Human power Helicopter video, so freaking awesome

[gorgopodaros]

ehm, it's called irony dudes...

[Sniper X]

Originally Posted by Mr. Magoo

ehh.... shit happens in such pursuits. It will the victory even sweeter!

true, and I was kidding. I hope them all the best. I do wonder why they don't have strategically placed ropes to "handle it" when it starts to go bad so it doesn't crash. At least for the tests.

[DriveShaft]

Originally Posted by Ricardo Kuhn

That is a the next big challenge, even with a "Hand to control it" is complicated, never mind the means to accomplish it, very interesting project none the less (I'm been following the helicopter challenge since I was in Design school in the 80')

My first impulse was that they would incorporate a swashplate...but with their design, they'd have to coordinate four swashplates....that's ridiculous.

I think a torque differential is the right approach. HID requirements have to be pretty darn intuitive, and will most likely minimally involve the hands...certainly not fingers.

[Ricardo Kuhn]

Man I can not stop watching this video (and the other ones too) to me this epitomize all the things I love about the design (and Engineering that I'm not legally) and my dreams when I enter my master in Biomechanics of focusing in Human Power Machines and I just want to whole world to see it.

Any more links, videos and articles are very much appreciated..

[dorkpunch]

Originally Posted by Buccleuch

Typical human output is actually less than half a horsepower. Elite athletes can output ~400 W and higher for extended periods, but most, let's say, average athletes can only do 300-325 W.

W.A.

I think the highest my middle school students hit was .4 horsepower, as measured by my bike-dyno. And that was giving it everything they had, measuring just the peak. No way could they hold that for any amount of time.





Very cool copter. Wonder if the lack of control is due to the added weight?

[Ricardo Kuhn]

Originally Posted by dorkpunch

I think the highest my middle school students hit was .4 horsepower, as measured by my bike-dyno. And that was giving it everything they had, measuring just the peak. No way could they hold that for any amount of time.

Good for you, I will love to have a teacher like your self

Very cool copter. Wonder if the lack of control is due to the

added weight

?

"Added weight" where..??

[dorkpunch]

If you ever look at a helicopter, take a gander at the rotor. There's enough levers/nuts/bolts there to choke an elephant. Control on a helicopter is achieved by "warping" the rotors, causing it to tilt in the desired direction. Takes a lot of parts to be able to do that.

Edit: for example...

[Ricardo Kuhn]

Originally Posted by dorkpunch

If you ever look at a helicopter, take a gander at the rotor. There's enough levers/nuts/bolts there to choke an elephant. Control on a helicopter is achieved by "warping" the rotors, causing it to tilt in the desired direction. Takes a lot of parts to be able to do that.

Oh you don't need to tell me, many years ago I got to work on a bunch of Bell UH-1 Iroquois's (Huey) and I got somehow familiar with their inner workings..

[DriveShaft]

Originally Posted by dorkpunch

I think the highest my middle school students hit was .4 horsepower, as measured by my bike-dyno. And that was giving it everything they had, measuring just the peak. No way could they hold that for any amount of time.





Very cool copter. Wonder if the lack of control is due to the added weight?

I do think they broke down the task, and decided to address the biggest question w/o any complications. The legacy of the prize is testament that it's a big enough ambition to just prove 1 aspect of the entire question; can a human levitate 10' off the ground by his/her own power if that were his/her sole ambition? If we can't prove that, the other details are irrelevant.