Your Very Own Portable Helicopter

Published on February 4th, 2008

Posted by Gasparrini in General

Somehow I think this is a bad idea, with one strong wind it looks like it might flip over.

22 users responded in " Your Very Own Portable Helicopter "

Subscribe to this post comment rss or trackback url

# 1 BelgianDude said, on February 4th, 2008 at 12:12 am

with one strong wind it looks like it might flip over.
——

Actually because of gyroscopic precession …..

control is done the same way as a “segway”.
Here the pilot grabs the two rods that are ‘fix’. The one he is sitting on is the one shifting his weight and causing the direction changes.

Requires good skills. specially with two rotors spinning just above your head …

# 2 AlexP said, on February 4th, 2008 at 12:13 am

I can see this thing lopping off some poor mook’s head…

# 3 TIHZ_HO said, on February 4th, 2008 at 12:19 am

That’s in the second video AlexP. :p

Cheers

# 4 bobbo said, on February 4th, 2008 at 12:39 am

How much gyroscopic precession is there with counter-rotating props?

Actually this looks very practical==far more than the Mohler Sky Car or jet packs.

I likes it.==Looks affordable too.

# 5 bobbo said, on February 4th, 2008 at 12:48 am

Similar product here. I prefer the one above. Small is beautiful, assuming it has the range? I wonder how these things auto-rotate, if at all?

http://www.mobilemag.com/content/100/354/C14104/

# 6 pjakobs said, on February 4th, 2008 at 12:51 am

The words “temporarily deaf” form in my head…

# 7 Ben said, on February 4th, 2008 at 1:25 am

Segway steals a page from Apple and announces the Segway Air….

# 8 thomas said, on February 4th, 2008 at 3:00 am

i want wan

# 9 JPV said, on February 4th, 2008 at 3:07 am

It should be called the Decapitron.

# 10 eyeofthetiger said, on February 4th, 2008 at 4:07 am

There are some better versions personal helicopter available for sale. Might as well save up and get a jet pack.

# 11 BelgianDude said, on February 4th, 2008 at 4:11 am

bobo> there still is precession.
but the whole thing is more stable than a single prop.
(to avoid going into too much detailed techno-blaah).

# 12 BubbaRay said, on February 4th, 2008 at 5:54 am

With identical counter-rotating masses at equal radial velocities, there is little precession. Precession occurs with one axially balanced mass rotating on a single axis. Even the Earth precesses once every 24,000 years or so (nutation).

I’d like to fly that neat machine. But as with any ultralight, I’d also be wearing a ‘chute. Especially one with too many moving parts.

Autogyros are very cool also.

http://www.americanautogyro.com/

# 13 B. Dog said, on February 4th, 2008 at 6:27 am

If the NFL allows their use, I hope they have the good sense to only allow the offense to have one airborne at the time the ball is snapped.

# 14 Ken in Berkeley said, on February 4th, 2008 at 6:40 am

Could you imagine commuting to work with thousands of other commuters using that thing too? It would be total chaos and destruction.

# 15 BdgBill said, on February 4th, 2008 at 7:22 am

“Could you imagine commuting to work with thousands of other commuters using that thing too? It would be total chaos and destruction.”

And that would be different from our current road system how?

# 16 BubbaRay said, on February 4th, 2008 at 10:25 am

The only way that tens of 1,000’s in the sky could work would be full FAA computer control. And you’ve seen their record in the past 10 years. Cripes, their computers aren’t good enough to play 10 year old games — they can barely control airline traffic and GA.

I just can’t even imagine the mess. Sure, you could get to work in 5 mins., but it’ll take an hour for that takeoff clearance. Har!

# 17 Mike Potter said, on February 4th, 2008 at 12:38 pm

THis is one damn awesome idea. Now all we need to do is market it to the politicians of the world. Aside from the obvious population control benefits just think about the shape we’d be in if G.Bush had tried to fly one in 2000.

# 18 hhopper said, on February 4th, 2008 at 1:48 pm

But, will that guy blend?

# 19 ECA said, on February 4th, 2008 at 2:01 pm

If you think about it…
And this had MORE POWER..
It would be perfect for Emergency services..

# 20 zaw said, on February 4th, 2008 at 4:05 pm

Wow larger version of coaxial RC heli.

# 21 Rick Cain said, on February 6th, 2008 at 11:04 pm

The coaxial rotor is what makes this work, otherwise the system would be too heavy and complex.
The Russians have helicopters like this (Ka-25, Ka-52) in production and they are a lot more stable and safe than the Marine-killing VTOL Osprey.

# 22 RobO said, on March 18th, 2008 at 6:07 pm

I believe this is the right idea, an affordable and simple flying contraption.
Where can i get more information about it, like who built it, and
are there any plans available for it?

Leave Your Reply Below...

Comment Moderation is Active, so if your comment doesn't
show up immediately, please don't submit it again.

Special Deals 4U

25% off eHarmony subscription with code EHTECH
12-percent discount forever with code TECH
10-percent discount and free month using TECH10
10-percent or 30 dollars off weekly car rental!
Get 10-percent discount on car rental!
Get 10% off rental cars!
Get 10% off Dollar rentals!
Discounts on domain names!