Human-Powered

The Zeppelin and Cyclone prototypes push the boundaries of the common human-powered vehicle (HPV) with designs that look to the past and the future.

Back in the early 90s, MIT's Prof. Mark Drela created a human-powered hydrofoil known as the Decavitator. Inspired by the it, aerospace inventor Russell Randall created his own pedal-propelled airboat called the Seahorse – and you can now buy one of your own.

AeroVelo aims to take September's World Human-Powered Speed Challenge in Battle Mountain, Nevada, with an ultra-efficient high speed bicycle named Eta.

Mipwr Dynamo is an iPhone case with a hidden lever that can be pressed down repeatedly to charge the battery, but is still slim enough to fit in your pocket. One minute of squeezing the lever will equal about 30 seconds of talk time, according to the designers.

It's with considerable interest that Gizmag has followed cyclist Graeme Obree's quest to break the human-powered speed record. On Friday at the World Human Speed Championships at Battle Mountain, Obree finally made the attempt.

Ethan Schlussler, 22, from Sandpoint, Idaho has built his very own human powered bicycle elevator as a means to gain access to his recently constructed treehouse. Schlussler came up with the idea when he was searching for a faster alternative to using a ladder to get up to his treehouse.

Graeme Obree has redesigned his Beastie prone bicycle ahead of an attempt to break the human-powered land speed record and, potentially, the 100 mph (161 km/h) barrier at the same time.