Reaction Wheels in Reallife (Toy Demo)

[MalfunctionM1Ke]

Hey Guys,

I crawled again across the Web and found the Video below.

Found it pretty amazing because I have to deal with reaction wheels almost every Day.

Merry Christmas to all of you

[The Jedi Master]

That's actually pretty amazing. Thought they only worked in space.

[CobraA1]

That's actually pretty amazing. Thought they only worked in space.

No reason why they couldn't work in an atmosphere. Inertia works the same everywhere. They just need to add a few more variables, like counteracting gravity and dealing with friction.

[NovaSilisko]

No reason why they couldn't work in an atmosphere. Inertia works the same everywhere. They just need to add a few more variables, like counteracting gravity and dealing with friction.

As well as much more powerful but lighter weight. I imagine the wheels outweigh the rest of the box by quite a bit.

[7499275]

I am just saying at around the 2:15 minute mark if you look you will notice that everytime that cube moves, the lighting flashes... I'm just wondering how much video editing went into this and how much is this is all real.

[NovaSilisko]

I am just saying at around the 2:15 minute mark if you look you will notice that everytime that cube moves, the lighting flashes... I'm just wondering how much video editing went into this and how much is this is all real.

I would assume that it's the camera adjusting exposure, due to the sudden shift in brightness (since the cube's made of fairly reflective materials). Besides, this is quite a formal looking project, I don't think they'd be able to get away with faking it... http://www.idsc.ethz.ch/Research_DAndrea/Cubli

[MalfunctionM1Ke]

Actually, the Cubli is a Science Study by ETH-Zürich Switzerland for Students to do their Bachelor Exams on. So I dont think there is much editing on the Video

Turning wheels are very powerfull. Even your Bicycle is nothing more then 2 fast moving Gyros

[The Jedi Master]

OK, I want to know: Are reaction wheels black magic, or what?

[MalfunctionM1Ke]

OK, I want to know: Are reaction wheels black magic, or what?

As far as I understand it, as the wheel brakes, it transfers the movement energy from the wheel to the frame.

But what I havent figured out yet is, where this energy is going to while the wheel spools up.

This is not a problem while the cube stays on earth so the ground consumes all that energy, but when used in Space where every action has its reaction.

[CobraA1]

OK, I want to know: Are reaction wheels black magic, or what?

Nope. They're basically a conversion of electrical power into mechanical energy - in this case, rotational energy.

Basically, it's an electric motor connected to a large, heavy wheel. As the motor spins up (accelerates), it creates rotational motion (torque).

Add a computer to control it, along with sensors to detect the rotational motion, and you get something like this .

[CobraA1]

But what I havent figured out yet is, where this energy is going to while the wheel spools up.

The earth rotates a super tiny bit faster, and the frame and the ground beneath the frame heat up a super tiny amount.

[Flymetothemun]

I request the proprietors of this knowledge-gathering operation to assume a state of quietness and accept from me lawful currency in exchange for an operational reproduction of the marvelous machine of which they have constructed. Doing so shall cause a state of happiness and exuberant curiosity to be triggered violently and strongly within me.

Edited December 24, 2013 by Flymetothemun