A Manhattan Beach aerospace company has developed a prototype
hoverbike that allows people to speed above the landscape like a Jedi. The
bike hovers thanks to two ducted rotors underneath it that spin in
opposite directions, and is controlled in much the same way as a
standard bike. Two control bars at knee level allow the rider to lean to either side
to control the bike's movements. It can reach a speed of 30 miles per
hour and fly 15 feet above the ground, handling sharp turns and hovering
motionless like a helicopter. "We are creating exciting technology that will change the way people
perceive and utilize flight. We are developing manned craft and unmanned
aerial vehicles that have real utility. Our goal is to break the
barriers that limit access to the benefits of flight," says the company. "Imagine personal flight as intuitive as riding a bike. Or
transporting a small fleet of first-responder craft in the belly of a
passenger transport. Think of the advantages of patrolling borders
without first constructing roads." Unfortunately, you're not likely to be able to buy one of these bikes
any time soon. The company's envisaging it as a military tool, rather
than a consumer vehicle. It's been working on the bike since 2008, and now hopes to improve the speed and performance. There's a video of a test flight, below.
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