Electrostatic Suspension and Propulsion

The examples below demonstrate electrostatic phenomena and a possible base material for a small electrostatically propelled device. The first example demonstrates how a grid of high voltage electrodes can transport an 8" wafer both in and out of vacuum. The second example inverts the situation and allows the high voltage grid to lift from the ground. The force of lift produced is not enough to hold the power supply on the base/electrode grid.

The effort is to make a lifting device on the mote size scale so they may be used in physically dynamic wireless networks.

Method for moving Silicon wafers and other materials

Electrostatic lifters from 4" to 4'

Jim Butler's small diamond shapes

Combining conductive diamond shapes, insulators, energy and communication systems, and other functionalities, mobile and autonomous electronic devices will be developed for wireless networks.