Re: ATM intersecting light

["Bob May" <bobmay@nethere.com>]

Joe, I think you are talking about the little aluminum disc shaped things
that literally stood on a light beam?
If so, the process there was that the light beam went to the disc where it
was reflected on the bottom by a shiney surface to a common point where the
power density was so high that the air heated rapidly and provided the
propulsion power.  The biggest problem with that process was the tracking of
the object and keeping the beam on the center of the reflector.  Off axis
excursions of the beam would cause the heated air to be offset from the
center which would cause the vehicle to go off course.
Basically a cute trick but not stable in a single motor version.  Multiple
motors would probably be stable as you can vary the various beams to
maintain the stability of the system with much relaxed pointing
requirements.  Also needed is a system of charging the reflector center
without having the air come in from the side or bottom which loses drive
power.
Bob May
http://nav.to/bobmay
bobmay@nethere.com
NEW! http://bobmay.astronomy.net