Posted 07.14.2011 at 2:49 pm
5 Comments
GATR's Inflatable Satellite Dish
GATR Technologies via One Per Cent
Need a satellite link-up, but having trouble finding a reliable dish vendor in the middle of Helmand province? GATR technologies has a solution for you: a four-foot diameter inflatable, man-portable satellite dish that fits in a backpack.
The construction is something like that of one of those huge exercise balls with an antenna in the center. The two layer ball is constructed of one layer of nylon mesh and another made of the same stuff as sails. The ball is actually constructed of two seaparate, hemispheric chambers that divide the sphere right along the center like the equator. By putting more pressure on the antenna side than the back side, the wall dividing the two sides becomes parabolic, just like a rigid satellite dish.
That’s pretty handy, as rigid satellite dishes are heavy--even small ones. For troops in the field that need to link remotely to command or for broadcasters or aid work workers trying to set up communications from remote or devastated parts of the world, such a portable, packable satellite dish cold be an indispensable low-tech tool.
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ET would loved this idea!
Ion Control... FIRE!
Really cool invention. With modern technology(particularly communications) finding it's way to the battle field this kind of stuff is becoming more and more necessary. The Army is fielding iPhones and Droids to some soldiers now to test the versatility and advantage the smart phones can offer. I have been using my personal iPhone for a couple months now and the things I've managed to do with this phone in the field is incredible. Having the ability to run multiple functions and apps with one single device is amazing. The amount of weight it saves is worth it alone. Smart phones have a definate future on the modern battlefield.
What we also need is a mobile cell network to put into place in under developed and un developed regions of the world when we enter that region for military operations, having our own cell network that can be emplaced and extracted when needed. This cool satelite has promise.
I envisioned a massive inflatable telescope to replace the Hubble telescope in space. But a division between spherical haves pressured into the parabolic shape is brilliant. I proposed a backside magnetic coating and using magnets to actively shape the mirrored surface into a parabolic shape in an older post. Just convert the PEGEOS a massive inflatable satellite into a supersized Hubble telescope. Combing the two methods is a possible option, with only one magnet in the center and pressure control to actively change the parabolic shape. Imagine with modern materials taking something the size of Hubble and inflating it into the size of a building and using that as your mirror.
Blast! I designed this thing when I was 7!!!!
Mine was even better! it was the size of a fligging water bottle!!!!!!
I need to check my room for bugs, this is the third d@mn time....