Fancloth
fancloth
Image from Steve Bowers
Fancloth uses microscale motors and miniature fans to provide lift

Fancloth A lightweight, smart fabric mesh with powered microfans installed within approx. 1.5 mm mesh openings. Fancloth mesh size is affected by several factors; molecular motors can be made which are much smaller, but very small fans would be choked by atmospheric dust. Similarly, fancloth with mesh larger than 1.5mm create turbulent airflow and lose efficiency.

Fancloth can be used as sails or wings capable of carrying small vehicles or individuals; one common configuration is the Paracopter (see this page).

Fancloth can also be used in reverse to generate power as a form of wind turbine. This material was first suggested by Information Age imagineer J Storrs Hall, who also formed the original concept of Utility Fog.
 
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Appears in Topics
Atmospheric TransportMaterials TechnologyPower Generation
 
Development Notes
Text by Terrafamilia

Initially published on 16 July 2009.