ES2631 Critique and Communication of Thinking and Design

AY2022/2023 Semester 1

Assignment 1
Critical Analysis of Article (NEW)

Read the article below and analyse it using the Engineering Reasoning Framework (Paul-Elder
Framework).

Write your 500 to 600-word analysis on three elements of thought, each one evaluated with a
different intellectual standard. Support your analysis with evidence from the article and/or external
sources, where appropriate.

Watch the nuclear-powered flying hotel that can stay airborne for years with 5,000
passengers
A video of 'Flytanic' has the Internet divided

The animator’s vision of what Sky Cruise would look like Hashem Al-Ghali/Youtube

A concept video of Sky Cruise, a giant flying machine that can carry 5,000 passengers and has all
the luxuries of the world, has gone viral on the internet. The maker of the video claims that such
an aircraft built in the future would have no carbon footprint, The Independent reported.

The concept of a floating world in itself is not new and has been described even in Jonathan
Swift's works from the 18th century, much before the Wright Brothers made their first flight. Fans
of animated movies might have also come across the concept in the 1986 Japanese movie, Castle
in the Sky.  

While such references in the past have relied on the 'virtues of materials' which make up the
world to give them such flying powers, the concept, as shown above, borrows from modern-day
technology to project a possible future.

What can one expect on the Sky Cruise? 

Passengers intending to visit this Sky Cruise could charter planes or simply book tickets on a
commercial airliner that would be able to land on this aircraft. Once on the Cruise, visitors could
 ES2361 Critique and Communication of Thinking and Design

enjoy the views from many viewing decks, such as the disc-shaped observation tower built on the
aircraft, while restaurants and bars would cater to food and drink needs. The massive ship will
also have cinema halls, theatres, and game rooms for those looking for regular entertainment and
even venues for people to get married, The Independent said in its report. 

The ship will be steered by artificial intelligence (A.I.), which would be so adept at reading weather
conditions that it cannot only predict turbulent weather but also glide over it, providing a hassle-
free experience to the onboard tourists.  

According to the maker of the video, Hashem Al-Ghaili, the Sky Cruise will be powered by 20
electric engines that will keep the aircraft afloat in the sky. Powered by nuclear fusion, the ship
will be able to remain afloat for years together, all without carbon emissions. 

In an email to Interesting Engineering about his inspiration for creating this video, Al-Ghaili said, "I
believe the current flying experience has become tiresome and outdated. It is time for new
innovations, that make our flight experiences more comfortable. I have always been a fan of
Studio Ghibli. Castle in the Sky is one of my favorite movies where we see massive flying ships
with people living inside."

For this video, Al-Ghaili imagined a world where flying moved beyond the fight for leg space.
When asked to put a date for when the flight would be possible in the near future, Al-Ghaili was
confident that it was not that far off. "I would go for the 2030s or 2040s at the latest. All we need
is sufficient energy for the takeoff. That's why nuclear energy was part of the design. I believe it's
a matter of time before powerful nuclear reactors become small enough to fit inside a plane that
size."

The animator also added that once these small reactors were in place, then one only needed to
work on the aerodynamics of the flight.  

What does the internet think about the design?

Al-Ghaili takes no credit for the airship's design and said that it was done by Tony Holmsten
several years ago, Cruisehive reported. Al-Ghaili only animated the design and put up the video
depicting what it would be like to have a real-world Sky Cruise, which he calls the 'Flytanic.'

While some were impressed with the vision of the aircraft, many were skeptical whether
something like this would even fly. One YouTube user pointed out how big a runway would be
needed for the Cruise to take off, which wouldn't really be used for any other ship. 

Another commented on the lack of any detail on the size of the ship, its weight or wingspan, and
some fundamental parameters needed to make it fly. Others were more sarcastic than critical,
stating that they could see the Sky Cruise fly if "physics and aerodynamics did not exist". Another
user said the concept was like putting together a ''Titanic with Hindenburg and then putting a
nuclear reactor in it". 

When Interesting Engineering drew Al-Ghaili's attention to these comments, he replied, "I love
them! Both the positive and the negative. I have read and keep reading a lot of them. It is nice to
see people point out the flaws of the design and try to propose solutions to them, which is
needed to make it more perfect. A few tweaks to the design and we've got a massive flying hotel
that could roam our skies someday."
Paleja, A. (2022, June 28). Watch the nuclear-powered flying hotel that can stay airborne for years
with 5,000 passengers. https://interestingengineering.com/nuclear-powered-flying-hotel?
utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=mailing&utm_campaign=Newsletter-29-06-2022
 ES2361 Critique and Communication of Thinking and Design

Submission Guidelines
1. You will be assessed on your analysis and communication. Please refer to the rubrics on the next
page for details.
2. Your analysis should be written in the format of an academic essay with:
 a brief and clear introduction that states your key critical analysis,
 body paragraphs with clear topic sentences and relevant supporting sentences,
 a concise and appropriate conclusion that summarises your key points.

