, 80kg of mass into energy = 24 terawatts to move a 5 ton ship to 0.9 the speed of light.
So 24/5000 = 0.0048 terawatts per kilogram of weight.
So, how many watts would you need to move the entire planet earth at 0.9 speed of light?
ChatGPT said it would be 28,600,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 watts (28,600 yottawatts)
But it was (obviously) wrong because I looked online.
The earth weighs 6,750,000,000,000,000,000,000 kilograms or 6.75 sextillion.
So you would need 19,710,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 watts, or 19.7 nonillion watts or 19,7 Quettawatts.
The entire human civilization produces 172 Petawatts, or 172,000,000,000,000,000 watts.
So you would need 1.1459302e+14 times more energy to make that work, or 1,14 trillion times, or 114,593,020,000,000 times more energy than humanity produces on the entire planet.
Ironically, if you converted the Quettawatts into mass, you would get the weight of earth. You would need to sacrifice another earth just to make the warp jump, lol.
I was just wondering about it because of the movie “The Wandering Earth”, I thought the ion thrusters were a bit inefficient.
But I don’t know why I kept looking for answers tho.
Biomimetic Camera:
Biomimicry is really cool, but I started to look at biomimetic cameras/light sensors just to see if there was a way of making a camera without semiconductors.
A mechanical camera of sorts...
Sources: High resolution and sensitivity gamma camera with active septa. A first Monte Carlo study Development and evaluation of an EMCCD based gamma camera for preclinical SPECT Imaging
Sources:
Spherical Biomimetic Eyes with Nanowire Arrays: From design to application | IEEE Brain
A bionic self-driven retinomorphic eye with ionogel photosynaptic retina | Nature Communications
(PDF) Drosophila Compound Eye Composed of Curved Micro-Lens Array Using Direct Laser Writing
(PDF) Bioinspired Artificial Eyes: Optic Components, Digital Cameras, and Visual Prostheses
I asked chatgpt for suggestions and it was actually useful for once, lol.
For example, it suggested me using photovoltaic cells made from scratch (normally made from copper and copper oxide) and then to add a filter that only allows a certain wavelength/color to pass through.
Source: How to make solar cell / panel at home (Free energy from sunlight)
How to make a solar panel at home diy
Cricket: A Self-Powered Chirping Pixel
Cricket: A Self-Powered Chirping Pixel 2024
Now the issue is finding a way of making the filters.
What can I use to only allow red, blue or green to pass? And infrared? And ultraviolet?
“Color filters can be made from various materials that selectively absorb specific wavelengths of light while allowing others to pass through. Here are some common materials used for color filters:
1. Colored Glass
Description: Colored glass filters are made by adding metal oxides or other compounds to the glass during manufacturing. These additives determine the color of the glass and its ability to absorb certain wavelengths.
Example: A red glass filter will absorb blue and green wavelengths while allowing red wavelengths to pass through.
2. Plastic Filters
Description: Plastic filters, often made from polycarbonate or acrylic, can be dyed with specific colorants that absorb certain wavelengths. These filters are lightweight and can be produced in various colors.
Example: A blue plastic filter will absorb red and green light, transmitting primarily blue light.
3. Gel Filters
Description: Gel filters are made from thin sheets of colored plastic or gelatin. They are commonly used in photography and stage lighting.
Example: A yellow gel filter absorbs blue and green light, allowing yellow and red light to pass through.
4. Dyes and Pigments
Description: Certain dyes and pigments can be used to create filters that absorb specific wavelengths. These can be applied to various substrates, including glass and plastic.
Example: Anthocyanins, found in plants, can be used to create filters that absorb certain wavelengths of light, changing color based on the pH of the solution.
5. Optical Coatings
Description: Thin-film optical coatings can be applied to surfaces to create interference filters. These coatings can be engineered to reflect or transmit specific wavelengths based on their thickness and the materials used.
Example: A bandpass filter can be designed to transmit only a narrow range of wavelengths while blocking others.”
“To create effective color filters, you can use specific materials that absorb certain wavelengths of light. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the types of materials, their chemical compositions, and their availability:
1. Colored Glass
Metal Oxides: Common metal oxides used in colored glass include:
Cobalt Oxide (CoO): Produces blue glass.
