3,000 LEDs used to build glitzy SMS-controlled UFO

Hey France, we've got one more for your sophisticated UFO archive. Dreamed up by artist Peter Coffin and crafted in conjunction with London-based Cinimod Studio, this 7-meter structure was built from aluminum and covered with 3,000 shockingly bright programmable LEDs. Furthermore, there's an on board 6kW generator to provide power, and the overall UFO can be remotely controlled via SMS. There are even assertions that this thing flew along the coast of Sopot, Poland on July 4th (and even a video to "prove it," posted after the jump), but we all know how dubious such proclamations can be.

[Via Hack N Mod]

[Mr. Fax Sender @ Jul 13th 2008 9:15PM]

That's pretty badass.

Could scare the crap out of people, tell you what.

Question is, though, how is it flying?

[Evan @ Jul 13th 2008 9:25PM]

see: crane.

[jason51873 @ Jul 14th 2008 12:42AM]

But there are other pictures (on the site) where it is flying over the ocean or way too far out of a cranes reach.

I guessing helicopter?

I'd like to know too!

[phanbouy @ Jul 14th 2008 5:19AM]

the real question is how does Batman use gang signals to help _him_ fly

[Einstein @ Jul 14th 2008 12:53PM]

Their website tells you (see last sentence):
A special thank you is also extended to LiteStructures, Architainment, Pharos Controls, Harrington Generators, the Gdansk Shipyard, the festival organisers, and the incredible mountain-rescue pilots responsible for the safe take-off and landing of the UFO!

[johnsson @ Jul 13th 2008 9:21PM]

somehow somewhere someone is asking for a arp2500 synthesizer

[richard @ Jul 14th 2008 1:01AM]

I was thinking the same thing

[rita hainsworth @ Jul 13th 2008 9:23PM]

I actually saw this fly while i was photographing the Loch ness monster.

[Wormbolt @ Jul 13th 2008 9:28PM]

This is what happens when Donna Summer gets tech-y.

[Chicksta @ Jul 13th 2008 9:29PM]

So does Daft Punk get this for their stage set soon?

[Phour ZwanZig @ Jul 13th 2008 10:02PM]

Daft Punk...

What about Tool.. They could use it too...

[Phour ZwanZig @ Jul 13th 2008 10:03PM]

Daft Punk...

What about Tool.. They could use it too...

[Chicksta @ Jul 13th 2008 10:53PM]

I love Tool, but they're not French.

[Nohone @ Jul 13th 2008 9:30PM]

And with that comment it is now official: Engadget has jumped the shark.

[Colin Potter @ Jul 13th 2008 9:30PM]

low ranked, or the lowest ranked?

[DESTOS @ Jul 13th 2008 9:43PM]

It's amazing how many things people have created, identified, and then proceeded to label them "Unidentified Flying Objects"

[Auras @ Jul 14th 2008 2:36AM]

That's what I was going to say too.

[Graham @ Jul 13th 2008 9:43PM]

Its people like this that ruin Engadget for the rest of us. I go to read the comments to pick up little tidbits of information that the readers know through personal experience and to find get a few laughs from the jokes. But when I scroll through and read nothing but "OMG iPhonezzz" or people spamming all about being fanboys simply because the article mentions apple or Microsoft; it just pisses me off. Erik, honestly, what were hoping to accomplish by posting that other than pissing people off and proving that you have the maturity of a five year old?

[Flashpoint @ Jul 13th 2008 9:47PM]

"Don't rave me bro !!!"

[Michael Nelson @ Jul 13th 2008 9:48PM]

And how does this relate to the iPhone? C'mon Engadget, you're slacking!

[Reader @ Jul 13th 2008 10:40PM]

Die in a fire.

[Michael Nelson @ Jul 13th 2008 9:48PM]

And how does this relate to the iPhone? C'mon Engadget, you're slacking!

[El Taco @ Jul 13th 2008 10:46PM]

die twice in a fire

[Petrus @ Jul 13th 2008 10:04PM]

That video is fake. The "UFO" was composited in during post, because first of all there is no reflection in the water of this thing (which has 3,000 LEDs) and second either the cameraman was drunk or the thing was composited in, because the object is not very centered, as would be the case if you were actually filming it. It seems like panoramic shots were taken, and then they CG'ed the UFO.

[Brad @ Jul 13th 2008 10:12PM]

I agree, although not thoroughly. First of all, was it muted or what? No excited screams from the crowd?

Your comment about it not being centered doesn't mean anything, though. I mean, any good photographer knows not to put anything in the dead center. If it is legitimate (which I doubt), it would probably be better than a dead center video.

Also, this kind of video usually involves a scruffy low-def camera phone video, rather than such a smooth video that it looks like it was on a tripod and carefully panned...

