Ducati Monster Forum

Kitchen Sink => No Moto Content => Topic started by: Hank025 on June 10, 2011, 06:29:01 AM

Title: BMW Boxer Engine Hoverbike
Post by: Hank025 on June 10, 2011, 06:29:01 AM
http://www.hover-bike.com/index.html (http://www.hover-bike.com/index.html)

Whaaaa?!  :o

I wonder what the EPA estimate would be for this bad boy. Hahah

oh here it is "   0.5L/min / 30L/hr   "
Title: Re: BMW Boxer Engine Hoverbike
Post by: zooom on June 10, 2011, 06:42:52 AM
yeah, but as a commuter...you could just bypass all the lights and cruise to your destination in the most direct fashion....
Title: Re: BMW Boxer Engine Hoverbike
Post by: Goat_Herder on June 10, 2011, 07:13:15 AM
I don't know about this...  All I can see is 2 big rotors in the front and rear.  There isn't any control (electronics or mechanical) for tilting front/rear and side to side.  Sure, it has enough power to get off the round.  But I bet you once the straps are off, the Hoverbike would lose control and become the FlopjackBike.  Also, FAA will never clear this thing to take flight in any air space.

Nice proof of concept but he doesn't have enough technology to get it safely in flight.
Title: Re: BMW Boxer Engine Hoverbike
Post by: KnightofNi on June 10, 2011, 07:28:35 AM
looking closer it looks like there are louvers under the propellers that coould direct the airflow forwards or backwards.

it's like the controls for a paraglider or swampboat.

turning would be done the same as on a normal bike. just lean. the thought of leaning too much scares the crap out of me, but it might work.

i would sign up to give it a flight for sure. just make sure my health insurance is paid up.
Title: Re: BMW Boxer Engine Hoverbike
Post by: duccarlos on June 10, 2011, 07:29:19 AM
Quote from: Goat_Herder on June 10, 2011, 07:13:15 AM
I don't know about this...  All I can see is 2 big rotors in the front and rear.  There isn't any control (electronics or mechanical) for tilting front/rear and side to side.  Sure, it has enough power to get off the round.  But I bet you once the straps are off, the Hoverbike would lose control and become the FlopjackBike.  Also, FAA will never clear this thing to take flight in any air space.

Nice proof of concept but he doesn't have enough technology to get it safely in flight.

+1

There are reasons why we don't see hover bikes and cars on the road today. Technology is not there yet. I see this ending in a firey ball of death.
Title: Re: BMW Boxer Engine Hoverbike
Post by: zooom on June 10, 2011, 07:40:29 AM
Quote from: duccarlos on June 10, 2011, 07:29:19 AM
  I see this ending in a firey ball of death.

ahhhh....but it'd be a helluva ride!!!
Title: Re: BMW Boxer Engine Hoverbike
Post by: MendoDave on June 10, 2011, 07:59:54 AM
Quote from: Goat_Herder on June 10, 2011, 07:13:15 AM
I don't know about this...  All I can see is 2 big rotors in the front and rear.  There isn't any control (electronics or mechanical) for tilting front/rear and side to side.  Sure, it has enough power to get off the round.  But I bet you once the straps are off, the Hoverbike would lose control and become the FlopjackBike.  Also, FAA will never clear this thing to take flight in any air space.

Nice proof of concept but he doesn't have enough technology to get it safely in flight.

Yea looks dangerous to me too.
Title: Re: BMW Boxer Engine Hoverbike
Post by: Punx Clever on June 10, 2011, 08:39:53 AM
Quote from: Goat_Herder on June 10, 2011, 07:13:15 AM
Also, FAA will never clear this thing to take flight in any air space.

Ultralight. Legal to fly without a pilots licence.
Title: Re: BMW Boxer Engine Hoverbike
Post by: Heath on June 10, 2011, 08:47:58 AM
I WANT MY HOVERBOARD DAMNIT AND I WANT IT NOW!!!!
Title: Re: BMW Boxer Engine Hoverbike
Post by: Ddan on June 10, 2011, 12:06:33 PM
Another article with some description of the controls

http://www.gizmag.com/hoverbike/18813/ (http://www.gizmag.com/hoverbike/18813/)
Title: Re: BMW Boxer Engine Hoverbike
Post by: Hank025 on June 10, 2011, 01:23:16 PM
According to his website he has all directional controls worked out in the handle bars. I would definitely give it a test drive.

This is definitely going to sound lame, but do airplanes have gears (i guess when changing gears you could fall from the sky...)? Or is the motor expected to power the propellers with a direct connection? I am just wondering how hard this guy is pushing the Boxer engine, and can it do it for the period of time he expects.

QuoteHow do you control the Hoverbike?