Chromium Oxide (Cr2O3): Used for green glass.
Iron Oxide (Fe2O3): Can produce yellow to brown glass depending on concentration.
Manganese Dioxide (MnO2): Used to create purple glass.
Availability: These metal oxides are generally available from chemical suppliers and can be incorporated into glass during the manufacturing process.
2. Plastic Filters
Dyes: Common dyes used in plastic filters include:
Cyanine Dyes: Such as Cyanine 5, which absorbs in the near-infrared range.
Azo Dyes: These can be used to create red and yellow filters (e.g., C.I. Acid Red 1).
Phthalocyanine Dyes: Such as Copper Phthalocyanine, which produces a deep blue color.
Chemical Composition: For example, C.I. Acid Red 1 has the chemical formula C16H12N2O4S.
Availability: These dyes can be sourced from specialty chemical suppliers or online marketplaces.
3. Natural Dyes and Pigments
Examples:
Anthocyanins: Found in red cabbage and berries, these can produce a range of colors depending on pH.
Chlorophyll: Extracted from plants, it can be used for green filters.
Chemical Composition: Anthocyanins are glycosides of anthocyanidins, with varying structures depending on the source.
Availability: Natural dyes can often be extracted from plants or purchased from suppliers specializing in natural colorants.
4. Optical Coatings
Materials: Common materials for optical coatings include:
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2): Used for anti-reflective coatings.
Titanium Dioxide (TiO2): Often used in multilayer coatings for its high refractive index.
Application: These coatings are typically applied using vacuum deposition techniques.
Availability: Coating materials can be sourced from optical component manufacturers or specialty chemical suppliers.”
“To optimize the wavelength response of copper-copper oxide photovoltaic cells, it's important to understand the nature of light absorption in these materials and how to manipulate their properties to enhance performance across different parts of the solar spectrum, including near-infrared (NIR) and infrared (IR) wavelengths.
Understanding Wavelength Absorption
Current Absorption Characteristics:
Copper oxide (CuO) has a narrow bandgap of approximately 1.2 eV, which allows it to absorb visible light effectively, particularly in the range of 400 nm to 750 nm. However, it can also absorb some infrared light, although its efficiency in this range is typically lower compared to visible light [1].
Photovoltaic Cell Operation:
Photovoltaic cells do not exclusively react to visible light; they can also utilize ultraviolet (UV) and infrared light. The efficiency of absorption depends on the bandgap of the semiconductor material used. For copper oxide, while it is primarily effective in the visible spectrum, modifications can be made to enhance its response to IR light [2].
Strategies for Optimizing Wavelength Response
To shift the absorption characteristics of copper-copper oxide photovoltaic cells towards NIR and IR wavelengths, consider the following strategies:
Material Modification:
Doping: Introducing dopants into the copper oxide can alter its electronic properties and bandgap. For instance, doping with elements like aluminum or gallium can help tailor the bandgap to absorb longer wavelengths.
Alloying: Creating a composite material by combining CuO with other semiconductors that have a higher absorption range can broaden the spectrum of light the cell can utilize.
Structural Engineering:
Thin Film Techniques: Utilizing thin-film deposition methods can help control the thickness of the CuO layer, which can enhance light absorption at specific wavelengths. Thicker films may improve absorption of longer wavelengths due to increased interaction with the light [3].
Nanostructuring: Engineering the surface of the photovoltaic cell at the nanoscale (e.g., creating nanowires or nanoparticles) can enhance light trapping and increase the effective absorption area, particularly for IR light.
Photon Upconversion:
Implementing photon upconversion materials can convert lower-energy photons (like those in the NIR range) into higher-energy photons that can be absorbed by the CuO layer. This technique can significantly enhance the photocurrent generated under low-light conditions [3].
Optical Coatings:
Applying anti-reflective coatings or using materials that can selectively filter and enhance certain wavelengths can improve the overall efficiency of the solar panel by allowing more light to enter the cell.”
“To optimize a copper-copper oxide photovoltaic cell for specific wavelengths, such as infrared (IR) or ultraviolet (UV), you can consider several strategies. These strategies involve modifying the materials, structures, and properties of the photovoltaic cell to enhance its sensitivity to the desired wavelength range.
