JumpDrive Inertial Propulsion Experiments

1. Summary of Results

The results are inconclusive because too many serious measurement issues exist.

2. Introduction

Included in this section are the two baseline measurements and then the primary experiments where one variable is modified. The variables modified are:

"G" or gyro variable - Only one gyro is is being partially forced precessed while the opposite one is still
(NOT DONE YET) "R" or rotation variable - The starting rotation speed of gyro is varied from 2000RPM and up

When one variable is being varied, other variables should be held constant and they are the:

Main variable - Speed of rotation of main platform. Because the speed at which the gyros spin slowly decreases, it is necessary to increase the rotation speed of the main platform to keep the gyro(s) horizontal (unless otherwise specified). The "Main" variable is important because it is the point where the baseline results can be compared to the primary results, in other words, during the primaries, the main platform is rotated only up to the speed where the non-spinning gyro centrifugal force matchs a baseline.
Angle variable - This designates whether the precessing gyro started out horizontal or at 'n' degrees below horizontal.
(NOT DONE YET) Diameter variable - The 10" diameter gyro is replaced with a 12" diameter gyro.

Notes:

Step 2 of the experimental description was not done, in order to avoid changing the raw data as much as possible.
Although the video only lasts 20 seconds due to hardware limitations, it is vital to see what the gyro is doing to interpret the results correctly. Specifically to answer questions like is the gyro bouncing or is the gyro horizontal?
Each measurement consists of three sets of data:
- Graphed data - a screen shot of the results as shown on the customized software
- Raw data - a text file with all three channels (one, two and the difference) recorded in comma delimited fields
- MPEG video - a 20 second MPEG-4 format video

Each test run is recorded with a certain file name which is as follows:

"[Variable][Depends on Variable][Angle]_[Test Number]"

where,

[Variable] can be "G" for Gyro, "R" for rotation speed or "B" for Baseline.
[Depends on Variable] is :
- If [Variable] is "G" then this field is either channel "1" or channel "2" which means either channel one or two has the precessing gyro.
- If [Variable] is "R" then this field is the rotation speed of the nth gyro, for example, "2K2" means the second gyro is rotating at 2000RPM or "3K2" for the second gyro rotating at 3000RPM, etc.
- If [Variable] is "B", then this field is the centrifugal force of channel one (10, 20, 30 or 40) and an "S" modifier if both are spinning
[Angle] is "0" for horizontal or "n" where n is the degree the axle started from horizontal
[Test Number] can be "00" to "nn".

For example,

"R_4K2_25_10" is where the rotation speed of the second gyro is 4000RPM which started out at roughly 25 degrees below horizontal and this is the tenth test result. The first gyro is assumed to not be spinning and held horizontal.
"B_20S_0_00" is a baseline experiment, both gyros are spinning and the aim is to record the results when both are horizontal and one channel is registering 20lbs.

3. Baseline Results

These results correspond to step 3 in the description and are run with the following static variables:

Gyro rotation speed: 2000RPM (if spinning)
Gyro diameter: 10"
Angle: Horizontal

Non Spinning Horizontally Held Gyros

~10lbs on Channel One

Raw Data: "C0 - B_10_0_00.txt" (Contained in "Baseline Raw Data.zip)

Video: "C0 - B_10_0_00.mpg" (1.7MB MPEG4 compression)

~20lbs on Channel One

Raw Data: "C0 - B_20_0_00.txt" (Contained in "Baseline Raw Data.zip")

Video: "C0 - B_20_0_00.mpg" (1.7MB MPEG4 compression)

~30lbs on Channel One

Raw Data: "C0 - B_30_0_00.txt" (Contained in "Baseline Raw Data.zip")

Video: "C0 - B_30_0_00.mpg" (1.7MB MPEG4 compression)

~40lbs on Channel One

Raw Data: "C0 - B_40_0_00.txt" (Contained in "Baseline Raw Data.zip")

Video: "C0 - B_10_0_00.mpg" (1.7MB MPEG4 compression)

Both Spinning Horizontally Held Gyros

Note: The speed of the main platform was run at the speed required to keep the gyros horizontal.

Raw Data: "C0 - B_S_0_00.txt" (Contained in "Baseline Raw Data.zip")

Video: "C0 - B_10_0_00.mpg" (1.7MB MPEG4 compression)

4. Primary Results

The primary results consist of altering one variable at a time and each time, two separate measurements are taken.

