Advanced Venture Robotics

Flyboard

Robotics and aerospace products

We develop manned flying devices based on cutting edge drone control technology, adaptive wing configuration and multirotor cargo lift platforms. The e-flyboard is a personal, autonomous flying device.

Limbic aeronautic control in flying

For the past years we have been researching designs for human personal flying devices. With a background in aerospace and electric mobility technology, we’ve set out to investigate the possibility to create a simple, intuitive flying platform.

This collaboration between scientists, pilots, engineers and extreme sports practitioners has reached successful proof of feasibility in 2015. Next steps include further technology refinements and research into safety aspects.

The key requirements we’ve investigated are:

Lightweight and mobile, can be carried by a person when not flying
Intuitive limbic control – no joystick or other steering controls
Autonomy of operation > 5 minutes
Mechanically simple design, with a minimum of moving parts
Inherently stable flying configuration
Amphibian use – underwater propulsion, controlled take off from water and landing on water
Optional tethered operation with an external floating power source
Redundant fail-safe control system electronics and software
Failure tolerance for single and double rotor failure
Ballistic parachute
Rocket emergency landing
Ground impact airbag

Testing physiological limits

Experiments made with airplanes and helicopters have shown that mechanically mediated control introduces many risk factors, besides presenting a steep learning curve. A key research topic was to develop innovative and intuitive ways to control a flying device. A separate project, Limbic Control Systems, has been set up to further develop more generalized applications of our research. The application of limbic control to the steering of flying devices has been researched and found to be a reliable method. The Zapata Racing water powered flyboard has been found to be an ideal limbic control test platform.