Strategies for Wavelength Optimization
Material Selection and Doping:
Doping with Different Elements: Introducing dopants can alter the bandgap of copper oxide (CuO or Cu2O), which can shift the absorption spectrum. For example, doping with elements like aluminum or gallium can help tailor the bandgap to be more responsive to UV light.
Using Different Copper Oxides: CuO and Cu2O have different bandgaps (CuO ~1.2 eV and Cu2O ~2.0 eV). Selecting the appropriate oxide based on the desired wavelength can enhance performance. Cu2O is more suitable for visible light, while CuO may be better for IR applications due to its narrower bandgap [1].
Thin Film Techniques:
Layering and Heterojunctions: Creating heterojunctions with other semiconductors (e.g., ZnO for UV or Si for IR) can improve the absorption of specific wavelengths. The interface between different materials can create a built-in electric field that enhances charge separation and collection [1].
Optimizing Thickness: The thickness of the copper oxide layer can be adjusted to optimize absorption for specific wavelengths. Thinner films may be more effective for UV light, while thicker films might be better for IR due to longer penetration depths [2].
Surface Modification:
Texturing the Surface: Modifying the surface to create microstructures can enhance light trapping and increase the effective absorption area for specific wavelengths. This can be particularly useful for enhancing UV absorption [2].
Coatings and Filters: Applying optical coatings or filters that selectively transmit UV or IR light can help focus the cell's response to the desired wavelength range. For instance, UV filters can block visible light while allowing UV light to pass through [2].
Utilizing Nanostructures:
Nanostructured Materials: Incorporating nanostructures (e.g., nanoparticles or nanowires) can enhance the optical properties of the photovoltaic cell. These structures can be engineered to resonate at specific wavelengths, improving absorption efficiency in the UV or IR range [2].
Temperature Control:
Operating Temperature: The performance of copper oxide photovoltaic cells can be influenced by temperature. Adjusting the operating temperature can shift the absorption characteristics, potentially enhancing sensitivity to IR light [1].”
You could also use Antennas to be used as pixels for electromagnetic waves, allowing you to see them.
Tunable metamaterial - Wikipedia
Although I think all of this to be fascinating, why has nobody ever done that before?
ChatGPT said that it is because copper tends to degrade over time. hum…
In any manner, I will need to make it using photolithography.
There are many tutorials on youtube, but most of them focus on silicon. You could use copper formate/acetate for copper deposition and convert copper into copper oxide with simple vinegar.
Simple formation of metal mirrors
How to Oxidize Copper: Easy, Simple Methods
The issue, however, is finding a way of depositing the individual filters.
Just like in conventional photolithography
There are other types of lithographies, like electron beam lithography.
Drawing Microscopic Patterns with Electrons Essentially, he used an electron microscope to make an electron beam lithography.
DIY Scanning Electron Microscope - Operation procedure
DIY Scanning Electron Microscope - Sources, Costs and References
DIY Scanning Electron Microscope - Overview
The World's Smallest Scanning Electron Microscope
Maskless lithography - Wikipedia
There are also a lot of other methods, using x-rays, UV radiation, proton beams, ion beams etc.
One interesting lithography method is using the Atomic force microscopy, that one where you use an atom-thin tip to rub against the surface of objects, allowing you to even see individual atoms.
