tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post4666509537364111676..comments2024-03-28T08:06:43.198-04:00Comments on The Silicon Graybeard: Solar-Powered “Pseudo-Satellite” Aircraft Logs First Flight of 26 DaysSiGraybeardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-22177445761593337402019-01-31T11:29:32.278-05:002019-01-31T11:29:32.278-05:00Considering it's less than 2 HP at the props, ...Considering it's less than 2 HP at the props, how quickly do you think it could get on station? 0 to 70,000 feet in 24 hours? Spends the whole day climbing to altitude and the night sinking? SiGraybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-31887552195972972922019-01-31T10:35:26.643-05:002019-01-31T10:35:26.643-05:00I suspect they chose a region and season where the...I suspect they chose a region and season where the winds aloft were relatively low. I also strongly suspect that the aircraft loses altitude overnight and regains it in the morning; other long endurance designs I've read about publically assume it will happen and there is no reason to think this is different.Jonathan Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10476185257203343474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-3535265845743476852019-01-31T10:34:01.397-05:002019-01-31T10:34:01.397-05:00I agree. The spy satellites with high resolution t...I agree. The spy satellites with high resolution that we hear about are generally considered "bus sized" objects; a large chunk of that size is required for focal length and mirror size. <br />The optical systems I have dealt with for unmanned aircraft, while shrinking in size and getting lighter, are still well above 5 lbs for aircraft operating at 3,000 feet. As SiGB says, physics limits how small the optics can get for any given resolution.Jonathan Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10476185257203343474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-23241396638634603222019-01-30T21:28:08.030-05:002019-01-30T21:28:08.030-05:00Doesn't quote an airspeed but it's got to ...Doesn't quote an airspeed but it's got to be low. I wonder how well it will be able to maintain station.<br /><br />- Don in OregonUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02024449355688165717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-48011213724009868212019-01-30T20:05:32.797-05:002019-01-30T20:05:32.797-05:00The tech I know of that could do that weighs consi...The tech I know of that could do that weighs considerably more than 5 pounds. Sure, 70,000 feet is much lower than those satellites orbit so a smaller telescope will work, but a rough, back of the envelope calculation says it needs a 20" diameter mirror. The main mirror and secondary mirror can't be more than about 3 pounds, to leave weight for structure, computer and radio. I sure don't know how to make a 2-1/2 pound 20" mirror. <br /> SiGraybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-33304559828059137302019-01-30T15:12:50.021-05:002019-01-30T15:12:50.021-05:00The US has tech that can read license plates from ...The US has tech that can read license plates from orbit. I have little doubt they also have effective surveillance tech that can be used on these lightweight aircraft. Dannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-72516989329769111912019-01-29T16:27:14.653-05:002019-01-29T16:27:14.653-05:00The top of brass of either one is rather different...<i>The top of brass of either one is rather different than the engineering crews.</i><br /><br />I suspect every large human hierarchy follows the same pattern. Most of the workers are normal middle class personalities. The leaders are abnormal sociopaths and psychopaths. There are exceptions: Sam Walton. John Bogle. Hewlett, Packard, many of the early commercial electronics leaders. The rate of leaders with normal empathy would be a great number to know. Ron Paul is 1 in 500.<br /><br />Humans inherited instincts from the great apes to organize into this particular arrangement. Unlike great apes groups which have 100 members, human groups can have 100 million members. The size of this tax base increases the power of the leaders too much. I don't think these instincts can be removed by any sort of conditioning, but their effects can be muted by diligent work at rational thought.<br /><br />Technology growth increases the military power of individuals faster than it does groups. Individuals defending against organized crime ("taxation", "regulation") is going to keep getting cheaper and easier. This removes support from the logistical tail. Soon organized crime will no longer pay, because it will cost more to collect than it takes. This has already been the case in mountainous regions since forever. At that point the tail will be chopped off. Millions will freak out and join cults because their political instincts, starved of a charismatic war leader chief monkey, will go out of regulation and tell them the sky is falling. There will be no zombie apocalypse mad max starving time, because government shrinking uncovers economic opportunities faster than it dismantles monopoly services. Who here wants to found an inexpensive hospital, university, or major medical insurance company? The only thing stopping you is the politicians you choose to obey.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-22220250832280418792019-01-29T15:49:55.840-05:002019-01-29T15:49:55.840-05:00I agree with you guys that they must have applicat...I agree with you guys that they must have applications in mind. With a payload that small, the only one I can see as practical is a repeater; it can't carry an imager useable from that height, or a worthwhile sigint package. I'm sure that at this point it is a proof of concept and a testbed for technologies that can be used at lower altitudes. <br />I suspect they can use what they have learned at 70,000 feet and apply much of it at 30,000 or lower. Jonathan Hhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10476185257203343474noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-66509854235120192512019-01-29T09:14:18.903-05:002019-01-29T09:14:18.903-05:00My problem is that when I think of Airbus or anyon...My problem is that when I think of Airbus or anyone in the business I tend to think of the people I've worked with. The engineers I've met have all been reasonable people. I couldn't see them throwing away money and effort, but you're right that they're Government Motors of the Air, or the low altitude Ariane Space. The top of brass of either one is rather different than the engineering crews. <br /><br />It's also possible it was a learning exercise to stretch their ability to make zero carbon aircraft, and you know that's extremely important to their funding sources. <br />SiGraybeardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00280583031339062059noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-12212712528134601172019-01-29T08:32:55.438-05:002019-01-29T08:32:55.438-05:00Dan nailed it. But as far as Airbus designing an...Dan nailed it. But as far as Airbus designing an aircraft "<i>without several target missions in mind, including the required payload and duration</i>", look no further than their A380 for the fallacy of that statement. At least as far as the existence of enough customers for that target mission to justify the development costs. But then when you are "Government Motors", you don't have to justify development or production costs, do you?Mark Matisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-62333802007968007332019-01-29T03:03:52.122-05:002019-01-29T03:03:52.122-05:00Surveillance is probably the role craft like these...Surveillance is probably the role craft like these will fill. Satellites have a known time period for observation that can be avoided. Powered flight is of limited time duration. Something like this can keep an eye on an area 24/7 for days. And being so small it probably has a tiny radar signature so only the most astute and capable Air defenses will see it. Dannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1592992209402300549.post-42628727678180970412019-01-28T21:18:58.655-05:002019-01-28T21:18:58.655-05:00You can squeeze a digital repeater into that weigh...You can squeeze a digital repeater into that weight, which will work fine for comms, and probably get a camera or three and transmitter in the same weight range.drjimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05647484115197408897noreply@blogger.com