Is A Solar Powered Plane Possible in Stormworks?

[@Eighthook37]

Solar definitely needs an efficiency buff, currently it's only really useful for making your batteries drain slightly slower during the day lol.

[@T-minus-infinite]

I dont even think its their power output that's the problem, It's the fact that there is no gliding so they can't work like real solar planes which spend a lot of time gliding

[@masterjohn3126]

@@T-minus-infinite wing sections can help with that

[@PlakToetsBart]

@@masterjohn3126 Still doesn't really work. If you turn off your engines you just fall out of the sky unfortunately :p

[@masterjohn3126]

@@PlakToetsBart No, Wing blocks make you glide a little, I have over 1500 hours.

[@PlakToetsBart]

@@masterjohn3126 I have 1100 hours, and built a couple of gliders. I can definitely tell it doesnt work like it should work compared to irl lol

[@gamingdeep5]

It would also be possible if stormworks had an actual aerodynamic system instead of the propulsion doing all the work

[@Nlck_Name]

it does have an actual aerodynamic system. you can make gliders and stuff.

[@gamingdeep5]

@@Nlck_Name I’ve tried making a stand alone glider and bush plane, but it started to spin in the air because there was no propulsion right away.

[@areksuroboyo4588]

@@gamingdeep5 Stormworks does simulate aerodynamics, but its just so unrealistically small you can't exactly make a glider.

[@josebatista5188]

It does take the hull shape into account which is why custom airfoils and control surfaces work. It's a very simplistic model, but it's enough for basic flight. Unfortunately, they make the air density insane in order to scale down the physics to what can handled numerically within the confines of a computer game. I have had zero success with gliders. The air is too dense and you come to a stop in midair.

[@luckyizzac]

It mainly needs mods, graphics and physics mods for those who want extra realism

[@TJPDmember]

Solar really need a buff but those pivot are energy monster. When every ounce of power count, straight wings will always win against 4 robotic pivot.

[@marioformicadae6637]

If i was to build a solar powered plane, I'd have some really big singular wing (kind of like a sea ray or manta ray) It'd be better for powering, maybe even better for gliding! But it might make it too heavy to fly at slow speeds, or fly efficiently. So, realistically, I'd just go with longer wings if possible

[@steveee_0]

the idea is good but the problem is, that the "lift" works differently in Stormworks because there is nearly no air resistance. i tested it by making different configurations of my plane and measure the speed it goes at the same throttle.... turns out, having a literal wall in front of your plane, only takes out a small amount of speed... so yeah, its a bit sad that the flight mechanics are like that but thats just how it is... I think he should have tryed to use actual wing pieces and make the entire thing out of solarpanels + wing pieces, that may work since the wing pieces generage more lift per weight.

[@anteshell]

@@steveee_0 I would love nothing more than the Stormworks having even very rudimentary fluid dynamics, but I doubt the physics engine could handle even the simplest of calculations required seeing as it doesn't need but a few different bodies interacting with each others to bring you PC on it's knees crying for the kill shot.

[@matthewholzken5019]

@@anteshell its possibel in trailmakers

[@anteshell]

@@matthewholzken5019 It's not. None of these building games have fluid mechanics in them. In Trailmakers both the water and air movement are precalculated and kind of baked in to the map. The lift, buoyancy and drag works in very hacky way similarly as in Stormaworks.

[@matthewholzken5019]

@@anteshell there is a now map that has wind and more stuff

[@neonsamurai1348]

You would have been better off raising the tail wheel up to the tail as it is fighting with you on takeoff (in the real world a plane with a tail like that would be impossible to take off). The electricity system in this game drains way too quickly with too many systems taking way too much power. Power generation is also too difficult making recharging a pain.

[@tomatosoupwoo]

Now let me introduce you to tail draggers.

[@scout_raptor]

I would take reference from solar powered aircraft irl, lots of smaller engines, and a much larger wing.

