Abstract: A system and method for generating one or more electrostatic pressure forces or one or more divergence in electric field forces, or both, acting on at least one surface of an object. Asymmetries in the resulting force vectors result in a net resulting force acting on the object. The magnitude of the net resulting force may be a function of the geometry of the object surfaces, the amount of electric charge present on the surfaces, and the dielectric constant(s) of materials present in a gap between the object surfaces. The invention may be produced on a nanoscale using nanostructures such as carbon nanotubes. The invention may be utilized to provide a motivating force to an object. A non-limiting exemplary use case example is the use of electrostatic pressure force apparatus as a propellantless thruster to propel a spacecraft through a vacuum.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a force from a voltage difference applied across a plurality of electrically conductive surfaces. The applied voltage difference creates an electric field resulting in an electrostatic pressure force, a net divergence in E-field force, or both, acting on an object comprising the apparatus of, or using the method of, the invention. The net resulting force on an object may be characterized by a force vector determined by the selection of one or more of 1) the shape, size and geometric arrangement of the conductive surfaces; 2) the value of the applied voltages; and 3) the permittivities of any dielectric materials disposed in the electric field. Asymmetries in the resulting electrostatic pressure force vectors, and the resulting divergence in E-field force, result in a net resulting force acting on the object. The object may be a thruster or other force-applying object or system.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a force from a voltage difference applied across at least one electrically conductive surface. The applied voltage difference creates an electric field resulting in an electrostatic pressure force acting on at least one surface of an object. Asymmetries in the resulting electrostatic pressure force vectors result in a net resulting electrostatic pressure force acting on the object. The magnitude of the net resulting electrostatic pressure force is a function of the geometry of the electrically conductive surfaces, the applied voltage, and the dielectric constant of any material present in the gap between electrodes. The invention may be produced on a nanoscale using nanostructures such as carbon nanotubes. The invention may be utilized to provide a motivating force to an object. A non-limiting use case example is the use of electrostatic pressure force apparatus as a thruster to propel a spacecraft through a vacuum.

Abstract: A system and method for generating a force from a voltage difference applied across at least one electrically conductive surface. The applied voltage difference creates an electric field resulting in an electrostatic pressure force acting on at least one surface of an object. Asymmetries in the resulting electrostatic pressure force vectors result in a net resulting electrostatic pressure force acting on the object. The magnitude of the net resulting electrostatic pressure force is a function of the geometry of the electrically conductive surfaces, the applied voltage, and the dielectric constant of any material present in the gap between electrodes. The invention may be produced on a nanoscale using nanostructures such as carbon nanotubes. The invention may be utilized to provide a motivating force to an object. A non-limiting use case example is the use of electrostatic pressure force apparatus as a thruster to propel a spacecraft through a vacuum.