Question about rotating structures

>
> > I could see how electrical current could work, but how would you
> > differentiate between a multitude of control signals and HAL
> > computer neural pathways, etc that would transit between the
> > rotating section and the remainder of the Discovery.
>
> This is commonly done - and readily available. The devices are
called "slip
> rings". For example, every radar antenna has to have one. The
quantity of
> data is no problem. Fiber optic slip rings exist for this purpose.
>
> Here's a link to a power+signal slip ring.
>
> http://www.army-technology.com/contractors/motion/northrop/
>
> Cheers
> Dale

Thanks for the link. It definitely helped clear up the concept for
me.

Now my questioning evolves to limits of data transmission.

Consider that a point to point connection in a non-rotating
environment will involve just a wire to make the connection. Thus,
you can have a control center, or a command bridge, where all
control functions are centralized and are hard wired to the rest of
the ship.

If that bridge is in a rotating structure, each connection would
have to have a slip ring. Each slip ring would occupy an area around
the cental axis, and the circumference of each successive slip ring
would grow as they are stacked on top of each other.

Do I have this right?

Wouldn't the physical limit of the area of the rotating axis quickly
limit the number of connections that could be made?

If I've got this right, then ISTM that a bridge should be located in
a non-rotating area of the ship.

The rotating area should be limited to functions that don't require
many features to bridge the non-rotating - rotating junction. This
could be sleep, recreation, exercise, or discrete function areas
that are self contained as possible.

Is my thinking on this making sense?

TangoMan