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Star Wars speeder bikes comes a step closer to reality: 'Personal skytrike' takes to the skies in first ever manned test flight

Dubbed 'Flike', the tricopter prototype was able to hover for 30 seconds
Vehicle lift is generated by six rotors, grouped in counter-rotating pairs
This means its airborne behaviour will eventually be similar to a helicopter
Team is creating second prototype that may lead to a commercial product

By Ellie Zolfagharifard For Dailymail.com

Published: 14:15 EST, 29 May 2015 | Updated: 16:02 EST, 29 May 2015

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Star Wars fans have managed to create a 'personal skytrike' that looks uncannily like the Imperial speeder bike in the films.

Dubbed 'Flike', the tricopter prototype recently took to the air for the first time in a series of manned test flights.

In the first test, Flike had a take-off weight of 210kg (463lb) and only made it off the ground for a few seconds.

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Dubbed 'Flike', the tricopter prototype recently took to the air for the first time in a series of test flights

A second test flight saw the vehicle fly metres off the ground for 30 seconds, while also hovering and compensating for wind, according to a report in Gizmag.

The prototype was created in a year by Bay Zoltan Non-profit, a state-owned applied research institute in Hungary.

'Flike is a revolutionary, all-electric personal flight device under development in Hungary,' it creators explain.

'For the techies: it is a coaxial, Y6-layout tricopter, which means that the lift is generated by six rotors, grouped in counter-rotating pairs of three axes, equally located around a circle.'

Star Wars fans have managed to create a 'personal skytrike' that looks uncannily like the Imperial speeder (pictured) bike in the films

A second test flight saw the vehicle fly metres off the ground for 30 seconds, while also hovering and compensating for wind

Flike: The revolutionary all-electric personal flight device

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The Flike has a coaxial, Y6-layout tricopter, which means that the lift is generated by six rotors, grouped in counter-rotating pairs of three axes, equally located around a circle.

Due to its layout, Flike is can be flown by adjusting the rotation speed of individual rotors. An onboard computer automatically manages the craft's stability, position and altitude.

The electric motors are powered by lithium polymer batteries, which allows for around 15 to 20 minutes of hover flight or 30 to 40 minutes of cruise flight.

Due to its layout, Flike is can be flown by adjusting the rotation speed of individual rotors.

The firm says its airborne behaviour is similar to a helicopter. For instance, it can hover, roll, bank, drift, spin, yaw, climb, turn and dive.

An onboard computer automatically manages the craft's stability, position and altitude.

The team also says that it has other flight capabilities that are 'yet to be named'.

The electric motors are powered by lithium polymer batteries, which allows for around 15 to 20 minutes of hover flight or 30 to 40 minutes of cruise flight.

Now that the first flight has been successfully complete, Bay Zoltan wants to build a second prototype that will eventually lead to a commercial product.

Tricopter concept demonstrates controlled flight in Hungary

Now that the first flight has been successfully complete, Bay Zoltan wants to build a second prototype that will eventually lead to a commercial product. Pictured is a rendering of what the final product might look like

The electric motors are powered by lithium polymer batteries, which allows for around 15 to 20 minutes of hover flight or 30 to 40 minutes of cruise flight

The Flike has a coaxial, Y6-layout tricopter, which means that the lift is generated by six rotors, grouped in counter-rotating pairs of three axes, equally located around a circle