Humans Can Fly in This Drone-Like Electric Hybrid 'Octocopter'
The company that partnered with UPS to create a package-delivering drone is ready to fly its new passenger aerial vehicle.
The SureFly, a two-seater electric hybrid helicopter (or "octocopter," because of its eight propellers), has received approval from the FAA to take a test flight at CES in Las Vegas on Jan. 8.
Designed by Ohio-based commercial transportation solutions company Workhorse Group, the SureFly is designed to be safer, easier to fly and more affordable than a typical chopper. SureFly pilots can drive the aircraft in a similar manner to a drone -- via joystick instead of steering wheel -- and carry up to 400 pounds for up to 70 miles at a time. The aircraft is also compact: It's smaller than a pickup truck, plus its arms and propellers fold to simplify transportation and storage.
(Score: 4, Interesting) by FatPhil on Tuesday January 09 2018, @02:03PM (3 children)
Don't leave us hanging - how did it go - where's the vid?
(And this is aimed at Workhorse.com, not SN, their site still has nothing.)
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 2) by captain normal on Tuesday January 09 2018, @06:28PM
There should be a vid if it did work. Most likely it's just "Pie in the sky someday" like this guy: http://moller.com/ [moller.com]
Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts"- --Daniel Patrick Moynihan--
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Tuesday January 09 2018, @09:38PM (1 child)
"It was meant to be a bold display of a transportation utopia. Instead, it rained - ever so slightly - and the whole thing was called off. "
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-42616034 [bbc.co.uk]
Oh, well... might put a dent in the next round of VC sourcing.
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 2) by FatPhil on Tuesday January 09 2018, @11:10PM
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 09 2018, @02:40PM
If this is what flying cars are going to look like, I think I'm fine if they don't ever happen.
(Score: 3, Informative) by fustakrakich on Tuesday January 09 2018, @03:02PM
Ok, who wants to place bets on the over/under in decibels? It will be exponentially worse than the ultralights, which at least have to keep a safe distance. If you thought that Cuban embassy stuff was bad, wait until you hear this thing!
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 09 2018, @03:04PM (1 child)
400 pounds for up to 70 miles
is
181 kilograms for 113 kilometers
Courtesy of GNU units.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Tuesday January 09 2018, @06:39PM
So, it's not a two passenger craft for average American adults, then.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 09 2018, @03:28PM (2 children)
caint wait for them thar kintukky rednecks to shoot one down.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Tuesday January 09 2018, @05:28PM (1 child)
When's the last time a redneck shot at a helicopter? Last Thursday?
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Tuesday January 09 2018, @06:47PM
Shouldn't need to shoot this one, a short length of chain into the props would be nasty and effective.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 09 2018, @07:12PM (2 children)
$200,000 is too much. You could buy 10-20 conventional helicopters for that price.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 09 2018, @09:57PM
Prototypes tend to be expensive.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Tuesday January 09 2018, @10:25PM
I think not. [owlcation.com]
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]