Hover Jedi-style

Aerofex - The Jedi style hovering vehicle.

Aerofex, a California-based firm has developed a manned hovering aerial vehicle which relies on human instincts of balance and mechanical responses for hovering rather than electronics or artificial intelligence. The vehicle has close resemblance to sci-fi hovering flying bikes like the ones in Return of the Jedi.
 An idea of a similar design had originated way back in 1960s. However, because of stability and rollover problems, it didn't work out quite well and had to be abandoned.

Aerofex has fixed the stability issue by creating a mechanical system — controlled by two control bars at knee-level — that allows the vehicle to respond to a human pilot's leaning movements and natural sense of balance.

Aerofex has currently limited human flight testing to a height of 15 feet and speeds of about 30 mph, but more out of caution rather than because of any technological limits. Earlier versions of the hover vehicles are reported to have been as fast as helicopters.

However, Aerofex does not plan to immediately develop and sell a manned version. Instead, the aerospace firm sees the aerial vehicle as a test platform for new unmanned drones — heavy-lift robotic workhorses that could use the same hover technology to work in agricultural fields, or swiftly deliver supplies to search-and-rescue teams in rough terrain.

Aerofex is taking flight in an innovative direction.We are creating exciting technology that will change the way people perceive and utilize flight. We are developing manned craft and unmanned aerial vehicles that have real utility.
Our goal is to break the barriers that limit access to the benefits of flight.
Follow us on the journey. 

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