William Atkins
Thursday, 05 November 2009 20:56
Science -
Space
Page 1 of 2
The company LaserMotive has developed a laser-powered robot that can climb about one kilometer up a wire into the sky. The company just won part of the 2010 Space Elevator Challenge.
The demonstration was held in the Mojave Desert in California, specifically at the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, about 145 kilometers (90 miles) north of Los Angeles, California.
The 1-kilometer (about 0.6-mile) trip up the wire took the robot just over four minutes. The wire was held vertically up in the sky by a helicopter.
The power for the robot came from an infrared laser beam that is aimed at high-efficiency solar cells, with an area of about four square feet, positioned at the base of the robot.
The solar cells, then, sends electricity to motors also stationed on the robot. The motors drive the robot up the wire.
The November 5, 2009 BBC News article “
Laser-powered robot aiming for space” contains a video showing the robot in action, climbing high into the sky.
The company
LaserMotive, which is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, was competing in a $2 million “Power Beaming” competition sponsored by NASA and the Spaceward Foundation.
The Space Elevator Challenge, or
Elevator:2010, is a competition for the purpose of developing space elevator and space elevator-related technologies.
Page two continues.
