Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Parrot AR.Drone joins with Epson Moverio BT-100: UAV gets down with HMD (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/09/parrot-ar-drone-joins-forces-with-epson-moverio-bt-100-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/09/parrot-ar-drone-joins-forces-with-epson-moverio-bt-100-video/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/09/parrot-ar-drone-joins-forces-with-epson-moverio-bt-100-video/#comments Parrot AR.Drone matches forces with Epson Moverio to create augmented reality supergroup (video)Let's say you've explored all the abandoned cathedrals in your hometown and have decimated all comers on the virtual battlefield -- if your interest in the Parrot AR.Drone has begun to wane, then take a gander at this bit of handiwork from Thomas Sohmers and dream of what could be. Essentially, he's taken the popular UAV from Parrot and has combined it with a transparent, head-mounted display that allows one to simultaneously view the AR.Drone and an overlay of its video feed. More than just a set of glasses, the Epson Moverio BT-100 was ideal for the task as it also features a handheld controller that just so happens to run Android. While Sohmers has met with good success in combining the two devices, the product isn't quite ready for mass consumption -- for example, it's said the AR.Drone can only rotate and move vertically at this point. While you'll have to use a bit of your imagination for the heads-up display component, you can find a demonstration of Sohmers' creation in a video after the break.

Continue reading Parrot AR.Drone joins with Epson Moverio BT-100: UAV gets down with HMD (video)

Parrot AR.Drone joins with Epson Moverio BT-100: UAV gets down with HMD (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 09 Mar 2012 07:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>androidar.dronear.pursuitaugmented realityAugmentedRealityavailabledownloaddroneepsonEpson Moverio BT-100EpsonMoverioBt-100gamehelicoptermoverio bt-100MoverioBt-100parrotrcrc helicopterRcHelicopterremote controlRemoteControluavvideoFri, 09 Mar 2012 07:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Force Flyer accelerometer-controlled RC helicopter, we go gloves-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/12/force-flyer-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/12/force-flyer-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/12/force-flyer-hands-on/#comments Force FlyerBeing able to wave your hand through the air and control a physical object -- as if by magic -- is everyone's dream. And if you say it's not yours, then you sir or ma'am are a liar. That's why we had to stop at the Regal Elite booth on the floor at Toy Fair. The company was showing off the Force Flyer, an RC helicopter you pilot with an accelerometer-equipped glove. The patented tech, called Glove Force Technology, adds a level of physical interactivity that's more Wii than RC. A small joystick you hold in your palm controls thrust, while tilting and moving your hand through the air gets the chopper to perform acrobatic maneuvers -- or plummet to the ground if you're an Engadget editor. The Regal Elite staff seemed to have pretty good control of the Force Flyer, which gives us hope that our difficulty in keeping the toy airborne was due more to our lack of familiarity and not with the quality of the device. The glove controller on hand was still a prototype (as is much of what's on the floor at Toy Fair), hence the New Balance logo, but the actual internals are around 80 percent complete according to a rep. The smaller, indoor Force Flyer should be hitting the market in late April for $49.95, followed by a larger outdoor version. Check out the gallery below and video after the break for more.

Gallery: Force Flyer accelerometer-controlled RC helicopter


Edgar Alvarez contributed to this report.

Continue reading Force Flyer accelerometer-controlled RC helicopter, we go gloves-on (video)

