Technology is evolving faster than ever. Paradigms are morphing. Businesses are being disrupted by surprising entrants. Engagement and innovation in increasingly complex markets becomes an everyday topic. At Xsolve we research and apply our knowledge to educate and guide existing businesses and new ventures in navigating this high-risk, high-stakes environment. Our methodology  helps company leaders embark on a path to future market viability, increase resilience and thrive on change.

Project collaborations

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.

Working prototype, independently developed by Catalin Alexandru Duru

We thank all contributors to this project

Mike Mason

Flugschule Birrfeld

John Pyle &
Dan Tzur

The Airodium team

Hanan Kovaliu

Jet-Li Flyboard Israel

Fablab Zürich

Image credits:
Antti Pendikainen
Catalin Alexandru Duru

The FuturesHub Switzerland is a non-profit platform and community fostering public education and discourse about technology evolving at an accelerating pace and how that affects society and facilitates discussions on how society may prepare for this future and develop suitable ethical and legal frameworks.

We organize lectures, discussions and debates, and experiential workshops and classes for adults and children. Topics include basic technology introductions to robotics, artificial intelligence and synthetic biology. We also partner with businesses and organizers of technology hackathons on diverse topics.

Web site: http://futureshub.ch

Project collaborations

We facilitate the development and marketing of environmentally friendly transportation devices.

We’ve worked with the award winning designer Nimrod Sapir to bring his MYWAY scooters to Switzerland. The scooters are available for purchase in Switzerland via the online store at www.e-myway.ch.

Project contributors

Designer: Nimrod Sapir

Ningbo MYWAY Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.

Mechanical engineering advisor:
Yaron Blank

Practical innovation in technology application – the transfer of technology ideas to products – has shifted from corporations’ product departments to the entrepreneurial culture. This movement, led by environmentally and socially conscientious millennials, geeks and technologists has brought with it the rise of community driven tinkering, experimenting and development facilities commonly called “Maker” or “Hacker” spaces.

In collaboration with the Impact Hub Zurich and the Fablab Zürich, a hackerspace facility is being set up in Zurich. Our home is at the top floor of the Impact Hub Colab building, this provides the infrastructure, community and training required to drive innovation in “hardware” products, including but not limited to electronics, Internet-of-Things devices, robotics, wearable devices and drones, as well as experimentation with paradigm-shifting manufacturing methods such as 3D printing.

makerZpace at a glance

• Develop your Internet-of-Things (IoT) capabilities
• Position yourself as a leader in the hardware and digital maker movement
• Gain real-life experience in digital fabrication / Industry 4.0

Located on top of Switzerland’s largest innovation and entrepreneurship community, makerZpace offers your company and colleagues a unique opportunity to experience the maker movement, digital hardware and internet-of-things.

• Equipment: 3D printer, Laser Cutter, Desktop CNC, electronics prototyping
• Workshops: 3D Printing introduction (3h), IoT & Digital Fabrication (half day), Electronics & Robotics (full day) or tailor-made workshops to your needs
• Community access: Access to 650 entrepreneurial members in Zurich and over 12’000 members in 80+ Impact Hubs across the globe
• Central location: Top floor at Impact Hub Colab, Sihlquai 131, 8005 Zurich

Web site: http://futureshub.ch/make

As part of this project we research and develop limbic user interfaces. Originally developed for intuitive, hands free piloting of personal flying devices, the insights we collected prove to be perfect for a host of other applications besides piloting, and ranging from hands-free driving, controlling games to remote controlling entertainment systems or factory machines and as mundane as intelligent water faucets using a  camera or 3d gesture sensor and machine learning.

For more information contact us.