Building a 3D Printed Atomic-Resolution Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) | DIY STM Explained
1,000,000x Magnification with Atomic Force Microscope
Espresso size Atomic Force Microscope driven by open-source XYZ nanopositioner: AFM probe switching
AFM (atomic force microscopy) LEGO | LAB na Estrada - Oficinas Incríveis
Zyrus Etcher, STM Tip Fabricator
Overview of Scanning Probe Lithography
Dynamic Scanning Probe Lithography | Resul Saritas
Thermal Scanning Probe Lithography – A Review
Dip Pen Nanolithography with Lipid Inks
Guided Tour of Dip Pen Nanolithography
Tutorials on photolithography:
Maskless Photolithography Stepper for Homemade Chips
Creating Ultra-Fine Details in Titanium - 20 Micron Resolution
DIY Scanning Laser Microscope (you can use the laser to make a laser lithography machine)
I Made My Own Image Sensor! (And Digital Camera) (not lithography but interesting nevertheless)
Photolithography on Silicon with PCB Chemicals
Maskless Photolithography with DLP Projector - 10um Feature Sizes
"Z2" - Upgraded Homemade Silicon Chips
Self-Assembly of Lithographically Patterned 3D Micro/Nanostructures
Nanofabrication Techniques: Photolithography
Recreating CIA Technology Was Surprisingly Easy (Microdots)
Speedrunning 30yrs of lithography technology
Lithography on ceramics using pronto plate
The Philosophy of Comedy | Henri Bergson
DIY Photolithography using 1980s Carl Zeiss S-Planar Lens (405nm)
Photomasks Explained (Contact and Projection): how to etch Thin Chromium Layers
I tried to make a camera sensor
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8Qav3vIv9s&t
Carl Zeiss S-planar lens pt.1: general discussion
Antique 4x5 camera creates 20 micron photolithography masks: Super tiny tax form
Metallization: Making Conductive Traces on Silicon Chips.
Copper metalization with a diode laser
Learn how to make your own custom computer chips!
Getting started with open source ASICs: community, tools & demos!
Laser Scanning Microscope from Blu-ray Player #3: Increasing the Resolution
You wont believe what you can see with this DIY Laser Microscope!
3D Printing Optomechanical Components
(not lithography, but it may be useful/interesting)
A broadband achromatic metalens for focusing and imaging in the visible | Nature Nanotechnology
The Plates & Tubes Behind Night Vision
How Digital Light Processing (DLP) works
1665 How To Make A Fluorescent Jelly For Solar - Of All Things!
1664 Supercharge Your Solar panels With Fluorescence
Adding fluorescent ink to solar cells increases their efficiency, since they increase the light being received. However, you would need to plan beforehand where to add the fluorescent inks. Some react better to ultraviolet, others to infrared, others to visible light.
So, you add the fluorescent ink before or after the filter? Or as the filter itself?
Macro-scale digital mirror device
Optical finish for acrylic -- vapor polishing and other techniques
Experimenting with a liquid lens and driver IC
Focal tunable liquid lens integrated with an electromagnetic actuator
Deformable Lenses - DYNAMIC OPTICS
A low-cost deformable lens for correction of low-order aberrations - ScienceDirect
(PDF) Piezoelectric motors for camera modules
High-Speed Deformable Mirror for Laser Beam Focus Control in Cutting & Welding Applications
Phased-array optics - Wikipedia
Music-free ver.: Optical antennas: sophisticated infrared light manipulation technology (2020/11/04)
Optical Phased Arrays Characterization on Test Station|Protocol Preview
Optical phased array technology on-chip at both near infrared and blue wavelengths
Imaging with Optical Phased Array in Integrated Photonic Circuits
Phased Array Demonstration System
Visualization Of A Phased Array Antenna System | Hackaday
Why 10,000 tiny lenses are the key to our sci-fi future | Hard Reset
[2405.03053] Optical phased array using phase-controlled optical frequency comb
Rapid Prototyping RF Filters with Tape & QUCS
Just now I found out about nanomeshes, and I do wonder if it would be better to use them as photovoltaic/photodiodes/image sensors with layers upon layers instead of a reflective background like the bio inspired cat eye camera.
nanoMesh™ Transparent Conductive Film | MicroContinuum
I mean, you could even use them as transparent solar panels.
But… Why isn’t that done?
The cat-eye camera (a camera with reflective background and/or two-way mirrors) is interesting, but isn’t that just a resonator? Just like microphones have a diaphragm chamber that resonates with the sounds of the environment in order to make it easier to detect them?
3D light field technology | Raytrix
High-resolution 3D video with a Fourier light field camera array
Technically, you wouldn’t even need a photovoltaic cell for that, you could even use nanochannels filled with coolant, and once a specific wavelength passed through the filters, it would evaporate and generate pressure. That pressure could be turned into an electric signal, making a mechanical camera.
Virtual retinal display - Wikipedia
In this video specifically, it is said that the retinal display they’ve built uses an array of micromirrors to shine the image into the retina to the user.
However, that is literally how projectors work.
