If we assume emerging or hypothetical technology such as solid-state batteries, how could a lightweight, relatively concealed personal flight suit be designed as a realistic prototype? I'm imagining something with mobility similar to a fictional powered suit, but without heavy armor. It would need compact lift systems, possibly ducted fans or small turbine engines, and enough energy for short flights. Existing devices such as jet suits and compact personal aircraft suggest that some of the technology is developing, so I'm mainly interested in how the propulsion, power storage, fuel placement, and suit structure could be arranged rather than whether the concept is possible at all.
2 Answers
A short-duration prototype is more believable than an all-purpose flying suit. A compact personal aircraft weighing around a few dozen kilograms and carrying one person could potentially manage several minutes of flight, but converting that layout into boots or a close-fitting suit would create major control and balance problems. Engines mounted near the feet or hands would expose the pilot to extreme heat and make a failure difficult to recover from. A more plausible design would use a rigid backpack or torso frame containing the main fuel, controls, and stabilization systems, with articulated thrust units attached to the limbs for maneuvering. It would still need automatic flight control, redundant engines, protective clothing, and a way to land safely after power loss.
The biggest obstacle is still energy density, not simply making the engines smaller. A wearable system has to lift the pilot, the suit, the propulsion hardware, and its fuel or batteries. Batteries are relatively clean and easy to integrate, but current lithium designs are too heavy for useful flight times. Solid-state batteries might improve safety and storage somewhat, but they probably wouldn’t transform the basic mass calculation. Small turbines using liquid fuel offer much more energy per kilogram, though they introduce heat, noise, exhaust, vibration, and serious safety problems.
A compact fuel supply might be more practical for an early prototype, as long as it could be distributed through the suit or placed in a discreet structural section rather than worn as a large tank.
That seems like the key distinction: the technology might fit into a compact air vehicle, but making it genuinely concealed and flexible like clothing is a much harder mechanical and safety problem.