Technology Extrapolation of Miniaturized and Distributed Propulsion for a Wearable Human-Flight Architecture
This conceptual research paper presents a technology-extrapolation hypothesis connecting emerging compact micro-propulsion with demonstrated human-scale jet propulsion. The hypothesis was developed by comparing the 100 mN-class microthruster work publicly reported by Brahmion SpaceTech with the five-engine JetRob human-flight demonstration associated with Zhejiang University. The study proposes that if future propulsion technology achieves substantially higher thrust-to-mass ratios at very small physical scales, while energy density, thermal management, structural materials, power electronics and flight-control technologies also advance, distributed propulsion could potentially become a pathway toward a wearable human-flight architecture. The paper explores a conceptual arrangement involving distributed propulsion around the palms and feet, optional auxiliary propulsion, intelligent thrust allocation, and a future hybrid architecture in which compact propulsion units could support larger primary propulsion. Superconducting and high-power-density electrical technologies are considered possible enabling technologies rather than direct sources of thrust. The 50 N-class compact propulsion example used in the study is explicitly hypothetical and is not presented as a capability of current microthrusters. The work is a conceptual feasibility hypothesis and has not been experimentally validated.
Authors
- Maaz Ahmad Khan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8201-6203)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
- Published
- 2026-09-25
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22946471
- Primary Topic
- Micro and Nano Robotics
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00