Angtrieb

Angtrieb is a fictional propulsion concept used in science fiction and thought experiments to describe a drive that converts angular motion into linear thrust. The term is a neologism, built from German Antrieb (drive) with Ang- from angle, signaling angular displacement as the driver of motion.

In the imagined technology, Angtrieb devices manipulate angular momentum within a system or couple it to external fields to generate translational acceleration. Common variants include direct angular thrust devices that accelerate by reorienting mass distribution, and gyroscopic or field-assisted configurations that channel rotation into propulsion through nonlinear interactions with surrounding matter or fields. Most treatments emphasize the absence of consumable propellants and emphasize quiet operation and compact form factors, albeit with substantial control challenges.

In fiction, Angtrieb often appears as foundational for spacecraft or exoskeletal systems in near- or far-future settings. Early concepts may describe laboratory-scale demonstrators; later stories depict ships capable of long-range travel by exploiting angular momentum management rather than propellant. The technology is typically presented with both potential advantages, such as reduced fuel mass, and drawbacks, such as energy demands and stability concerns.

In real-world physics, a net thrust without propellant is considered problematic under classical momentum conservation unless an external interaction is present. Angtrieb is thus treated as a speculative construct rather than established science.

See also: Antrieb, angular momentum, reactionless drive, gyroscopic propulsion.