德国人研制出一种新型单人遥控飞行器，上周首次载人试飞，在飞行1分30秒后安全着陆。设计者说，未来它不仅可以走入寻常百姓家，用作“空中飞车”，还可用于管道系统检测、空中救护或航拍等作业。

试飞成功

　　这种新型飞行器名为E-Volo，由托马斯·森克尔携手斯特凡·沃尔夫和亚历山大·措泽尔研制。森克尔10月底乘坐E-Volo完成首次载人试飞，飞行1分30秒后安全着陆。

　　试飞照片显示，它看上去就像一个人坐在弹跳球上，周围被遥控直升机模型环绕。实际上，它由4组16个水平旋翼组成，每个旋翼由电脑控制，因此飞行员坐在位于中心的底座上，仅用无线控制器就可操控驾驶，如同玩电子游戏一样。座位下方的球主要起减震作用。

　　飞行器配备了全球定位系统（GPS），能自动避开障碍物，自控到达已设定位置。它还可在飞行员非操控状态下静止盘旋于空中。

　　森克尔等人的设计初衷是造出一部可折叠收纳、又具备垂直起降等便利性的飞行器。

材料普通

　　这个易于操控的飞行器可谓“山寨”，试飞时，森克尔头戴头盔，用绑带捆住双腿，用于减震的球体就是普通的瑜伽健身球。由于使用的是锂电池，现阶段它仅能飞行大约20分钟。森克尔说，飞行器“脾气温和”，他们希望尽早研制出新型动力装置，让E-Volo可实现持续飞行数小时。

　　E-Volo飞行1小时所需电力成本约6欧元（约合8.3美元）。设计结构简单、组件耐磨损意味着这种飞行器不需要太多维护和维修。森克尔说，紧急情况下，即使16个旋翼中有4个失效，它也能安全着陆；旋翼位置低于飞行员位置，因此安全降落伞可及时打开。

　　载人试飞前，森克尔等人曾在地面成功实施E-Volo的遥控飞行。他们认为，一旦解决了保持空中长距离飞行的动力装置以及运载更多乘客的问题，E-Volo将彻底改变飞行器的概念。

One-man flying space hopper could become the 'air car' of the future

Thomas Senkel, who built the machine with two friends, pilot the aircraft on its maiden 1min 30sec journey

Mr Senkel's eco-friendly contraption has 16 rotors, with each flight lasting about 20 minutes before the batteries need a recharge

The three inventors claim their flying machine could be used for inspecting pipelines, as an air ambulance or for taking aerial photographs - as well as just for fun.

Once they have solved the problem of how to keep it in the air for longer - and support more people - Senkel hopes it might replace helicopters for good.

It's far easier to fly than ordinary helicopters - it's steered by rotor speed, which is computer-controlled, so the pilot just needs to use a joystick as if playing a videogame, rather than controlling multiple complex contorols at once.

Senkel describes the easy-to-use machine as 'good-natured' and potentially capable of replacing the helicopter in many situations.

But E-volo hope rapidly developing technology will mean they can complete hour-long flights in the near future.

Thomas Senkel（centre）with the two friends who helped him develop the 'multicopter'

A one-hour flight would cost around six euros in electricity. The machine has few parts, which could wear out, meaning the aircraft needs little maintenance.

E-volo say their aircraft is special because of the 'simplicity of its engineered construction without complicated mechanics, and redundant engines.'

In an emergency, it can land even if four of its 16 rotors fail. And since the propellers sit below the pilot, a safety parachute can also be deployed.

The controls could be integrated with GPS software, the three friends claim, and the machine could even automatically avoid obstacles and direct itself to pre-determined locations. E-Volo have already completed several successful 'drone' flights with the vehicle, controlled remotely from the ground.

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