Re: Name that doodad, greeble, keg of beer, or whatever.

In a message dated 5/12/99 8:32:55 AM EST, rick@esr.com writes:

<< Why, it's obviously part of the grav-field generator! 
 
 The AFV manufacturer, BAT Industries, sub-contracted the grav engines
for
 those vehicles to Constellar Planetary Engine Works. CPEW was one of
the
 leaders in developing grav technology, and those vehicles used the
Type-42
 Dual-Vector Anti-Grav Propulsion System, their first generation of grav
 engines.
 
 The Type-42 Dual-Vector engine (42DV) consists of two anti-grav
devices; one
 pointing downward which creates the "levitation" effect, and one
pointed
 forward which creates velocity. When the forward anti-grav device is
 activated, it creates a miniature gravity well in front of the vehicle,
into
 which the vehicle is constantly "falling" as it moves forward.
Deceleration
 is accomplished by reversing the field, and turning the vehicle is
 accomplished by pivoting the field generator inside the "barrel".
 
 The "barrel" is an armored container for the forward anti-grav device.
 The downward anti-grav device is contained in a similar barrel below
the
 vehicle. Due to the nature of the forces involved in generating
anti-gravity
 fields, BAT Industries decided that the crew would be best protected by
 mounting the anti-grav devices outside the vehicle. The more recent
versions
 of anti-grav AFVs use better shielding for the crew compartment, which
 allows the grav engines to be mounted inside the hull.
 
 Later generations of grav engines use the Multi-Vector Anti-Grav
Propulsion
 System, which combines all the necessary anti-grav devices into a
single
 generator.
 
 -- Rick Rutherford >>

I stand in awe Rick. i am so impressed. Have you applied to the Star
Trek 
producers for the technospeak writers. Whenever a script writer has need
of a 
tech explanation for something they just write "Technogibberis" in the
space 
and editors create the needed dialogue within established parameters for

their imaginary technology. You are amazing! My congratulations!