Force Flyer accelerometer-controlled RC helicopter, we go gloves-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 12 Feb 2012 17:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accelerometerforce flyerForceFlyerGFTglove force technologyGloveForceTechnologyhands-onhelicopterradio controlledRadioControlledrcrc helicopterRcHelicopterregal eliteRegalEliteremote controlremote controlledRemoteControlRemoteControlledtoytoy fairtoy fair 2012ToyFairToyFair2012toysvideoSun, 12 Feb 2012 17:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Wi-Spi Helicopter and Intruder RC toys put the childlike wonder back into spying on your neighbors]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/08/wi-spy-helicopter-and-intruder-rc-toys-put-the-childlike-wonder/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/08/wi-spy-helicopter-and-intruder-rc-toys-put-the-childlike-wonder/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/08/wi-spy-helicopter-and-intruder-rc-toys-put-the-childlike-wonder/#comments Sick and tired of spying on the neighbors the old-fashioned way? Good news, all. Interactive Toy Designs showed off two new products in its not-so-subtly named Wi-Spi line of remote control vehicles. Really driving the notion home is the Intruder, the name given to the little red sports car. The helicopter, on the other hand, is called just that, though we're sure you can intrude upon people with the thing, if you really put your mind to it. Both vehicles have built-in cameras that beam live feeds to your iPhone or Android devices. You can also record the video and upload it instantly to social networking sites, to really get that spying 2.0 feel. The Intruder and Helicopter are both arriving in the fall, for $100 and $120, respectively.

Gallery: Wi-Spi Helicopter and Intruder RC toys put the childlike wonder back into spying on your neighbors


Edgar Alvarez contributed to this report.

Wi-Spi Helicopter and Intruder RC toys put the childlike wonder back into spying on your neighbors originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 Jan 2012 22:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carhelicopterInteractive Toy ConceptsInteractiveToyConceptsradio controlledRadioControlledrcspyspyingSun, 08 Jan 2012 22:01:00 EST<![CDATA[First manned multicopter takes flight, brave human sits amidst blades (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/01/first-manned-multicopter-takes-flight-brave-human-sits-amidst-b/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/01/first-manned-multicopter-takes-flight-brave-human-sits-amidst-b/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/01/first-manned-multicopter-takes-flight-brave-human-sits-amidst-b/#comments What could have ended in human chop suey, instead resulted in victory for German engineers at e-volo as they successfully completed the first manned flight of an electric multicopter. The human death trap multicopter uses multiple mini helicopters to lift the passenger upwards -- who's snuggled in the center of the carnage, firmly strapped to a squishy exercise ball. Like an UAV, the hovering device is controlled via radio control from the ground -- talk about trusting. The passenger was able to hold on for one minute and 30-second of flight victory, causing raucous celebrations from the Wright brothers in aviation heaven. Click past the break for the video.

Continue reading First manned multicopter takes flight, brave human sits amidst blades (video)

First manned multicopter takes flight, brave human sits amidst blades (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 21:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dronee-vologermangermanyhelicopterhelicoptersmanned flightMannedFlightmulticoptermulticoptersRCuavuav and dronesUavAndDronesUAVsunmanned aerial vehicleUnmannedAerialVehiclevideoTue, 01 Nov 2011 21:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Rotor Concept HPQ-1 quadcopter eyes-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/27/rotor-concept-hpq-1-quadcopter-eyes-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/27/rotor-concept-hpq-1-quadcopter-eyes-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/27/rotor-concept-hpq-1-quadcopter-eyes-on-video/#comments Rotor Concept Inc. We're here at the PhotoPlus show in New York, and as usual, the stranger products are being showcased on the outskirts of the show. A company called Rotor Concept out of Southern California was showing off the HPQ-1, a quadcopter designed to lug around your digital camera.The copter itself is surprisingly quiet and steady, the latter of which is no doubt helped out by the presence of four propellers and advanced stabilization system (put the controller down and it will automatically hold its position).

The HPQ-1 can hold payloads of up to 12 ounces, so users can use standard digital cameras to live stream events or a pair of smaller shooters to capture arial 3D clips. According to the company, SWAT teams are looking into using the product for surveillance. The other recommended usage? Weddings, of course. The copter can reach a max altitude of 2,000 feet and has a theoretical maximum flight radius of up to a mile. It's available now for an MSRP of $899. Peep a quick video after the break.

Terrence O'Brien contributed to this report.

