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Smeets flew like an albatross, the bird that inspired his winged-man invention, on March 18 at a park in The Hague.
Smeets got the idea from sketches of a futuristic flying bicycle drawn by his grandfather, who spent much of his life designing the contraption but never actually built it.
When Smeets began studying engineering at Coventry University in England, he realized the physics of a flying bicycle just didn’t pan out. Instead, he drew inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci’s wing drawings to build his flying machine. Along with neuromechanics expert Bert Otten, Smeets brought his design into reality
The design is based on mechanics used in robotic prosthetics. The idea is to give his muscles extra strength so they can carry his body weight during the flight.
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Men often oppose a thing merely because they have had no agency in planning it, or because it may have been planned by those whom they dislike.
-Alexander Hamilton
Agreed. I was disproportionally happy watching this- such a thing really is a dream in the strictest sense. A bit sad to think it is closed to us. Still.
When I achieve full genetic malleability, though, I'm going to grow that keel bone...
Agreed. I was disproportionally happy watching this- such a thing really is a dream in the strictest sense. A bit sad to think it is closed to us. Still.
When I achieve full genetic malleability, though, I'm going to grow that keel bone...
Seconded.
May the gods preserve and defend me from self-righteous altruists; I can defend myself from my enemies and my friends.
Agreed. I was disproportionally happy watching this- such a thing really is a dream in the strictest sense. A bit sad to think it is closed to us. Still.
Reminded me of how I felt waking up from happy dreams where I was flying.. such a bummer.
When I achieve full genetic malleability, though, I'm going to grow that keel bone...