[extropy-chat] Video of Fighting Humanoid Robots!

[Alfio Puglisi]

On Tue, 24 Aug 2004, Mike Lorrey wrote:

>
>--- Alfio Puglisi <puglisi at arcetri.astro.it> wrote:
>
>> On Mon, 23 Aug 2004, Mike Lorrey wrote:
>>
>> >No reason they can't run on a turbine engine or fuel cell
>> powerplant.
>> >AFAICR, the MI-A1 Abrams has a range of 100 miles on one tank of
>> fuel
>> >with its turbine engine. Fuel cells were generating 100kw/ft^3 a
>> decade
>> >ago. Have no idea what the energy density is today. 100kw is 75 hp.
>>
>> The other way around. 100kw is 134hp, so the goal of 1000 hp is
>> reachable with only 7.5 ft^3.
>>
>> Now where are the protonic missiles and the antimatter rays? Any
>> giant mech without those isn't worth it.
>
>A herf gun? You'd like that? We can do that. How about a metal plasma
>pulse rifle? We can do that too. The issue is that you're dumping a LOT
>of power into these things with little in return on damage. Chemical
>explosives still pack a higher energy density, and flying lead and
>steel and spent uranium carry energy a longer distance with less fuss
>and muss in a sea level atmosphere.
>
>Ever heard of the KISS principle?

It was only a joke, because every cartoon from japan about giant mechs
have some impressive-sounding weapons that are of course pure fantasy. The
"protonic missile" is, somehow, always mentioned in every cartoon, maybe
because it sounds as so big and important.

Alfio