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[Navy awards Aerovel Flexrotor contract to develop marine surveillance tech]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/navy-awards-aerovel-flexrotor-contract-marine-surveillance/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/navy-awards-aerovel-flexrotor-contract-marine-surveillance/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/01/navy-awards-aerovel-flexrotor-contract-marine-surveillance/#comments Navy awards Aerovel Flexrotor contract to develop marine surveillance tech

The high seas and UAVs go together like -- well, they go together really well. The Navy's cooking up 3D laser imaging technology for spotting pirates and the like, but it will need some aircraft for the task. Right on cue, a helicopter / airplane hybrid for maritime surveillance is inching toward reality. Aerovel's Flexrotor, an ultra-compact craft with a wing span of three meters (9.8 feet) and a weight of just 19.2 kg (42.3 lb), has already been demonstrated to switch between horizontal and vertical flight, but the next step is enhancing its propulsion system to improve its performance for longer distances and in windier conditions. Today the Office of Naval Research (ONR) awarded the company a contract for developing that tech. For now, you can check out a video of the Flexrotor's first test flight, which demoes the UAV transitioning from vertical and horizontal orientation and back again.

Continue reading Navy awards Aerovel Flexrotor contract to develop marine surveillance tech

Navy awards Aerovel Flexrotor contract to develop marine surveillance tech originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01 May 2012 05:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aerovelaerovel flexrotorAerovelFlexrotoraircraftairplaneairplanesarmed forcesArmedForceshelicopterhelicoptersmarinesmaritimenavyONRsurveillanceUAVUAVsUAVs and dronesUavsAndDronesvideoTue, 01 May 2012 05:26:00 EST<![CDATA[DJI multi-rotor aircraft with Ruling live video feed controller hands-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/16/dji-aircraft-live-video-feed-controller/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/16/dji-aircraft-live-video-feed-controller/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/16/dji-aircraft-live-video-feed-controller/#comments Image

Well that's a mouthful. Shenzhen-based DJI Innovations was on hand at NAB today to demonstrate its new hex-rotor aircraft, designed to provide photographers (and videographers) with a low-cost tool for capturing aerial images. The vehicle we saw today, coined Spreading Wings S800 (its rotors retract for storage) is a fairly straightforward multi-rotor aircraft, save for a couple pretty slick enhancements. Even more impressive, however, was DJI's Ruling, a "ground control terminal" that enables you to adjust not only aircraft direction and elevation, but also the camera position, complete with a live video feed as captured by a Sony NEX-5N mounted on a multi-axis camera gimbal. The camera mount is designed to maintain a stable image regardless of the craft's position -- once it's fixed on a subject, it will adjust to retain the pre-selected angle.

The Ruling controller is very much still a prototype, with a yet-unpolished military green plastic housing and a built-in LCD. There's also dual joysticks -- one on the left to adjust the camera platform, and a second on the right to control the aircraft itself, letting you climb, descend and turn in every which way with a flick. The duo was very responsive during a brief demonstration, making calculated movements with what looked to be precise accuracy. The video feed was interrupted slightly by the multitude of wireless connections littering the Las Vegas Convention Center airwaves, but reps were still able to verify framing and adjust position -- the aircraft itself never faltered, with a maximum range of 10 kilometers (5km for the video feed, in ideal conditions). The Spreading Wings S800 is available for pre-order now and is expected to ship next month for roughly $8,500. That clever live video controller will cost you another pretty penny, however, with an estimated $5,000 price tag and a TBD ship date. You'll want to take a closer look in the video after the break.

Gallery: DJI multi-rotor aircraft with Ruling live video feed controller hands-on

Continue reading DJI multi-rotor aircraft with Ruling live video feed controller hands-on (video)

DJI multi-rotor aircraft with Ruling live video feed controller hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 Apr 2012 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aerialaerial photographyAerialPhotographyaerialsaircraftaviationaviation photographyAviationPhotographycameracamera mountcamera mountsCameraMountCameraMountscontrollercopterDJIDJI RulingDJI Spreading Wings S800DjiRulingDjiSpreadingWingsS800hands-onhelicoptermulti rotormulti-rotorMultiRotornabnab 2012Nab2012photographyremoteremote controlledRemoteControlledrotorRulingSpreading Wings S800SpreadingWingsS800videowirelessMon, 16 Apr 2012 19:45:00 EST<![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[Canon C300 takes to the sky, hopefully still under warranty]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/13/canon-c300-copter/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/13/canon-c300-copter/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/13/canon-c300-copter/#comments
We're not sure what sending your $16,000 (plus lens) video camera into the sky does to its warranty, but here's hoping that the folks at Horizon AP don't have to find out the hard way. They've attached Canon's C300 to a remote controlled rotorcraft to grab the kind of shots that only multiple spinning blades can. Probably best to avoid trying this at home, unless you've got a couple extra Easyshares lying around.

