DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF AN INNOVATIVE PARAMOTOR, EXPLOITING NEW MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGIES, LEADING TO ENHANCED PERFORMANCE AND SAFETY.
Despite a widening popularity of paramotoring the relevant equipment remains largely the product of intuition and creativity of sport enthusiasts. The SPOTI project aims to employ engineering and scientific knowledge towards improving the paramotoring equipment in terms of performance, usability and safety. These developments will also pave the way to new applications for this flying machine.
As a result of the proposed research and development work an innovative paramotor will be delivered that introduces: i) new lightweight multi-layer polymer materials, along with novel design solutions and customized manufacturing techniques that will effectively enhance the structural strength and impact resistance, ii) new technological improvements that will increase performance and stability, including a novel engine torque counterbalancing method, and iii) a safety-by-design approach implemented to reduce the possibility of pilot error and mechanical failures.
To establish a solid design foundation the current status and foreseen developments in paramotoring will be thoroughly examined along with human factors considerations. Engineering data will be systematically produced through simulation analyses and actual tests. A prototype of the new paramotoring equipment will be delivered that will also include a novel tricycle attachment and will go through extensive field testing and evaluation.
The proposed ideas originate from the vision and the accumulated experience in paramotoring of a start-up company in Cyprus, named AVIOLITE, and a reputable research and innovation company, named CyRIC – Cyprus Research and Innovation Center Ltd. CyRIC will provide all the required research and engineering knowledge towards a successful implementation of the project.