There are two fantastic projects taking place at the University of Bath that I just had to share. They both use pedals, they both use wonderful imagination, and they are both looking to do the unthinkable…
Human Powered Flight has been a concept that many people have chased for so long. And plenty of ventures have landed prematurely or failed to get off the ground. Many people have heard about the Gossamer Albatross and its venture across the English Channel and I am sure others have heard about the bringing to life of Da Vinci’s human powered helicopter. The California Polytechnic State University Da Vinci III, flew for 7.1 seconds and reached a height of 20cm.
Well in the pursuit of human powered flight, student researchers at the University have designed and built a pedal powered aeroplane that they hope will take to the skies in the coming months. Initial tests show a much greater chance of success than previously thought with the craft’s wings offering more lift than previously calculated. RockettRides.com will be keeping regular updates on the progress of this pedal powered mission, but for an overview of the project you can check out the following webpage: ‘Bath University HPA’
Also happening at the University is a mission that is taking pedal power under the water. More student researchers are developing pedal-powered submarines that will race, purely propelled by the power of pedals below the surface over a course of 100m. Their aim is to break an underwater, pedal powered speed record at the International Submarine Races. As a fantastic feat of engineering, Sulis and Seabiscuit are currently being put through their paces in final preparations for the races taking place at Bethesda, Maryland, USA in June. You can track more of what they’re up to with information on the following Link: BURST – Pedal powered submarines.
