Former Orbital Engine Corporation chief executive Kim Schlunke came to some interesting conclusions when he sat down three years ago to ponder the future of recreational transport.
Former Orbital Engine Corporation chief executive Kim Schlunke came to some interesting conclusions when he sat down three years ago to ponder the future of recreational transport.
The first thing that struck him was that the vehicle of the future had to be airborne. And it was essential it could stop quickly, accelerate rapidly, corner with precision, and be able to travel almost anywhere.
With these elements in mind Mr Schlunke began the engineering and design process.
What resulted was the Hoverpod, a floating recreational vehicle he hopes will move into the commuter environment and become an alternative to automobiles.
“It can hover and fly about 1.5 metres above the ground, travel 50 kilometres an hour and fit in the garage,” Mr Schlunke said.
He proposes to sell the Hoverpod “off the plan” without the hardware (sell it without making it) to the recreation industry.
“We have already approached some of the players in the recreation industry [creators of jet skis and four-wheel motorbikes] and responses have been enthusiastic,” Mr Schlunke told WA Business News.
“The cleverness is in Hoverpod’s ability to lift. It is built with a lot of knowledge of the helicopter.
“We have made an object smaller than a car, but with the same power and ability to lift the same load as a helicopter.”
What makes Mr Schlunke’s invention unique is that, besides a $52,000 Federal Government grant to help commercialise the Hoverpod (including a business plan), up until now the project has been self-funded.
And that is how he would like it to stay.
“The best outcome would be not to need investors, but I am not close-minded about it,” Mr Schlunke said.
“At the moment there is not an immediate need for finance. The question you have to ask is the cost you have to pay for the financial support or the amount of equity in the intellectual property you would have to sacrifice for the financial backing.”
“The best kind of finance comes from contracts with customers,” he said. “We are confident that we will be able to get enough contracts with customers early enough not to need finance.”
Mr Schlunke believes there are two main reasons to be confident of the Hoverpod’s success.
“The two major issues that the automotive industry has not addressed are fuel consumption and traffic congestion,” he said.
“So there are two reasons for airborne commuting. It will cut the amount of fuel and relieve congestion problems.”
The Hoverpod’s street debut could come earlier than most people think, with Mr Schlunke aiming to have the first full-size, one-man model built by the end of the year.
“Its [market] entry point will be quite different to where we want it to end up,” Mr Schlunke said. “[It will be] a rescue craft first and a recreational toy second.”
Mr Schlunke said the Hoverpod would be a low-noise vehicle with minimum environmental impact and no exposed rotating blades.
Potential uses include access to remote areas, an all activity sports vehicle, personal transport, natural disaster escape, farming activities, environmental and wildlife studies.”
