Gravity Scanners

Grand Paladin · Thu Jul 28, 2005 2:26 pm

In the first episode there is a reference to the UEG detecting a disturbance in the gravimetric field that was the same/simmilar to the one that was detected when the Visitor (SDF-1) caused just before it crashed into Macross Island.

Now, given that statement and that the year that the SDF-1 crash landed was supposed to be in 1999, the technology to detect gravimetric distortions must have already been developed beforehand. Unfortunately there has been no other reference to this technology afterwards (to my knowledge), and has never had a RPG conversion into the Palladium series that saw publication.

Rimmerdal · Unread post by **Rimmerdal** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 2:35 pm

My guess would be it senses an identifies gravity fields and their stength. Possibly also other events like Folds and stellar Phenomenon. Not alot of that in the Sol system...mabye that is why it has not been mentioned in the RPG or in the show as much.

Rimmerdal · Unread post by **Rimmerdal** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 2:55 pm

Anytime, Gadrin.

jedi078 · Unread post by **jedi078** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 6:54 pm

Khyron did use "gravity mines" to trap the SDF-1 on the surface of Mars.

Maybe the sensors were designed to check for anomalies in the gravitation pull of planet or moon to check if this kind of trap was being used.

Also every planet has a diffrent gravity so checing that too would be inportant (don't want to go check out the surface of a planet and later find out that you can't escape its gravity well).

Jefffar · Unread post by **Jefffar** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 6:59 pm

And large objects would have their own gravity as well, making it possible to detect them even if they aren't emmiting energy (ie asteroids, ships running on now power).

glitterboy2098 · Thu Jul 28, 2005 9:49 pm

In the first episode there is a reference to the UEG detecting a disturbance in the gravimetric field that was the same/simmilar to the one that was detected when the Visitor (SDF-1) caused just before it crashed into Macross Island.

Now, given that statement and that the year that the SDF-1 crash landed was supposed to be in 1999, the technology to detect gravimetric distortions must have already been developed beforehand.

actually, we have "gravity wave detectors" in real life. since the mid 90's

a "Y" of lasers. the bottom part being the projector, projecting hundreds of pulses per second into a beamsplitter. the two beams are sent to seperate detectors, which measure the intensity and arrival time of the laser pulses.

disturbances in the fabric of space caused by gravitational sources cause the distances to distort slightly, causing the two identical beams pulse to arrive non-simultaniously. by measuring the differance in timing, and using the distances involved, you can calculate a waveform of the distorsion.

unfortunately it's pretty inaccurate, since its only a few miles per side, and stuck in a gravity well.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravitational_radiation

Guest · Unread post by **Guest** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 3:55 pm

My favorite 'What the hell were they smoking' Tech has to be Phase Worlds "Gravity Wave Radar"

You know, the one that "sends out Gravity Waves and then reads their reflections to make an image of objects."

I think they didn't consider the HUGE amount of power that would be required to do this without a HUGE amount of mass, nor did they think about the repurcussions of SHOOTING GRAVITY WAVES at things...

Grand Paladin · Tue Aug 02, 2005 4:25 pm

Edge wrote:My favorite 'What the hell were they smoking' Tech has to be Phase Worlds "Gravity Wave Radar"

You know, the one that "sends out Gravity Waves and then reads their reflections to make an image of objects."

I think they didn't consider the HUGE amount of power that would be required to do this without a HUGE amount of mass, nor did they think about the repurcussions of SHOOTING GRAVITY WAVES at things...

Well, honestly.. I can suspend my disbelief here Edge. It's a game. Anyways, if I can deal with a device the size of my backpack that can fly people through the air and space by use of Contra Gravity waves... I'd can deal with a scanner that can use Gravity waves that can act like radar.

Guest · Unread post by **Guest** » Tue Aug 02, 2005 8:03 pm

Distorting Gravity Fields, weakening them locally, and using this for thrust and to fly..

I can see that, really, it isn't even physically impossible, just complex.

But to actively bounce Gravity Waves off of something...

There is an ultratech race in a sci fi series I read that has developed the Gravity Wave Laser as the ultimate weapon technology...

These things are handguns that can break stars...

To actively project Gravity Waves at something...

Well...lets just say the term Catastrophic doesn't do it justice.

Zer0 Kay · Unread post by **Zer0 Kay** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 1:03 pm

Edge wrote:My favorite 'What the hell were they smoking' Tech has to be Phase Worlds "Gravity Wave Radar"

You know, the one that "sends out Gravity Waves and then reads their reflections to make an image of objects."

I think they didn't consider the HUGE amount of power that would be required to do this without a HUGE amount of mass, nor did they think about the repurcussions of SHOOTING GRAVITY WAVES at things...

Not to mention... since when do gravitons reflect?

Zer0 Kay · Unread post by **Zer0 Kay** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 1:04 pm

Edge wrote:Distorting Gravity Fields, weakening them locally, and using this for thrust and to fly..

I can see that, really, it isn't even physically impossible, just complex.

But to actively bounce Gravity Waves off of something...

There is an ultratech race in a sci fi series I read that has developed the Gravity Wave Laser as the ultimate weapon technology...

These things are handguns that can break stars...

To actively project Gravity Waves at something...

Well...lets just say the term Catastrophic doesn't do it justice.

You realize gravity is one of the weaker forces... right? It requires so much mass compared to the other forces.

Zer0 Kay · Unread post by **Zer0 Kay** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 1:10 pm

Edge wrote:Distorting Gravity Fields, weakening them locally, and using this for thrust and to fly..

I can see that, really, it isn't even physically impossible, just complex.

But to actively bounce Gravity Waves off of something...

There is an ultratech race in a sci fi series I read that has developed the Gravity Wave Laser as the ultimate weapon technology...

These things are handguns that can break stars...

To actively project Gravity Waves at something...

Well...lets just say the term Catastrophic doesn't do it justice.

I prefer lasers with gravity lenses. Lasers fires out of the ship then are redirected by a projected gravity lense.

Guest · Unread post by **Guest** » Wed Aug 03, 2005 2:26 pm

Zer0 Kay wrote:
Edge wrote:Distorting Gravity Fields, weakening them locally, and using this for thrust and to fly..

I can see that, really, it isn't even physically impossible, just complex.

But to actively bounce Gravity Waves off of something...

There is an ultratech race in a sci fi series I read that has developed the Gravity Wave Laser as the ultimate weapon technology...

These things are handguns that can break stars...

To actively project Gravity Waves at something...

Well...lets just say the term Catastrophic doesn't do it justice.

You realize gravity is one of the weaker forces... right? It requires so much mass compared to the other forces.

Mass, or Acceleration...they are interchangeable.

I believe the method used in the books was a Handheld Synchrotron.

Low levels, it emits radiation.

Turn it up to full power, and it sends a Quark whipping around the wire sized accelerator which is coiled around the handle of the weapon.

Once the Quark gets up close to the speed of light, it is directed out of the Barrel.

Some additional high technology helps to "lase" the Gravity Waves, and you wind up with a beam which basically increases the mass of its target...