The solar panels would be made of a very thin material that can fold up into the base. The spikes extending and retracting them are telescopic. The reason for retracting them is that such flimsy structures would simply break away while the ship is under thrust.
I thought the surfaces look like they were folding up like cloth, but the rods don't look like they're telescoping to me, more like they're just getting shorter. I had a similar issue with the Vanguard, but I chose to have the sails fold back and trail behind the ship so they're essentially hanging while accelerating.
@Ylts92 Wouldn't it be better to have them fold in a zig-zaggy way. as you have it at the moment you'd need hundreds of sections, as there isn't much space to collapse into.
50 sections actually (40m panel / 80cm folding space). I can't really imagine zig-zagging taking less space. The rods themselves are 20cm wide so in order to fit the same space length-wise there could be only 4 folds, 10m sections each.
Total packed volume in this case is 80cm x 10m x 8.6m (width of the panel) = 68.8m3.
Using for example, 10 folds, you'd have (10 x 0.2)m x (40/10)m x 8.6m = 68.8m3 so nothing changes.
Telescoping, however, fits the panels into 80cm x 80cm x 8.6m = 5.5m3.
I was thinking of zigzag because it wouldn't take less space. it could stick out to each side a little when fully folded. The sections could clip into each other, or maybe onto supportive rods to cope with the acceleration.
I tried making a telescoping structure to your specifications. I ended up with each section's wall being just 2mm thick, and the end section is just 4mm across (I could send you the .blend if you'd like to check I've worked it out right.)
The numbers seem correct. Considering the rods have no structural load on them when extended I see no problem with it. The aluminium skin on modern airplanes for example is also of similar thickness.
There isn't anything wrong with the zigzag option, though. Actually I even tried using zigzag folding with the radiator panels on the rear of the ship but I couldn't get them fold up nicely enough.
@Ylts92 Even in microgravity I would think an 80cm by 0.4cm rod is too thin to be of reliable strength. I expect on model aeroplanes it can be stronger from being a broad surface that curves in multiple axis, causing compressive and tensional forces through the skin, not just a simple bending force. Also, they aren't 80cm long. And there will be quite a large force from accelerating the PV sheet.
I've asked my girlfriend about it, and she says you're probably right, and she knows far more than I
Theres really nothing to criticize, I love the way its sort of like the ship is dancing in the beggining, it was very cinematic and the music fit perfectly.
Well worth the wait, and I want to use blender now. :P
Amazing animation, I really like how you handled the lighting and flares.
ygvb1 6 months ago
It's always a pleasure to see science fiction that doesn't ignore the word science. Beautiful ship, and beautiful render.
I have 1 question.
How do the PV (I assume) sails retract?
kiml42 9 months ago
@kiml42
Thanks.
The solar panels would be made of a very thin material that can fold up into the base. The spikes extending and retracting them are telescopic. The reason for retracting them is that such flimsy structures would simply break away while the ship is under thrust.
Ylts92 9 months ago
@Ylts92
I thought the surfaces look like they were folding up like cloth, but the rods don't look like they're telescoping to me, more like they're just getting shorter. I had a similar issue with the Vanguard, but I chose to have the sails fold back and trail behind the ship so they're essentially hanging while accelerating.
kiml42 9 months ago
@kiml42
Telescoping is the idea but I didn't animate it :) So, yes, they're just getting shorter.
Ylts92 9 months ago
@Ylts92 Wouldn't it be better to have them fold in a zig-zaggy way. as you have it at the moment you'd need hundreds of sections, as there isn't much space to collapse into.
kiml42 9 months ago
@kiml42
50 sections actually (40m panel / 80cm folding space). I can't really imagine zig-zagging taking less space. The rods themselves are 20cm wide so in order to fit the same space length-wise there could be only 4 folds, 10m sections each.
Total packed volume in this case is 80cm x 10m x 8.6m (width of the panel) = 68.8m3.
Using for example, 10 folds, you'd have (10 x 0.2)m x (40/10)m x 8.6m = 68.8m3 so nothing changes.
Telescoping, however, fits the panels into 80cm x 80cm x 8.6m = 5.5m3.
Ylts92 9 months ago
@Ylts92
I was thinking of zigzag because it wouldn't take less space. it could stick out to each side a little when fully folded. The sections could clip into each other, or maybe onto supportive rods to cope with the acceleration.
I tried making a telescoping structure to your specifications. I ended up with each section's wall being just 2mm thick, and the end section is just 4mm across (I could send you the .blend if you'd like to check I've worked it out right.)
kiml42 9 months ago
@kiml42
The numbers seem correct. Considering the rods have no structural load on them when extended I see no problem with it. The aluminium skin on modern airplanes for example is also of similar thickness.
There isn't anything wrong with the zigzag option, though. Actually I even tried using zigzag folding with the radiator panels on the rear of the ship but I couldn't get them fold up nicely enough.
Ylts92 9 months ago
@Ylts92 Even in microgravity I would think an 80cm by 0.4cm rod is too thin to be of reliable strength. I expect on model aeroplanes it can be stronger from being a broad surface that curves in multiple axis, causing compressive and tensional forces through the skin, not just a simple bending force. Also, they aren't 80cm long. And there will be quite a large force from accelerating the PV sheet.
I've asked my girlfriend about it, and she says you're probably right, and she knows far more than I
kiml42 9 months ago
@Ylts92
P.S. I also think it would be difficult to fit in motors to extend and retract the array in the small space left behind, the collapsed telescope.
kiml42 9 months ago
Awesome!
pieta13ro 9 months ago
Awesome.
Thats put simply.
Dccopus 9 months ago
That was amazingly epic.
Theres really nothing to criticize, I love the way its sort of like the ship is dancing in the beggining, it was very cinematic and the music fit perfectly.
Well worth the wait, and I want to use blender now. :P
MrsBlindStudios 9 months ago
Which type of lamp did you use?Area,point?And second question:Flare effects did you in Blender?
Great animation!
ConejoNegroStudios 9 months ago
@ConejoNegroStudios He used After Effects for the flares and use sun lamps.
MrsBlindStudios 9 months ago
@MrsBlindStudios
Correct. Thanks, lol :P
Ylts92 9 months ago