I couldn’t find any video of people trying to convert a conventional projector to a retinal display, but maybe it could be done.
Well, both use DMD chips, so maybe you wouldn’t need to convert an entire image projector, just buy the mirror directly.
They normally cost around 100 to 400 reais (20 to 80 dollars).
A practical guide to Digital Micro-mirror Devices (DMDs) for wavefront shaping
Sources: Curved holographic optical elements and applications for curved see-through displays Curved Holographic Combiner for Color Head Worn Display | Semantic Scholar
New Technology Enhances Holographic Displays with Wider View and Sharper Images
Holographic Combiners Improve Head-Up Displays | Features | May 2019 | Photonics Spectra
Holographic Near-eye Display with Expanded Eye-box
f/0.38 camera lens made with oil immersion microscope objective
Building My Own Anamorphic Lens | Alum 1.33x Anamorphic
What if you just keep zooming in?
You can use optical fibers as visors, although in this specific case, it uses a light sources The Fibrovisor
I just checked, it seems like there aren’t any known materials that are transparent in every wavelength.
A water lens would block microwaves, infrared and ultraviolet. A silicone oil lens would allow microwaves and radiowaves, but block infrared.
So different cameras in different spectrums would be needed.
That or:
Sources: Lensless Camera – Innovative Camera supporting the Evolution of IoT : Research & Development : Hitachi Single-shot lensless imaging with fresnel zone aperture and incoherent illumination | Light: Science & Applications
Make multiple lenses to shine in the same sensors, like a multi-iris camera.
Sources: REVIEW: Light L16 - 16 Lens Camera of the Future that Failed... Wingtra Unveils Multispectral Camera with Panchromatic Sensor | GIM International
Personally, I think it would be better to use the multi-iris camera. Easier to understand and to build.
I just said this and just now I found out about pinhole lenses:
Sources: What's The Use Of PINHOLE LENSES!?
Well, he did say that since it is a pinhole and not a lens, even dirt can end up in contact with the sensors, so in the end this may still need some kind of lens.
However, since the pinhole, well, is a pinhole, the size of the lenses may be extremely small, allowing for an overlapping of multiple types of spectrums to be observed.
hmmmm… Better stick with the conventional lenses.
Also, the wavelength of microwaves and radiowaves are so big that you would need apertures and lenses with meters of diameter. The only way of dealing with it is by using an array of antennas in order to pick up images in these ranges.
Sources: How are antennas integrated into stealth aircraft? - Aviation Stack Exchange Metasurface‐enabled isolation between antenna arrays
Sources: A Real-Time Monitoring Method for Civil Aircraft Take-Off and Landing Based on Synthetic Aperture Microwave Radiation Technology Time-of-Flight Microwave Camera | Scientific Reports
Well, that answers why radar screens don’t “just” show what they are seeing, but wave signals, dots and squares.
Source: Radar display - Wikipedia
Stacking Transparent Solar Cells:
So, I was wondering about the possibility of using these same nanomeshes or transparent materials for transparent solar cells and stacking them together in order to increase efficiency.
The idea is that since the solar panel is transparent, you could stack multiple of them until they reached an efficiency around 90% or more.
From what I could understand, there are multi-junction solar panels that are transparent in certain wavelengths and opaque in others, but I'm not referring to them.
I'm referring to the idea of stacking the same type of transparent or semi-transparent solar cells one after another.
Since they are transparent/semi-transparent, doesn't that mean that only a fraction of the light wavelength was converted into electricity and the rest of its energy just passed through them? Thus allowing subsequent transparent solar panels to react to that other portion of light until it fully loses its energy?
If it was that simple, someone would’ve already made it, but I want to understand why it doesn’t work.
… In the end, the idea was to use a combustion flame to power up such a photovoltaic cell system, but I doubt it would work as simply…
Laser propulsion energy consumption:
I downloaded a crapton of articles about pulsed laser propulsion in order to add to a Bot on the Poe website, so I could ask how much energy I would need for every kilogram of thrust.
Its answer:
“Based on the information provided in the documents, a pulsed infrared laser propulsion system would require on the order of a megajoule of energy per pulse to generate significant thrust. The key factors are:
The coupling coefficient, which relates the laser energy to the generated impulse, is in the range of 2-92 dyne·s/J for solid propellants and 6-30 dyne·s/J for laser-breakdown of air [5]. This means that for 1 kg of thrust, you would need roughly 50-500 J of laser energy per pulse.
