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'Sci-fi' plane with no moving parts flies successfully

JacksinPA

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https://www.bbc.com/news/av/technology-46310975/sci-fi-plane-with-no-moving-parts-flies-successfully

A team of scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have created the first ever plane to take flight without moving parts.

It uses electroaerodynamic propulsion to fly which is greener and quieter than traditional aircraft. Is this the future of aviation?
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Incredible stuff. For more takes on this type of advanced, pollution-free propulsion see:

https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/22...no-moving-parts-electroaerodynamic-propulsion

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-018-0707-9

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT52oA7iqRQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVzkdisrKG4

https://www.technologyreview.com/s/...th-no-moving-parts-has-made-its-first-flight/

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/11/airplane-no-moving-parts-takes-flight

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181123135137.htm
 
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The one thing the guy said that I find somewhat disconcerting is that our future may be one wherein the skies are filled with drones. Already, I await the first Amazon delivery drone's dropping its payload on some unsuspecting pedestrian, pet, biker or vehicle driver. Such an item need not be that heavy to be deadly.

The prospect of ion propulsion, however, is quite cool. It'd be great if we can get that t' workin' right.
 
The one thing the guy said that I find somewhat disconcerting is that our future may be one wherein the skies are filled with drones. Already, I await the first Amazon delivery drone's dropping its payload on some unsuspecting pedestrian, pet, biker or vehicle driver. Such an item need not be that heavy to be deadly.

The prospect of ion propulsion, however, is quite cool. It'd be great if we can get that t' workin' right.

Retrofit electroaerodynamic propulsion onto your 10-speed bike using the pedal power to generate the needed electric current.
 
Retrofit electroaerodynamic propulsion onto your 10-speed bike using the pedal power to generate the needed electric current.
Boy, I wish I weren't old enough to know what a 10-speed bike is. LOL
 
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/technology-46310975/sci-fi-plane-with-no-moving-parts-flies-successfully

A team of scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have created the first ever plane to take flight without moving parts.

It uses electroaerodynamic propulsion to fly which is greener and quieter than traditional aircraft. Is this the future of aviation?
============================================================================
Incredible stuff. For more takes on this type of advanced, pollution-free propulsion see:

https://www.theverge.com/2018/11/22...no-moving-parts-electroaerodynamic-propulsion

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-018-0707-9

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT52oA7iqRQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVzkdisrKG4

https://www.technologyreview.com/s/...th-no-moving-parts-has-made-its-first-flight/

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/11/airplane-no-moving-parts-takes-flight

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181123135137.htm

Pretty neat, but saying that it's pollution-free is a lie. Electrical energy is not free.
 
ion propulsion systems' future is in the frictionless 'atmosphere' of space
 
Pretty neat, but saying that it's pollution-free is a lie. Electrical energy is not free.

True, but no moving parts means no fuel to burn or oil to consume, as well as hydraulic fluids, etc. There is nothing free in this world. I think we can agree on that.
 
I got my 3-speed in 1959.

My first bike with gears was from Sears; three speed, had a cool mileage counter mounted to one of the front forks that had a wheel that engaged the spoke in a certain way. Maybe a little later than 1959. First bike was a coaster brake Schwinn (sp?) in 1955 or 1956, one speed.
 
My first bike with gears was from Sears; three speed, had a cool mileage counter mounted to one of the front forks that had a wheel that engaged the spoke in a certain way. Maybe a little later than 1959. First bike was a coaster brake Schwinn (sp?) in 1955 or 1956, one speed.
[emphasis added by bubba]

continuously variable transmission
 
My first bike with gears was from Sears; three speed, had a cool mileage counter mounted to one of the front forks that had a wheel that engaged the spoke in a certain way. Maybe a little later than 1959. First bike was a coaster brake Schwinn (sp?) in 1955 or 1956, one speed.

Mine came from England. I think my parents spent all of the night of Christmas Eve putting it together. LOL I think that experience brought on a lot of divorces.
 
Damn....I used to own an old two-speed kickback; it was a goodwill purchase when I was 12 or 13.
 
This ia based ont he same technology as a lifter,
https://www.google.com/search?q=hig...eAhVLneAKHW1mDm4QiR56BAgGEBM&biw=1920&bih=969
I am a geek, but not as much as some other guys at work, who built one of these, it really is not very efficient thrust.
There are physical limitations as to how close the grids can be to each other(20,000 Volts per inch in dry air), and the one the guys built at work needed 60kv to lift off the ground.
 
True, but no moving parts means no fuel to burn or oil to consume, as well as hydraulic fluids, etc. There is nothing free in this world. I think we can agree on that.

There is fuel burned, to charge the batteries that it uses. No moving parts is great from a reliability and maintenance perspective, but that's an entirely different thing than claiming that it's "pollution-free." This is the same faulty logic that supporters of electric cars fall victim to.

Also, EM pollution can be a thing. With the high voltages required for ion propulsion, I wouldn't care to say that it's not dangerous to anyone.
 
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