Human power

Human power is timed rate of work done by a human. Most humans can exert only less than one-half horsepower. World records of power performance by humans are interesting. The average level of human power that can be maintained over a certain duration of time, say over the extent of one minute or one hour is interesting to engineers designing work operations in industry. Flight across the English Channel by a pilot using only his human power (and incidental lifts from some rising air currents usually offset by low-level downdrafts) exhibits one stark use of human power. Scientists study human power. Individuals are found frequently training to increase their own human power asset so they might operate more effectively in life, sport, work, or play.

Human Power for Powering Vehicles (HPV)

The rickshaw is just one form of a HPV. There are HP-bicycles, HP-streamlined bicycles, HP-car, etc. The vehicles sometimes have more than one human powering the vehicle--a team effort occurs. Ancient mariners had large teams of slaves powering the rowing of large boats. Row boats are driven by HP.

Human Power for Powering Machines

Muscles are just one part of the human that provides energy to do the work to form power. The heat of human has also been used to do work, like warming offices, bed chambers, food, another human, etc.

HP for Generating Electricity for Real Time use or for Storage

Human power has been used to generate electricity that is then used directly or stored for future use in various storage devices.

Human Power in Athletics

What level of power was exerted by the human who broke the world record in the running high jump, running long jump, weightlifting's snatch action, etc. ? For the HP-aircraft to become a popular sport, engineers are aiming to design aircraft that will be affordable and successfully flown with the power output that a human sportsperson can exert.

References

U.S. Patents

• IMPROVEMENT IN DRAG-SAWS: US Pat. 224987 [1]
• VELOCIPEDE: US Pat. 233396 [2]