For all the primary results, the following static variables apply:

Gyro rotation speed: 2000RPM
Gyro diameter: 10"
Angle: Horizontal
Main platform rotation speed is such that when channel one is precessing, 20lbs is the target for channel two (which is not spinning) and when channel two is precessing (as in G_2_0_00), the target for channel one is 10lbs. These targets are per the 10lbs baseline and no higher pressure was done.

Gyro Variable, Channel One Gyro 2000RPM - G_1_0_00

Raw Data: "C0 - G_1_0_00.txt" (Contained in "Raw Data for Gyro Variable.zip")

Video: "C0 - G_1_0_00.mpg" (1.7MB mpeg-4 compression)

Gyro Variable, Channel One Gyro 2000RPM - G_1_0_01

Raw Data: "C0 - G_1_0_01.txt" (Contained in "Raw Data for Gyro Variable.zip")

Video: "C0 - G_1_0_01.mpg" (1.7MB mpeg-4 compression)

Gyro Variable, Channel Two Gyro 2000RPM - G_2_0_00

Raw Data: "C0 - G_2_0_00.txt" (Contained in "Raw Data for Gyro Variable.zip")

Video: "C0 - G_2_0_00.mpg" (1.7MB mpeg-4 compression)

Gyro Variable, Channel Two Gyro 2000RPM - G_2_0_01

~~Raw Data: "C0 - G_2_0_00.txt" (1 KB text file)~~ A bug in the software did not allow the raw data to be saved.

Video: "C0 - G_2_0_01.mpg" (1.7MB mpeg-4 compression)

5. Analysis

Unfortunately, the test data indicates the measurement apparatus is not dependable enough to take accurate measurements.

The first thing is that when the apparatus is at rest and even though the gyros are both horizontal and the arm assemblies are almost identical, the load cells register a difference which also shows up in the baseline results when the main platform is spinning. Another problem is that for some undetermined reason the at-rest difference changed between when the baseline and primary tests where done.

There are a number of suspects as to why such a difference exists, the first being that, although both load cells have the same specifications, 50lbs, same output voltage, bridge type, etc, they are manufactured by two different companies. They may also be affected differently by temperature which have been ranging �10degrees these past couple of days. The second suspect is the different flexibility of the supports for the load cells because, as shown in setup, the Sensotec load cell has a different mount which flexes slightly more then the Lebow load cell mount.

The difference could be removed by adding a constant in software to one or the other channel when the device is at rest and the gyros are horizontal, in other words, calibrate the measurement system.

Even with the above difficulties, the data is encouraging because if the primary graphs (G_1_0_nn and G_2_0_nn) are studied closely, you can see the last 20 seconds of data has a discernable slope. Because the main platform rotation speed is the same as the baseline, the slope could mean that as the rotation speed of the gyro is slowing, the centrifugal force is changing. However, the slope is in the wrong direction, in other words, it is going from a higher force to a lower force??? If the effect exists, the precessing gyro should start out with less centrifugal force and as the gyro slows down, the result should start to look like the baseline (All fun speculation with a suspect measurement system).

Analysis of the MAAR reveal:

The rotation of the gyro about the gyro axis will not be powered and will start to drop from horizontal as it slows down.
- To keep the gyro horizontal, the rotation speed of the main platform will be slowly increased and a plastic cover will be added to reduce air friction.
Correct and the design of the gyros with a solid "spoke" made the plastic covers unnecessary. (air currents discussed in 4)
The measured centrifugal force will be scaled up because of the lever effect of the anchor mechanism.
- The measurement is concerned only with the difference and the baseline experiments should solve this MAAR because they will show what centrifugal force a non-spinning gyro produces.
Because the different load cells are measing a difference at rest, comparing the primaries against the baseline is necessary anyway.
The load cells are only rated for 50lbs which may be too small.
- A load cell capable of handling 200lbs is standing by.
50lbs is enough because the effect should be most noticable when the spin of the gyro is at it's highest and the main platform rotation speed is near it's lowest (10s of RPMs).
It could be claimed that the air currents from the spinning gyro is what causes the reduction in centrifugal force.
- A second experiment is possible whereby a box is fastened around the gyro to remove this possibility.
See the upcoming "Wind Shield Results"
One side might weight more then the other.
- The baseline experiments will show any differences between each side and care will be taken during fabrication to ensure symmetry.
There is a difference at rest, but it is suspected to be a result of different load cells and not unsymmetric arm assemblies.
If the difference is large, the table may wobble.
Not a chance because the rotation speed of the main platform is on the order of 10s of RPMs and the load cells max out at 50lbs which happens at about 100 to 120RPM.

Conclusion - The next improvement is either to calibrate (add a constant at rest) or to use two identical load cells.

C1 Results | Next C1 | Final C1