Personal Levitation Device

Firstly, this is *not* the Segfly all over again.

What it is, is this: a ring-shaped device you step into and strap on lifevest-style. The ring's inner diameter is about that of the average human torso, and its outer diameter about 2 feet (65 cm) more. Built into the about-6-inch-thick ring are 48 small fans, grouped into 8 sets of 6, at 45 degree intervals; you see directly on the front of the machine two columns of 3 fans which make up the set in front of you. These fans are powered by a heavy-duty but lightweight lithium-polymer battery of relatively high voltage (for extra watt output).

Between said bank of fans and your gut is a simple but comprehensive control panel: altitude, battery level, fan health, and the actual levitation controls. If battery gets low, the system will automatically lower you slowly to the ground, so you don't hafta worry about hitting hard without warning. A GPS or similar device keeps the machine informed of its location in space at all times, and gyros keep it stable.

Now the important part. Instead of being a 'personal aircraft', this is to be a 'personal levitator', that is, what you use to reach stuff up high really fast, dust off stuff on the ceiling, and so forth. A 'lock' button keeps you in one place, at fixed altitude, as long as you like, to free up both hands to do whatever it is you went up there for. It is also useful when you need, for example, to get across the supermarket in 30 seconds (speaking from the viewpoint of the supermarket employee).

Although this could be used as a 'Segway for the skies', the light batteries I put in to keep weight and cost down don't afford it great range; rather, this is more like an 'instant lift' without the hassle of dragging out the scissor-lift every time you review the stuff on the top shelf, or whatever. There are a number of specific jobs that would be greatly sped up by this machine.