Chinese company re-inventing the Moller Skycar

[ryoder 1,590]

http://www.technologyreview.com/news/545111/will-anybody-buy-a-drone-large-enough-to-carry-a-person/

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[quade 4]

Hmmm, thought I had mentioned it earlier, but might have been another social media platform.

In any case, I'm sure these guys have a genius solution to preventing rotor strikes on innocent bystanders. ;)

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[ryoder 1,590]

At least Moller had the common sense to put the fans in ducts.
IIRC, I've read that ducts can improve performance as well.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[quade 4]

Ducted fans are considerably more efficient for certain, but not all, things. For a dual-quad arrangement like this I think it would get really tricky and might even be a drawback at cruise; more wetted area as well possible stalling of the airflow.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[ryoder 1,590]

I see your point;
For hovering, the ducts would be great, but once transitioned to translational lift, you would just be dragging them sideways through the air, unless you tilted them.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[quade 4]

I think the real solution here is to move the bottom of the rotors about 10 feet off the landing surface.

Would also make for some interesting off label uses. For instance, that would enable it to be jumpable. ;) No pesky DZ pilot to pay.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver