Ah sure, electrification. The final word buzzword in the case of something and all the things mobility. And clearly, electrification is extra than simply Teslas, EV bikes, e-bikes, and tooth-busting e-scooters anymore.
Today, we’ve very a lot crossed right into a world the place mobility isn’t only a matter of wheels on the bottom—it’s a multi-dimensional circus, the place (idea) automobiles can take to the sky and submerge themselves within the depths of the ocean. We’re seeing a microcosm of oddities that hope to by some means usher within the subsequent era of mobility, as some are amusingly imaginative, whereas others hilariously impractical and borderline insane.
However hey, creativity is and all the time can be cool. Even when the outcome appears like one thing a sci-fi fanatic got here up with after a fever dream that was the results of one too many Purple Bulls.
Living proof simply needs to be this factor referred to as the RICTOR Skyrider X1, which made an look on the just lately concluded Client Electronics Present (CES) at Las Vegas. And it’s precisely what it depicts itself to be within the image above: a flying bike. Sure, you learn that proper. It’s what we confer with as an eVTOL—electrical vertical take-off and touchdown automobile—that claims to redefine “future mobility.”
Picture by: RICTOR
RICTOR envisions the Skyrider X1 as the final word mobility system of the long run
However does it? Spoiler alert: indicators level to no.
Buuut, earlier than we get too skeptical, let’s give this factor an opportunity and try the (claimed) specs. The Skyrider X1 boasts an ahead-of-its-time eight-propeller system, aviation-grade supplies, and a flight velocity of 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour) for 40 minutes. So yeah, you could possibly consider it as a massively scaled-up drone you possibly can experience and drive.
The factor comes with a 50 kW DC charger, too. And similar to your fancy drone, it will get options like automated route planning and real-time environmental adaptability making it just about uncrashable.
Let’s get actual for a minute right here. In a world the place people can’t even merge lanes with out inflicting chaos, I don’t assume anybody, wherever on the planet is prepared for private mobility to, fairly actually, take flight. I imply, highway site visitors’s dangerous sufficient—think about air site visitors. No thanks.
Oh, and the Skyrider X1 isn’t meant to only take flight. It may possibly even drive underwater, too. Loopy, I do know. And whereas the amphibious design is a cool flex, right here’s the factor: humanity will not be precisely recognized for restraint.
A flying, semi-aquatic bike seems like the proper recipe for… effectively, utter chaos and the collapse of any semblance of security as we all know it. And this perceived freedom may simply translate to anarchy within the skies, on the highway, and even in lakes, rivers, and seashores. I imply, simply think about it: flying our bodies on hearth, high-adrenaline airborne TikTok stunts (‘coz, duh, for the views), and mid-air highway rage—or ought to I say, sky rage?
No matter.
All I do know is that if this takes off (pun meant), it’ll want greater than a parachute to avoid wasting us. Perhaps a time machine again when this factor didn’t exist but.
Picture by: RICTOR
It could look epic as hell flying over the town, however think about a number of thousand of them flying on the identical time.
So yeah, whereas the Skyrider X1 is certainly a cool idea that’s all about making issues of sci-fi actuality, it’s in all probability higher off in idea type, at the very least for now.
Now regardless of having shat so closely on this factor, consider it or not, I don’t assume the concept of the Skyrider X1 is dangerous in any respect. It’s positively good to push boundaries, even when they go effectively past the realm of practicality, and even actuality. And what RICTOR has finished is one thing fairly vital in and of itself: visualize one thing extraordinary—one thing that is perhaps attainable. If not in our actuality, then possibly in a universe the place all logistical hurdles are conveniently ignored, or by no means even existed within the first place.
And right here’s the place it will get existential. The RICTOR Skyrider X1 is already actual. You’re it, fascinated by using it, and possibly even laughing at it, as I’m. And so possibly the true query right here is, does it matter if it ever makes it to manufacturing? In some realm—be it in our imaginations, on a CGI-heavy film display, and even within the footage you’re in your telephone or laptop—it exists.
Bear in mind, people, actuality isn’t black and white. It’s all a bit fluid, isn’t it? What even is actual? Maybe we’ll by no means actually know.
