Do Ion drives have the potential to change the future of transportation or is the technology limited in it's applications?

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Xuan12 · 31-35, M

The amount of power it takes to use them is prohibitive. They're great for tiny thrusters in space used for adjustment, and maybe for tiny drone crafts, but it's difficult to imagine them powering large craft.

On the other hand, if you had new power tech, like lightweight portable fusion energy, which can produce TONS of power, these ion drives might become feasible for even larger craft.

Granted you'd still be able to operate a rotor powered craft much more efficiently in atmosphere with that energy, but you COULD use the ion drive then, if you really wanted to.

TheSeptikSkeptik · 46-50, M

@Xuan12 Lightweight portable fusion is a ways off yet isn't it? I mean I kind of chuckled when I read that even though I know it's hypothetically possible. At least portable fusion at the commercial level is still a ways off from being realistically utilized. Cooling and stability would probably be two of the biggest challenges I imagine since power plants have to pump massive amounts of water to cool their reactors. There is a newer Ion drive system they are testing at MIT that is engineless and works by ionizing and accelerating air particles through electrodes. It's still in it's early stages though. I think they flew a little airplane like ten feet or something like that.

Xuan12 · 31-35, M

@TheSeptikSkeptik Yeah, lightweight portable fusion is a ways away, we have to figure fusion out first. XD I heard the recent experiments. One fellow flew a super-light craft (like a hobby glider) a few hundred feet using ions.

TheSeptikSkeptik · 46-50, M

@Xuan12 We've had nuclear fusion for years. Are you talking about a specific type of fusion?

Xuan12 · 31-35, M

@TheSeptikSkeptik Fusion that produces a sustainable energy surplus usable for the production of electricity.

TheSeptikSkeptik · 46-50, M

@Xuan12 Never mind. I was thinking about fission. Realized this on my way out to the kitchen I was like "D'oh!" This may come as a shock to you but I'm not educated in nuclear physics. 😄

TheSeptikSkeptik · 46-50, M

@Xuan12 Yeah, fission and fusion are two separate reactions.

Xuan12 · 31-35, M

@TheSeptikSkeptik No worries. We have been using fusion for a few decades, but only in bombs and experimental stellarators in labs as far as I know.