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Autonomous Model Glider Flies from 60,000 Feet
saccade writes "A couple
years ago we read about a telemetry laden balloon launched
to 80,000 feet single-handedly built by a laid-off engineer. Here's an even more elaborate
one built at around the same time: A balloon launched model
glider taken to about 60,000
feet that autonomously finds its way home. It had an auto-pilot
and elaborate mission control system. Also impressive is the
extensive testing
done before launch."
It can correct its flightpath, but it can't react to obstacles. A cliff would kill it, as would a tree.
What would happen if we dropped something intrinsically warm like a slab of uranium on Titan
Quick! Somebody call the Dept of "HomeSec" on this evildoer, before he makes his "homing glider" plans available to terrerhists like that DIY cruise missile guy tried to. And if they find any Estes model rocket engines in his home (while he's away, of course), I they throw the book at him!
Power to the Peaceful
what is stopping? nothing really.
what's stopping them from gassing some public place? nothing really.
what is stopping a not-fit-for-driving driver from driving into a crowd by accident ? nothing really.
what COULD stop an intelligent man from turning the hell loose if he was determined, except maybe luck? personally i'm surprised how the big nations leaders can stay alive so well(proves that the world isn't as dark as you might think at first, there isn't a whole lot of people who are determined in breaking shit up like that, or that typical terrorists are narrow minded or uneducated.. which pretty much could be true, if you weren't narrow minded you'd find something more enjoyable to do).
just get over it.
world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
/.'s a little slow getting the headlines these days?
Research like this bodes well for future exploration of other planets. A glider, or better yet a powered aircraft, can cover more ground in an hour than Spirit and Opportunity have in a year. With the communications delay, it would have to be autonomous.
Landing to conduct experiments would be a one-time deal (unless it can take off again), but such a vehicle could do great recon for future rovers or human explorers, in addition to all sorts of atmospheric experiments.
Give a man fire, and you warm him for the night. Set a man on fire, and you warm him for the rest of his life.
Uh, I don't know if you meant this to be intentional, but taking your "Drake's equation" and the last number I remember hearing for the US population:
(0.0001*0.001*0.1*0.5) * (population of US: ~200 million) = 1
I know that you were being cute, but figured some people wouldn't pick up on it.
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