Potential Metallic Orb Design

Yesterday's article (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36170105) on flying metallic orbs caught my eye, so I decided to ask ChatGPT how this could be designed. It came up with a design that seems plausible to me (a non-expert), essentially using gyroscopes to induce controllable spin, and uses the Magnus effect to allow the orb to bend through the air like a soccer ball. Wanted to get Hacker New's take on whether this design is possible.

Structure and Composition: The orb's structure is a sphere composed of strong, lightweight materials akin to those used in modern aircraft or spacecraft. These materials are capable of withstanding the pressures and forces experienced during flight while also minimizing the orb's overall weight.

Buoyancy: The orb is filled with a lighter-than-air gas such as helium or hydrogen, which provides the necessary lift. This is a similar concept to what's used in airships or weather balloons. The buoyancy offsets the weight of the orb and its internal components, rendering it effectively weightless at sea level.

Control Moment Gyroscope (CMG): The orb houses a device known as a Control Moment Gyroscope. A CMG consists of a high-speed spinning wheel (or rotor) mounted on a gimbal, which permits the rotation of the wheel to be oriented in different directions. The CMG acts as the 'engine' for the orb, enabling it to spin, and subsequently, move through the air. This function is grounded in the principle of conservation of angular momentum. A change in the orientation of the spinning CMG rotor produces a torque, which induces the orb to spin in the opposite direction. By expertly controlling the CMG's spin, we can precisely manipulate the rotation of the orb.

Magnus Effect: The principal means of locomotion of the orb relies on the Magnus effect. This is a phenomenon that generates a force on a rotating body moving through a fluid medium (like air), perpendicular to the direction of motion. It's the same principle that allows a baseball to curve when thrown with spin or a soccer ball to swerve mid-flight. As the orb rotates, it creates lift in the direction of the spin, propelling the orb sideways. By adjusting the rotation of the orb using the CMG, we can modify the direction of the lift, hence controlling the movement of the orb.

Guidance System: A sophisticated computer system serves as the orb's 'brain.' This system collects data from onboard sensors, calculates the necessary CMG alterations to modify the orb's rotation as needed, and makes real-time adjustments, enabling detailed and responsive maneuvering of the orb.

Power Supply: An energy-dense battery provides power to both the CMG and the onboard computer system. The battery is designed for extended use, ensuring that the orb can remain operational for long durations.