Friday, March 29

This is how close we are to wearing jetpacks to work


Human beings have always wanted to fly. And although he achieved it more than 100 years ago with the invention of the airplane, our species is not satisfied with anything. That is why today we are talking about the jetpack, the next big step in human mobility.

The jetpack is possibly the craziest vehicle/gadget that human beings have invented to move: it allows its users to move in three dimensions and at high speeds. And if a mountain cuts you off, you can get around it.

In some works of fiction, jetpacks are a futuristic transportation solution, something that ordinary people use to travel between cities or, simply, to go buy bread.

But are jetpacks a reality? Has the military been researching this field for decades? Will the civilians take to the skies in an attempt to abandon the car? And if jetpacks are a reality, are they really the best transportation option?

Although the execution is quite complex, the idea behind a jetpack is quite simple.. You attach a harness to a jet or rocket engine, add some way to control throttle and steering, put someone in the harness, and wish them luck.

The thrust of the rocket or jet applies a force that sends the backpack and the person wearing it in the opposite direction. Jetpack engines have to provide enough thrust to lift the backpack and the person using it, while being as economical as possible.

Fuel is heavy and takes up space, so only a limited amount can be carried and the jetpack has to make the most of it. There must also be some kind of parachute, as a controlled landing isn’t really an option if the backpack malfunctions or runs out of fuel.

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Popular Science says that The development of jetpacks began in 1958. Called “project grasshopper” it was a solid fuel device that could be strapped to a soldier’s waist.

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That soldier then acquired superhuman jumping ability and was able to cross a 15 meter wide river or jump from a second story window. The invention was part of a variety of wacky projects the US military was working on in the 1950s.

As for the jetpack license, according to the FAA and the Institute of Pilots, To fly an ultralight it is not necessary to pass an exam, register a certain number of flight hours or have a license.

Airspace below 120 meters is also unregulated outside of cities, so air traffic control won’t bother you. So, if you get a jetpack that meets all the requirements, you can put it on and take off without the government intervening.

Considering all this, how close are we to having jetpacks? Well you can have one right nowalthough it will cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars and will have almost no practical use.

Glenn Martin’s jetpack starts at $100,000 and can travel at speeds of up to 50 miles per hour, launch its user up to 800 feet into the air, and log about 30 minutes of flight time before the fuel level runs out. .

Aside from the expense, jetpacks are pretty impractical, and that’s something that probably won’t change. If your destination is more than 40 kilometers away, you will probably arrive by parachute. In addition, the general public must be taken into account.

It is difficult for jetpacks to be the future, due to their many drawbacks and few pros. But, surely, it will remain as an exhibition vehicle, since seeing people fly with them is impressive.

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