Re: [ATM] Active damping

["Dream - Telescopes & Accessories, Inc." <shane@dreamscopes.com>]

The technology (extremely small and lightweight hardware that dampens 
vibrations) is being used in a wide variety of composite products such as: 
skis, tennis racquets, snow boards, etc..  They are working feverishly to 
get this technology into other markets as well.

These composites are actively dampened using piezoelectric fiber composite 
technology.  The power source is the vibrations themselves.  Electricity is 
generated and thus powers the active dampening.

Please review the pdf below:
http://www.nd.edu/~rroeder/ame238/composites.pdf

Is this technology useful for an ATMer trying to dampen a $500 
Dobsonian...  Stiffer tubes and/or other methods of simple dampening, rope 
was mentioned, are probably much more economically viable alternatives to 
the ATMer right now.  Piezoelectric fiber composite technology is still 
very new.  For "winter-challenged" telescope users I think ACI's potential 
product of self-heated boots to be extremely viable however!

Thank you.

Sincerely,
Shane Santi
Dream - Telescopes & Accessories, Inc.
http://www.dreamscopes.com
610 - 365 - 2833

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