    To lift off into a hover, one needs to increase the thrust via a throttle grip with the right hand - exactly the same as the throttle on a motorbike
    To fly forward a combination involving an increase in thrust and the deflection of air from the front control vanes (twisting the left handle grip) will tilt the total thrust vector forward resulting in an acceleration forwards (twist back to go backwards)
    To to make the bike roll (turn) left and right, all one needs to do is push the handle bars down on the side you wish to turn (handle bars work just like a bicycle, but with an extra axis so that they rotate up and down a little) - you could lean in the appropriate direction just like a motorbike, but this is proving to be not as sensitive as one would expect or like.
    Yaw (nose left or right) is via control vanes front and rear and actuated by turning the handle bars - just like a bike
Title: Re: BMW Boxer Engine Hoverbike
Post by: Rob Hilding on June 10, 2011, 03:55:54 PM
Quote from: Hank025 on June 10, 2011, 01:23:16 PM
According to his website he has all directional controls worked out in the handle bars. I would definitely give it a test drive.

This is definitely going to sound lame, but do airplanes have gears (i guess when changing gears you could fall from the sky...)? Or is the motor expected to power the propellers with a direct connection? I am just wondering how hard this guy is pushing the Boxer engine, and can it do it for the period of time he expects.


We all know BMW boxer engines run forever - so no problem there ;)
Title: Re: BMW Boxer Engine Hoverbike
Post by: lethe on June 10, 2011, 04:03:09 PM
I'd have to power this with either a radial engine or a turbine, out of principal  [thumbsup]
Title: Re: BMW Boxer Engine Hoverbike
Post by: Speedbag on June 10, 2011, 04:11:31 PM
Yep. ^

It's extremely cool and all, but it violates my rule of remaining planted on the ground.
Title: Re: BMW Boxer Engine Hoverbike
Post by: erkishhorde on June 11, 2011, 12:46:21 PM
Yeah, saw this post on another forum. My concern is stopping ability and the fact that if you are stopping hard, you are potentially pointing a VERY large weed whacker at whatever is in front of you.
Title: hover bike - for realz
Post by: mors vito on June 14, 2011, 09:07:54 AM
http://www.pcworld.com/article/230178/hover_bikes_are_real_let_you_eat_your_pie_in_the_sky.html (http://www.pcworld.com/article/230178/hover_bikes_are_real_let_you_eat_your_pie_in_the_sky.html)

got to be one of the coolest things ive ever seen
Title: Re: hover bike - for realz
Post by: jvax on June 14, 2011, 09:29:21 AM


Derby  ;D

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=49775.0 (http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=49775.0)

Title: Re: BMW Boxer Engine Hoverbike
Post by: Statler on June 14, 2011, 10:54:40 AM
I merged the threads into the NMC thread.  That ain't no motorcycle.   ;D
Title: Re: BMW Boxer Engine Hoverbike
Post by: Turf on June 14, 2011, 01:16:12 PM
Quote from: erkishhorde on June 11, 2011, 12:46:21 PM
Yeah, saw this post on another forum. My concern is stopping ability and the fact that if you are stopping hard, you are potentially pointing a VERY large weed whacker at whatever is in front of you.

Wtf are you panic braking for at 10k feet?
Title: Re: BMW Boxer Engine Hoverbike
Post by: Scooter Montgomery on June 14, 2011, 02:20:33 PM
Quote from: Turf on June 14, 2011, 01:16:12 PM
Wtf are you panic braking for at 10k feet?
Pigeons are the new squirrels.
Title: Re: BMW Boxer Engine Hoverbike
Post by: lethe on June 14, 2011, 05:04:03 PM
Quote from: Turf on June 14, 2011, 01:16:12 PM
Wtf are you panic braking for at 10k feet?
damn reindeer
Title: Re: BMW Boxer Engine Hoverbike
Post by: Timmy Tucker on June 14, 2011, 08:44:17 PM
Count me in for Hoverbike V3.0

(http://www.robotoys.com/SWSpeederBike.gif)
Title: Re: BMW Boxer Engine Hoverbike
Post by: Duc Buz on June 14, 2011, 09:08:45 PM
Quote from: Timmy Tucker on June 14, 2011, 08:44:17 PM
Count me in for Hoverbike V3.0

(http://www.robotoys.com/SWSpeederBike.gif)

I need this. Now, or maybe the next round. We don'tneed no stinkin' brakes.
Title: Re: BMW Boxer Engine Hoverbike
Post by: sno_duc on June 15, 2011, 06:37:29 AM
Quote from: Hank025 on June 10, 2011, 01:23:16 PM
According to his website he has all directional controls worked out in the handle bars. I would definitely give it a test drive.

This is definitely going to sound lame, but do airplanes have gears (i guess when changing gears you could fall from the sky...)? Or is the motor expected to power the propellers with a direct connection? I am just wondering how hard this guy is pushing the Boxer engine, and can it do it for the period of time he expects.

In a sense, all but the most basic have constant speed propellers. The hub has a piston in it that uses engine oil via a governor to vary the the pitch. You set what rpm is desired and it maintains that rpm over a wide range of thottle openings. For example 2700 rpm and full thottle for take off, decreased to 2500 rpm and full thottle for climb out, decreased again to 2200 - 2400 rpm for cruise.