Here’s my newest toy; a quadricopter:
I got it yesterday from Brookstone
It’s a remote control helicopter with 4 rotors that work together to give amazing stability and control. It can be easily controlled with either an iPad, iPhone or Android tablet or phone, indoors or out. There’s one mode where you just tilt the tablet or phone to have the copter move that way, easily getting it to fly in circles or hover motionless.
It has two cameras; a 720 HD front-facing camera and a lower res down-facing. Live video can be viewed on the tablet or phone, and can be recorded. The down-facing camera is also used to help keep it hovering in place, along with sonar sensors to keep it at a constant altitude.
It’s a neat toy, and I’ll try to post some videos I’ve taken with it later on. I’m still just learning the fine details of control.
13 responses so far ↓
1 Richard // Jan 9, 2013 at 5:15 pm
It just goes to prove the old adage about the only thing that changes as boys get older is the price of their toys. Sounds like fun. How does it handle in the wind or do you have to have calm?
2 Ken // Jan 9, 2013 at 6:31 pm
Talk about neighborhood watch! Steven has tried to talk me in to one of these…
3 Donna // Jan 9, 2013 at 6:39 pm
I work with a group of guys who fly helicopters on their lunch hour in the field next to our office. They are obsessed. I’m sure theirs are not as sophisticated as this one, but they do look like fun.
4 Don // Jan 9, 2013 at 7:09 pm
I love it!!! I bought a 2 rotor (counter-rotating) a while ago and it’s possible to fly but it takes a lot of work to keep it in the air.
I’ve seen videos of these 4 rotor copters. I’m totally jealous.
5 Daryl // Jan 9, 2013 at 8:04 pm
I posted a video flying around my back yard at http://youtu.be/NozNuFrNwjs. Original resolution was quite a bit better, but I reduced it for easier posting. [Edit: Replaced. See comments below this one.]
6 Daryl // Jan 9, 2013 at 8:07 pm
Hmmm. Google said my video was shaky and offered to clean it up. It looks like what they did was take out the tilting of the copter, but now the edges of the frame tilt. Weird! I will have to re-upload and NOT let them “fix” it.
7 Daryl // Jan 9, 2013 at 8:14 pm
OK, now it’s at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kVi18095hk&feature=youtu.be, without any “fixes”.
8 Richard // Jan 9, 2013 at 10:08 pm
Cool. The video is excellent.
9 Daryl // Jan 9, 2013 at 10:17 pm
It’s a lot sharper in the original.
10 Don // Jan 10, 2013 at 7:34 am
It doesn’t have sound. Did you leave that out?
This is extremely cool. I really want one but I don’t think I can justify it after my motorcycle and weather station.
11 Mom // Jan 10, 2013 at 9:31 am
I’m not sure that your neighbors appreciate you looking in their windows over the fence.
12 Daryl // Jan 10, 2013 at 10:10 am
It doesn’t record sound. I guess it would just be a whirring sound anyway. It’s not loud, but a mike on the copter itself would not hear much else.
Mom, I thought of the concern about window-looking, but with all the two story houses in the neighborhood anyway I don’t think anyone assumes privacy in their back yard. I try to stay over my own property anyway.
13 Daryl // Jan 10, 2013 at 12:26 pm
Richard, it can handle a little wind but I would be afraid to try it on a gusty day. The down-facing camera helps to keep it in position even in a light breeze.
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