The disclosure pertains to a battery-powered personal flying apparatus comprising a body structure adapted to support and detachably couple user thereto, and a pair of wings rotationally coupled to opposite sides of the body structure. The wings preferably comprise at least a humerus portion and radius portion. The radius portion is configured to rotate relative to the humerus and, during use, the wings mimic the motion of bird flight. The disclosure further pertains to a method of facilitating human flight using the personal flying apparatus comprising the steps of maintaining the user's torso and legs in an inline and generally horizontal position, moving a pair of wings having a humerus rotatably coupled to a radius simultaneously through a wing flight pattern, and repeating the wing fight pattern to maintain flight of the user.

An autonomous multi-rotor airplane comprises a body frame with a chamber. The chamber is configured to provide space for one or more skydivers or jumpers, a lifting platform having an onboard computer and an avionic system. The airplane comprises one or more propulsion systems operably coupled to the lifting platform. The airplane is configured to find and execute the optimal flight path based on given information by the operator. The airplane comprises one or more user interfaces securely positioned inside the chamber. The user interfaces are configured to enable the skydiver to view the location and the optimal flight path, and adjust the angle of the autonomous multi-rotor airplane against the wind direction. The user interface is configured to enable the skydiver to operate and land the autonomous multi-rotor airplane at a landing zone.

An aircraft includes an airframe, ducted fans, and ducts for carrying pressurized air for lift and thrust supplied by the fans. The ducts form part of the airframe and carry static and dynamic loads applied to the airframe. Ducting members supply lift and thrust and transmit them to other airframe components. The ducts also carry the ducted air to exits set distant from the fans to permit flight control of the aircraft. Ducting members also form airfoils creating lift for the aircraft.

A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) flying machine. The machine includes a ducted fan having an intake side and an outlet side, at least two co-axial rotors configured to contra-rotate about a fan axis X when driven in rotation; a primary drive source arranged substantially co-axially with the ducted fan and to the outlet side of the ducted fan; and first and second thrust air ducts configured to split thrust from the ducted fan into a pair of thrust streams and to guide the two respective thrust streams to opposite respective sides of the primary drive source, the ducts being rotatable to direct motion of the machine. A number of configurations of secondary drive sources and alternative thrust sources are provided for improved safety.

An energy storage system for a wearable power module includes a harness with a torso segment and a limb segment, a turboalternator supported by the torso segment of the harness, and a chemical energy source. The chemical energy source in fluid communication with the turboalternator and is supported by the limb segment of the harness in a distributed arrangement to allow for support of a mechanical load by the torso segment of the harness. Wearable power modules and exoskeletons are also described.

An energy storage system for a wearable power module includes a harness with a torso segment and a limb segment, a turboalternator supported by the torso segment of the harness, and a chemical energy source. The chemical energy source in fluid communication with the turboalternator and is supported by the limb segment of the harness in a distributed arrangement to allow for support of a mechanical load by the torso segment of the harness. Wearable power modules and exoskeletons are also described.

An aircraft includes an airframe, ducted fans, and ducts for carrying pressurized air for lift and thrust supplied by the fans. The ducts form part of the airframe and carry static and dynamic loads applied to the airframe. Ducting members supply lift and thrust and transmit them to other airframe components. The ducts also carry the ducted air to exits set distant from the fans to permit flight control of the aircraft. Ducting members also form airfoils creating lift for the aircraft.

A personal aircraft having a frame and at least one rotor. The frame includes a body panel at least partially defining a seat for a user. The at least one rotor is rotatable about a rotational axis. The at least one rotor is operably coupled to a respective portion of the frame and is provided on a first side of the personal aircraft.

Techniques and architecture are disclosed for a multirotor vehicle having a rotor assembly with a plurality of rotors to provide upward thrust. Attached to the rotor assembly is a frame that includes a frame extension having a first end pivotally attached to the rotor assembly. The extension also includes a second end pivotally attached to a frame body. The vehicle further includes first and second actuators. The first actuator pivots the rotor assembly to position it within a horizontal plane to allow thrust generated by the rotor assembly to lift the vehicle. The second actuator pivots the rotor assembly within the horizontal plane so that thrust generated by the rotor assembly lifts the vehicle. The vehicle also includes a harness connected to the frame and configured to secure an operator's torso to the multirotor vehicle.

A personal flying water jet board system includes a jet board with a water jet propulsion system. A water intake system mounted on either side of a boat includes an intake member submerged in the water and connected to a hose which is connected to jet nozzles of the jet board. The water injected into the jet nozzles propels the jet board and user above the water. A water intake system mounted on the boat is fluidically connected to the hose and directs water into the jet nozzles. Water-conducting support pipes have intake members with an intake end oriented towards the forward end of the boat to receive water as the boat moves forward and a discharge end. The intake end of the intake member is shaped to increases the water pressure as the water flows into the discharge end thereof and into the water-conducting support pipes.