Gallery: Rotor Concept Inc. quadcopter camera system

Continue reading Rotor Concept HPQ-1 quadcopter eyes-on (video)

Rotor Concept HPQ-1 quadcopter eyes-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Oct 2011 12:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>camcordercamerahands onhands-onHandsOnhelicopterHPQ-1photoplusquadcopterquadrocopterRCremote controlledRemoteControlledrotor conceptrotor concept HPQ-1RotorConceptRotorConceptHpq-1streamingvideoThu, 27 Oct 2011 12:36:00 EST<![CDATA[K-MAX unmanned chopper delivers Air Force salute to Afghan danger (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/06/k-max-robotic-chopper-delivers-airmans-salute-to-afghan-danger/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/06/k-max-robotic-chopper-delivers-airmans-salute-to-afghan-danger/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/06/k-max-robotic-chopper-delivers-airmans-salute-to-afghan-danger/#comments It's a year since Lockheed Martin won the contract to provide an unmanned cargo delivery system to the US military and now its first K-MAX helicopter is just about ready for duty. The 6,000-pound RC chopper is scheduled to journey to the manifold fronts of Afghanistan next month, where it'll get busy ferrying its own bodyweight in ammo and supplies to needy anthills up to 200km away. And, if things get too sticky for laptop flying, there's always room for a brave soul to jump in there and grab the controls. You'll find a fresh demo video after the break, plus we've also stuck in that fancy clip from last year to rotor your memory.

Continue reading K-MAX unmanned chopper delivers Air Force salute to Afghan danger (video)

K-MAX unmanned chopper delivers Air Force salute to Afghan danger (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Oct 2011 08:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ArmychopperhelicopterK-MAXKamanLockheedNavyRCunmannedUS ArmyUS NavyUsArmyUsNavywar gadgetwargadgetThu, 06 Oct 2011 08:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Homebuilt UAV hunts down hydrogen balloons, shoots firework missiles (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/30/homebuilt-uav-hunts-down-hydrogen-balloons-fires-firework-flame/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/30/homebuilt-uav-hunts-down-hydrogen-balloons-fires-firework-flame/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/30/homebuilt-uav-hunts-down-hydrogen-balloons-fires-firework-flame/#comments
Augmented reality is swell, don't get us wrong, but it's no substitute for the real thing -- especially when that thing is a badass tricopter equipped with a jury-rigged firework cannon to rain down miniature hell. Swedish R/C enthusiasts built this first-person flying contraption to carry out a single mission -- destroy a series of hydrogen-filled balloons -- which will hopefully be hard-coded into future automatons too. After all, balloons could serve as an excellent distraction when they inevitably come for you. Still, there's no need to worry quite yet, so kick back and enjoy the video above while you contemplate humanity's end.

Homebuilt UAV hunts down hydrogen balloons, shoots firework missiles (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 30 Jan 2011 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>DIYdo it yourselfDoItYourselfdronefireworkfireworksfirst personfirst person viewFirstPersonFirstPersonViewfpvhackhackshelicopterradio controlradio controlledRadioControlRadioControlledrcrobot apocalypseRobotApocalypsetricopterUAVvideoSun, 30 Jan 2011 14:29:00 EST<![CDATA[AppToyz iPhone-controlled RC car and copter are more reasons to have fun with your phone (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/26/apptoyz-iphone-controlled-rc-car-and-copter-are-more-reasons-to/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/26/apptoyz-iphone-controlled-rc-car-and-copter-are-more-reasons-to/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/26/apptoyz-iphone-controlled-rc-car-and-copter-are-more-reasons-to/#commentsAppToyz iPhone-controlled RC car and copter are more reasons to have fun with your phone (video) We, like you, have looked longingly at the Parrot AR.Drone. We've had a lot of fun experimenting with its augmented reality gaming ways and spent a lot of time sighing at its $299 price. Thankfully there's now a much cheaper option -- much less sophisticated, but one that is nevertheless cheaper. It's the AppToyz helicopter, coming to retail soon and costing a (relatively) affordable £50, or about $80. It looks to be evolved from the standard, tiny, IR-controlled helicopters that are everywhere now, but this one's controlled by your iPhone or iPod touch courtesy of an attachment that clips into the headphone port, much like the suite of universal remote iPhone dongles we've seen over the years. There's also an RC car coming, somewhat more affordable at £30, though only the copter is demonstrated in the video embedded below. Go ahead and watch, and then start eagerly awaiting their release, currently slated for April.

