JetLev

Last updated

A JetLev jetpack in use Jet lev jet pack.jpg
A JetLev jetpack in use

The JetLev is a water-propelled jet pack powered through a floater derived from jetski technology attached through an umbilical to the backpack which contains two nozzles and two control arms, in a configuration like traditional rocket belts and gas turbine jet belts. The JetLev also functions underwater, allowing users to dive into the water and jet back out. The jetpack can allow users to fly up to 10 m (30 feet) above the water. It was created by Chinese Canadian, Raymond Li. JetLev became the first practical amateur-usable jet pack, and first with practical usable duration. The JetLev technology jetpack became the first commercially released jetpack in 2009. It was initially offered for sale for US$100,000, however with much cheaper competitors coming on the market afterwards, inspired by the original JetLev, such as the Flyboard, prices rapidly dropped, with cheaper models. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

Contents

History

Raymond Li started working on the concept in 2000. By 2003, he was seeking funding to keep developing the concept. He received a grant from the National Research Council of Canada. The prototype jetpack attached to a jetski, first flew manned in 2004. In 2005, Li moved part-time to Fort Lauderdale on a temporary work visa to continue development with assistance from jetski experts. Hydroflight patents were issued to Raymond Li in 2008, and passed to the holding company JetLev Intellectual Property. Investors started calling Li in 2008. JetLev sued the makers of Flyboard, Jetovator, and manufacturers of other hydrojetpacks for patent infringement, starting in 2012. The intellectual property was bought by Zapata Industries, the maker of Flyboard, in 2016, consolidating the leading market hydroflight jetpacks in one company. [9] [10] [8] Hydrojetpacks have raised concerns over safety and the need for regulations, since they started coming onto the market and into resorts. [6] [7] Jetpack Adventures in Australia was the first business to adapt the technology for use in the hire industry in the southern hemisphere in 2012. Located in Australia the company brought wide scale hire activities within Australia. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jet engine</span> Aircraft engine that produces thrust by emitting a jet of gas

A jet engine is a type of reaction engine, discharging a fast-moving jet of heated gas that generates thrust by jet propulsion. While this broad definition may include rocket, water jet, and hybrid propulsion, the term jet engine typically refers to an internal combustion air-breathing jet engine such as a turbojet, turbofan, ramjet, pulse jet, or scramjet. In general, jet engines are internal combustion engines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rocket</span> Vehicle propelled by a reaction gas engine

A rocket is a vehicle that uses jet propulsion to accelerate without using any surrounding air. A rocket engine produces thrust by reaction to exhaust expelled at high speed. Rocket engines work entirely from propellant carried within the vehicle; therefore a rocket can fly in the vacuum of space. Rockets work more efficiently in a vacuum and incur a loss of thrust due to the opposing pressure of the atmosphere.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vehicle</span> Mobile equipment that transports people, animals or cargo

A vehicle is a machine designed for self-propulsion, usually to transport people, cargo, or both. Vehicles include wagons, bicycles, motor vehicles, railed vehicles, watercraft, amphibious vehicles, aircraft, and spacecraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aerospace</span> Term used to collectively refer to the atmosphere and outer space

Aerospace is a term used to collectively refer to the atmosphere and outer space. Aerospace activity is very diverse, with a multitude of commercial, industrial, and military applications. Aerospace engineering consists of aeronautics and astronautics. Aerospace organizations research, design, manufacture, operate, maintain, and repair both aircraft and spacecraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skyrocket</span> Type of firework

A skyrocket is a type of firework that uses a solid-fuel rocket to rise quickly into the sky; a bottle rocket is a small skyrocket. At the apex of its ascent, it is usual for a variety of effects to be emitted. Skyrockets use various stabilisation techniques to ensure the flight follows a predictable course, often a long stick attached to the side of the motor, but also including spin-stabilisation or fins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Personal watercraft</span> Recreational watercraft that uses an inboard engine powering a pump-jet with an impeller

A personal watercraft (PWC), also called water scooter, is a primarily recreational watercraft that is designed to hold only a small number of occupants, who sit or stand on top of the craft, not within the craft as in a boat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ejection seat</span> Emergency aircraft escape system

In aircraft, an ejection seat or ejector seat is a system designed to rescue the pilot or other crew of an aircraft in an emergency. In most designs, the seat is propelled out of the aircraft by an explosive charge or rocket motor, carrying the pilot with it. The concept of an ejectable escape crew capsule has also been tried. Once clear of the aircraft, the ejection seat deploys a parachute. Ejection seats are common on certain types of military aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hoverboard</span> Self-levitating board

A hoverboard is a fictional levitating board used for personal transportation, first described in science-fiction, and made famous by the appearance of a skateboard-like hoverboard in the film Back to the Future Part II. Many attempts have been made to invent a functioning hoverboard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jet pack</span> Device worn on the back which uses jets of gas or liquid to propel the wearer through the air

A jet pack, rocket belt, rocket pack or flight pack is a device worn as a backpack which uses jets to propel the wearer through the air. The concept has been present in science fiction for almost a century and the first working experimental devices were demonstrated in the 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bell Rocket Belt</span> Type of rocket pack

The Bell Rocket Belt is a low-power rocket propulsion device that allows an individual to safely travel or leap over small distances. It is a type of rocket pack.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Backpack helicopter</span> Helicopter system designed to be worn on a persons back

A backpack helicopter / helipack is a helicopter motor and rotor and controls assembly that can be strapped to a person's back, so they can walk about on the ground wearing it, and can use it to fly. It uses a harness like a parachute harness and should have a strap between the legs. Some designs may use a ducted fan design to increase upward thrust. Several inventors have tried to make backpack helicopters, with mixed results.

