Yesterday at a TED talk in Vancouver, an inventor from the UK demonstrated a prototype of a Human Flight suit. Richard Browning is the mastermind behind the invention and has worked on the fully functioning human flight suit for the past few years of his life. The so-called Iron Man suit is a type of jet-pack, able to fly for up to 10 minutes straight. It’s caused quite a buzz among local media, catching the attention of both the government and the military.
Innovation vs. ambition
Browning has been working on this suit for the past few years of his life.
It all started out with him taking a washing machine, and attaching it to a small, low-powered, jet engine. Once he saw the type of force it created, he worked on perfecting the propulsion and slowly adding more to it. Eventually, he ended up with the prototype he has now: 4 engines attached to his arms, and 2 on his lower back. The total points of propulsion allow him to easily stabilize, and maintain, his flight all while hovering in the air.
Attention-grabbing potential
The invention caught the eye of the military, partly due to Browning's status as a veteran. For the most part, the military has thought human flight suits were an impossibility, but due to this unveiled prototype, they are now researching the matter further, with Browning's cooperation and collaboration.
Investors have also become significantly interested in Browning's invention. So much discussion revolves around the suit and its potential uses whether they be for private, or public. While mass production of the suit is unlikely, it does the beg the question: what will happen to this suit?
Precautions and safety first
Browning is undoubtedly proud of his work and hopes his invention will prove beneficial to make mankind's oldest dream of human flight a reality.
The suit is able to fly up to speeds of 200 mph at an altitude of more than 1,000 feet, but for safety reasons, Browning keeps his flights slow and low, only a foot or two off the ground. Because of Browning's service in the military, he is in peak physical condition, and he claims the suit is physically daunting to keep in control.
So, upgrades and works on the machine still need to be made, and that's if the suit were ever to be mass-produced.
Until then, the suit will remain a hope and a mystery to those marveling in its spectacles. Browning's suit does say one thing for sure: human flight is possible.
