- The company that built the first jet-turbine backpack is designing a flying car
- It's set to be a single-seat flying vehicle that can fit in a single car garage
- It could fly close to the ground, about 2 meters (6.5 feet) high
- It's at the concept stage but there are plans to build a prototype in six months
A company that recently released the first ever jet-turbine backpack is now working on a new sci-fi-esque project: A personal flying car.
While the flying vehicle is still at the concept stage, the developers plan to start building the first prototype in six months.
The plan is for it to be a single-seat helicopter-like vehicle that can fit in a single car garage.
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The vehicle would be low and thin enough to fit inside a one-space garage. The design has six arms that come out from the top of the chassis, with two at the front, two at the middle and two at the back - with the middle ones able to fold in
The company designing the flying car, Jetpack Aviatio n (JPA), made headlines in 2015 when they released their first jet turbine backpack - JB-9.
Now, the Van Nuys, California based company has its eyes on making use of the space above us to transport people.
Uber is also trying to take on this space with plans to launch a flying taxi service in the future called Uber Elevate.
The company is run by David Mayman, the CEO, and Nelson Tyler, the chief designer, who have been demonstrating their jetpack in test flights across the the US and Europe - and they've also recently announced that their jetpacks are available to buy now.
The company is run by CEO David Mayman (pictured left) and chief designer Nelson Tyler (pictured right) who have been demonstrating their jetpack in test flights across the the US and Europe - and they've also recently announced that their jetpacks are available to buy now.
But the company is now working on a new project to build the first viable flying car.
Mr Mayman, the CEO, told New Atlas[4] that while some other companies, such as Joby and Airbus, are working on high-speed winged aircraft that can travel at 2-300 miles an hour (320-480 km/h), JPA is working on a different concept.
'We're on the other side.
'We're taking the manned multirotor approach.
'More than anything else, because some of the technology's already proven enough.
'The speeds are lower – you might be talking about 90 miles an hour (145 km/h), but the size factor is so much smaller because you don't have a wing to deal with.'
JPA's flying car design has six arms that come out from the top of the chassis, with two at the front, two at the middle and two at the back - with the middle ones able to fold in.
Mr Mayman also said that the vehicle would be low and thin enough to fit inside a one-space garage.
Instead of traditional landing skids, the design has little balls at the bottom.
While the design currently only has one seat, it could be upgraded for more if it weren't for the problem of limited battery power capacity
The team plans to fit the aircraft with 12 customized wooden propellers instead of carbon propellers because wooden props are very light and more resistant to damage
The team plans to fit the aircraft with 12 customized wooden propellers instead of carbon propellers, as wooden props are very light and more resistant to damage.
Mr Mayman says that the type of aircraft JPA is designing could fly close to the ground, at about 2 meters (6.5 feet).
While the design currently only has one seat, it could be upgraded for more if it weren't for the ultimate problem of limited battery power capacity.
But Mr Mayman estimates that in about four years, it might double.
But to get around that, the team is looking to design an type of electric car system with a power generator on board.
Aside from the problem of limited batter power, CEO Mr Mayman said drone technology has advanced autopilot and stabilization technologies, so much so that there's very little R&D to do
They're looking to build in a very small turbine motor the size of a coke can, which they've had experience with when developing their jetpacks.
This kind of a motor could produce a lot of power as a generator.
Aside from the battery power problem, Mr Mayman said drone technology has advanced autopilot and stabilization technologies, so much so that there's very little R&D to do.
CEO Mr Mayman said that it would t ake about six months to develop the first prototype of the flying car if the company has the right cashflows
In terms of how safe the device is, the team is working on the basis that you could lose half your motors and still fall at a safe rate, but they're also looking into an undercarriage system that can collapse in a certain way, a ballistic parachute to slow a crash down, and airbag cushion system.
Mr Mayman said that it would take about six months to develop the first prototype of the flying car if the company has the right cashflows.
'We're working as if it's a two dimensional world, traveling in serial, car after car after car,' he said.
'All this airspace above us is completely unutilized between 100 and 1,000 feet.
'One day, that space will be used.
'We've got plans on being a part of that.'
References
- ^ Cecile Borkhataria For Dailymail.com (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ e-mail (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ 37 View comments (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ New Atlas (newatlas.com)
