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| Hover Bike by Aerofex - Video |
There are all work base on the same principle. A powerful downward force produce by air thrusting from two rotating blades or jet engine to lift the vehicle. The tricky part is how to keep the vehicle balanced once it is airborne. And how to stir it in the direction you want to go.
Interestingly, the driver (or pilot) can control it by simply tilting his body in the direction he wants to go. While since it uses our body's own balance for control, I guess strictly no drink and drive on this one. Can you imagine the balancing effect ;-)))
The hover bike (lets just call it hover bike for now, since most of these vehicles being demonstrated carry only one person) is not something new. Seems like the US army has been experimenting with it for long but don't find them suitable for combat use yet.
But how about adopting it for civilian use? I guess, the vehicle got to fulfilled at least these three requirements prior to public use. First, it should be within the price range of the masses, second, the controls have be simpler for layman use, third, it must be able to carry some loads. While, just like conventional vehicles, I guess the hover vehicle can be made in various capacities too. Maybe measure by the weight it can lift?
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| X-Jet Demo Video |
All other models are using propellers, which is more suitable for civilians use. But only X-Jet's control look smooth so far.
Hopefully it will be made to run on batteries. Since moving forward, almost all civilian vehicles will be running on electricity. Better focus R&D resources on electric motor and battery not fossil fuel engines.
Practical Usefulness
A hover transport vehicle will be especially useful and practical in places where it is difficult to built road or too remote a place to built one to. And it is good for the environment too, since there is no need to fall trees or lay concrete to built road and bridges. And it can travel on all surface, rocky, wet, muddy, flood, river or sand. Lets hope this technology will become reality very soon.
I am imagining travelling into some deep forest settlements in Sarawak. I suppose I can reach a place faster than four wheel cars.
Hopefully engineers will also figure out how to reduce dust, especially for urban use :-)
Here are some videos of earlier attempts at land hovering vehicles:-
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