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It looks like the arms are just here for controlling the direction, the jets look supported by a belt attachment: https://youtu.be/aFQSFke0wFc?t=35 https://yout
by MayeulC 6y ago
It looks like the arms are just here for controlling the direction, the jets look supported by a belt attachment: https://youtu.be/aFQSFke0wFc?t=35 https://youtu.be/aFQSFke0wFc?t=35
That video was one link down in the article, several other interesting concepts are shown, that generally seem to be platforms with thrusters.
I feel like a more practical design could be something a bit like "falcon" in the avengers: back-mounted thruster that gives a lot of forward thrust, with deployable delta wings à la jetman. Since the thrust is forward, you'd need something to right up for landing. Either with a physical movement, or aerobraking above the center of gravity (could be using the wing?).
For now, designs that only rely on thrust, and not lift, are probably doomed by their fuel efficiency and noise.
- pqdbr 6y agoI remember watching an YouTube interview with the founder, and he explicitly said that he could suspend his entire body weight on his arms alone, on pilates or something, and that was the base idea for the design he went with. He is a former marine and I think one would need considerable strength to use his jetpack. One very, very interesting project is Frank Zapata's Flyboard Air (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kB-BGMXxZc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kB-BGMXxZc and https://www.zapata.com/ https://www.zapata.com/). You basically stand on a hoverboard. I wonder what these guys could accomplish if they partnered with, say, DJI or something. Their flight controllers are very small and have years of development in automatic flight stabilization. Anyone that has flown a DJI drone knows what I'm talking about. It would take balancing out of the equation and make these much more feasible for a general audience.