Science & Technology

Students in Singapore build flying machine

By T.K. Randall
December 13, 2015 ·  12 comments

The flying machine was tested indoors. Image Credit: YouTube / Darren Quick / NUS Developed at the National University of Singapore, the drone-like device is housed within a lightweight hexagonal frame and is propelled through the air using two dozen motors which are powered by three rechargeable lithium batteries.

Supervisor Joerg Weigl, who originally came up with the idea for the project, has stated that he wanted to build the machine to help people realize their dream of flying."Because flying is now a community. People can now fly with a jetliner, but the feeling of flying got lost on the way," he said. "So 'Snowstorm' is our multi-copter where you can get the feeling of flying back, the feeling of flying to anybody who wants to fly."

Unfortunately at the moment the device can only be flown indoors due to legal restrictions, however the team is hoping to continue developing it to the point at which it can be used outside.

"The NUS team will continue to fine-tune Snowstorm, working on mechanical safety measures, propeller and motor configurations, and control software and hardware to achieve the high levels of safety, simplicity, and performance required for recreational use by the general public," associate professor Martin Henz, a supervisor on the project, said in a statement.


Source: Reuters | Comments (12)

Tags: Flying Machine, Singapore