Continue reading AppToyz iPhone-controlled RC car and copter are more reasons to have fun with your phone (video)

AppToyz iPhone-controlled RC car and copter are more reasons to have fun with your phone (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Jan 2011 13:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apptoyzhelicopterinfra redInfraRedirmedia sauceMediaSaucercrc helicopterRcHelicoptervideoWed, 26 Jan 2011 13:51:00 EST<![CDATA[AR.Drone gets Urbi open source robot interface drivers, tracks a red rubber ball like nobody's business (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/08/ar-drone-gets-urbi-open-source-robot-interface-drivers-tracks-a/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/08/ar-drone-gets-urbi-open-source-robot-interface-drivers-tracks-a/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/08/ar-drone-gets-urbi-open-source-robot-interface-drivers-tracks-a/#comments
Just when we thought that Parrot's iPhone-controlled airship couldn't be any more of a blast, a gentleman named Psykokwak (yes, really) has been hard at work on an implementation of the URBI (Universal Robot Body Interface) for the AR.Drone. And what's more, he's gone and written a twenty-five line script that lets the thing to pick out -- and shadow -- a red rubber ball. Pretty awesome, right? You'll need an AR.Drone of course, as well as a computer (clients are available for PC, Linux, and Mac), the interface of your choice (joystick, keyboard, whatever) and of course -- for the current demonstration -- a red rubber ball. For the technical nitty gritty, check out the links below. But before you do make sure you peep the demonstration video after the break.

Continue reading AR.Drone gets Urbi open source robot interface drivers, tracks a red rubber ball like nobody's business (video)

AR.Drone gets Urbi open source robot interface drivers, tracks a red rubber ball like nobody's business (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 10:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ar.dronear.pursuitaugmented realityAugmentedRealityhackhelicopteropen sourceOpenSourceparrotrcrc helicopterRcHelicopterremote controlRemoteControlrobotrobot interfaceroboticsRobotInterfaceuniversal robot roby interface platformUniversalRobotRobyInterfacePlatformurbivideoWed, 08 Dec 2010 10:59:00 EST<![CDATA[AR.Pursuit augmented reality shooter app for AR.Drone now available on iTunes]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/01/ar-pursuit-augmented-reality-shooter-for-ar-drone-now-available/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/01/ar-pursuit-augmented-reality-shooter-for-ar-drone-now-available/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/01/ar-pursuit-augmented-reality-shooter-for-ar-drone-now-available/#comments Do you really need another reason to lust after the AR.Drone? Ok, then how about AR.Pursuit, Parrot's new multiplayer augmented reality game and the first developed for the AR.Drone? It just hit the iTunes App Store for $2.99. Sure, it's a few days late, but you can use that pent-up angst to pursue and destroy the AR.Drones operated by your family and friends, just as the baby Jesus intended this holiday season.

Continue reading AR.Pursuit augmented reality shooter app for AR.Drone now available on iTunes

AR.Pursuit augmented reality shooter app for AR.Drone now available on iTunes originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 01:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ar.dronear.pursuitaugmented realityAugmentedRealityavailabledownloadgamehelicopterparrotrcrc helicopterRcHelicopterremote controlRemoteControlvideoWed, 01 Dec 2010 01:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Parrot's AR.Drone helicopter brings military-style amusement to the iPhone]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/05/parrots-ar-drone-helicopter-brings-military-style-amusement-to/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/05/parrots-ar-drone-helicopter-brings-military-style-amusement-to/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/05/parrots-ar-drone-helicopter-brings-military-style-amusement-to/#comments Sure, the iPhone does a commendable job with heavy-duty 3D acceleration for intense virtual reality gaming, but funk that noise -- these guys want to bring you the real thing. Parrot -- better known for its Bluetooth accessories -- has introduced the AR.Drone, a WiFi-enabled remote control helicopter that takes its commands from the iPhone or iPod touch of your choice. The wacky toy has a pair of on-board cameras, one to help steady itself and the other to beam a live bird's-eye view (almost literally, if you pretend for a moment that this is in fact a bird) from the captain's seat onto your phone's screen. Parrot's mainly pushing the hardware here -- it's offering up a host of open source goodies to help developers learn about the product and figure out how to turn it into a must-have toy with replay value, and they'll have plenty of time to do so since it won't be available to consumers until "sometime in 2010." Follow the break for a video of the AR.Drone mercilessly hunting down and destroying all who dare oppose it.

