make small tech bigger?

[shadowstriker86]

so i just saw this thing called an "AR Drone" at Brookstone today, basically its a little plane with 4 harrier wings on it

I'm just wondering, if we're able to make a toy with this kind of tech, why can't we make it bigger? i mean if you think about it, this thing just runs on a few batteries, make some massive sized AA's and boom, we have flying cars! I dunno, maybe I'm just thinking too simple, your thoughts?

 

[TeeBs]

The plastic weights almost nothing, add a human body or almost any weight and it wouldn't be able to fly. But yes you could just make this thing bigger but there would be no economical reason to.

 

[Kaboose the Moose]

Yes it can be done. No question about it. But why?

 

[Double A]

The plastic weights almost nothing, add a human body or almost any weight and it wouldn't be able to fly. But yes you could just make this thing better but there would be no economical reason to.

People with too much money and time would buy them...

 

[SL33TBL1ND]

Diminishing returns. Just making it bigger isn't going to work, or even serve any purpose.

 

[iblis666]

http://www.lushbling.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/moller-m400-skycar_large.jpg

been done

 

[Hashime]

Well, it is a strength to weight ratio thing. It scales at about 1/D^3 if we are talking diameter of a rod, so a small object is much much stronger than a large one due to the relative strength to scale ratio.
Basically it is why an elephant cannot jump as high as a flea.

 

[TeeBs]

The plastic weights almost nothing, add a human body or almost any weight and it wouldn't be able to fly. But yes you could just make this thing better but there would be no economical reason to.

People with too much money and time would buy them...

Yea but thats not a very effective base to appeal too, most people with too much money are probably more occupied by functioning things rather then a supersized version of a toy they played with 14+ years ago.

 

[AceAngel]

so i just saw this thing called an "AR Drone" at Brookstone today, basically its a little plane with 4 harrier wings on it

I'm just wondering, if we're able to make a toy with this kind of tech, why can't we make it bigger? i mean if you think about it, this thing just runs on a few batteries, make some massive sized AA's and boom, we have flying cars! I dunno, maybe I'm just thinking too simple, your thoughts?

Simple is the keyword here.

Think about a bumper-battery powered car and real car. The difference and price tag are jarring no?

Now consider that 'flyer' and you standard-nose-propeller power plane which costs under 15K.

Let your imagination fly with all the fantastic 'analysis' and argument we can have with these two examples.

 

[WolfEdge]

Simple is the keyword here.

Think about a bumper-battery powered car and real car. The difference and price tag are jarring no?

Now consider that 'flyer' and you standard-nose-propeller power plane which costs under 15K.

Let your imagination fly with all the fantastic 'analysis' and argument we can have with these two examples.

Heh heh... "fly". I hope you meant that pun, cause it made me chuckle.

 

[Hashime]

Yes it can be done. No question about it. But why?

Well, no. The strength the weight ration of a material does not scale lineally, so you will reach a point where it will not be able to be made out of plastic and foam due to strength or weight requirements. So you will need to change materials. But the amount of power and energy required will also scale exponentially, so the energy storage system will also have to get larger. This design is not efficient at any larger of a scale as demonstrated by the fact large ones do not exist.

 

[AceAngel]

Simple is the keyword here.

Think about a bumper-battery powered car and real car. The difference and price tag are jarring no?

Now consider that 'flyer' and you standard-nose-propeller power plane which costs under 15K.

Let your imagination fly with all the fantastic 'analysis' and argument we can have with these two examples.

Heh heh... "fly". I hope you meant that pun, cause it made me chuckle.

Oh, wow, I did not notice that...it sounds soo cheesy now >.>

 

[Kaboose the Moose]

Yes it can be done. No question about it. But why?

Well, no. The strength the weight ration of a material does not scale lineally, so you will reach a point where it will not be able to be made out of plastic and foam due to strength or weight requirements. So you will need to change materials. But the amount of power and energy required will also scale exponentially, so the energy storage system will also have to get larger. This design is not efficient at any larger of a scale as demonstrated by the fact large ones do not exist.

Efficiency is a whole different matter. The question was if it can be made bigger, and apart from structural reinforcements and possibly a method of suspending power cables from the ground to the craft..it can be done.

Just because something doesn't exist, doesn't mean it can't be done.

 

[Hashime]

Yes it can be done. No question about it. But why?

Well, no. The strength the weight ration of a material does not scale lineally, so you will reach a point where it will not be able to be made out of plastic and foam due to strength or weight requirements. So you will need to change materials. But the amount of power and energy required will also scale exponentially, so the energy storage system will also have to get larger. This design is not efficient at any larger of a scale as demonstrated by the fact large ones do not exist.

Efficiency is a whole different matter. The question was if it can be made bigger, and apart from structural reinforcements and possibly a method of suspending power cables from the ground to the craft..it can be done.

Just because something doesn't exist, doesn't mean it can't be done.

Well, did say giant AAs. So I am assuming he meant on board power. Now I agree that is could probably be done with significant design changes, but a simple scale up is not possible.

 

[Kaboose the Moose]

Yes it can be done. No question about it. But why?

Well, no. The strength the weight ration of a material does not scale lineally, so you will reach a point where it will not be able to be made out of plastic and foam due to strength or weight requirements. So you will need to change materials. But the amount of power and energy required will also scale exponentially, so the energy storage system will also have to get larger. This design is not efficient at any larger of a scale as demonstrated by the fact large ones do not exist.

Efficiency is a whole different matter. The question was if it can be made bigger, and apart from structural reinforcements and possibly a method of suspending power cables from the ground to the craft..it can be done.

Just because something doesn't exist, doesn't mean it can't be done.

Well, did say giant AAs. So I am assuming he meant on board power. Now I agree that is could probably be done with significant design changes, but a simple scale up is not possible.

No of course not. Though in my mind I was not picturing it to carry a human cargo..or any cargo for that matter. It would be like that guy in Red Dead Redemption that tried to fly with a glider...

alas.....

 

[Double A]

The plastic weights almost nothing, add a human body or almost any weight and it wouldn't be able to fly. But yes you could just make this thing better but there would be no economical reason to.

People with too much money and time would buy them...

Yea but thats not a very effective base to appeal too, most people with too much money are probably more occupied by functioning things rather then a supersized version of a toy they played with 14+ years ago.

They are, but their spouses and children aren't.