[ExI] Casimir project update & vacuum balloons

[Adrian Tymes]

Been a while, figured I'd give an update on where I'm at.  (For those who
don't remember the project, see the link for details.)

I'm still trying to get it to actually work, but the theory was apparently
good enough for the USPTO:
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=7,411,772.PN.&OS=PN/7,411,772&RS=PN/7,411,772

Now if only I could get funding for it.  I'm trying to avoid investment in
the project itself until I have a working prototype (I need to make sure
I'm not in crank territory first), but I've had to come up with a number
of electron-beam lithography techniques useful for other nanomanufacturing
initiatives.  I'm trying to get them written up so I can apply for grants,
but it's slow going.  Still - would anyone have any leads on this?  (Other
than grants.gov - I know about that, but I need to get this written up
before I can apply.)

Separately (and not quite as transformative), I've got a patent in the
works for vacuum balloons: structures that can hold a vacuum against a 1
atmosphere pressure difference, and light enough to float from the
buoyancy of the displaced air.  Previous attempts were either too heavy to
float or too weak to hold vacuum; I've come up with a combination of
structure and materials which is light and strong enough.  The estimated
performance, at dimensions about what airships use, is comparable to
airship helium balloons, and the estimated maintenance is much lower
(among other things, if it leaks, you can seal the leak and remanufacture
the "lifting gas" on the spot, so you don't need to carry spare).  I don't
suppose anyone knows someone at Boeing, Lockheed, Northrop Grumman, or the
like - or maybe some smaller party (or maybe even a sea ship manufacturer:
these could make a cargo ship hyrdroplane, increasing fuel efficiency) -
who'd be interested in licensing it?