Hobby Inspired Electric Multicopter Makes Manned Flight

garymortimer writes "A German team has managed to fly its super-sized hobby inspired platform with a man on-board! A one-hour flight would cost something near to 6 Euro for electricity. In addition, the device holds few parts that could wear out, making maintenance intervals and cost low and far between. The control firmware can be integrated with a sophisticated integrated GPS system or obstacle detection. As such, automated flight for predetermined points on a 3D map is possible."

Comments

Euros?

[Baloroth]

A one-hour flight would cost something near to 6 Euro for electricity

So what is that in non-monopoly money? :) (before I get flamed: US centric site, and USD is the standard international currency.)

More on topic: while that multi-copter looks really cool, it also looks like a good way to loose weight. Specifically, by having your flesh smeared all over the field. Helicopter blades are usually put over the copter for a reason (though that does tend to make ejector seats... problematic.)

This is not a new idea, BTW, I remember reading an article about a copter like this which was intended to be used by the military to pass safely over minefields. Stability is a massive problem, because like I said, if you fall into the blades, you get an action-movie worthy death (or at least major accident, depending on blade speed/ construction).