Difference between revisions of "Infinite glider"

From Kerbal Space Program Wiki
Jump to: navigation, search
(Thing about ornithopters is a total nonsense, even glider on a screenshot doesn't look anything alike. Also: added another possibility for infiniglider.)
m (marked as obsolete)
 
(6 intermediate revisions by 6 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 +
{{Box|type=warning|As of {{version|1.0}}, infinite gliders are no longer possible due to Kerbal Space Program's updated aerodynamics.}}
 +
 
[[File:EveInfiniglider.png|thumb|An unmanned solar-powered infiniglider explores [[Eve]]'s lower atmosphere.]]
 
[[File:EveInfiniglider.png|thumb|An unmanned solar-powered infiniglider explores [[Eve]]'s lower atmosphere.]]
An '''infinite glider''', often abbreviated as '''infiniglider''', is a [[plane|glider]] which exploits KSP's aerodynamics and allows a craft to accelerate indefinitely without an engine. Most infinite glider designs use many [[control surface]]s which are flapped very rapidly or multiple wings that are rotated very quickly. It is possible to use infinite gliders on every celestial body with an [[atmosphere]].
+
An '''infinite glider''', often abbreviated as '''infiniglider''', was a [[plane|glider]] which exploited KSP's aerodynamics and allowed a craft to accelerate indefinitely without an engine. Most infinite glider designs used many [[control surface]]s which were flapped very rapidly or multiple wings that were rotated very quickly. It was possible to use infinite gliders on every celestial body with an [[atmosphere]].  
  
Generally, infinite gliders are considered an exploit and not a legitimate game mechanic.
+
Generally, infinite gliders were considered an exploit and not a legitimate game mechanic. They had been made impossible with the new aerodynamic implementation in [[1.0]].
  
 
==Mechanics==
 
==Mechanics==
Infinite gliders work by exploiting the game's aerodynamics system and the way in which control surfaces interact with the atmosphere. When a light craft is equipped with several, rapidly moving them back and forth causes the airplane to quickly wobble in alternating directions and accelerate, possibly to speeds of 1–6 km/s or higher.
+
Infinite gliders used to work by exploiting the game's old aerodynamics system and the way in which control surfaces interacted with the atmosphere. When a light craft was equipped with several control surfaces, rapidly moving them back and forth caused the airplane to quickly wobble in alternating directions and accelerate, possibly to speeds of 1–6 km/s or higher.
  
However, infinite gliders tend to experience high g-forces due to the erratic and rapidly changing nature of their acceleration, and can disintegrate if flown too quickly. This disintegration is generally a result of strain from acceleration or atmospheric [[drag]] exceeding the physics tolerances of the linkages between parts; to counter it, [[strut]]s may be used to make high speed gliders sturdier and more stable. Physical [[time warp]], on the other hand, exacerbates the problem. Higher atmospheric density also increases the risk of an infinite glider tearing apart, due to the additional drag produced. The typical optimal altitude for an infiniglider on Kerbin (doesn't explode but moves as fast as possible) is around 0–13000 meters.
+
However, infinite gliders tended to experience high g-forces due to the erratic and rapidly changing nature of their acceleration, and could disintegrate if flown too quickly. This disintegration was generally a result of strain from acceleration or atmospheric [[drag]] exceeding the physics tolerances of the linkages between parts; to counter it, [[strut]]s could be used to make high-speed gliders sturdier and more stable. Physical [[time warp]], on the other hand, exacerbated the problem. Higher atmospheric density also increased the risk of an infinite glider tearing apart, due to the additional drag produced. The typical optimal altitude for an infiniglider on Kerbin (doesn't explode but moves as fast as possible) was around 0–13000 meters.
  
 
==Variants==
 
==Variants==
Most infinite gliders are very small craft, equipped with probe cores and [[solar panel]]s to reduce their weight and hence increase their acceleration. However, manned infinigliders can also be manufactured, either using a [[command pod]] or an [[EAS-1 External Command Seat]] to hold a [[kerbal]] pilot. The latter designs require careful balancing and stabilization due to their typically high center of mass.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4HwHUGw56s</ref>
+
Most infinite gliders were very small craft, equipped with probe cores and [[solar panel]]s to reduce their weight and hence increase their acceleration. However, manned infinigliders could also be manufactured, either using a [[command pod]] or an [[EAS-1 External Command Seat]] to hold a [[kerbal]] pilot. The latter designs required careful balancing and stabilization due to their typically high center of mass.<ref>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4HwHUGw56s</ref>
  
 
==Notes==
 
==Notes==
Line 16: Line 18:
  
 
[[Category:Craft]]
 
[[Category:Craft]]
 +
[[Category: Exploits]]

Latest revision as of 22:41, 16 July 2021

As of version 1.0, infinite gliders are no longer possible due to Kerbal Space Program's updated aerodynamics.
An unmanned solar-powered infiniglider explores Eve's lower atmosphere.

An infinite glider, often abbreviated as infiniglider, was a glider which exploited KSP's aerodynamics and allowed a craft to accelerate indefinitely without an engine. Most infinite glider designs used many control surfaces which were flapped very rapidly or multiple wings that were rotated very quickly. It was possible to use infinite gliders on every celestial body with an atmosphere.

Generally, infinite gliders were considered an exploit and not a legitimate game mechanic. They had been made impossible with the new aerodynamic implementation in 1.0.

Mechanics

Infinite gliders used to work by exploiting the game's old aerodynamics system and the way in which control surfaces interacted with the atmosphere. When a light craft was equipped with several control surfaces, rapidly moving them back and forth caused the airplane to quickly wobble in alternating directions and accelerate, possibly to speeds of 1–6 km/s or higher.

However, infinite gliders tended to experience high g-forces due to the erratic and rapidly changing nature of their acceleration, and could disintegrate if flown too quickly. This disintegration was generally a result of strain from acceleration or atmospheric drag exceeding the physics tolerances of the linkages between parts; to counter it, struts could be used to make high-speed gliders sturdier and more stable. Physical time warp, on the other hand, exacerbated the problem. Higher atmospheric density also increased the risk of an infinite glider tearing apart, due to the additional drag produced. The typical optimal altitude for an infiniglider on Kerbin (doesn't explode but moves as fast as possible) was around 0–13000 meters.

Variants

Most infinite gliders were very small craft, equipped with probe cores and solar panels to reduce their weight and hence increase their acceleration. However, manned infinigliders could also be manufactured, either using a command pod or an EAS-1 External Command Seat to hold a kerbal pilot. The latter designs required careful balancing and stabilization due to their typically high center of mass.[1]

Notes

  1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4HwHUGw56s