B
Quadcopters
have become a very popular type of devices lately, with many
traditional RC helicopters and planes being replaced with models that
have four rotors. This creates a much more stable vehicle, and allows it
to maneuver much easier. But a new Kickstarter project aims to combine
this design with a traditional racing car, to create a new type of
vehicle that can both roll on roads and fly up at a moment’s notice.
The
prototype is called B, and it was created by a Southampton inventor who
tried to devise a way to create a remote control vehicle that could
roll on the ground and fly just as well. Thanks to an innovative design,
he combined four wheels along with four rotors embedded in those
wheels, giving B this unique capability. Typically, vehicles that can
fly either need to stay stationary on the ground in order to lift up,
such as an helicopter, or they need a long runway. This patent pending
invention can simply fly up at a moment’s notice while it’s running off
full speed on the ground, land, then keep going.
The
uses for such a vehicle are many. This flying ability allows it to go
above any obstacle, and the way the parts are positioned allows it to
control both the wheels and rotors from a single engine and controller.
The goal is to raise £86,500 in order to finance the creation of this
device, which will be sold as a toy, but he already has plans to
increase the possibilities of this invention, including making a full
sized vehicle, or changing it into a remote exploration device for harsh
terrain.
