Lunavity helps you defy gravity

Lunavity prototype - Photo by The Verge

Picture a reality where gravity does limit us to the ground. What possibilities would this unlock?

This could become possible with Lunavity, a backpack-like device engineered by students of the University of Tokyo that facilitates and enhances one's jumping ability. The moon-themed name "Lunavity" derives from the device's effect, which hopes to replicate low-gravity environments.

This "hover backpack" uses precisely controlled rotors, similar to those of a high-powered drone, to elevate the wearer off of the ground. With minimal effort, the user can jump up normally, and Lunavity's rotors will adjust to the movement allow them to briefly float in the air. The Tokyo-based team behind Lunavity claims the device should enable wearers to jump two to three times higher than normal. 

The wearable-device may seem absurd and redundant to many, why would Lunavity ever become useful? Even its creators even seem to be aware of its ridiculousness, describing its function as a way to “make the world a more interesting place". The students have explored what the device could be used for, starting with the device's potential use in sports such as basketball (imagine the slam dunk possibilities). They have also pictured pedestrian scenarios where Lunavity could help people cross busy city streets without having to use a crosswalk. Perhaps the most realistic scenario would be its use for individuals with limited mobility. Lunavity would theoretically allow those bound to wheelchairs to stand vertically as they hovered above the ground.

Lunavity remains in its early stages and still has a long way to go before it will see the consumer market. Still, it is a concept that holds a recreational and utilitarian appeal, meaning that we might see people floating around in the near future. 

For more information on Lunavity:

• Lunavity website
• Gigadgets article