The Inquirer reports on a British inventor who has built a suit with six jets:
The Daedalus suit, designed by former royal marine reservist Richard Browning, looks like a comic book fans' dream, combining four miniaturised arm-mounted gas turbine engines and two hip-mounted versions to provide enough lift to enable the wearer to fly.
Daedalus, which took Browning a year to put together, also features a heads-up display in the helmet which keeps the user aware of fuel and engine performance and features built-in WiFi support to allow for the live transmission of data from the suit.
So far, Browning has only flown the suit a couple of metres above the ground, but he claims that the system will ultimately be able to fly at several hundred miles per hour and at thousands of feet.
Two YouTube videos that largely overlap in footage show the suit in use.
Additional coverage:
- Engadget
- New Atlas
- Slash Gear
- Wired UK (may have countermeasures against ad blockers)
- Red Bull
- independent.ie
Related story:
I Saw an Average Joe Fly a Jetpack and Nobody Died
Related Stories
This is not a drill, people. JetPack Aviation trained a normal schmoe like us to fly a true jet-powered backpack.
There's a utopian future society that exists in my imagination. I have a few non-negotiables in it, including humanoid service robots, clean energy and jetpacks. In particular, the jetpack really captured my heart when I watched George Jetson in his flying suit and The Rocketeer light up my local movie theater screen.
I've now seen an ordinary person fly a real jetpack after a scant few hours of training. And it's just as exciting as those moments of hope and wonder I felt as a kid.
Mischa Pollack, a vlogger and designer from Los Angeles, was picked for JetPack Aviation's first "civilian" flight. After less than 10 hours of training, he was able to lift off and test the JB-10 pack.
But learning how to fly isn't the same as flying smoothly. How long would that take? "It appears that within 5 to 10 flights you'll get the hovering down at least," Chief Engineer Stefano Paris said. "You'll be able to climb up and hold position, and be steady and be in control. And then you progress forward from there."
The article has a video of Pollack's flight.
-- submitted from IRC
(Score: 4, Funny) by ikanreed on Thursday April 06 2017, @06:28PM
Many boffins died bringing us this jetpack.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 06 2017, @06:39PM (23 children)
Does he work in a machine shop? Are those turbines readily available for, say, model jets? Are CAD files sent off to manufacturers?
(Score: 2) by Zz9zZ on Thursday April 06 2017, @06:43PM (22 children)
I highly doubt those turbines are hand made, my first thought was that he grabbed some high power model jet turbines and made custom enclosures / mounts / connections etc.
~Tilting at windmills~
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 06 2017, @06:51PM (18 children)
I mean, who hasn't thought of strapping model jet engines to one's arms and legs? The difference is that one usually realizes the container full of fuel might ignite, or the force might break an arm, or cause swift loss of control, etc. Therefore, it's just a daydream.
So, has this guy seen further than others, or is he just a "hold my beer while I do something cool" fool?
(Score: 2) by takyon on Thursday April 06 2017, @07:08PM (1 child)
I'm waiting for the arc reactor to come out before I build my suit.
Nah, who am I kidding, aliens already gave that technology to the government and it will never be released because terrorists.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 06 2017, @07:14PM
When you can turn a glass of water into a matter conversion bomb that destroys half a continent, then yeah, probably don't want some of the more crazy humans getting any ideas.
(Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Thursday April 06 2017, @07:23PM (14 children)
Therefore, it's just a daydream.
So, has this guy seen further than others, or is he just a "hold my beer while I do something cool" fool?
Evidently you haven't watched the video. Dude can hover a few feet off the ground towards the end and wander around a bit at that "altitude."
"Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
(Score: 0, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 06 2017, @07:32PM (13 children)
In contrast, you haven't understood my comment.
(Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Thursday April 06 2017, @07:37PM (12 children)
It would be easier if you would stop starting your post in the subject line.
And how can it be a daydream when he has a working, physical prototype?
"Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
(Score: 0, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 06 2017, @08:45PM (3 children)
Unless he's got a ton of signal processing to maintain the unstable equilibrium of having a bunch of thrust mounted on his limbs, he doesn't really have a prototype.
Since the 2nd video has a bit about developing his core via calisthenics I suspect he has no computers of any significance taking care of stabilization.
He's just using his own brain and muscles to keep from immediately going titsup.
(Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Thursday April 06 2017, @09:42PM (1 child)
Unless he's got a ton of signal processing to maintain the unstable equilibrium of having a bunch of thrust mounted on his limbs, he doesn't really have a prototype.
Well that's a rather arbitrary definition that lets you dismiss the hard work he's done.
"Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 06 2017, @11:02PM
Exactly what "hard work" has he done?
Because all it looks like to me is that he strapped a few off-the-shelf turbines on to his arms and his ass.
And then did a bunch of burpees.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 07 2017, @09:17AM
Unless he's got a ton of signal processing to maintain the unstable equilibrium of having a bunch of thrust mounted on his limbs, he doesn't really have a prototype. He's just using his own brain and muscles to keep from immediately going titsup.
So, just like a Harrier...
Everything doesn't need to have the computing power of an F35B.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 06 2017, @09:08PM (6 children)
As an "Anonymous" Coward, I don't get the benefit of having an artificially boosted rating.
Perhaps the commenting system should be changed; slashdot always sucked for discussion—reddit's system is much better.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 06 2017, @09:34PM
For those of us that browse at -1 and see everything, please consider repeating your "leading subject" line at the top of your actual post.
I rarely read the subject line until I get to the next thread.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 06 2017, @09:39PM
If you want to start your post in the subject line, be a decent guy and dupe that line in the body of the post so that people who don't focus on subject lines won't miss what you have to say. Of course if you don't actually want to communicate as effectively as possible then keep on doing what you are doing.
(Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Thursday April 06 2017, @09:40PM (3 children)
Perhaps you should just log in.
"Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 07 2017, @06:37AM (2 children)
Why?
You are the one with the problem with his posts.
He's happy doing them his way.
Why should he do anything extra to accommodate you?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 07 2017, @12:29PM
Because if you're posting a comment, then the chances are that you want your comment to be read. Therefore, it should be desirable to post in a manner that makes it easy for the largest portion of the readership to see the comment.
(Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Friday April 07 2017, @02:56PM
ACs not being as visible is a feature. Instead of complaining about it and making your comments more difficult to read, you could just make an account.
Posting AC in this context is a solution in search of a problem.
"Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
(Score: -1, Redundant) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 07 2017, @12:26AM
"And how can it be a daydream when he has a working, physical prototype?"
Come on, man. You're not understanding; keep reading it until you understand.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 06 2017, @07:49PM
I posted about the design below -- it's actually a pretty good design for this sort of thing. (Bear in mind that these suits are always going to be impractical compared to backpack/belt rigs that allow you to scratch your nose without melting your face.)
However, the good parts of the design are evolution from an earlier design, having one jet in front of each forearm and one behind each calf. That design would require substantial torque in the elbow and knee joints, and belonged very much to the "hold my beer" class of designs, so I'm really not sure what to think. Maybe he started as a fool, but is learning without giving up?
(Score: 2) by deadstick on Thursday April 06 2017, @09:50PM
Yeah, some of those model aircraft turbines are up around 50 pounds of thrust now...scratchbuilding would be reinventing the wheel.
(Score: 2) by deadstick on Thursday April 06 2017, @09:54PM
In fact, yes, those are JetCat turbines: http://www.chiefaircraft.com/radio-control/turbine-engines/jetcat.html?gclid=CNLm3rXnkNMCFV65wAodlXsGcg [chiefaircraft.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday April 07 2017, @12:00AM
Model airplane jet turbines are commonly available, thanks to modern CNC.
Jet suits are impractical because of engine heat, noise, but especially fuel consumption.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 06 2017, @07:08PM (2 children)
Four arm-mounted jet turbines, you say? More Nomex, please!
For those who don't want to watch a video, check the New Atlas [newatlas.com] link for pictures, or read my text description.
The hip-mounted turbines are as you'd expect, directly behind the buttocks and angled backwards to avoid scorched calves. You could still blast your feet by bending your knees, but it should be pretty friendly, as these things go. (Apparently an early version had engines mounted to the back of the calves. Worked about as well as you'd expect...)
The arm-mounted turbines are mounted in pairs on each forearm, one above and one below; the exhausts are just beyond the hand, and the paired mounting should nearly eliminate torque to the elbow joint. Unfortunately, the only thing limiting torque on the shoulder joint is arm positioning -- if your elbow is bent, your arm would try to fold up under your weight, as though you'd paused half-way in a pushup. Like pausing in mid-pushup, you could sustain this for some length of time (seconds to minutes, depending on your physical condition), but would eventually need to return to a position where more weight is on bones and less on muscle. For long-term flight, then, you would need to keep your elbows essentially straight, and vector the engines with your shoulders.
The tendency to scorch oneself is actually pretty well managed; the hip-pack is pointed a little aft, so your arms must be pointed somewhat forward for stable hovering; if you let your legs hang straight down, they remain out of harm's way. As one transitions to forward flight, the arms would swing closer to vertical, but wind would also tend to blow your legs back -- for moderate accelerations and airspeeds, everything should work out pretty well. You obviously still want fireproof, insulating armor on your legs (and everywhere else, too) to deal with incidental exhaust blasts, but you probably don't need to design for prolonged exposure.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 06 2017, @07:12PM
Also, how long does the fuel last?
(Score: 2) by slinches on Thursday April 06 2017, @07:59PM
Yeah, burning yourself is a concern, but I'd be more worried about what happens when one of the turbines fail while spinning at near 100krpm. That seems like a good way to lose a limb or worse.
(Score: 2) by FakeBeldin on Thursday April 06 2017, @07:28PM (2 children)
You might want to check the date on the youtube videos before commenting.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 06 2017, @07:52PM (1 child)
March 31, 2017? Is April Fools Day now April Fools Week?
Pretty sure this is real -- it's eminently feasible, and eminently stupid, so it's bound to be some guy's expensive hobby somewhere...
(Score: 2) by FakeBeldin on Friday April 07 2017, @03:13PM
To clarify: 1 video on 31st of March, 1 on 1st of April.
Having a date of 31st of March isn't that weird - posted before midnight, picked up after midnight.
While I share your outlook that there's bound to be someone working on this somewhere on the planet, I'd be a lot less suspicious if the videos had been placed online 2 days later.
(Score: 2, Insightful) by wonkey_monkey on Thursday April 06 2017, @07:44PM (1 child)
...to replace the outdated and pointless use of commas in headlines.
No-one ever speaks like this. Why would you write like this?
systemd is Roko's Basilisk
(Score: 2) by gidds on Friday April 07 2017, @12:54PM
B e c a u s e H e a d l i n e s O f t e n H a v e T o F i t I n A N a r r
(I agree, though: the linguistic contortions that some headline writers use do such violence to the language that they become very difficult to follow.)
[sig redacted]
(Score: 2) by joshuajon on Friday April 07 2017, @01:00PM
I honestly can't tell if this is real. If it's not, it appears to be a pretty elaborate hoax... anyone found the supposed patents yet?