[Rick @ Jul 13th 2008 10:42PM]

Actually there is a reflection. Check towards the end of the clip when the 'ufo' is straight ahead and flashing slowly. It's an art project, the thing was being flown around by a helicopter which comes into shot briefly at 0:28. Pretty darn cool if you ask me.

[adam @ Jul 13th 2008 11:01PM]

amazed. i mean, gosh you guys are truly too smart for your own good. please enlighten us further

[CraigJ @ Jul 14th 2008 1:39AM]

I think the lack of centering was done to keep the helicopter out of the shot...

[Brad @ Jul 13th 2008 10:08PM]

That was a horrible comment. NEXT!

[Kevin Fox @ Jul 13th 2008 10:18PM]

It's not CGI, but it is suspended from a helicopter. They take great care in not showing much space above the UFO in the video, but for just a quarter-second toward the end you can see when the helicopter enters the frame. This is why there's no shock from the crowd. When you can see the copter it's much more of a curiosity than a spectacle.

[Erik @ Jul 13th 2008 10:47PM]

@graham
Cntrl p is print....
Discuss this problem with your therapist...

[andrew @ Jul 13th 2008 10:54PM]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
i mean it was funny because it was so outrageous. hardly anything to get mad over or say it "ruins the site"
i mean really. . .

[AndrewP @ Jul 13th 2008 11:15PM]

If the Flying Object is Identifiable...is it really a UFO?
This seems more like a giant chandelier.

[Petrus @ Jul 13th 2008 11:48PM]

Ah ok that makes sense, it also explains why it was muted. Yeah thats more plausible than CGI. Also, the centering thing was just an idea, but thanks for the help

[Colin Potter @ Jul 14th 2008 2:15AM]

"what's behind this mask is an idea Mr. McReary, and ideas are bulletproof"

[Autopsy15 @ Jul 14th 2008 2:56AM]

I bet you've been waiting a long time to use that quote, huh?

[Colin Potter @ Jul 14th 2008 4:03AM]

since the 5th of november actually.

[inMedia @ Jul 14th 2008 3:09AM]

It doesn't look like iPhone...

[phanbouy @ Jul 14th 2008 5:05AM]

I GET IT ITS TEH HUMORZ!

[Colin Potter @ Jul 14th 2008 9:15AM]

OMG ITS WILLIAM HUNG!

[Raj @ Jul 14th 2008 3:20AM]

If you see the original picture, it is hanging with strings attached,
in the video there is no reflection in the water.

[Ali @ Jul 14th 2008 3:20AM]

Really? "Cntrl P" is print? Damnit, All this time I've been using "Ctrl P". Now where can I find this new fandangled "Cntrl" key?

[Erik @ Jul 14th 2008 3:33AM]

LOL@Ali
Loser

[mike @ Jul 14th 2008 4:05AM]

I'm glad most people understand that this is not a fake video, the reason no one is screaming is because the saucer is hanging from a helicopter (and its muted hahah ). So you would have to be pretty stupid to be terrified of that. There is no reflection in the water but you can see a flicker of light on the water during the beginning of the video if you look close enough. You might also notice that there are many many people taking pictures and starring at the art work, why would someone go through all the trouble to get this affect using actors or special effects, and not take the time to make a reflection in the water (which is WAY easier than adding a bunch of people digitally, or hiring all those extras) This is real not fake and if you searched the web for ten seconds you would see proof of this. WHY would you fake something using cgi if you already admitted that this was not an alien spaceship. Why would you do a cgi video if you had pictures of this thing hanging from a helicopter in other locations. For some reason I am REALLY fired up about this. I need help its 12:56 in the morning and I'm arguing about whether cgi was used or not. This is definably the lowest point in my entire life.

[phanbouy @ Jul 14th 2008 5:05AM]

TL;DR

try paragraphs. kthx and lataz

[phanbouy @ Jul 14th 2008 5:03AM]

@erik

you're doing it wrong

[phanbouy @ Jul 14th 2008 5:20AM]

i'm about to lose cntrl and i think i like it

[Echo1 @ Jul 14th 2008 7:06AM]

Three words; Roswell, New Mexico

[Raytaka1222 @ Jul 14th 2008 9:08AM]

@ Erik

At what point did he mention cntrl P? What did that have to do with anything he said, not to mention your the moron that posted something that had NOTHING to do with the article?

Idiot
FAIL

[Tomek @ Jul 14th 2008 12:45PM]

The UFO was way much more smaller than the helicopter, It was really bad and most of the people who was watching this didn't know what's going on and it was very funny :D
I live in Gdynia (city next to Sopot and Gdańsk)
It's really amazing that you are showing news from Poland