This bachelor’s thesis aims to investigate the possibility of reconstructing the traditional Jetpack to a more environmental-friendly version, powered by an electric propulsion system and Li-Ion batteries. Using existing methods of conceptual aircraft design the geometrical characteristics of the Jetpack are chosen. With the chosen geometry the four forces acting on an aircraft at any given moment can be obtained as a function of time.
These are later simulated for two different approaches of starting the Jetpack with the conclusion that the best way of starting this Jetpack, standing on the ground, is with an initial climb angle. The Jetpack then continuously levels out to reach a desired cruise height.
Different batteries are compared from two different sources and it is shown that, with the battery having the best energy density (370 Wh/kg), the total flight time is 4.7 minutes when using the maximum continuous power output of the engines, at a maximum velocity of 178m/s. Another alternative is to use the optimal velocity for the highest lift-to-drag ratio of 48m/s in order to achieve optimal range, after reaching the maximum velocity. In this case the flight time can be as long as 89 minutes.
The conclusion of the project is that the conceptual design of the Jetpack is successful and that further work is to be made in order to design and construct it within a couple of years.
Source: KTH
Authors: Lang, Adam | Hultin Gustafsson, Petter