How long before...

[petermcleland]

...one of us get one of these??

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21432170

[DaveB]

Well it won't be me

They're pretty common already in the RC world. Many use them as camera platforms because they're so stable. Come to think of it.. I can't think of any other use for one

Here are just a few..
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/stor ... F_ARF.html

ATB
DaveB

[TSR2]

Back in the day, it would have been called a remote control helicopter. Now they're called drones. I bet the mil revert to Remote control once the Civies start calling everything drones

[dodger]

Hi Chaps,

They look cheaper than i thought they would be Dave.

I have not done any RC for many years but i remember back in the 1970's that RC helecopters were beginning to take shape [pardon the pun] and i remember when i was nipper we had Jetex Solid Fuel, they did'nt last long when lit but boy did they go!!

Cheers,

Roger.

[DaveB]

Blimey Rog.. I've not heard the word Jetex for a long time Indeed mate.. stuff had very little control in those days but boy did it go

It is said, and I can't really confirm this, that flying an RC helicopter (a proper one.. not one of the ones with contra-rotating props) is more difficult than flying the real thing. I think I saw one in the back of Dale's garage so he'll know

Anyway.. if you fancy a UAV that actually looks like a UAV.. how's about this.. http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/stor ... duct=26034

I think the product blurb is a little over the top.. 'watch your friends run for cover as they wonder where the missiles will come from' (or words to that effect). More a case of 'it's that plonker with the UAV again.. let's shoot at it'

Those 'quad' helicopters on Hobbyking look a little rudimentary although I'm sure they're functional. You can pay a lot more for these things if you wish I'm sure Dale will have one before long

ATB
DaveB

[speedbird591]

There was a story last year when a father built one to follow his son to the bus stop when the weather was too cold for him to go! It's just your imagination that restricts what you could use one for!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/0 ... 42631.html

And the army 'black hornet' spycam.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21450456

Ian

[WhisperJet]

Time's Lev Grossman has recently written an interesting article relating to the issue...
I can recommend a read!

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/artic ... 32,00.html

Cheers,

Nick

[dodger]

Hello Nick,

A very interesting read,

we all have our own views on these Drones i suppose but the way Technology is today who knows what the future holds for these "Flying Machines"

Thanks for the link,

Cheers,

Roger.

[petermcleland]

That was an extremely interesting 5 page read Nick...Thank's very much for the pointer

[Vc Ten]

Hi all
The quad copters have become popular because the stabilisation system is now intergrated on one chip infact its possible to have gps intergrated for little extra cost. before they used 3 separate heli gyros and i guess would take some setting up. The "larger" versions http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/stor ... 585mm.html
can easily lift a payload of 1kg and is ideal as a camera platform
One other aspect is that the caa have relaxed their ruling on automonous flying and First person view (glasses or monitor showing the camera view out of the cockpit )
The Hobbyking hal would come out around £160 to complete and maybe will be a project for later in the year (Watch this space)
The helis are notoriously dificult to fly, unless youre 16 and spend most of you life on the playstation
Atb
Dale