Are there any new records on the horizon for human-powered speed?
Human-powered speed has been a source of fascination for centuries. From the earliest forms of transportation to modern-day athletic competitions, humans have been pushing the limits of what is possible through sheer physical effort. In recent years, numerous records have been broken in various categories of human-powered speed, from bicycles to submarines. But the question remains, are there any new records on the horizon?
1. Human-Powered Bicycles
The current world record for the fastest human-powered bicycle stands at 89.59 mph (144.17 km/h), set by Dutch cyclist, Fred Rompelberg, in 1995. However, a team of engineers and athletes from the University of Liverpool, called Arion1, are working on a new bike that could break this record. They’ve designed a sleek, bullet-shaped bike with a narrow cabin for the cyclist to pedal in. The bike, called Arion2, is set to attempt the speed record in late 2021.
2. Human-Powered Boats
In 2019, a team of students from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands broke the world speed record for a human-powered boat. The boat, called the “Dare to Dream,” reached a speed of 14.86 knots (17.1 mph or 27.6 km/h) during a race in the Wadden Sea. The team is now working on a new boat design that they hope will break their own record.
3. Human-Powered Aircraft
The only human-powered aircraft to fly under its own power for any significant distance was the Gossamer Condor, which flew a distance of 2,172 meters (7,126 ft) in 1977. However, in 2019, a British engineer, Richard Browning, set a new Guinness World Record for “fastest speed in a body-controlled jet engine-powered suit.” Browning’s suit, which has four jet engines on the arms and back, reached a speed of 85.06 mph (136.89 km/h).
4. Human-Powered Submarines
The world speed record for a human-powered submarine is held by a Dutch team called WASUB, who reached a speed of 5.38 mph (8.63 km/h) in 2019. However, another Dutch team, called Human Powered Submarine Team Delft, is working on a new design that they hope will break this record. The new submarine, called the WASUB7, will be longer, lighter, and more streamlined than the previous model.
5. Human-Powered Cars
The current world speed record for a human-powered car is 83.13 mph (133.78 km/h), set by a team from Aerovelo in 2016. However, a new team, called IUT Annecy, is currently working on a new car that they hope will break this record. The car, called AEROX, is a four-wheeled, enclosed vehicle powered by a single cyclist.
So, are there any new records on the horizon for human-powered speed? It certainly seems so. From bicycles to submarines, engineers and athletes around the world are pushing the limits of what is possible. With new designs, materials, and technologies, who knows what records will be broken in the future. One thing is for sure, the pursuit of human-powered speed will continue to captivate and inspire us for generations to come.
