Questions tagged [engineering]
For questions about the use of engineering to create structures and devices in other worlds, including whether or not a device could be made or what materials would be needed to make a device.
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Is it feasible that cars would be made with a central driving position?
On the world of Ruquelis, I'm contemplating having cars (currently at circa 1920s levels of development and styling) having a central driving position, not because of some recent design decision, but ...
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Running a motor on electricity derived from magical lightning?
In a setting that isn't particularly high magic but magic is commonplace enough to be something the average person has witnessed I am considering how someone researching technology might attempt to ...
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Constraints on distributing power to spaceship systems
The problem of power management in a sci-fi spaceship for the purpose of powering various ship systems is commonly represented in TV shows like Star Trek and video games. Recently, I noticed an ...
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Most efficient human-powered vehicles? [closed]
I have in mind a system making use of humans as power sources, but I am not sure what the best way to use them is (I am aware, this will be very slow and impractical). To make it move, we have to turn ...
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Ultra long distance oceanic travel
Many times, other people and I have thought of settings involving very large or infinite Earths- ringworlds, alderson discs, or simply an infinite flat plane. The task of traveling millions of ...
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How tall can a stone structure get?
So, I'm working on a world where metal isn't the most common, so what little metal they do have goes into building machines. The people of this world use primarily wood and massive granite blocks to ...
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Using ultrasound to destroy buildings
So, this is a super-villain origin story. He is a scientist who worked on ultrasound imaging technology. This technology was using ultrasound to "see" underground and into building walls.
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Question about the flight suit of the air magician and the method of flight in such a suit
The action takes place in the world of the 21st century, where some people at a conscious age periodically acquire one superpower.
I have a human character who is able to summon the wind and control ...
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Orbital Ring/Space Elevator
This is more of a "is it technically possible" sort of question so here it goes!
I'm envisioning Earth with an orbital ring roughly 2,000 km from the surface attached by a series of tethers/...
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Is it possible to design an auto-oar? [closed]
So, I was interested in methods of ship propulsion. In the course of research, I found that before steam engines were a thing sails were best. However, the alternatives are oars and paddle-wheels. I ...
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How can a vehicle-mounted flamethrower be made hot enough to melt metal?
Flamethrowers have been a part of warfare for a long time, although they have been phased out now due to safety issues and assorted flaws. Several vehicle-mounted flamethrowers have been designed, ...
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How can mages supply themselves with magic? [closed]
Mages must ingest a special magic liquid before using magic. Most mages use jars, but opening a jar takes time which is not something close combat mages have. How can a device that allows them to ...
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What computer and display technologies are most reliable and maintainable in a rugged space future? [closed]
It’s the distant future; humanity is scattered among the stars, far-flung, sparsely populated. It’s frontier living. Individuals and communities are often cut off from major industrial centers; access ...
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The power plant of the ark ship in the form of a black hole
I would like to warn you right away that I’m new here and not very proficient in English, so there may be some mistakes in my question.
I am developing a science fiction book where I want to move away ...
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How Could A 19th century setting effectively Saddle and ride a domesticated Sivatherium Giganteum
Sivatherium giganteum is incredibly underutilized as a creature design and I want to use it in my world. It is a fantasy with around 19th century level technology, magic exists but follows a set of ...
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