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

smithsonianmag.com

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

#211

Post by sitkack »

phkahler wrote: post #88
eterevsky wrote: post #66

So, how is it in terms of efficiency? The article mentions that it's 31% more efficient than existing reluctance motors, but doesn't give a comparison to the traditional electric motors.

That's a very good question. I have an EV motor control and calibration background so lots to say here. First off, peak efficiency tends to occur at mid to high speed and mid to high torque, in other words high power. Most EVs spend very little time operating anywhere near their peak power. It may take as little as 4kW to drive down the highway at constant speed, but a motor may be capable of 100kW or much more. Effi…

If the design is sufficiently low cost, and since it it wont have drag when free wheeling, multiple motors could be ganged to provide different peak/torque efficiencies. High torque to get off the line and a cruising motor to travel at speed. Given the power to weight densities of modern motors, having multiple compact motors will provide zero weight burden in a car.

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

#212

Post by philosopher1234 »

nkzd wrote: post #177
bckr wrote: post #84

This is inspiring, and let's look at why so many of us have the impulse to figure out what the flaw or missing part of the story is. For me, it's because I hadn't done something so cool at 17. That makes me think, huh, I wonder if I'm not a "natural born engineer". I start going through my life story so far and beating myself up for playing too many video games, or not going deep enough on my interests. Then I start…

Today, my friend and I cynically talked over a beer about this. We ranted to each other about how we wasted the best years of our life and how we didn't have the resources or education other people have right now. This is a defeatist attitude and your post has inspired me to be better. Thank you for writing this.

How important is it to have accomplishments?

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

#213

Post by wizofaus »

Impressive...we might actually get our next Tesla or Edison...as I've noted here before, why there's not more such prodigies these days with genuine determination and obvious ability given today's population, existing knowledge base and access to education and resources still somewhat eludes me.

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

#214

Post by wizofaus »

yreg wrote: post #28
perf1 wrote: 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?

There has been a myriad of improvements in traditional petrol engines?

Yet our cars still can't fly, and still emit greenhouse gases...

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

#215

Post by Zagill »

jacquesm wrote: post #189
deepspace wrote: post #156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agree, I was very interested in electronics as a teenager, but had no money for tools, instruments, or components. I had to scavenge components from discarded radios, used my dad's plumber's iron for soldering and saved up for months for decent wire and a wire stripper. I did eventually end up getting a scholarship to study engineering, but I cannot help feeling a tiny bit resentful when seeing kids in the news who o…

You should not feel resentment, but you should feel their luck to be born into that. On the downside: they will never learn the value of recycling, of working with inadequate, broken, uncalibrated and dangerous tools. But you did and I'd bet you came out the better engineer on account of that. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger isn't just about health.

Lately I try to see privileges like that less as an unfair advantage that someone else has, and more an unfair disadvantage for everyone else. I want every kid to have access to high quality education which includes the tools and materials to work with and learn new concepts - that's regardless of the socioeconomic class they were born into. Instead of trying to tear down other people for the opportunities they had that you didn't, maybe we should be attempting to improve the world for everyone so that there's less of those unfair disadvantages going around.

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

#216

Post by dicknuckle »

deepspace wrote: post #171
skapadia wrote: post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I missed the part that said his family is wealthy. Can you point me to that?

Just look at the photos. Only a fairly wealthy family could afford to buy him those instruments, and of course, the raw materials for the motors. Even his clothing suggests that there is no lack of money.

Benefit of the doubt: it could be a local makerspace. Although he's working on his pilot license so yes, he's a rich kid.

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

#217

Post by krater23 »

adventured wrote: post #135
OJFord wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can't you get actual guns at some US supermarkets, in the 2020s? Meanwhile I'm pretty sure you can get those combination cap/spud guns in the seasonal aisle at larger UK supermarkets, and almost all French^. Funny. (^when I was younger I remember being amazed by all the stuff you could get in French supermarkets, aisles and aisles of school supplies, summer toys/beach items, clothes, etc. - seems they were much earli…

Most of the mainstream chain supermarkets in the US don't sell guns (Kroger, Target, Whole Foods, Costco, Albertsons, Ahold, Publix, Sams, HEB, Meijer, Aldi, et al.). Walmart is the primary exception there. Overwhelmingly that's now handled by independent gun stores, or a select few sporting good chains (eg Dick's Sporting Goods - the largest sporting goods chain in the US - which sells a restricted set of rifles and…

WTF?! You really have Aldi in the US? As a german I never supposed that.

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

#218

Post by the_only_law »

krater23 wrote: post #217
adventured wrote: post #135

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most of the mainstream chain supermarkets in the US don't sell guns (Kroger, Target, Whole Foods, Costco, Albertsons, Ahold, Publix, Sams, HEB, Meijer, Aldi, et al.). Walmart is the primary exception there. Overwhelmingly that's now handled by independent gun stores, or a select few sporting good chains (eg Dick's Sporting Goods - the largest sporting goods chain in the US - which sells a restricted set of rifles and…

WTF?! You really have Aldi in the US? As a german I never supposed that.

Lidl as well (albeit less widespread)

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

#219

Post by aaron695 »

jwitchel wrote: post #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…

No post body was provided.

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

#220

Post by fnordpiglet »

Comevius wrote: post #192
skapadia wrote: post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I missed the part that said his family is wealthy. Can you point me to that?

I wish I could be as innocent as you. Science fairs are for rich kids. Here is Robert, 17, currently working on his Private Pilot Certificate. His hobby is dicking around with 3D printers and drones. https://linkedin.com/in/robert-sansone-62116b1b7 I don't even want to link the second winner, but he is very connected in Saudi Arabia. Let's just leave it there.

That’s funny. I won my science fair and we were dirt poor.

I would point out that most kids with Robert’s access to resources would be smoking pot and playing Xbox, just like their poorer brethren. As someone without his resources competing at a science fair like him I feel absolutely no disadvantage and am impressed with his achievements. I ended up borrowing equipment from school rather than owning it but still had it. But I also wasn’t cool enough to find any pot.

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