SAN FRANCISCO: If you don’t know what a hoverbike is, the image above gives you an inkling.
Russian start-up Hoversurf has created the world's first manned hoverbike prototype that meshes together a motorcycle with quadcopter drone technology.
The Scorpion-3 looks like a whole lot of fun as the Hoversurf promotional trailer below shows, with the rider piloting the craft around in a warehouse.
At the same time, the hoverbike looks potentially dangerous as rotor blades are spinning at high speed inches from the rider’s legs, who as you can see, is wearing protective gear. We could think of fixed leg guards or rotor cages/housing to make the hoverbike safer to use and more “human-friendly.”
The idea of a hoverbike isn’t new as several companies such as Malloy Aeronautics have been rolling out prototypes since 2014. They looked futuristic-cool but remain untested unlike the Hoversurf vehicle.
The Scorpion-3 is a single-seater and is electrically powered. It has enough charge to stay in the air for nearly 30 mins. It can carry up to 120kg in weight and could achieve speeds of up to 48kph and fly at up to 10 metres above ground (or water, we presume).
The Scorpion-3 will require more work before it is considered ready for production. Hoversurf will also have to convince legislators that its hoverbike is safe and viable as a mode of transport in future.
The hoverbike has built-in software that limits its speed and height in the interest of safety. As with most high-tech products, flying cars included, the Scorpion-3 won’t come cheap. Hoversurf says it is hoping to charge US$150,000 (RM668,000) for the production hoverbike.
Assuming it is able to make it that far in the development process. But then, there will be more than a few investors and geeks rooting for its success.
