Search the Community

.

The first picture taken on the set of the next Star Wars movie has been revealed, showing that principal photography on Episode VII has officially begun. The photo, shared by J. J. Abrams' Bad Robot production company on Twitter, was tweeted alongside the hashtag #dayone, and shows a clapboard emblazoned with two names: Abrams', and that of his cinematographer, Dan Mindel. The Star Wars sequel was set to commence filming this month at London's Pinewood Studios. While the tight-angle picture doesn't show any of Episode VII's sets, actors, props, or even where it was taken, that hasn't stopped fans from speculating on plot points. Filmmaker Joseph Kahn took to Twitter to analyze some of the more arcane language on the clapboard, suggesting that the camera was set up for a visual-effects shot. A smear of a sand-like substance across the clapboard suggests that Episode VII — due for a December 2015 release date and boasting most of the original trilogy's main actors— could be returning to desert planet Tatooine. Abu Dhabi is rumored to be a stand-in Luke Skywalker's (adopted) homeworld, with Disney chairman Alan Horn having already said "some second-unit" filming had taken place in the country. Photos taken by Abu Dhabi's The National show crew working on a covered set in the midst of sand dunes, while sources for the publication reported seeing "shuttle-like" vehicles, buggies powered by jet engines, and a "big, centuries-old-looking market." Source

It isn’t a hoverboard, but it is the next best thing: Californian company Aerofex is now taking down payments for the Star Wars-like Aero-X hoverbike. Priced at $85,000 the Aero-X certainly isn’t cheap, but if it actually comes to market as promised in 2017, I don’t think the price tag will be an issue for early adopters. The Aero-X, if it performs as advertised, will be capable of carrying up to 140 kilos (310 lbs), at an altitude of 3.7 meters (12 feet), at speeds of up to 72 kph (45 mph). Aerofex first demonstrated its prototype hoverbike back in 2012. Back then, the prototype (embedded below) was little more than two huge ducted fans — like you might find on a hovercraft — with a bike- or quad-like frame and seat. The commercial version, the Aero-X, which is scheduled to begin flight tests in 2016, will look a lot slicker and feature an all-carbon-fiber-composite chassis, resulting in a rather lithe dry weight of just 356 kg (785 lbs). It’ll be powered by a normal gas-powered three-cylinder engine, which will allow it to carry up to two people (as long as they weigh under 140 kilos (including baggage) at speeds of up to 72 kph. It doesn’t mention it anywhere on the Aero-X website, but it will probably be very, very noisy. The fuel tank is good for 85 minutes of operation. The Aero-X is capable of vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL). Now, in theory, it isn’t actually very hard to strap two huge fans to a motorbike-like frame and putter around. What is hard is creating a hoverbike that’s safe, fun, and easy to control. There’s a reason no one has made a successful hoverbike before now. According to Aerofex, the Aero-X is “a hovercraft that rides like a motorcycle.” This is tough, due to something called the coupling effect. Basically, all open-rotor craft are unstable, finicky beasts that require a lot of skill to pilot. This is why you can’t just point a helicopter in the direction you want to go — there are all sorts of different forces at play that need to be controlled and counteracted at the same time, thus the helicopter’s massively complex controls. Merely leaning left or right, like on a motorcycle, isn’t enough — unless you have some clever technology that helps keep the hoverbike stable. Aerofex says it’s solved the coupling problem, has filed the relevant patents, and thus — if all goes well — the Aero-X will be the first safe and easy-to-use hoverbike on the market. What the finished Aero-X hoverbike will look like, hopefully At this point, you should probably be rather excited: Like the theoretical hoverboard, there could be some really, really cool applications for a stable hoverbike. With a max altitude of around 12 feet, you could take the hoverbike almost anywhere. You could cruise over deserts, fields, hills — and with the optional “flotation pontoons,” over lakes and rivers. By talking to the FAA, Aerofex found that the bike could be classified as something like an “aerial ATV” if its max altitude stays below 12 feet, thus removing any need for a pilot license. Beyond sports and recreation, there are also agricultural, police, and military uses. Judging by the amount of thrust produced by those rotors, though, you probably don’t want to fly over anything fragile — like, you know, small animals or your wife’s roses. Aerofex is taking Aero-X pre-orders today, with expected delivery “in 2017.” The target price is $85,000, with a refundable $5,000 deposit. Source