Remote Controlled For Now, But Engineers See A New Choice For Commuters

Maybe Almira Gulch knew something that the rest of us are just catching up to. Three companies in the Czech Republic have come up with a concept they say could be a boon to commuters at some point in the future. The vehicle is essentially a cross between an RC helicopter and a bicycle that could one day carry a person.

The concept was unveiled Wednesday in an exhibition hall in Prague, and as you might expect, a video of the event was uploaded to YouTube. UPI reports that the machine, which weighs a touch over 200 pounds, is essentially four battery-powered electric fans attached to a mountain-style bicycle. The contraption was developed by Czech Republic companies Duratec Bicycles, Technodat and Evektor with support from Dassault Systems of France.

For the initial test, the "commuter" was a lightweight human analog, and the bike was flown by remote control. Milan Duchek, Duratec's technical director, said that the batteries that are currently available are not powerful enough to lift a person off the pavement just yet, but engineers foresee a time when the bikes are used by commuters, as well as for sporting events (quidditch, anyone?), tourism, and just recreational flying.

(Image from YouTube video)

FMI: Watch the Video