Is this real?

[redsturgeon]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGM4JXVB5FM

A silent drone with no propellers? Ionic propulsion?

I don't know enough to understand is this is real.

John

[pje16]

seems to be more possible than being practical
Interesting though

[doolally]

It looks like a big fly zapper

[vrdiver]

Here's a video link to an explanation of how ionic thrust works:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSYwaesDQBw

Early days, but definitely "real".

VRD

[mc2fool]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGM4JXVB5FM

A silent drone with no propellers? Ionic propulsion?

I don't know enough to understand is this is real.

John

Oh yeah, pretty old hat as a concept. As the first comment says, "I did this in junior high like 20 years ago.. it was called high voltage lifter. You made them out of balsa wood, tinfoil, an old computer screen and thin copper wire", and indeed I first heard of them even longer ago than that.

Here's an electrons-and-protons-visualised explanation of how it works: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01F8V5IhB5k
And here's how to build yourself a proof-of-concept one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzZy1Aqleno

One of the things you'll notice about that, and in all the other DIY ion propulsion lifters you'll find, is that they're tethered by the wires providing the high voltage power to them, which always comes from a pretty chunky power supply.

The thing that's new about the one you've found is clearly that advances in technology have made it possible for the batteries and power supply to be small and light enough for the lifter to be able to carry them on-board, which is kinda essential if it's going to go anywhere!

The idea occasionally crops up in UFO "documentaries" as the possible silent "anti-gravity" mechanism that our visitors from Mars use for their flying saucers. Take that with a pinch of salt.

[scotia]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGM4JXVB5FM

A silent drone with no propellers? Ionic propulsion?

I don't know enough to understand is this is real.

John

No propellers? What's the big fan on the top doing?