A California-based company called Aerofex have uploaded a video to YouTube, below, showing footage of their hoverbike which uses a ducted-fan to give it lift and is based on an abandoned design, due to stability issues, from the 1960s. The company added knee bars to address these issues which allow the vehicle to intuitively respond to the leaning of a human pilot, as they explain:
The pilot cruises in the direction he wishes to go with little conscious input or training. The vehicle takes cues from his intuitive movements and amplifies them aerodynamically to maintain his level flight path. By applying throttle, he can increase altitude and speed.
But before anyone gets too excited, the company have told Innovation News Daily that they’re not planning to release a manned hoverbike just yet, instead they’ll concentrate on developing an unmanned drone version. Spoilsports. Still, if we all get a petition going online then maybe we can sway them.
Link:
http://www.thecreatorsproject.com/blog/star-wars-speeder-bike-irl-aerofex-release-footage-of-a-working-hoverbike
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