3. In accordance with academic conventions, cite all sources that you use in the critical analysis
essay.

4. Prior to submitting your assignment, please ensure that you have proofread your draft. The
submission and conferencing process is as follows:
 Submit the first draft of your assignment by uploading it to LumiNUS before your next
tutorial.
 Meet your tutor for conferencing on your first draft at the scheduled timeslot you have
selected. The first draft is NOT graded.
 Revise your assignment based on your tutor’s feedback and submit the final draft for
grading by one week after your conference.

5. Please also note that:

 You should state the word count after the main text and before the reference list.
 All in-text citations and footnotes are included in the word count.
 Only the reference list at the end of the text is excluded from the word count.
 There are penalties for exceeding the word limit and for late submissions.
 Assessment Rubric for Critical Analysis Assignments (A1, A2 and A5)

Developing Competent Proficient

1. Most or all elements of thought are not correctly 1. Some or most elements of thought are correctly 1. Most or all elements of thought are correctly
identified. identified. applied.
2. Most or all intellectual standards are not 2. Some or most intellectual standards are 2. All intellectual standards are appropriately
appropriately applied. appropriately applied. applied.
Analysis (50%)

3. The key words describing the intellectual standards 3. The key words describing the intellectual 3. The key words describing the intellectual
are not (appropriately) stated as part of the standards are sometimes/always appropriately standards are always appropriately stated, as
explanation. stated as part of the explanation part of the explanation.
4. There is no/ inappropriate evidence provided to 4. There is some, but may not be fully adequate, 4. There is adequate/ substantial appropriate
support the analysis. appropriate evidence provided to support the evidence provided to successfully support the
5. Overall, the analysis does not show critical thought. analysis. analysis.
5. Overall, the analysis shows some critical thought. 5. Overall, the analysis shows full critical thought.

1. Mostly unclear in conveying the intent of the 1. Sometimes or mostly clear in conveying the intent 1. Always clear in conveying the intent of the
message, using vocabulary and expressions that are of the message due to vocabulary and expressions message, using precise, accurate and
often imprecise, inaccurate and/or inappropriate, that are mostly precise, accurate and appropriate, appropriate vocabulary and expressions, with
with poor sentence construction and grammar mostly effective sentence construction and only good sentence construction and almost no
errors that hinder comprehension. minor grammar errors grammar errors.
Communication (50%)

2. Significantly incoherent, with lack of appropriate 2. Sometimes or mostly coherent, due to the use of 2. Always coherent, with constant effective use of
linking devices and/or confusing ordering of ideas, linking devices and logical ordering of ideas in linking devices and logical ordering of ideas to
making ideas difficult to follow some or most places, making ideas usually easy to connect ideas to achieve an overall unity in
3. Frequently unconcise, with lengthy expressions follow thought, making ideas always easy to follow
that frequently incorporate redundancy 3. Sometimes or mostly concise, with appropriate 3. Always concise, with appropriately expressions
4. Often incomplete, lacking in the necessary expressions that contain little to no redundancy that contain no redundancy
information, thus reflecting a lack of awareness of 4. Sometimes or mostly complete, with some or 4. Always complete, providing the necessary
the reader’s background and lack of anticipation of most of the necessary information, reflecting information, thus reflecting sound awareness of
questions that may be asked some awareness of the reader’s background and the reader’s background and anticipation of the
5. Overall, the communication is not fully anticipation of the questions that may be asked questions that may be asked
comprehensible and does not take an academic 5. Overall, the communication is mostly or always 5. Overall, the communication is easily
form. comprehensible and takes an academic form. comprehensible and takes an academic form.

Penalty for exceeding word limit Penalty for late submission

 Exceed by up to 10% (660 words): 5 marks will be deducted from the total mark ● Within 24 hours: 5 marks will be deducted from the final mark
 Exceed by more than 10%: 10 marks will be deducted from the total mark ● 24-48 hours: 10 marks will be deducted from the final mark
and the 700th word onwards will not be read ● Beyond 48 hours: No marks will be awarded