Originally Posted by
Bike Rat
Exactly! Now that we know it can be done, how can we make it better. This was done with $30k for the airframe (total not reported), now that proof of concept has been achieved, imagine what can be accomplished with more money put into it.
To speak of the need for known practical applications...then why study the aeronautics of the bumblebee? What impractical knowledge led to intentionally unstable aircraft?
He looked to be applying a bit of body english near the end, was the spinning of the rear wheel used for stability control (turning)?
I think the spinning "rear" wheel was used to modulate power applied to the cables that powered the rotors. The cables are pulled by the spools on the left crank. Without the wheel, tension on the power cables would vary quite a bit with the rider's pedaling, possibly putting too much stress on the "drivetrain" or causing the cables to go slack.