5 ms·
The difference here is not so much that it hovers and stabilises position, but that it has two modes of flying: when it hovers, it works like a helicopter (the
by lloeki 15y ago
The difference here is not so much that it hovers and stabilises position, but that it has two modes of flying: when it hovers, it works like a helicopter (the propeller provides support), but when it goes forward, it works like a plane (the wings provide support while the propeller only provides forward movement).
- marvin 15y agoThis made me think of an experimental aircraft design I saw once. It uses a huge ducted propeller to be able to hover while at the same time being able to fly forward, with the wings (and duct) generating lift as in a traditional airplane. The problem is that the cockpit stays fixed, so hovering would be very disorienting for the pilot. http://www.esotec.org/hbird/index.html http://www.esotec.org/hbird/index.html
- CountHackulus 15y agoThis is pretty much how the new F-35B (STOVL variant of the Joint Strike Fighter) works. There's a ducted fan in the middle of the plane. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-35C#F-35B http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-35C#F-35B
- speleding 15y agoIn addition to the two flying modes it can roll on the ground to get to hard to reach places. I've not seen a helicopter do that before.
- mortenjorck 15y agoI honestly have to wonder if that was inspired by a certain Japanese video game series in which the protagonist does exactly the same thing.
- algoshift 15y agoOK, build a sphere around the $200 VTOL plane I linked to above and you have that too.
- borism 15y agomaking that sphere not interfere with airflow from the rotors is not trivial.
- algoshift 15y agoAlso nothing new. You can buy one right now for about $200. Here's one example: http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=EFLU4780 http://www.horizonhobby.com/Products/Default.aspx?ProdID=EFL...
- algoshift 15y agoHere's a video: http://www.horizonhobby.com/ProdInfo/Files/EFLU4780.wmv http://www.horizonhobby.com/ProdInfo/Files/EFLU4780.wmv
- calebmpeterson 15y agoSo what is different from the flying orb (other than the chassis)? avionics software? Why $200 vs $1400?