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Drones for People
Richard
Franklin Bishop
©
Copyright 2016
by Richard Franklin Bishop
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To find out more about this one person drone Click Here...
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Everybody
has heard of Otto Lilienthal and his attempts to fly like a bird. His
fame grew as he completed 2,000 glider flights between 1891 and 1896;
where he died of a broken neck on the last flight that crashed.
And
no less renowned were Orville and Wilbur Wright whose
heavier-than-air and powered flying machine flew in controlled flight
on December 17, 1903.
But,
at the rate technology is now advancing, this puts them in back the
“Stone Age” as far as mechanical (and now electronic)
innovation goes.
The
ultra-modern phase of flying has long been in effect; it has been
already heavily researched and regulated by several governments. One
aspect has been overlooked but not forgotten. That concept is where
man is one-on-one with the flying machine that substitutes for the
wings we can’t grow.
In
the beginning (of the ultra-modern phase) there was the Rogallo Wing
patented in 1948 by Francis and Gertrude Rogallo. This simple design
was not lost on those Sportsmen and Sportswomen wanting to fly and
Paragliders and Hang Gliders were born.
NASA
jumped on the idea and funded experiments from 1961 to 1965 with the
Parasev design as a possible emergency vehicle for use by Astronauts.
The goal was controlled flight with heavier loads. In the evolution
that took place in the 68 years from 1948 until the present,
modifications were fabricated that added engines to provide powered
flight. Now we were full circle with the Wright Brothers; but with
the one-on-one concept now carved out of general aviation and more
clearly focused.
Kinnie
Gibson and his Rocket Belt is probably the most famous solo innovator
due to Television broadcasts. Since 1983, he has performed show
flights with vertical take-offs and landings in 40 countries and in
at least 6 US TV Series and stadium events like the Super Bowl. He
and his limited duration Rocket Belt also appeared in at least one
Movie of Agent 007, James Bond.
Yves
Rossy’s Jet Wing Pack allows him to fly like a Jet Airplane.
Since 2004, the Swiss adventurer has been performing flights that
have interested many Military organizations (he always turns them
down saying his device is for recreation only). The Jet Pack burns
kerosene and his flying-suit is flame-proof. On 26 September 2008,
Yves successfully flew across the English Channel from Calais, France
to Dover, England in 9 minutes, 7 seconds. His speed reached
300 km/h
(190 mph) during the crossing.
The
next evolutionary step could be the advanced technology behind the
design of commercial drones (UAVs - Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) and
their stable platforms supported by 4 or 6 or 8 spinning propellers.
They started out as small flying vehicles which could haul a camera
and usually were operated remotely. Now, some are so tiny that they
would fit in the palm of your hand. The Military was quick to develop
myriad uses for Drones. Commercial interests are close behind and
about to pass them up (with different goals, of course).
With
the idea that bigger is better, it seems that they could be
fabricated large enough to haul one person (or say, 200 lbs.). And
manually controlling the Drone by the carried person (let’s
call this person the Pilot) should be a “snap” compared
to the complicated electronics package that already has been
engineered, fabricated and carried as “extra” weight for
the “remote control” electronics (but now no longer
needed). What we need here is a little “reverse engineering”
and a name change. How about MAV (Manned Aerial Vehicle) ?
Their
reputation for reliance and gentle flying traits should keep them as
a front-runner for hobby and recreation pilots. The stability
technology comes from many places, e. g., Lit Motors Inc. is a San
Francisco-based company that designs two-wheeled vehicles, including
a fully electric, gyroscopically stabilized motorcycle. The staff
says:“It would take a small elephant to tip it over.” And
then there’s the two-wheeled self-balancing Scooter. And the
world-wide popular Segway PT ( battery operated, self-balancing,
two-wheeled Personal Transporter).
It
was expected that 700,000 commercial Drones would ship to consumers
in the year 2015, just ended. And soon, in 2016, the new government
regulations for their flight will be finalized. Adding the feature of
human flight without “remote” control should be just a
“detail” in the text of the regulations.
It’s
all there - the mechanical, electronics, and safety technology, the
mass production capability plus the regulatory rules.
Every time I visit
Garmisch-Partenkirschen (of 1936 Olympics fame) and look up at the
Zugspitz ( 2,962 meters or 9,718 ft.), I see the colorful Paragliders
(glide parachutes) descending in spirals, almost waltzing in their
pirouettes; some of the more daring operators swinging around fully
horizontal in their arc in the altitude-losing Spiral Dive maneuver.
Wow ! - how graceful - it seems beautiful to we terrestrials. By
being born too late, we have missed (and have forgotten about) the
first efforts to emulate birds in their ethereal flight.
But
it’s not too late. Personal controlled flight doesn’t
have to be esoteric - i.e., secret, mysterious and understood by or
intended for only a select few. All you Hang Glider and Paraglider
enthusiasts out there. How about taking a ride beneath a Drone under
your own control ? If not now, how about it - in about 2 years?
ADDENDUM
There
are some difficulties in the idea of my Story - but I didn't want to
kill it off before it was born so I didn't "air" it there
in the main text.
Besides the "Military" and
"Package Delivery" uses already jumped- on by industry,
there are two avenues remaining with my idea:
1.
A Drone as basic, personal transportation:
When contrasted to the
present "state of the art", could the idea of being
transported from "A" to "B" (by something that
looks for all the world like an overgrown spider) ever "catch-on?"
2.
A Drone as Recreational and Sport flying:
Can
you lay a drone over on it's side in a Spiral Dive maneuver
? Could its movements ever be called beautiful?
Oh
well, The Wright's and Lilienthal's stuff didn't look so good at the
time - not now, either !"
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