Gamera: The Human Powered Helicopter

[mimbresman]

I'd been trying the follow the live stream and had better luck with the twitter feeds but it looks like the engineering students at A. James Clark school of engineering at Univ. of Maryland put it together and flew their human powered helicopter. It may be a new record*. They'll attempt to win the Sikorsky Prize in the fall.

As a secondary science teacher, I used this as example of getting some of my engineer-oriented students excited and motivated. We had built pasta bridges that they spent weeks on. I reminded them that the Gamera has been 3 years in the making and is an exercise in aeronautical, mechanical, materials, some electrical, and computer engineering, as well as bio-mechanics.

Very cool!

*for female pilot/engine

video here

[prcrstn8]

Totally wacky! Love it.

[Too Tall]

She is an local. Neat stuff.