Todd Reichert & Cameron Robertson

HUMAN-POWERED HELICOPTER

Todd Reichert and Cameron Robertson, co-founders of AeroVelo Inc., spend their time pushing the limits of human potential. Their projects have taken them from human-powered helicopters to aerodynamic bicycles capable of reaching speeds of over 77 mph. The common theme is one of doing more with less: going further with limited resources. Driven by passion and challenge, their journey has led to a unique understanding of what it takes to tackle the impossible.

In 2006 Cameron and Todd set out to accomplish one of humanities oldest aeronautical dreams, with a human-powered aircraft that flies in the imitation of a bird by flapping its wings. Their success in 2010 spurred a massive international following and accolades that include Canada’s top aviation honor: the Trans-Canada McKee Trophy. Shortly thereafter the two sought to tackle the AHS Sikorsky Prize: a challenge requiring a human-powered helicopter to reach an altitude of 3 metres and stay aloft for 60 seconds.

BIOGRAPHY

In only 18 months the team achieved what many had thought to be impossible, bringing home the $250,000 prize that had remained untouched for over 33 years. Todd and Cameron are currently working on the design of a bicycle to capture the human-powered land-speed record. Capable of breaking highway speed limits on less than one horsepower, these space-age aerodynamic vehicles boast an equivalent fuel efficiency 80 times better than the average car.

These projects and achievements have been featured in Wired, Popular Science, Air & Space and Explore Magazine; on Mythbusters, Daily Planet and National Geographic; on world-wide television and print media including the New York Times, as well as being the subject of a full-length documentary on the Documentary Channel.

AeroVelo Inc. was founded in 2012 as a platform for taking on high-profile, thought-provoking and seemingly impossible engineering challenges. AeroVelo’s focus on human-powered vehicles is meant to inspire, demonstrating the untapped potential of the human mind and body.