Manufacturing Minute: World’s First Ridable Hoverbike

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In this episode, the world’s first ridable hoverbike takes flight and windows that double as solar panels. Welcome to your Manufacturing Minute.
Hoverbike
Last week, Hoversurf, a Russian company focused on drone building, posted a video showing off its Scorpion-3 prototype — a single-seat, electric powered hoverbike. The vehicle essentially combines a heavy-duty sport-utility motorcycle with quadcopter drone technology for an aircraft designed for both amateurs and professionals.
The vehicle is equipped with a safety system powered by state-of-the-art flight controllers, special logical programing and passive elements with software that limits its range and velocity to assure a safe ride.
While Hoversurf sees the Scorpion-3 as an extreme sports instrument, the vessel’s transportation potential is much larger.
SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Is it a just a matter of time before humans take to the skies in personal aircraft? What potential drawbacks to you see? Tell us what you think by leaving your comments below.
Windows That Double As Solar Panels

University researchers in the U.S. and Italy say that a new study shows how windows could one day efficiently and invisibly help power the structures that house them.

Engineers from the University of Minnesota and University of Milano-Bicocca developed a process to embed high-tech silicon nanoparticles into efficient luminescent solar concentrators — which enable windows to capture solar energy.
Scientists long hoped that photovoltaic windows could one day dramatically increase the surface area of buildings that could collect energy — without impacting their appearance — but previous studies often relied on rare or toxic materials to collect energy more efficiently.

The new study, however, incorporated silicon crystals that were reduced to about one ten-thousandth of the diameter of human hair with help from a plasma reactor.

Researchers said that at those dimensions, non-toxic, abundant silicon efficiently emits light without re-absorbing its own luminescence.

The system could collect more than 5 percent of solar energy from the sun's rays at unprecedented low costs — and could be easily incorporated into current solar industry practices.

SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Could silicon crystals one day allow factory windows to help power manufacturing operations? Tell us what you think in the comments below.
That’s all the time we have for today, but tune in every Tuesday and Thursday for your next Manufacturing Minute.