Star Wars-style speeder bike could be suitable for heavy-lift
Californian company Aerofex’ hover vehicle may look like a speeder bike from Star Wars but its real-world applications include heavy-left utilisation, according to one of its founders. Mark De Roche, an aerospace engineer by training, told InnovationNewsDaily, that the prototype hover vehicle could eventually carry out heavy lift duties on rough terrain. He said: “Think […]
The Aerofex bike solves a five-decade problem of controlling ducted rotors
Californian company Aerofex’ hover vehicle may look like a speeder bike from Star Wars but its real-world applications include heavy-left utilisation, according to one of its founders.
Mark De Roche, an aerospace engineer by training, told InnovationNewsDaily, that the prototype hover vehicle could eventually carry out heavy lift duties on rough terrain.
He said: “Think of it as lowering the threshold of flight, down to the domain of ATV’s (all-terrain vehicles).”
The Aerofex uses enclosed, ducted tandem rotor blades. Original designs for such vehicles date back to the 1960s but Aerofex believes it has solved problems regarding roll-over and stability which have prevented the technology progressing in the intervening decades.
