[TML] A Bit of Fluff

[Michael Jenkins]

On 02/04/2008, Eris Reddoch <erisred at bellsouth.net> wrote:
> Michael Jenkins wrote:
>  > On 02/04/2008, Eris Reddoch <erisred at bellsouth.net> wrote:
>  >> Here's something a bit different, just a bit of fluff from one
>  >>  of the PBEM's I'm running.
>  >>
>  >> <snip excellent land yacht scenario>
>
> Thanks.
>
>  > Hmm ... land yachts with grav lifts ... nice idea ... but it occurs to
>  > me that roll stability could be an issue - a decent push from the wind
>  > on an overhead sail and the craft could potentially roll over so far
>  > as to lose power from the sail.
>  >
>  > Possible solutions:
>  >
>  > Have the CG centre of lift point well above the vehicle's centre of
>  > balance, so that it self rights.
>  >
>  > Have a keel below the vessel to counterbalance. The keel would
>  > probably need to be an aerofoil shape with some control over its angle
>  > of attack.
>
> Oh, there's a keel....a grav keel. I'm saying it is a grav
>  module running in reverse to provide the same sort of drag
>  you'd get in the water. The boat's computer controls the grav
>  units that provide lift for the whole craft and drag against
>  the ground to counterbalance the pull provided by the wind in
>  the sail. That's as far as I'm going toward gearheading. Any
>  more effort in that direction, if any, will be up to the
>  players. And if they do, *they* will have to figure out
>  appropriate handwaves to make it all work out. :)

I had another idea - you could reduce the CG lift on the windward side
of the vessel, and increase the CG lift on the leeward side, providing
an opposing force to the mast, while still providing the same overall
lift.

-- 
Regards,
Michael Jenkins
--
You cannot deny the humanity of another human being
Without also denying humanity in yourself
--