Gallery: Parrot's AR.Drone helicopter brings military-style amusement to the iPhone

Continue reading Parrot's AR.Drone helicopter brings military-style amusement to the iPhone

Parrot's AR.Drone helicopter brings military-style amusement to the iPhone originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 05 Jan 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ar.dronecesces 2010Ces2010dronehelicopterparrotrcrc helicopterRcHelicopterremote controlRemoteControlTue, 05 Jan 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Brando Tiny USB Rechargeable RC Helicopter prettifies your desk, might fly]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/22/brando-tiny-usb-rechargeable-rc-helicopter-prettifies-your-desk/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/22/brando-tiny-usb-rechargeable-rc-helicopter-prettifies-your-desk/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/22/brando-tiny-usb-rechargeable-rc-helicopter-prettifies-your-desk/#comments
Hey there, has your previously high-powered stock trading job been downsized out of existence? Are you one of the unlucky ones who've had to diversify their job portfolio? We understand, so here's a way to satisfy those latent urges to own a helicopter on the cheap -- Brando is offering to exchange $39.90 of your blood money for a machine so simple that its protracted model name describes it almost in full. To complete the picture, you get a 3-channel IR controller, integrated gyroscope for balancing and a set of blinking LED lights on the sides for, you guessed it, nighttime flying. You should be warned though, the first functionality listed for this product is "decoration," so temper your expectations accordingly.

[Thanks, Louie]

Filed under: ,

Brando Tiny USB Rechargeable RC Helicopter prettifies your desk, might fly originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BrandogyroscopehelicopterinfraredIR controlIrControlradio controlledRadioControlledRCRC helicopoterRcHelicopoterUSB chargingUSB rechargeableUsbChargingUsbRechargeableWed, 22 Jul 2009 08:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Video: Taiyo's voice controlled Voice-Heli RC helicopter: "attack!"]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/16/taiyos-voice-controlled-voice-heli-rc-helicopter-attack/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/16/taiyos-voice-controlled-voice-heli-rc-helicopter-attack/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/16/taiyos-voice-controlled-voice-heli-rc-helicopter-attack/#comments
We love RC helicopters. What self-respecting nerd doesn't? Add voice control and our dorktalic sensorloin careens into the red. Taiyo Co. plans to release a 7.2-inch radio controlled helicopter with 10-foot range sometime in 2009. At launch, the Voice-Heli will respond to commands such as "start engine," "up," "hold," "down," and "stop." Presumably, it'll recognize "quit spinning out of control you piece of Walmart shiznit!" in future versions. Taiyo says that it is targeting middle-aged men who would play with the toy rather than their children. Stop Taiyo, please, for your own sake, stop... you had us at voice controlled. Check the video after the break.

[Thanks, Vincent]

Continue reading Video: Taiyo's voice controlled Voice-Heli RC helicopter: "attack!"

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Video: Taiyo's voice controlled Voice-Heli RC helicopter: "attack!" originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Jan 2009 07:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>helicopternikkonikko-rcradio controlledRadioControlledrctaiyovideoFri, 16 Jan 2009 07:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Flying Santa sans reindeer]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/10/flying-santa-sans-reindeer/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/10/flying-santa-sans-reindeer/http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/10/flying-santa-sans-reindeer/#comments
You'd be sporting the very same expression of horror if your jolly ass was strapped to a Brando remote controlled helicopter. The rechargeable unit features a "super wide" IR remote and spare tail prop for $25. Rudolph's wrath: free.

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Flying Santa sans reindeer originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 10 Dec 2007 06:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>brandochristmashelicopterrcsantasanta clausSantaClausMon, 10 Dec 2007 06:54:00 EST