Strap a yoga ball to 16 horizontally rotating propellers and apparently you can claim a world’s first.   German aircraft company E-Volo slapped together something they’re calling a Multicopter and recently they achieved the first manned flight that lasted about 90 seconds.

If the prototype looks familiar, that’s probably because you’ve seen a variety of quadricopter in the last few years, the most notable being Parrot’s A.R. Drone.  However, up until this point all them have been too small to lift a person off the ground.

The Multicopter is controlled using a wireless remote and apparently will float, much in the same fashion as Parrot’s quadricopter, without any human input, though it’s not clear if E-Volo has incorporated a variety of sensors unlike the A.R. Drone.  However, there are a set of onboard computers that calculate the rotational speed of the propellers and thus control altitude and the direction of travel.

This version of the multicopter is powered purely on battery juice, but the company says that they might develop a gas and electric hybrid version which would increase flight times from 10-30 minutes to perhaps an hour.

We’re really not sure what we would do with a multicopter.  In fact, it reminds us of the Segway – cool tech but not really practical in any application.  Then again, the military could surely use somethings like this to perform recon, though it might be a bit too large and manned flight is slowly being eliminated from their strategy.

If you’ve fallen asleep at the airport, waiting for your plane to be de-iced or your layover to connect, then you know how uncomfortable the experience can be. And by uncomfortable we mean back wrenching, not to mention the fact that you gotta be extra vigilante about your laptop and other carry-on items – Airports are a thieves’ paradise.

If you happen to be flying into Moscow you can catch a quick nap in a freshly made bed without having to hoof it to a hotel or throw down for the business class lounge. The Sleepbox contains two beds and can be rented for a little as 30 minutes or for several hours depending on your level of exhaustion. Inside are a set of fold out tables, LED reading lamps and outlets for powering your laptop or charging your smartphone. And since the door presumably locks you won’t need to worry about your stuff disappearing while you snooze.

The box is made from ash-veneered MDF. The prototype version was manufactured from plastic and incorporated an automated bed making system. Both didn’t make it into the final version, and although we’re not sad to see the synthetic material disappear, the automated bed system, while not as lush as hand laid linens, would have warmed the cockles of our geek hearts.

So if you happen to be flying into, or through Aeroexpress terminal of Sheremetyevo International Airport, Moscow, Russia, check it out and let us know what you think.

Mile high club in training anyone?

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Screw cars, screw hover crafts, I want the Wing in Ground flying hovercraft.  Invented by Rudy Heeman of Nelson, New Zealand it took him 10+ years to build the water/flight vehicle in his garage.  He used a variety of parts from all sorts of junked vehicles including a 1.8l Subaru engine to power the machine.

To take flight the WIG must achieve a minimum speed of 40 mph, where upon it will lift off 10 feet into the air carrying a max payload of about 350lbs, or 3 people.  Top air speed is 50mph and range is over 100 miles.  Because the craft is mostly boat it doesn’t require a pilot’s license, though you must obey boating laws – hello drinking and boating.

Want one?  You can buy it from TradeMe New Zealand, that is assuming your willing to bid higher than the dude in front of you, which is currently $27k.

[via Automoto]

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Remember that Martin Jet Pack we saw in 2008?  It’s set to go into production thanks to multimillion dollar deal signed with an international aircraft company.  Cost to you: $76,000.  They plan to produce about 500 of the machines per year, which can travel up to 60 miles per hour for up to 30 miles – in other words you’ll get 30 minutes of fly time on a full tank.  There’s still no official word on when we’ll actually see the first Marin Jet Pack go up for sale, but I’m confident we’ll see some accidents when it does.

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Sure, you could take issue with the fact that it’s mostly a helicopter, but nothing beats adding another Star Wars toy to your creepy manchild Star Wars toy collection…in your Mom’s basement…where you live.  Hasbro’s remote-controlled flying Millennium Falcon will be available this fall for $50 and boast the title of the “largest flying Star Wars R/C to date”.

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This holiday season there will no doubt be an endless barrage of flying toys for your young tyke to take part in.  The PicoZ SkyBot Attack, though, looks to be the stuff kids dream of…sort of.

For about $80 US you get a set of flying bots that each sport an on board gunnery system better known as infrared.  Fire on your opponent and assuming you make a direct hit, their engines will disengage causing their bot to fall out of the sky.

Each bot comes with its very own 2 channel remote, which also doubles as a recharging base and explains the 5 minute flying time.

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Oh yes.  I’m going to a haunted corn maze on Friday or a maize maze for those of you who like multi-lingual wordplay, and if this remote controlled bat was part of the show I’d be impressed.

Exactly what you think it is, this 13 gram and 10 inches of wingspan Flying Vampire Bat uses a tiny lithium polymer battery that lasts for 10 minutes for every half hour of charging.   This has Halloween prank written all over it.

