You might have seen
solar-powered planes before, but few of them come with as much world-changing ambition as the Solar Impulse. Launched in 2003, the project aims to demonstrate the viability of renewable energy sources by being the first to perform a manned flight around the globe using only solar power. The technology is nothing to scoff at, as the 200-foot wingspan features 12,000 photovoltaic solar cells bringing power to four electric motors. Captain Bertrand Piccard, one of the key men behind this project, is best known as one half of the first team to circumnavigate the world in a balloon in 1999. He hopes, together with partner André Borschberg, to repeat that achievement in Solar Impulse's next iteration, the HB-SIB, in 2012. Make it so, guys.
[Via
Gizmag]
posted Jul 3rd 2009 10:06PM
So by having that name, he had no choice but to be a captain of -something-. And he certainly is going places we haven't gone before. Metaphorically speaking, at least.
with that hairline & coloring, I'm guessing he went in the captaining direction prior to Jean Luc's debut.
Engage.
I love how "Make it so" was thrown in for good measure.
I was so ready to jump all over engadget for misspelling Captain Picard...and then I realized that this bald guy is REALLY named Piccard.
Amazing
wonder if he named his plane Enterprise
did he also act as the evil character emile danko in heroes???
In fact, Captain Jean-Luc Picard was named after the grandfather of Bertrand Piccard.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auguste_Piccard
The Grandfather, Auguste Piccard, made a record flight with a balloon to reach 16,200 m (53,152 ft) in 1932.
Oh, an Bertrands father - Jaques Piccard - was the one, who reached the Mariana Trench in depth at at 10,916 meters (35,813 feet) with the Trieste.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Piccard
Yeah, well my ancestors discovered the wheel, invented fire and started the french revolution because they were bored.
My ancestors, I rather expect, were layabouts and hecklers like myself.
- Mike
Don't forget to buy extra carbon credits- your going to need them with all the Solar Panels you'll be making!
Pretty frickin' sweet
I was thinking the Technomage Galen from "Crusade".
(Peter Woodward)
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.peterwoodward.com/Gallerie2/mediafiles/l1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.peterwoodward.com/Gallerie2/pages/page_1.html&h=708&w=486&sz=36&tbnid=pGAtMJA49gbubM:&tbnh=140&tbnw=96&prev=/images%3Fq%3DPeter%2BWoodward&hl=en&usg=__BKQlzF_HW_OHuIOmJ4l3_DYi3q0=&ei=RLtOSu_qEY2vtwfdzb2uBA&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=4&ct=image
The point was that his name is ACTUALLY Piccard (different spelling aside).
Whatever
cool stuff. probably not viable for any type of heavy payload, but it's on the right track.
How many lights are there?
There are four lights!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjNKyoRudOQ&NR=1
That's gotta be rough, though.
Because you never really know if you earned the Captain promotion or they did it just for giggles.
Kinda like being rich and meeting women... I imagine.
.... often.
- mike
Hrmm its not the Captain Piccard I was hoping it would be, but cool none the less.
Full impulse power! Engage!
lightening storm approaching - evasive maneuvers!
If the storm is lightening, it shouldn't be a problem.
When I first read the title I laughed thinking that it was a joke from the article writer, then I read the rest.. yeah I laughed some more.
But on a serious note, this could be the Wright Brother's equivalent of solar flight.
Had the exact same thought, too funny! Even more of a coincidence that it is involving something like this!
that's not captain picard that's jason statham
Make it so number 1
And don't step in #2!
I'd like to hope that this because a Viable option to eventually replace all commercial planes for the next generation, Though whatever happened to that "Black Silicon" solar panel stuff we heard about awhile ago? Apparently it absorbs around 500x-Times as much power compared to the current panels?
they found out it decomposed in bright sunlight. ironnnyyyyyyy.....
actually silicony (ba dum tish)
Well, you can hope if you like, but it won't be happening. The reason air travel is so damaging to the environment is that it takes a horrendous amount of energy. And that's the reason you need a 200-foot wingspan to fly *one* person using solar energy.
If you'd like to see more environmentally-friendly air travel, the best options are:
1. Balloons/blimps, which use much less power. Compared to jets these are incredibly slow, but may be an option for short hops where there isn't a rail service. However, I haven't heard of any commercially-successful operations for actual transport use (as opposed to tourist trips or luxury cruises).
