Det finns några (vaga) beskrivningar av hur enheten fungerar. Inget konkret, tyvärr
Det har något att göra med att rymden är kvantiserad
André: ... We have a faster-than-light drive system, which we call quantum drive as opposed to warp drive (the idea being that space, at the deepest level, is quantized, like the energy levels in atoms, and if someday we understand how this works we might be able to manipulate the fabric of space to travel faster than light).
Our power source is called Dysonium, a fictional transuranic element we named in honor of the physicist Freeman Dyson.
Aliens and AI: André Bormanis Explores the Science Behind 'The Orville
Ringenas form är viktig, de är tori, inte bara halvcirklar
Bormanis has written a whole show bible about the various science elements within the universe of The Orville. A good amount is dedicated to the ship. On The Orville you don’t have a warp drive, but you do have a “quantum drive.” And for this faster than light sci-fi ship they are using the theories of physicist Miguel Alcubierre who has postulated a form of drive that works within Einstein’s general relativity. And this theory’s call for torus rings are what is behind the rings of the U.S.S. Orville itself. They have even named the exotic matter that is required for such a drive “Dysonium” after physicist Freeman Dyson.
Var och en av ringarna representerar en motor. Varje motor innehåller något som kräver inneslutning. Förmodligen att något (dysonium?) Reser runt ringarna med hög hastighet.
Newton: Sir, we've lost both quantum phase inducers in the upper engine! I need to divert all available power to the containment regulators now!