Now this is just damned impressive. A little electric helicopter that can not only carry a GPS control unit (and can hover in place autonomously, and correct for wind and whatnot) and a camera… it can also perform well while carrying a liter bottle of Coke. A GPS-capable autonomous vehicle with a camera and a substantial payload sounds like somethign of considerable value. If the camera had transmission capability and IR, then that one-plus-kg payload could be anything from a laser designator for calling in air strikes to an explosives package to emergency supplies. Forest rangers could buy them by the hundreds and set them out on GPS-controlled courses to look for lost hikers, fires, drug labs/farms, etc.
9 Responses to “MicroKopter HexaKopter”
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That really is something, isn’t it?
The military and some police forces should get some of those for field tests, as they are bound to have a lot of applications, as you said.
Paparazzi are gonna love this too.
Definitely a cool piece of kit but I don’t think it is as useful as you think due to its “up to 30 minute (with small payload)” flight time. Which is not to say that there aren’t similar vehicles with more endurance around with more endurance being developed for the various uses you suggest for it.
> I don’t think it is as useful as you think due to its “up to 30 minute (with small payload)” flight time
Actually, 30 minutes with a small payload would actually be a pretty fantastic flight time for a great many applications. For a great many, *five* minutes should do the job. For police/resuce applications, a single car/ambulance/fire truck/whatever could carry two of these and use them as hovering eyes-in-the-sky; keep one up there, recharge the other, and cycle ’em back and forth.
Way cool!!!!!
And brother, 30 minutes of specifically directed close air surveillance would be out f**king standing, with the GPS programmable system it would be the cat’s ass.
A little bigger and it could carry an 81mm mortar round…
Jim
PS – Got some mail today, thanks.
It would be very handy for checking out what’s up ahead in a urban combat situation, as it could maneuver around at low altitude checking out areas that would be hidden from a drone at high altitude, while at the same time being pretty inconspicuous and not risking a helicopter crew to ground fire.
What really impressed me was its outstanding climb rate when carrying a light load. It climbs like it has Estes rocket motors strapped to it.
Dudes, how about just hanging it from a balloon to get your extended flying time?
Well, you could do that with a mini-dirigible, but don’t expect it to get any great speed while moving around, and when the wind comes up you will find it floating over Basra rather than Baghdad. 😉