Legal scholars, economists, activists, policymakers, industries, and trade organizations have held differing views on patents and engaged in contentious debates on the subject. Critical perspectives emerged in the nineteenth century that were especially based on the principles of free trade. Contemporary criticisms have echoed those arguments, claiming that patents block innovation and waste resources that could otherwise be used productively, and also block access to an increasingly important "commons" of enabling technologies, apply a "one size fits all" model to industries with differing needs, that is especially unproductive for industries other than chemicals and pharmaceuticals and especially unproductive for the software industry. Enforcement by patent trolls of poor quality patents has led to criticism of the patent office as well as the system itself. Patents on pharmaceuticals have also been a particular focus of criticism, as the high prices they enable puts life-saving drugs out of reach of many people. Alternatives to patents have been proposed, such Joseph Stiglitz's suggestion of providing "prize money" as a substitute for the lost profits associated with abstaining from the monopoly given by a patent.

The societal impact of nanotechnology are the potential benefits and challenges that the introduction of novel nanotechnological devices and materials may hold for society and human interaction. The term is sometimes expanded to also include nanotechnology's health and environmental impact, but this article will only consider the social and political impact of nanotechnology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flyboard</span> Brand of hydroflighting device

A Flyboard is a brand of hydroflighting device which supplies propulsion to drive the Flyboard into the air to perform a sport known as hydroflying.

Benjamin Judson Merrell, also known as Ben Merrell,, is a hydroflighter. He placed third at the 2013 Flyboard World Cup Championship in Doha, Qatar. Since then, he is well-known and respected as a competitor and innovator.

Jet Ski Fishing is the practice of rigging a personal watercraft with fishing rods and accessories in order to travel to an area for fishing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hydroflight sports</span>

Hydroflight sports are a category of sport in which water jet propulsion is used to create sustained flight where lift and movement are controlled by a person riding on a propulsion device. Competitions for this sport started around 2012. There are many training centres throughout the world where beginners go to learn and practice skills so they can fly these devices by themselves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flyboard Air</span> Turbojet hoverboard

Flyboard Air is a type of jetpack/hoverboard powered by gas turbines. It was invented by French water-craft rider Franky Zapata, founder of Zapata racing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">CATL</span> Chinese battery manufacturer

Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) is a Chinese battery manufacturer and technology company founded in 2011 that specializes in the manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems, as well as battery management systems (BMS). The company is the biggest EV and energy storage battery manufacturer in the world, with a global market share of around 37% and 40% respectively in 2023. The company is headquartered in the city of Ningde in China's Fujian province.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Franky Zapata</span> French personal watercraft pilot (born 1978)

Franky Zapata is a French personal watercraft pilot who is the inventor of the Flyboard and Flyboard Air, and founder of Zapata Racing. Since 2012, Zapata's efforts have been focused on the development and manufacture of personal flyers for land and aquatic applications.

References

  1. Mike Klesius (28 September 2009). "Wasser von Braun". Air & Space Magazine. Smithsonian.
  2. "JetLev". Daily Planet. 19 April 2009. Discovery Channel Canada.
  3. Rena Marie Pacella (30 July 2009). "A Water-Powered Jetpack". Popular Science.
  4. "Vehicles". World's Strangest. 11 April 2013. Discovery Science.
  5. Steve Lehto (2013). The Great American Jet Pack: The Quest for the Ultimate Individual Lift Device. Chicago Review Press. pp. 166–168. ISBN   9781613744338.
  6. 1 2 "'Iron Man' water jetpacks spark safety, environmental concerns in Hawaii". New York Post. 8 August 2013.
  7. 1 2 Michael Bodley (15 July 2014). "Safety concerns spur new rules for water jet packs in Maryland". Baltimore Sun.
  8. 1 2 Blaine Jeffery (14 September 2016). "Hydrofight Sports – No this is not a typo". H2RO Magazine. Archived from the original on 24 May 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2018.{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  9. Katie Morell (23 May 2013). "Raymond Li of Jetlev: How James Bond Inspired Him to Invent a Jet Pack". American Express.
  10. "Zapata Industries Announces the Acquisition and Consolidation of Hydro-Flight Intellectual Property Rights in the US and Abroad". Marketwired. 17 August 2016.
  11. The Courier Mail [ dead link ]

See also