{"id":99070,"date":"2021-09-13T11:53:55","date_gmt":"2021-09-13T10:53:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/?p=99070"},"modified":"2021-09-13T11:53:55","modified_gmt":"2021-09-13T10:53:55","slug":"hands-free-jetpack-prototype","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pbctoday.co.uk\/news\/digital-construction-news\/construction-technology-news\/hands-free-jetpack-prototype\/99070\/","title":{"rendered":"Hands-free jetpack to improve construction site maintenance"},"content":{"rendered":"

The world\u2019s first hands-free jetpack created by two British entrepreneurs has been revealed \u2013 using a VTOL system for safe, precision landings<\/h2>\n

These are the first images ever released of Maverick Aviation<\/a>\u2019s prototype, which promises to transform the way challenging maintenance, inspections and rescues are carried out worldwide.<\/p>\n

The Maverick Jetpack is the brainchild of Hollywood animatronics expert Matt Denton and Royal Navy Commander Antony Quinn.<\/p>\n

It uses a unique Vertical Take-off and Landing (VTOL) system and is designed to be operated hands-free, allowing people to make safer flights, and precision landings on structures that are difficult to access \u2014 from wind turbines<\/a> to military hardware, buildings and construction projects.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Maverick Jetpack\u00a0can be reconfigured as a heavy-lift drone<\/a> capable of being operated remotely and carrying ten times the payload of current similarly sized systems on the market \u2014 easily enough to lift a casualty like a stricken climber to safety.<\/p>\n

Other use cases include search & rescue, leisure, disaster relief, security and policing. The company, based at the Fareham Innovation Centre at Solent Airport, near Southampton, estimates the potential market for security, defence and rescue uses alone is worth in excess of\u00a0\u00a3700m.<\/p>\n

Helicopters are currently used to carry out much of this work, but Maverick\u2019s Jetpack is far smaller, uses sustainable fuel, and can slash costs. It threatens to take market share in the global lift market, which Maverick says is worth approximately\u00a0\u00a352bn\u00a0a year.<\/p>\n

The jetpack is unusually light because Maverick exploited advanced manufacturing techniques like 3D printing<\/a> and materials including aluminium, titanium and carbon fibre. It will travel at between 10mph and 30mph depending on the task.<\/p>\n

The control system is extremely intuitive and the operator can switch on an in-built autopilot so they can multi-task while in flight if necessary. Early work on the control system software was funded by a \u00a397,000 grant from Innovate UK, secured by Maverick\u2019s grant partner\u00a0Catax<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This money also helped pay for patent applications and the creation of a concept demonstrator. The team has since received much more funding, including grants and business mentorship from the University of Southampton Science Park.<\/p>\n

The first manned test flight is scheduled for next summer and the company is about to start seeking further investment to take the jetpack to market.<\/p>\n

Co-founder Matt Denton is also Maverick\u2019s CTO. He\u2019s well regarded for his work on animatronics and control systems, having worked on numerous Star Wars movies that saw him develop the BB-8 droid from 2015\u2019s Star Wars: The Force Awakens. He also worked on Jurassic World and Harry Potter movies, The Prisoner of Azkaban and The Goblet of Fire.<\/p>\n

A much-needed solution<\/h3>\n

Antony Quinn, CEO and co-founder of Maverick Aviation, added: \u201cThe jetpack uses the same sort of jet engines that you see on a passenger plane, only ours are the size of a rugby ball.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is unique about what we\u2019re doing is the computer-controlled autopilot system that makes flying effortless and easy to control with precision. That\u2019s how we have changed jetpacks from exciting to useful.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s so intuitive to fly that the cost of training is going to be low, so you\u2019re going to have all sorts of professionals suddenly able to work in the most inaccessible environments safely and quickly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI realised that the growing onshore and offshore wind industry really needed a solution like this. Their engineers climb up ladders inside these structures for hours each day and, in an emergency situation, it\u2019s almost impossible to get down quickly.<\/p>\n

“Drones can be useful for inspections, but in many circumstances you need to get an engineer up there.<\/p>\n

\u201cDuring tours of Afghanistan and Iraq, the number of possible use cases just kept on mounting and I realised how big the opportunity was. The potential is almost endless.<\/p>\n

\u201cBefore, people would have used a \u00a330m helicopter to perform some simple tasks, we can offer a more tailored solution at a fraction of the cost.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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