Boat Moves Without an Engine Or Sails

coondoggie writes "Researchers say technology they have developed would let boats or small aquatic robots glide through the water without the need for an engine, sails or paddles. A University of Pittsburgh research team has designed a propulsion system that uses the natural surface tension that is present on the water's surface and an electric pulse to move the boat or robot, researchers said. The Pitt system has no moving parts and the low-energy electrode that emits the pulse could be powered by batteries, radio waves, or solar power, researchers said in a statement."

Comments

Better Article

[Selanit]

The New Scientist article on this topic is more informative. Among other things, it's got a video of the test mini-robot boat in action.

The water in the testing tank is very still -- there are few or no ripples. I wonder if the approach will actually work on, say, the ocean? If your propulsion system depends on steady contact with the water surface, waves are going to be a problem.

Re:Better Article

[arth1]

The New Scientist article on this topic is more informative. Among other things, it's got a video of the test mini-robot boat in action.

The keyword here being "mini".

When you weaken the surface tension, the surface raises a minute amount, which causes the vessel to slide off towards lower areas where the surface tension is intact. Raising the rear end of a RORO ship or passenger cruiser a millimetre or two isn't going to have much of an effect, methinks.

Giant bottle of dishwashing liquid?

[Anonymous Coward]

I built a boat like this when i was in grade 3.

http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/phenom/soappoweredboat.html

RTFA

[Anonymous Coward]

For all you harsh nay-sayers, the article is pretty clear that the tech's not for boats, but for small drones, robots and other things where fuel payload and moving parts are drawbacks.

Re:Calm water

[Whiney Mac Fanboy]

Can this really work outside of a lab, where the water surface isn't like glass ?

It sure can work outside the lab. Check out the pics (search for figure 2 / figure 3) to see photos!

Re:Can't MHD already do this?

[Anonymous Coward]

MHD: Magnetohydrodynamics, for those that don't remember obscure acronyms.

No, it is not even remotely similar.

[Jane Q. Public]

MHD consisted of the manipulation of a magnetic slurry inside a flexible structure (usually a tube), which in turn mechanically pushed water to the rear, thus achieving thrust.

Picture a large, straight colon, shoving diarrhea rearward via peristalsis: this was the basis of the MHD drive. It had nothing to do with surface tension, nor did it manipulate water directly via magnets or any other means.

Re:No, it is not even remotely similar.

[Anonymous Coward]

You are incorrect. Read the wikipedia article. MHD does not rely on simple mechanical effects.

Re:Calm water

[b4upoo]

There already exists a simple device that can power boats if there is wave action. In essence a pendulum is hooked to something that reminds one of a large swim fin. The swinging of the pendulum, due to wave action, move a mechanical ankle which holds the fin. It works well but it is obvious that this is for slow speeds only.

Re:Is it the Red October?

[psnyder]

Might be nice for whale-watching and the like

It would also be nice for whale communication, seeing as their ability to communicate over vast distances of ocean is significantly reduced by the background noise coming from mechanical engines in the water.

The rime of the ancient mariner (Iron Maiden)

[nomorecwrd]

There, calls the Mariner,
there comes a ship over the line
But how can she sail with no wind
in her sails and no tide.

(Based on "The rime of the ancient mariner" [1797 - 1798] by Samuel Taylor Coleridge )

Any other Iron Maiden fans out there in ./?
...
hello?

Re:Is it the Red October?

[afabbro]

The Red October relied on complicated and only partially effective baffling to minimise cavitation IIRC.

IIRC, the Red October ran primarily on fiction.