The controller runs off of 6 whole AA batteries and the whole product costs around $33.  To add to the scare tactics the bat also has green LED’s embedded in the eyes for all those unsuspecting Trick-or-Treaters.

This reminds me of something I saw in Peter Jackson’s Dead Alive and I’m sure it will do its best to “kick ass for the lord!”

[via CoolestGadgets]

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If you’re planning a trip across the Bering Strait a few summers from now, then you might wanna take a look at the ParaJet Skycar.   It’s the world’s first bio-fueled flying car, and if you recall it has already traveled from London to Timbuktu.

Now after many successful flights, its creator has plans to sell the vehicle to the general public.  To grab one of the first you’ll have to throw down a £10,000 deposit and then be prepared to spend £50,000 more when it will ship in 2010.

The vehicle is completely street legal and achieves 0-60 mph in just 4.2 seconds and cruises at a top speed of 120mph on land and 70mph in air.  Keep in mind you’ll need about 50 to 100 meters of runway for lift off, so if you’re planning to purchase the SkyCar you might wanna look into an estate or remote land opportunities.

Check the videos below for a bit more detail and to see it in action.

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Move over parasailing and say hello to the Water Powered Jet Pack!  Ok, so its altitude is limited based on the hose length, and you’re pretty much dragging a pump around with you which might not make it ideal for an Ocean. But still, it’s pretty bad ass!

[Hackaday]

You gotta love toys you can just pick up and play with. The instructions – what instructions! The R/C Alien Microfly UFO is no more then a balance weight, box cutter knifed Styrofoam and propeller. So, ya, my initial reaction was far from impressed. Worse yet, I had to stuff 6 AA batteries into the remote, which doubles as a charger. Sorry, no rechargeable batteries included. With apprehension, and an almost virtual guarantee that my review of the R/C Alien Microfly UFO would be negative, I set in for lift off.

First attempt: smacked the ceiling and spun out of control. Second attempt: I eased in on the throttle and lift off, albeit for a few seconds. Soon I realized this little RC flyer would take some mastery, something I might just enjoy. Hand eye coordination? Yes please. Come my 5th attempt I was hovering the little neon green flyer like a pro. 75% on the throttle seemed about suitable for my 8 foot ceilings.

Initially, the left and right controls alluded me. Why? Because there are none. Built-in into the flyer and remote are infrared diodes that keep the flyer in proximity of the remote. Course, that doesn’t mean it won’t fly 3 feet left and then 5 feet right, but hey, that’s part of the experience. Charging the flyer takes 20 minutes, which should provide about 5 minutes of continuous fly time. In the event of a harsh crash an auto shutoff switch engages, requiring you to switch the flyer off then on again.

Being the humanitarian that I am, I ran the propeller against my bare skin to see if it would inflict any damage. Fear not moms, it’s safe, although it could probably scratch a cornea or two in the wrong hands. Sure to be a party pleaser and get the in laws scratching their noggins, I’m in love with the R/C Alien Microfly UFO.

Pros:

• Can use out of the box
• Resistant to damage due to Styrofoam body
• Simple remote with built-in charger

Cons:

• 5 minutes of flyings but takes 20+ minutes to charge
• No rechargeable batteries
• Auto shutoff a bit sensitive
• No left or right controls and mind of its own

Available here for $25.

Prototype people, prototype. Crafted from dreams and grid lock frustration, the Autovolantor’s design is based off a Ferrari 599 GTB, just add on wings. The idea is that if you’re stuck in traffic you just flip a switch and take off to free skies. It’s produces lift from 8 fans that run off an electrical engine. Sky milage is pegged at 150 miles while road action would be limited to 40 miles. So far, wind tunnel testing has proved positive.

Apparently, some Russian biz dude commissioned the prototype – it cost $5 million – and if he’s got bank to boot maybe he can bribe regulatory boards into letting him fly his costly death trap.

One more pic after the ‘leap’

[Gizmag]

Features:

• Easy to control RC flying toy
• Flies for up to 10 minutes on one charge
• Wing really flap and glowing LEDs let you keep track of it at night

Buy it: Interactive Toy VAMP Indoor/Outdoor RC Flying Bat – $45

Nasa has struggled for years to come up with a jet pack.  You know, the thing we all one day hope to strap to our backs and shoot into the sky like superman.  Believe it or not, a New Zealand born inventor, a one Glenn Martin, has been tinkering with such a device for over 25 years.  It’s now on the verge of coming to complete fruition and with 12 orders at $100k a piece, I’d say he’s completed what one would assume is his life long dream.  The two massive engines produce over 600lbs of thrust (200hp combined) and 186mph winds.  Inside the engines are Kevlar propellers (I love Kevlar).  On a full tank of gas, one gets about 30 minutes of flying time and the tripod legs have built-in shock absorbers to insure a soft landing.  No one has flown higher than a few feet, but Martin hopes to have a version that’ll hover 500 feet in six months.

[Dailymail]