Experiments have demonstrated specific impulses of 700-900 s using a few joule-level CO2 laser pulses [2]. Scaling this up, a megajoule-class laser operating at 350 pulses/s could provide 10 g of acceleration for a 1-ton vehicle [5].
The pulse duration is also critical - shorter pulses in the picosecond or nanosecond regime can improve the coupling efficiency by reducing energy losses [3]. This is because the energy deposition happens faster than the gas can expand, leading to higher pressures and thrust.
So in summary, for a 1000 kg thrust system, a megajoule-class laser operating at high pulse rates (hundreds of Hz) with short pulse durations (ns or ps) could potentially provide the required thrust, with the laser energy per pulse in the range of 50-500 J. The exact requirements would depend on the specific design parameters and experimental validation. More research is still needed to fully optimize the performance of such pulsed laser propulsion systems [1][2][3].“
Well…
But it did mention that:
“A megajoule-class laser operating at high pulse rates (hundreds of Hz) with short pulse durations (ns or ps) could potentially provide the required 1000 kg of thrust, with the laser energy per pulse in the range of 50-500 J [1][3].”
So, assuming that the number of pulses is 350:
350 pulses x 50 joules = 17,500 joules in total 350 pulses x 500 joules = 175,000 joules in total
That for 1 kilogram, so I would extrapolate that for 1000 kg of thrust you would need 17 to 175 megajoules in total.
“Furthermore, flight experiments have demonstrated the ability to propel a lightcraft vehicle to an altitude of over 2.6 meters using a TEA CO2 laser with 13 J pulses at 50 Hz [4]. This indicates the potential for achieving effective air-breathing propulsion using pulsed laser-induced microdetonations.
Based on the information provided in the context, the nominal 14-cm (5.5 in.) diameter lightcraft vehicles used in the experimental flights weigh around 50-60 grams (1.8 to 2.1 oz) [1]. These ultralight vehicles were designed to be propelled by air-breathing pulsed detonation engines using the 10 kW PLVTS pulsed CO2 laser at the High Energy Laser Systems Test Facility (HELSTF) [1].”
13 joules x 50 pulses per second = 650 joules in total
1000 grams / 50 grams = 20
650 joules x 20 = 13,000 joules per kilogram of thrust
13,000 x 1000kg = 13,000,000 joules for 1 ton of thrust?
Again, it is talking out of its ass:
“In April 1997, tests by Leik Myrabo in cooperation with the US Army at White Sands Missile Range demonstrated the basic feasibility to propel objects in this way, using a 10-kW ground-based pulsed carbon dioxide laser (1 kJ per pulse, 30 μs pulse at 10 Hz frequency). The test succeeded in reaching over one hundred feet, which compares to Robert Goddard's first test flight of his rocket design.[2]
In October 2000, a new flight record was set with a flight lasting 10.5 seconds and reaching 71 meters (233 feet) using the same laser, but this time providing an on-board plastic ablative propellant, and rotating the body around its axis at high speed (over 10,000 rpm) to stabilize the craft with a gyroscopic effect.[8][9][6]”
Source: Lightcraft - Wikipedia
So:
10 pulses x 1,000 = 10,000 joules to propel 50 grams.
1000 grams / 50 grams = 20 times more power required
20 x 10,000 = 200,000 joules for 1 kilogram of thrust
2 megajoules x 1000 kilograms = 200,000,000 Joules, aka 200 Megajoules.
Joules per second = Watts per second
200 megajoules x 60 seconds x 60 minutes = 720,000,000,000 watts or 720,000 megawatts or 960,000,000 horsepower.
Well… Air breathing pulsed Laser propulsion is a no-go.
I mean, continuous thermal laser propulsion is a way more efficient and practical method, but I was looking for instantaneous thrust with minimum complexity and weight.
The thermal laser needs to eject some kind of mass in order to propel itself, in order for it to work with air alone, it would need to work just like a plasma turbine.
Meaning it would need a compressor to compress air, expand it with the laser and then run the turbine that turns the compressor and a propeller blade.