2. Maybe hydrogen-fuel-cell electric planes (or those using another type of battery, but hydrogen is more energy-dense which is probably important in this case). Of course, this would only be environmentally-friendly if the energy used to extract the hydrogen/charge the batteries comes from renewable sources [or, arguably, nuclear]. I haven't heard of any development at all in this area, maybe there's some reason why it isn't possible, I dunno.
Solar-powered planes have good use for specific tasks though, e.g. unmanned spyplanes and the like that stay up in the air for ages.
Bald people are the future.
They already rebooted the original Star Trek, they should call this guy should the decide to reboot Star Trek: TNG...
But Picard has only one 'c' in his name!
The family changed the spelling after they moved around after the founding of the Federation. That's why Jean-Luc has an English accent and a French name, duh.
Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the USS Enterprise?
Arriving fashionably late to the joke?
There are two c's!
Hey Captain Piccard! What happens to the plane when it starts to rain?
:facepalm:
A.) the airplane flies over the cloud
B.) the plane uses its internal batteries to continue flight
that's when he turns on the warp core
The real problem is the lack of weaponry. This vessel has no way of fending off the borg.
@wnr,
That's okay, the Borg already has a solar plane.
thus far…
5 to 3 on the Star Trek to solar technology comment ratio (16 to 9 including this comment)
sweet.
the fact that you figured out the ratio is more amusing to me
Alls I know is that Captain Picard wasn't at the last meeting of the Captains Club, and he hasn't paid his dues since February. Plus he didn't make it to the ice cream social. I am THIS far away from having him kicked out of the club!! THIS far!!!
Well I'm sure they'll get plenty of light, we all know what happens in 2012....
(then again it might not be a fiery end, in which case, these guys are STUFFED)
geez I was thinking for a split microsecond...'hmm. Patrick Stewart looks a lot younger for some reason...'
Yeah thats great, as long as there are no clouds moving around that might suddenly and unexpectedly cover the sun. Oh wait hes in the sky!
I will buy Joe Jackson the first ticket on the plane.
"...we can have a good quality of life in this world.
we can solve the financial crisis.
we can fight poverty and we can protect the environment
only by inventing the future with enough pioneering spirit
the technological solutions already exist
please don't listen to people that say it's not possible;
that we need more innovation, more development before we can have it on the market.
No; the solutions exist.
We need desperately: political courage...
Ambitious visions...in order to force the implementations of the solutions we already have.
Through smart regulations and ambitious incentives..."
----------------
Quite an interesting video, and quite amazing ambitions - and quite amazing to amass all the partnerships.
The Solar Impulse aircraft is seen as a symbol to change the mentality of people's attitudes towards renewables. They know they are not going to fly passengers with the Solar Impulse but realise that will is the most important ingredient in changing the direction of the technological path we are travelling in (they also mention the days of early flights not flying passengers, then years later flying passengers...).
Some can disagree about their claims of carbon-free flight (especially when you consider transport and manufacturing 400KG of batteries, solar cells, frame, instrumentation, etc) but this is an awesome endeavour.
They sez:
* Sunpower solar cells at 22% efficiency provide best trade-off for weight and efficiency.
* Entire budget: 70 million Euros.
...with a second airplane in the works.
* 160KG total payload (seat, cockpit, food, pilot, oxygen...)
* Doubling the capacity of the batteries could allow 2 people in the plane.
* development of custom software on the plane
* they still have no partners within in the computer industry working with them but they are encouraged to join
Nice closing statements encouraging personal efforts at efficient energy use and pushing politicians for change.
Is there a Jeen Luck Pickerd here?
You're dead...and I'm God.
Go Switzerland !
Being a 1-person aircraft means this won't work because at the first sign of trouble, Will Riker won't be around to bark out RED ALERT!!
sell it and buy an iphone, perfect way to change it.
To avoid the need for heavy batteries, night flight will be enabled by a fleet of helicopters flying above the aircraft equipped with high intensity spotlights pointed downward at the solar arrays.
Adventuring is not only for fun.
Wright Brothers (Orville and Wilbur) made a breakthrough by their invention of the three-axis control to the airplanes in 1903.
About 110 years later, Captain Piccard will add another breakthrough by using the solar power to fuel his air trip around the world.
I wish I have more than two thumbs to bring them up for that savior of the Mother Earth.
Kudos to Captain Bertrand Piccard!
What if there's a storm?
Is the solar plane powered by Borg Implants?
I bet that cost an arm n a leg.
Jesus look at his face. What's wrong with him?