Team Gamera is back and flight testing their modified version of Gamera II Human Powered Helicopter at the PG Sports and Learning Complex in Landover, MD.
With new pilot and incoming UMD Freshman Henry Enerson in the cockpit, a maximum altitude test flight was attempted. Needless to say we were not quite expecting what happened next. Henry smoothly pedaled Gamera up to just over 8 feet (2.5 meters) altitude and had a controlled descent for a flight time of about 25 seconds. This is not an official record but is certainly the highest a human powered helicopter has ever reached.
Our goals are to continue flight testing to achieve a 3 meter (9.8 ft) altitude as part of the AHS Igor I. Sikorsky Human Powered Helicopter Competition (‘The Sikorsky Prize’). Stay tuned to this YouTube channel as more historic flights are achieved and posted!
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@umd_gamera
 8/28/2012){kind=link}
ok i understand
ok
Why does it have to have both hand and foot petals?
The idea is that two is better than one. It is a point of contention with
their design. I would argue that because of the awkward operating position
less power going to the foot pedals and the amount made up with the hand
pedals is likely less than enough to compensate for the power that could be
generated in a more ergonomic arrangement.
First there were phrases like cool or hot that had nothing to do with a
thermometer. Then there was sick, which had nothing to do with viruses or
bacteria and meant something was, well really cool, or hot, or whatever.
Now there is a new term “fake” which means you are a really clever group of
engineers who have built a really amazing device.
*facepalm* You know, this may or may not be a direct result of the syntax,
but the delivery itself sounded better than the punchline.
It doesn’t have to be, but our experiments and measurements showed an
increase in power output when using both arms and legs versus legs alone.
See page 3 of our design report, which is on our website (link in
description, go to “Publications” on the side panel and open the Gamera II
Design Paper)
That is amazing. Control will be your biggest challenge but flight height
and endurance appear to be within reach. Great job Team Gamara. Power to
weight really brought this design to life. I’m excited!
Does it have seatbelts then?
I was thinking about how control of my indoor helicopter changes around
walls and furniture. I think your efforts would be better in a large indoor
stadium. That might be cost prohibitive but I’m sure air current near the
walls of your facility size will make control almost impossible.
Lend it to Lance Armstrong!
CONGRATULATIONS <3 😀
This is really cool, but I reckon it cost way more than $250,000 to design
and build.
I suspect that I could get a person-powered heli-cop-ter and airplane to be
person-powered, to be much smaller, and have it fly way longer than 60
seconds. I am wondering how long will it be,before people figure out the
way to do this venture in a better simplistic way?
Why it looks like pc game ?
What kind of material did you guys use for the truss?
They need to do this outside on a calm day!
you need some kind of differential, that powers the wings that are falling
lower , or put one more wing on the top that has more weight on the ends to
act as a gyro.
Ha, I randomly picture a criminal trying to get away in this and not
getting to far
EVERYBODY PANIC!!! SAVE YOURSELVES!
Carbon fiber composite
When ´s the prize gonna be reached!?!#!!
lol
For extra power. They should make a small pedaling system for his forehead
to nod up and down… =D
I coulda hit da roof!!!
Isn’t this flying using ground effect, I would like to see a person flying
this above ground effect to call it true human powered flight. It like the
human powered aircrafts that have been flown in the past just barely off
the ground and not getting above ground effect altitude. Could you explain
to me whether it would be possible to get above this ground effect if this
is ground effect by using human power alone?
You didn’t reply to my question about that this is probably ground effect.
I would like a reply please from you so I can be more informed about this
as you seem to know about the subject of aerodynamics and flight.
da Vinci would be amazed.
This was something I was actively working on, but i didn’t realize that
Maryland was so close… This is insane.
This is really really insane.
#humanpoweredhelicopter