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Boat Moves Without an Engine Or Sails

Posted by samzenpus on from the watching-too-much-seaquest dept.

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."

3 of 234 comments (clear)

  1. Better Article by Selanit · · Score: 5, Informative

    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.

  2. Re:Can't MHD already do this? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

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

  3. The rime of the ancient mariner (Iron Maiden) by nomorecwrd · · Score: 5, Informative

    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?