Live data from Hacker News

A 17-year-old designed a novel synchronous reluctance motor

smithsonianmag.com

21–30 of 296 posts

Re: A 17-year-old designed a novel synchronous reluctance motor

#21
post #8

"I heard some guy invented a car that gets 100mpg and lasts for 30 years, but the auto industry and oil industry had him killed."

Aren't most anti aircraft missiles heat seeking? Could also be a reason why 60% of the engine energy need to go into creating heat. Otherwise cheap gas engine drones that can't be intercepted and can fly thousand of miles could be really dangerous.

Re: A 17-year-old designed a novel synchronous reluctance motor

#22
post #14

Why are there no improvements in traditional petrol engines? They basically convert 60% into heat. Like use the heat to run a steam engine?

What do you mean? The amount of improvements in standard ICE engines are mind-blowing. The fuel efficiency and power they manage these days is insane. You’re quoting that 60% figure and neglecting that most of the losses from that are thermodynamic and mechanical losses at transfer points that can’t really be overcome. At some point you have to lose some heat along the way.

Re: A 17-year-old designed a novel synchronous reluctance motor

#23
post #7

> Instead of using air gaps, Sansone thought he could incorporate another magnetic field into a motor. This would increase this saliency ratio and, in turn, produce more torque. His design has other components, but he can’t disclose any more details because he hopes to patent the technology in the future. ah well great, we'll all just twiddle our thumbs waiting on that then instead of collaborating on how to integrat…

It’s not that hard to get a provisional patent. And like it or not the USPTO is a vital institution for incentivizing innovation and driving growth.

Re: A 17-year-old designed a novel synchronous reluctance motor

#24
post #14

Why are there no improvements in traditional petrol engines? They basically convert 60% into heat. Like use the heat to run a steam engine?

We’ve been improving them for like 150 years, and they’re still getting better. For example, Mazda’s Skyactiv to increase compression ratios.

Re: A 17-year-old designed a novel synchronous reluctance motor

#25
post #10

Inspiring story all round but this paragraph stood out for me: “I didn't have a mentor to help me, really, so each time a motor failed, I had to do tons of research and try and troubleshoot what went wrong,” he says. “But eventually on the 15th motor, I was able to get a working prototype.” I imagine most 17 year old would not have kept going 15+ times until they arrived at something which worked.

Really? In my observations only 17 year olds have the time and patience to do crap like this.

which says a lot about the state of the industry.

The best part to me is the large amount of designs one shouldn't bother to talk about because it is much more important to hysterically moan about potential perpetual motion than discus any motor/engine improvement.

Re: A 17-year-old designed a novel synchronous reluctance motor

#26
Robert Sansone, great job!

So many young prospective engineers read HN every day. Let's find comments that are encouraging or thought provoking or point readers in helpful directions Like @londons_explore did.

Bringing the beatdown is bad for everyone. Especially bad for young engineers. This kid is impressive, straight up impressive. Let's encourage him and others like him. HN shouldn't someone's supervillain origin story.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqMCYdqaFCQ&t=41s

Re: A 17-year-old designed a novel synchronous reluctance motor

#27
> If his motor continues to perform with high speed and efficiency, he says he’ll move forward with the patenting process.

Is it a wise move? Shouldn't he just file a patent application instantly? (It is not a kind of a sarcasm or something. I really do not know, and I'd like to hear from people experienced with patent applications.)

Re: A 17-year-old designed a novel synchronous reluctance motor

#29

Inspiring story all round but this paragraph stood out for me: “I didn't have a mentor to help me, really, so each time a motor failed, I had to do tons of research and try and troubleshoot what went wrong,” he says. “But eventually on the 15th motor, I was able to get a working prototype.” I imagine most 17 year old would not have kept going 15+ times until they arrived at something which worked.

He is from an upper middle class family at the minimum. Hardware projects at his scale is not exactly a low cost expenditure, even with AliExpress and cheap Asian parts of questionable quality. I doubt he even needs the winnings to pay tuition.

Re: A 17-year-old designed a novel synchronous reluctance motor

#30
post #14

Why are there no improvements in traditional petrol engines? They basically convert 60% into heat. Like use the heat to run a steam engine?

Turbochargers do exactly that. They take waste gas/heat to turn a pump and provide more oxygen for combustion. Also look into the F1 ERS systems that recover waste energy.
Post reply on HN