/eng/ - Engineering

>>31

Useful 3D printing in space is happening. The cool thing is that it's not just a spanner, it's a ratchet with moving parts.

http://phys.org/news/2014-12-off-world-space-printer.html

I'm really interested to know how welding metals will work in space.

How is final deformation affected by gravity?

What properties of the crystalline structure can be exploited?

>>31
http://phys.org/news/2015-01-laser-generated-surface-extremely-water-repellent-metals.html

>Scientists at the University of Rochester have used lasers to transform metals into extremely water repellent, or super-hydrophobic, materials without the need for temporary coatings.

>In a paper published today in the Journal of Applied Physics, Guo and his colleague at the University's Institute of Optics, Anatoliy Vorobyev, describe a powerful and precise laser-patterning technique that creates an intricate pattern of micro- and nanoscale structures to give the metals their new properties. This work builds on earlier research by the team in which they used a similar laser-patterning technique that turned metals black. Guo states that using this technique they can create multifunctional surfaces that are not only super-hydrophobic but also highly-absorbent optically.


First person to produce the mobile robots capable of treating surfaces en-mass and on-site will make themselves very very rich.

http://phys.org/news/2015-02-turbines-electricity.html

>The BAT's key enabling technologies include a novel aerodynamic design, custom-made composite materials, and an innovative control system. The helium-inflatable shell channels wind through a lightweight wind turbine. The shell self-stabilizes and produces aerodynamic lift, in addition to buoyancy. Multiple high-strength tethers hold the BAT in place and a single conductive tether transmits power to a mobile ground station.


I think the fact it is using helium means there is absolutely no way this can be used for massive, global, power generation, it will only ever work for small/local generation. Because Helium is scarce and running out.

I suppose if the helium is only being used to get it in the air then there's not really any reason why they couldn't use hydrogen or maybe even just hot air.

It's not carrying people so that automatically makes it a lot less expensive in the case of a serious accident. Use the hydrogen to float the balloon and vent it when it becomes aerodynamically stable.

>but where do they get the hydrogen

Mars missions require automated Hydrogen and Oxygen generation. It should be trivial to make an inexpensive generation system for producing their own hydrogen on-site of these power balloon ships.