Human-powered transport

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Human-powered transport is transport of person(s) and/or goods powered by human muscle.

The bicycle is the most popular human-powered vehicle

Along with animal-powered transport, it has been in existence since time immemorial in the form of walking, running, crawling, and the like. Modern technology has lead to many machines, which have been used to enhance human-powered movement while still being classified as human-powered transport. Although motorized transport has made locomotion much less sweat-intensive, many human-powered options remain popular as leisure or exercise activities, and as alternative transportation options. Human powered transport is often the only (reliable) power source available in underdeveloped or inaccessible regions, and may be considered an ideal form of sustainable transportation.

1 Available muscle power
2 Types
3 Related subjects
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] Available muscle power

Three human powered vehicles: the Gossamer Albatross II and two bicycles.

MIT Daedalus human powered aircraft

The Trikke works simply by shifting your body weight.

The average "in-shape" cyclist can produce about 3 watts/kg for more than an hour (e.g., around 200 watts for a 70 kg rider), with top amateurs producing 5 watts/kg and elite athletes achieving 6 watts/kg for similar lengths of time. Elite track sprinters are able to attain an instantaneous maximum output of around 2,000 watts, or in excess of 25 watts/kg; elite road cyclists may produce 1,600 to 1,700 watts as an instantaneous maximum in their burst to the finish line at the end of a five-hour long road race.

[edit] Types

[edit] Human movement using only one's own body

[edit] Human self-movement using object(s) and sheer muscle power

Cycling uses a bicycle, unicycle, tricycle, quadricycle, velomobile or similar wheeled vehicle, including collective variatons such as tandem bicycle and side-car
Canoeing
Ice skating
Roller skating
Rowing
Kick scooter
Skateboarding
Skiing
Trikke
Kayaking

[edit] Human self-movement using object(s), muscle power and a natural force

Here the human effort is not dominant in the actual locomotion, but essential in steering, and often take-off.

[edit] Human transport of others and/or load using object(s) and muscle power

Some of the vehicles mentioned in other categories above also exist(ed) in a version with cargo and/or passengers, such as the galley

Various of the above also stood model for a motorized variation.

[edit] Related subjects

A human-powered vehicle (HPV) is a vehicle powered solely by human muscle.

Recumberant Cycles racing in Wonthaggi, Victoria

The most common and most efficient human-powered vehicle is the bicycle. Of more limited but still sometimes functional use are the tricycle and some rowing boats. Of common recreational use are the skateboard, ice skates and roller skates. Many other kinds of vehicles can employ human power, including submarines, aircraft, hydrofoils, hovercraft and kinetic sculpture vehicles.

In 1969, artists in a small northern California town began the Kinetic sculpture race which has grown to a 42 mile (67.2 km), three-day all terrain, human-powered sculpture race and county wide event. It is held every year in the last weekend in May.

The first officially authenticated take-off and landing of a human-powered aircraft (one capable of powered takeoffs, unlike a glider) was done in November 1962 by Derek Piggott in Southampton University's Man Powered Aircraft (SUMPA). (A claim for a flight by the Pedaliante in March 1937 is disputed) [1] [2]. Perhaps the best-known human-powered plane is the Gossamer Albatross, which flew across the English Channel in 1979. [3]

Recumbent bicycles are the fastest human-powered vehicles because they are more aerodynamic than upright bicycles while having a similar energy transfer efficiency. In 2002, Sam Whittingham pedaled a streamliner (a fully-faired recumbent) for 200 m at 130.36 km/h (81.00 mph) in the Varna Diablo II. As of 2005, that run still holds the International Human Powered Vehicle Association's speed record. Olympic Cyclist and IRONMAN triathlon winner, John Howard [4] set a 244.9 km/h (152.2 mph) speed record at the Bonneville Salt Flats near Wendover, Utah on July 20, 1985 while drafting in the wake of the motorized Vesco Streamliner pace car. The pace vehicle reduced the aerodynamic drag that Mr. Howard pedalled against to near nothing [5].