[@CleverClothe]

That will depend on how Stormworks calculates its physics.

[@scout_raptor]

@@CleverClothe True...Stormworks isnt the best in that respect lol.

[@hivewasp]

@@scout_raptor though when you see how many things actually can be made and actually work somewhat in a predictable manner, it's still not too bad. I mean, I'm not entirely convinced the devs thought about superchargers when they made the modular engines for example...

[@scout_raptor]

@@hivewasp True, the game is not completely separate from the real world, however aerodynamic phenomena like ground effect just aren't simulated, and I acknowledge that Stormworks wasn't meant to be a study level flight sim, but some factors are too important to be left out.

[@hivewasp]

@@scout_raptor Well yeah agreed on some of the physics - but as a game, it includes quite a lot of engineering principles that you can't find in other similar games like Space Engineers etc, it's pretty comprehensive already. But yeah, ground effect, drag, and other aeronautical physics elements are either barebones or missing - but I still think the initial plan was mostly a maritime based game, planes and helicopters are only secondary

[@florianfeuillais]

If you want to be able to power a small electric motor at 100% of it's capacity you'll need 5925 solar panels

[@generalkayoss7347]

So basically the same as in real life. lol

[@planefan082]

@@generalkayoss7347 Nah, in real life sports cars are charged quickly by panels the same size as the shelters above them. Source: Real life experience.

[@uku4171]

​@@planefan082What size shelters? And in what context are there standalone solar panels with no battery storage?

[@planefan082]

@@uku4171 Angled shelters covering the parking spot and the length of sidewalk in front of it, idk what you meant by context but it's in city parking lots around business parks and retail areas Should say, not charged THAT quickly, they're not ultrafast DC chargers. Forgot how many kW but I can plug in for free while I'm doing errands or working and it'll be fully charged after 4 or 5 hours, topped up after 1 or 2.

[@Taliyon]

I learn so many little things, watching your videos. It's made creating in Stormworks, so much easier! Thanks for cranking out so much content.

[@dragonboss7995]

Solar should be able to actually fully charge a battery or one thing that would be cool is a new part that makes solar panels more efficient. Thank you NJ for another great and professional video. And have a happy new year

[@dbssgamer8809]

MrNJersey: nothing fancy Me: It look better than my best plane

[@redpug5042]

the amount of solar panels you have right now is enough to power a couple spotlights and that's it.

[@Zorro9129]

This is a major challenge in KSP too, and that's with making it unmanned and ultra-light! Don't stress out over it, you did make a solar-powered boat after all.

[@Shadow_Hawk_Streaming]

A delta wing may prove a lot more practical, especially if you can make the craft function as a seaplane to land at night when required

[@crisp7075]

Small motor = 30kW sol paner = 5W, for 1 small motor you need 6000 sol panels at full sun

[@ItsthatrandomCharlie]

“It’s too heavy” you don’t need a huge shell, just a decent skeleton

[@whiskeyfur]

This should probably be looked at again because now there are actual wing blocks in the game. they're not solar enabled, but with JUST enough of them you should be able to sustain flight.

[@rezadwikyprayogo]

The dev need to buff the sollar panel

[@xogodogo9787]

Solar powered planes in stormworks require so many panels that it would be massive. I've put a lot of effort into plugin electric planes with batteries, though, and they work amazingly!

[@elijah7723]

If he used the wing pieces that generate lift, he could have stayed up despite the low speed

[@chezertonchez6985]

What if there were a couple of wing pieces? You could make it unusually large with very large wings and the other pieces be solar panels. I’m unsure if solar panels in stormworks work if they’re not in view of the sun but if they do you could make the whole aircraft solar panels.

[@secretslayer1234]

He can build a working plane, while I can’t get it to lift of the ground without it trying to crash instantly

[@aliengang9526]

You need more power

[@stevepittman3770]

This might be possible with a larger wing area (increase wing chord). It would let you add more solar panels (without a lot of extra body weight) and allow you to generate lift at slower speeds. Real solar planes also use very large radius propellers that have pretty thin blades so you get a lot of thrust without having to spin a ton of weight, but I know Stormworks doesn't have anything like that.

