When you ask people what kind of superpower they would to have if they were a superhero, many would instantly express their desire for the ability to fly. Sure flying is possible now with our airplanes and jets; however, do we really experience flight as birds and superman have? Do we achieve that immensely incredible and mind-blowing feeling of cutting through the air with the wind coursing around our body? I have discussed with my friends bad ideas that can be implemented in our society. One of them was giving people, like students jet-packs as small transportation devices to escape the vices of traffic and bad driving. In retrospect it wouldn't be that bad of an idea at all. I figured that these one-man electric helicopters that I have discovered produces the similar affects as giving people jet-packs, making an conceived idea reality.
Hirobo, a Japanese company, have produced these one-man electric helicopters back in 2012 and had unveiled it at the Aerospace Exhibition in Nagoya that same year. The helicopter cruises to speeds up to 62 mph, powered by an electric motor that can power the helicopter for 30 to 60 minutes depending on its speed and the weight it must carry. The main purpose for the technology, Hirobo explains, is providing a means of transportation during times of disasters or emergencies. Nevertheless, such developments are gateways to future possibilities of the world using aircraft as a medium for transportation. A prototype is planned for testing this year in 2013 and the uses of such technology have been projected to be more integrated in the world by the 2020's. At this time the one-man helicopter costs about $375,000 USD and the manless drone costs about $125,000 USD. This is to be expected with such advance technology. It is safe to say though, with previous observations of new technology, that the technology will be more available through time as more developments are made.
A video is posted below If you are interesting in seeing a better perspective of the one-man helicopter. It is in Japanese though, so it is merely for the viewing of the aesthetic features of the helicopter: