Tiny robot plane flies indoors, transmits data
By Marc Perton 
posted August 18th 2005 4:45PM
posted August 18th 2005 4:45PM
We've seen our share of tiny reconnaissance robots, but it looks like there might be a new challenger for the title of world's most advanced. Swiss researchers have demonstrated a flying bot with an 31-inch wingspan and a weight of just 1 ounce, that can fly indoors, avoiding walls and other objects via its onboard cameras. The robot plane has gyroscopic stabilizers and a Bluetooth transmitter to send data back to a nearby computer. And, yes, we really, really, want one, but we're willing to wait for the next version, which will have a wingspan half the size and weigh just under half an ounce. Should fit perfectly under our jacket when we're touring the research lab on our next trip to Lausanne.
IT looks like crap, but how cool is that! I want one. I bet Uncle Sam wants a few million.
http://www.tiger-compatible.com
Why would they apologize for the mac mini article? Just reporting on something cnet did
Removing the post is kinda yellow though
"they were all yellow...."
cut'em some slack, shit happens. Woulda liked to see a blurb calling out mac for making the mac mini.......anyways.
carry on
I just don’t think it was a F- up, of course, I’m a Mac detractor.
They prolly should say something, not just pull it
Yeah! Stick it to them by causing drama here and giving them tons more page views. THAT'LL show those silly editors!
It seems as though the peron who wrote the Mac Mini blurb on Engadget didn't even read the article. That's what we call "poor journalism".
I really like the plane. Something I wanna be researching and working on ;)
I want one too!
Can someone tell me what you guys are talking about? Thanks!
Nick, Engadget posted and then pulled an entry about the Mac Mini, and somthing about it costing $300 to build. I clicked on comments to read what was being posted (33 comments+) and before I knew it, the whole entry just disapeared.
I was kind of surprised, I have never seen somthing get yanked so fast since the hot coffee mod.
Welcome to a brave new world.
actually, welcome to Oceania, circa 1984. Tossed down the "memory hole"
Perhaps you would be interested to do a review of our Ready To Fly Butterfly airplane with full proportional control, 900Mhz R/C system, all up weight is only 3.6 grams - that's 1/8 of an ounce.
This one can fly in the livingroom and it is available on our website for $239.00 USD - it even comes with flight sim and metal briefcase!
Here is the URL for the Plantraco RTF Butterfly
http://www.plantraco.com/hobbies/product_butterfly.html
heh, I want to review the butterfly! damn you plantraco! every time you come out with a product- I find myself yearning to buy it, unable to resist the pull of tiny radio controlled electronics. and it comes with a case. I need more jobs...
Plantraco rocks in every way!
The website is a must-visit!
Simon:
Come on, don't you know we've always been at war with Eastasia?
Yes, of course we have always been at war with Eurasia!
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=74227
Or if you don't want to spend 300 dollars check out this forum and build your own.
Yep, you can build your own models - but probably not with the convenient features offered with the HFX900 Micro R/C system.
Features like proportional control, 300 foot glitch free range, 900Mhz pure digital R/C, Built In lipoly Charger, Transmitter plugs into your PC for use with the freeware FMS flight sim, Bahoma lithium polymer magnetic battery connector, audible tones to indicate status of the receiver, 0.2modulus gears, carbon fiber prop, 0.22 gram actuator. Quite a project to make a 3.6 gram plane that compares to the RTF Butterfly - you'll have to spend something to do it from scratch I think. You can't do it for $20.00 I don't think, you'd have to spend that for the battery and charger alone :)
Both ways are fun though - so I know what you are saying - RC Groups is an awesome resource. Cheers!