[@npc6817]

if stormworks allowed genuine gliders he could also just use the battery to get to altitude and recharge with engines off

[@yosnap2856]

Maybe try using 1 medium engine and connect the output of the motor to the two rotors using pipes your saving the weight and power consumption of one motor

[@mysticalj9191]

Using that numerical inverter for steering gave me immense pain.

[@Johnothan_]

This has been a video idea of mine for a long while now, but I've been too lazy to ever try it. Really cool to see you giving solar powered planes a try, I wish the devs would just slightly buff solar power to make this kind of stuff possible. Thanks for the video!

[@fun_time_gamer5076]

small electric motors ond no gearboxes if posible (gearing up uses more power) idk if it wil help have not tryd it myself

[@smurg_teh_wurgg3540]

You would have to make the plane smaller and lighter, but the wings bigger so in a sense they make the plane glide. Gliders use clouds geo thermal to stay in the air, which is technically like solar panels. The bigger the wings, the easier it will be to glide and stay in the air. The best design would probably be a basic looking plane that doesn't have exterior on (exoskeleton) and then large wings made of solar panels. You don't want to add anything to the plane that consumes power other than the battery and motor.

[@camerontiggs5978]

If you make the wings longer probably could work maybe look at irl concepts for inspiration

[@tropicalvikingcreations]

If you feel like doing this again I would like to see you try weight saving, and maybe one engine. Maybe a rear oriented one with twin tail. More surface for solar while shedding engine weight. Also maybe trim body and wing blocks /lift blocks. For a bit better glide, idk.

[@mikewiththebluecar]

Yeah maybe lose the cockpit canopy as well. Go more ultralight style. Maybe even biplane or triwing to get more lift at lower speed and more solar panels.

[@Bendigo1]

I think the only way to make that work would be to use modded blocks that are a quarter the weight of the standard blocks.

[@truckboi8020]

well this is something i tried before i had a hybrid system which was only 50% electric and even that couldnt give me sustained flight and the worst part is the solar panels costed more than the damn plane itself

[@slickrick8279]

The never ending question geeez 🤣 Its that time of the year again huh? Yo all mad!

[@Faolon-dx2ft]

Hey NJ. Could you make a plane specifically for the Arctic. Aka it has skis instead of wheels and can withstand the enormous arctic winds

[@masonhawk911]

Sounds like a new challenge

[@lupinzwolf98]

You didn't take anything off the body, like maybe if you replaced full blocks with sloaps and had the flats facing outwards

[@danielkieran1427]

Today on questions I didn't know I needed the answers to xD

[@warrenhepburn9285]

great video can you do a video on the new muzzle pieces?

[@benwang1275]

*We just got some very very basic shapes here* Still looks 100x better than my all vehicle *cry*

[@bean-official]

what you should have done is added an empty battery somewhere so it could charge itself over time

[@rafaelsc3071]

Please upload it to the workshop

[@sandermur5613]

if solar powered planes are possible, then it's time to make electric unmanned aerial vehicles!

[@thegamingghost573]

You should make a B-17

[@frogsshadow4189]

Could try a single motor with pipes and gearboxes going to each prop?

[@SpleenathonOfficial]

It'll recharge if you land and store it during the day.

[@emorythegamer]

Please give us the full video

[@teenflon]

Single engine might help?

[@theinspiringengineer-scien6393]

Is it on the workshop? I want to have a play! :D

[@LeonLukács]

If you put an electri charger after the gyros?

[@clowning69]

If you bend the wings enough to cover most of the sky (like NASA's solar plane) it produces 0.01 electric per second (0.006 more than if it's a completely flat wing)

[@pointer1829]

You should have added wing pieces

[@Jaystarzgaming]

More larger plane more mass more weight more thrust more wing span and throw everything at a wall to see if it sticks.

