It might look like as space hopper surrounded by model helicopters, but the 16-rotor E-Volo is an entirely new kind of helicopter - which can hover motionless in the air without input from the pilot
Its bold engineer, Thomas Senkel, took the machine on its first manned flight this week - lasting 1 minute 30 seconds.
It's far easier to fly than ordinary helicopters - it's steered by rotor speed, which is computer-controlled, so the pilot just needs to use a joystick as if playing a videogame, rather than controlling multiple complex contorols at once.
The machine has few parts, which could wear out, meaning the aircraft needs little maintenance. Its engineered construction has no complicated mechanics, and redundant engines.
In an emergency, it can land even if four of its 16 rotors fail.
The controls could be integrated with GPS software, and the machine could even automatically avoid obstacles and direct itself to pre-determined locations.
Senkel describes the easy-to-use machine as "good-natured" and potentially capable of replacing the helicopter in many situations.
The three inventors claim their flying machine could be used for inspecting pipelines, as an air ambulance or for takingaerial photographs - as well as just for fun.
The multi-copter is currently only able to fly for around 20 minutes because it runs on lithium-ion batteries.




据英国《每日邮报》11月4日报道，这看起来像是由遥控直升飞机环绕着的太空弹跳球，但实际上它是一架配置了16个旋翼、名为E-Volo的新型直升飞机。该直升机可停在空中盘旋飞行，无需飞行员在机舱内操控。
其设计师--大胆的托马斯-森科尔于本周乘坐该飞机进行了首次载人试航，时长1分30秒。

这款飞机比普通直升飞机飞起来要容易的多。它由电脑控制的旋翼引导飞行，所以驾驶员只需像玩电子游戏一样使用操纵杆即可，而无需同时控制多个复杂的操纵板。

该机器配件很少，可以拆卸，这意味着它需要很少的养护。而且它没有复杂的机器配置和多余的发动机。

在紧急情况下，即使16个旋翼中有4个出现问题飞机也能降落。
飞机的控制系统可以装入GPS软件，能使其自动避开障碍物，自我导航至目标位置。

森科尔形容这架好用的机器为"好脾气的"直升飞机，并很可能在许多情况下代替普通直升飞机使用。

这三位发明者称他们的飞行器能够用于管道检查，空中救护或拍摄航空照片，或仅供娱乐。

因为使用锂离子电池，该多用途直升机目前仅能飞行20分钟左右。

• helicopter [´helikɔptə] n.直升飞机 (初中英语单词)
• flight [flait] n.逃走；飞行；班机 (初中英语单词)
• complex [´kɔmpleks] a.复杂的 n.综合企业 (初中英语单词)
• construction [kən´strʌkʃən] n.建设；修建；结构 (初中英语单词)
• complicated [´kɔmplikeitid] a.结构复杂的；难懂的 (初中英语单词)
• capable [´keipəbəl] a.有能力；能干的 (初中英语单词)
• motionless [´məuʃənləs] a.静止的；固定的 (高中英语单词)
• lasting [´lɑ:stiŋ] a.持久的；永远的 (高中英语单词)
• maintenance [´meintinəns] n.保持；主张；保养 (高中英语单词)
• mechanics [mi´kæniks] n.力学；构成法；技巧 (高中英语单词)
• emergency [i´mə:dʒənsi] n.事变；紧急关头 (高中英语单词)
• automatically [ɔ:tə´mætikli] ad.自动地；无意识地 (英语四级单词)
• ambulance [´æmbjuləns] n.救护车(船，飞机) (英语四级单词)
• aerial [´eəriəl] a.空中的 n.天线 (英语四级单词)
• taking [´teikiŋ] a.迷人的 n.捕获物 (英语六级单词)