Storing compressed air or water to generate steam is not practical.
Now what to do…?
About Diode Lasers:
Well, I talked a while back that diode lasers are really efficient, but can’t work with pulsed applications, only as continuous wave lasers (CW lasers).
HOWEVER, I just found this interesting video where a guy uses a diode laser within 2 milliwatts of continuous power and overdrives it up to 67 watts (an increase of around 30,000x more power output) without damaging it.
Most powerful diode Laser OVERDRIVEN! Nanosecond Laser!
He does that by using the CW laser and adding nanosecond peak pulses while the laser is active, adding power to the laser.
Like adding high tidal waves to smaller tidal waves.
I don’t know if this will be useful for anything, but hey, I think it is cool.
Pulsed Voice-Coil Propulsion:
Well, the only other idea I had was to use either voice coils or electromagnetic membrane actuators.
Source: Amazing new electric boat motor based on fish fins - Plugboats
Example of how it would work.
For the voice-coil, I would need to find its stroke length and maximum speed. But most voice-coils are used in loudspeakers and subwoofers, so it would be a safe bet to say it moves at the speed of sound.
… Actually, I’m wrong.
It seems like even though they can reach 20,000 hertz per second, they aren’t, in fact, moving at the speed of sound. They don’t need to move at the speed of sound, just vibrate the air.
In either case, the idea is that it would be an electrically driven pulse-jet:
And since neither system actually moves at the speed of sound, I guess that a good way of making it work would be adding a nozzle similar to a rocket’s engine.
Rocket engine nozzle - Wikipedia
Thus, you would need to make a continuous generation of high pressure air flow into the converging-diverging nozzle.
Acoustic and Thermoacoustic Jet Propulsion
Just now I found this article
Electrostatic Loudspeaker (ESL) Technology - MartinLogan
And this video about sonic rockets:
Acoustic Rocket Demonstration -- revisiting Dvorak's 1878 Acoustic Repulsion Apparatus
Acoustic Propulsion Part 2 (measurement of thrust)
Moving Things With Sound—Helmholtz Resonance Propulsion
There are also free-piston powered turbine engines and reaction turbines (aka hero turbines)
I built the BEST COMPRESSED AIR ENGINE (New Rotary Design)
But… What would be the efficiency of such a system?
Wouldn’t that be just like a tip-jet rotor anyway?
In either case, I think it would be better to make the jet go out in a diagonal line, so it rotates and generates thrust both by the airflow alone and by the propeller.
I would need to use that idea I had about the rechargeable Explosively pumped flux compression generator for pulsed power generation, where I would use hydrolysis or just direct fuel+air dust explosion to generate a repeatable detonation to power it up. According to ChatGPT, you would need 0.044 liters of water to convert into 58.8 liters of hydrogen and 29.5 liters of oxygen to achieve 700,000 joules.
Maybe a conventional flywheel energy storage/kinetic capacitor would be safer, and I think I misread it in earlier project logs:
Flywheel energy storage - Wikipedia
Compensated pulsed alternator - Wikipedia
It can reach a density of 500,000 joules per kilogram of weight, but I bet I would only reach around 50 kilojoules.
At this point, why not just use a pulse jet straight up?
Being honest, I don’t really know…
But I do know that combustion based pulsejets have extremely low efficiency. Soooo….
Cold Plasma Propulsion:
Well, just now I gave a closer look to cold plasma torches. And maybe they can be a possible way of making solid state electrical propulsion viable.
The Cold Plasma Wand That Heals (Microjet)⚡
Cold Fire You Can Touch - DIY Cold Plasma Torch (this one talks about how dielectric plastics are used to increase the speed of the plasma, but wouldn't it be better to use an oxide layer, like anodized metals?)
COLD PLASMA - From a 9 Volt battery??? (Part 1)
Atmospheric pressure cold plasma jet - YouTube
How to Make a Cold Fire Torch That You Can Touch and Not Get Burned!
From Space Thruster to Nappy Bin: Plasmas are Everywhere
In essence, cold plasma/non-thermal plasma/non-equilibrium plasma can be made by using low voltage and extreme high frequency AC, generating radio waves (or microwaves). Completely different from the conventional plasma generators that use extreme high voltage arcs.
