Hirobo Bit

Bit
Hirobo Limited
Hiroshima, Japan
www.hirobo.co.jp

The Hirobo Bit was to be a one man version of its HX-1 electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) drone helicopter. It was announced in 2012 and displayed at the VFS Forum 69 in May 2013.

The Bit is a co-axial main rotor with an open cockpit design with controls on the pilot/passenger seat. The vehicle can also be flown remotely. It can fly for 30 minutes with a range of 30 miles (48 km) at its top speed of 62 mph (100 km/h). It would employ Hirobo’s IMU-05 attitude sensor to collect information on attitude angle, acceleration, angular rate and magnetic direction.

The Bit is visualized for personal transport. It could also be flown to the person in an emergency situation who could then be airlifted to safety.

The Bit is expected to cost about $375,000.

Resources:

• Company webpage
• Article: Originally, the company Hirobo is specialized in electric unmanned helicopters, they decided to use their expertise to present, the first one-person electric helicopter, Luxery Standard (no date available)
• Video: One person personal electric helicopter by Hirobo Japan, October 9, 2012
• Article: Toymaker's One-Person Electric Helicopter Takes Off Next Year, Wired, November 28, 2012
• Article: One Person Personal Electric Helicopter By Hirobo, SIA Magazin, January 17, 2018