[@Retsom3D]

you could make it unmanned, to make it even lighter.

[@adriannyqvist964]

check thats every solar panel is connected

[@GaryHamad]

is there Alternator in this game?

[@sidortega949]

MrNJersey your video is the best

[@scrap-godsuper-zo4740]

they work better pointing towards the sun using pivots

[@warhawkgaming6226]

What if you made a biplane with both wings covered in solar chargers.

[@farerse]

Interesting project, maybe it's just realistic , in real life we don't have self generating electric vehicles.. solar panels are still useful for other stuff in the game.

[@TechnicianGaming2]

You should try adding a generator for each motor.

[@eckiger_luki6424]

thats not solar than xD

[@daniel17852]

@@eckiger_luki6424 technically it is

[@Quantum-Bullet]

You should try that Challenge in Space Engineers!

[@paceysgameplay]

ez

[@RizzardGame]

can you upload it to workshop ?

[@Quentus38]

Hi, maybe an hybrid for the next one ?

[@buggiesindustries7550]

The electric engines always use too much energy for the solar panels to keep up

[@AvantiRacing]

His basic is my 10 years of working and Mona Lisa

[@YupioXD]

i just made one while waching this you just make a glider if it glides then its right the just slap a few electric motors

[@gepardmic6003]

I think you need a speed limiter and use chargers batterys eat a lots of power. Yep they are more powerful solar panels in real life, you can make trains got 40 km/h pure sun on 1 side of 3.

[@ReynSquared]

BIGGER WINGS= MORE WINGSPAN= MORE SOLAR PANELS= MORE POWER= LOWER STALL SPEED= LOWER TAKEOFF SPEED= BIGGER WINGS COUNTERACT WEIGHT

[@penguinlover3637]

Nice.

[@kryptayt]

Try nuclear Power, this will work

[@Legoperson75]

Solar power is pretty ineffective in game. You can’t really power anything off of it and the block is very expensive. Even if you are just charging battery’s then return for the money and time is almost nothing.

[@attilavs2]

Nj you don't really use electric engines don't you ? A small motor is enough to power a small car and a couple of them with gearboxes are enough to power a supercar.

[@exo068]

Can you please build a laser guided bomb?

[@feleedman]

Solarworks

[@themetabaron8722]

Disappointing post, you designed the look of the plane without modifying it almost at all to make it work. At the very least adding a second or third wing full of panels, along with only using one engine looks like it would be possible. You don't even answer the question that you pose in the title... because you never really tried to make it work.

[@chipcrispy]

Wow

[@stevenmiller279]

The solar is kind of disappointing, I wish they were more powerful

[@человекпростойсгоры]

Make on nucler Power. I have one plane

[@Midnighttigger]

"green" well theres always nuclear which is green energy

[@1313-s4y]

i have one that work

[@farkoffcnt]

Use small electric motors and not the bigger ones

[@musicduck2251]

I Found This Video Within 35 Minutes After Video Released Also YESS!! SOLAR POWER LET'S GOOOOOOO!!!!!! Solar Power For The Win Hands Down Solar Power One Of THE BEST Renewable Energy Sources YESS!! SOLAR POWER!!

[@fcdrummer1806]

It’ll be hard but maybe it’s possible

[@spenceabeen]

Gonk

[@TheBubbarox]

Adding small props linked to generators would create power too... like a wind generator...he didnt even try. .. (sad emoji)

[@TheBlackAnomaly]

Nah, solar cells are almost useless in this game.

[@Feradose]

Your collective is silly isn't it?

[@strudelman1288]

1st comment, nice vid!

[@stackerv8617]

you said nice vid before even watching

[@strudelman1288]

@@stackerv8617 Well i meant video idea

[@andre21198]

Make the wings significantly bigger. More panels and less speed needed to remain airborne, unless the game doesn't actually have a lift mechanic