However, most of the examples that I found use a mix of non-reactive gas (like helium or argon) with around 20% of oxygen. But ambient air is around 30% oxygen and the rest is mostly nitrogen.
In any manner, the idea is to ionize the air, making cold plasma and then accelerating it with 3 phase electromagnets (like in a linear electric motor) at extremely high speeds in order to generate thrust.
But I couldn’t find anything that attempts to do that in atmospheric air. 🥲
Now that I think of it… Wouldn’t that mean that the Magnetohydrodynamic generator could be viable with cold plasma as the working medium?
The idea is to generate electricity directly from plasma moved by combustion, using it as a “wire” like any electric generator. They were always designed to work with extremely hot plasmas that would simply destroy the components…
I do wonder if I can find something on the subject…
There are articles around that study the use of it in MHD generators, but the result is the same if not worse.
The hotter the electrons in the plasma, the more conductive it is. But I don’t know how to make the electrons as hot as possible without making the ions also hot.
ChatGPT:
“1. Use of Radiofrequency (RF) Heating
RF heating is a method where electromagnetic waves are used to selectively heat electrons. By tuning the frequency of the RF waves to match the natural oscillation frequency of the electrons, you can increase their energy without imparting much energy to the heavier ions. This technique is commonly used in fusion research to control plasma temperatures.
2. Electron Cyclotron Resonance Heating (ECRH)
ECRH involves using microwaves at a frequency that matches the cyclotron frequency of electrons in a magnetic field. This method can efficiently heat electrons while keeping ions relatively cool, as the energy transfer is primarily to the lighter electrons due to their lower mass.”
Speaking of which, if the hotter the plasma the more conductive it is, would it be possible to use plasma spirals as electromagnetic coils?
I mean, you can contain the plasma with a somewhat weak magnetic field, then apply an ultra high current to the plasma flowing through it.
It seems I’m soundly wrong, the conductivity of plasma flattens after a certain temperature is reached.
Special features of formation of plasma torch under conditions of hybrid laser-arc welding
(PDF) Arc Plasma Torch Modeling
Modeling of Pulsed Spark Discharge in Water and Its Application to Well Cleaning
Even at 100,000 Kelvin/100,000 ºC/180,000 ºF the water plasma barely reaches the conductivity of copper.
I asked online and some people are saying that in order to reach nearly infinite conductivity (like superconductors) you would need to reach around 1,000,000 Kelvin, which is 1/150 of the temperature inside tokamaks.
They normally work at 150 million Kelvin/Celsius.
Maybe it would be practical to actual physicists, but I doubt I would be able to do that in my backyard.
Now that I think of it²… Wouldn't it be possible to use the cold-plasma to make a plasma field like I was suggesting in the “Real life Force/Energy-field”?
Well, I could use the plasma as an electrode to make the idea I suggested. Where once two layers of plasma are connected through the disruption of a projectile, a high discharge of electricity will happen.
“Plasma becomes increasingly viscous at higher temperatures, to the point where other matter has trouble passing through.”
“The physical properties of the plasma window vary depending on application. The initial patent cited temperatures around 15,000 K (14,700 °C; 26,500 °F).
The only limit to the size of the plasma window are current energy limitations as generating the window consumes around 20 kilowatts per inch (8 kW/cm) in the diameter of a round window.”
On wikipedia it is said that citation is needed and the article below confirms it, but let’s remember that this is not using non-equilibrium plasma (it says it is at 1x10^4 kelvin = 10,000 Kelvin = 10,000 Celsius = 17,540 Fahrenheit).
Source: These can actually separate the atmosphere from vacuum using plasma alone, but that would require a crapton of energy. The plasma window in the image is just a few millimeters in size.
This also means that it could be used as an energy shield to block solid objects, but that would require too much energy to run continuously.
Wouldn’t that really be useful for fusion reactors, though?
You could make a plasma window separating the walls of the tokamak from the plasma, avoiding thermal loss and neutron bombardment (assuming the plasma would be able to stop the neutrons).
But then, how would you generate heat from the reaction then? The free neutrons smash into matter, generating heat… Unless you use the same principles of magnetohydrodynamic
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