3 ms·
Energy density is "good enough". Cities like New York banned helipads on the top of high-rises after the Panam crash in the 70's because of the risk of jet fuel
by Element_ 9y ago
Energy density is "good enough". Cities like New York banned helipads on the top of high-rises after the Panam crash in the 70's because of the risk of jet fuel flowing down a high-rise and igniting.
Electric powered vehicles like this would solve that issue and allow quick travel around high density cities, they could land on top of buildings to pick up passengers. Current battery technology should be enough to support these short range trips around a city.
A good example would be a corporate executive traveling from their NYC headquarters to the local airport to board their business jet. It's not a long distance trip but helicopters are not suitable.
- InsideJob 9y agoBut jet fuel can't melt steel beams!
- BuffaloBagel 9y agoBy what metric is it "good enough"? Appears to me to be not good enough by a long shot. VTOL is especially energy intensive.
- hyperbovine 9y agoIdea: vertical take-off via a detachable umbilical. On landing... well, gravity is on your side :)
- jacquesm 9y agoThat would have to be a pretty long cable, high voltage (to keep it light) and you'd have to stay connected roughly until you reach cruising speed for maximum effect. Recovering the cable would also be fun (assuming it stays on the ground to save weight). Maybe they can partner with uBeam for wireless energy transmission and screw two sets of investors in one go.
- Element_ 9y agoBy the metric of range. The website says the range is 300km which is more than enough to travel in/out of the core of most major cities.
- BuffaloBagel 9y agoYou must be new to the internet. These numbers are very wishful thinking for some undetermined future date.