They may not be as slick as the Endor speeder bikes from Return of the Jedi, but Aerofex's hover vehicles could someday be zipping over our city streets.

These life-size aerial transport models were based on a two-duct rotor design that was abandoned in the 1960s due to stability and rollover problems. Recently, however, an engineering corporation called Aerofex was able to correct the stability issue by incorporating two knee-level control bars that allowed the user to rely on their natural sense of balance to steer them; such advances could eventually enable even untrained pilots to fly them.

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Unfortunately, Aerofex has no intention of immediately distributing a manned version of the vehicle, at least not yet. While the company has currently limited human flight testing to 15 feet high at 30 miles per hour, the hover bikes are actually capable of speeds comparable to that of a helicopter -- although, they're not as efficient.

As Aerofex founder Mark De Roche explains, "They do have unique performance advantages as they have demonstrated flight within trees, close to walls and under bridges."

Yahoo News reports that the company will develop a second version of the vehicle this October, with unmanned drone testing slated for the end of 2013. So -- for now anyway -- I guess your dreams of becoming a seasoned Scout Trooper remain unrealized.

Max Nicholson is a writer for IGN, and he desperately seeks your approval. Show him some love on Twitter and IGN.