[Thanks, Jack]

Canon C300 takes to the sky, hopefully still under warranty originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>c300camcordercameracamerascanoncanon c300canon cameracanon cinemacanon cinema cameracanon eoscanon eos c300CanonC300CanonCameraCanonCinemaCanonCinemaCameraCanonEosCanonEosC300helicopterhorizon apHorizonApminipostphotographyMon, 13 Feb 2012 15:36:00 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[eye3 hexicopter helps your DSLR take flight for $999]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/24/eye3-hexicopter-helps-your-dslr-take-flight-for-999/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/24/eye3-hexicopter-helps-your-dslr-take-flight-for-999/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/24/eye3-hexicopter-helps-your-dslr-take-flight-for-999/#comments Your camera wants to take flight -- trust us, it does -- and an ambitious new project aims to make your DSLR's aeronautic ambitions a reality. The eye3 hexacopter is a six-armed carbon-fiber unmanned arial vehicle (UAV) that hopes to make aerial photography accessible to the masses. Designed by a couple with a hankering for robotics, the flying machine is modular (for easy repair) and navigates using a combination of Google Maps and open-source code. Those without a pilot license need not worry: the eye3 utilizes the oft-improving APM2 software for a "compact yet powerful" autopilot experience. The UAV can carry a payload of five to ten pounds, boasts three CPUs and has a 350-watt motor strapped to each tentacle. Fly past the break to watch a video from eye3's creators... get to the choppa'!

Continue reading eye3 hexicopter helps your DSLR take flight for $999

eye3 hexicopter helps your DSLR take flight for $999 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 16:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aerialAPM2autopilotcameradroneDSLReye3eye3 hexacopterEye3HexacopterflightflyingGoogleGoogle MapsGoogleMapshelicopterhexacopterimageKickstarteropenopen sourceOpenSourcephotographyremotesoftwaresourceUAVvideoTue, 24 Jan 2012 16:49:00 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[US Army's A160 Hummingbird drone-copter to don 1.8 gigapixel camera]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/27/us-armys-a160-hummingbird-drone-copter-to-don-1-8-gigapixel-cam/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/27/us-armys-a160-hummingbird-drone-copter-to-don-1-8-gigapixel-cam/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/27/us-armys-a160-hummingbird-drone-copter-to-don-1-8-gigapixel-cam/#comments Starting in July of 2012, the United States Army will deploy three Boeing A160 Hummingbird drones to Afghanistan as part of a one-year trial program. Unlike the Predator drones already in combat, the A160 is a rotor-based aircraft capable of vertical take-offs and landings. What's more, the craft will be affixed with the DARPA-developed ARGUS-IS imaging system -- which boasts a 1.8 gigapixel camera the Army says can "track people and vehicles from altitudes above 20,000 feet." The A160 Hummingbird platform will provide the Army with the ability and flexibility to: take off and land without a runway; fly for twelve hours or more without refueling; and monitor up to 65 enemies of the State simultaneously. Test flights of the unmanned chopper are scheduled for early 2012 in Arizona, but residents hoping to get a glimpse of the A160 in action best have great eyesight -- the ARGUS-IS system can see targets from almost 25 miles down range. Oh, and don't forget to smile when you look up. You want to look your best for the eye in the sky, right?

US Army's A160 Hummingbird drone-copter to don 1.8 gigapixel camera originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 27 Dec 2011 23:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.8 gigapixel1.8GigapixelA160a160 hummingbirdA160HummingbirdARGUSargus-isarmedArmyDARPAdroneforcesgigapixelhelicopterStatesUAVUnitedUnited StatesUnitedStatesunmanned aerial vehicleUnmannedAerialVehicleus armyUsArmyvertical takeoff and landingVerticalTakeoffAndLandingvtolVTOL-UASwargadgetTue, 27 Dec 2011 23:34:00 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[Flying cops board gyroplane for Big Brother-style eyes in the sky]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/13/flying-cops-board-gyroplane-for-big-brother-style-eyes-in-the-sk/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/13/flying-cops-board-gyroplane-for-big-brother-style-eyes-in-the-sk/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/13/flying-cops-board-gyroplane-for-big-brother-style-eyes-in-the-sk/#comments "Get to tha choppa!" is probably the first thing the Tromball, Texas cops will be shouting now that they're the proud owners of America's first police gyroplane. This type of aircraft is nothing new, but for the 5-0 testing the Auto-Gyro MTOsport, it's a cheaper and simpler alternative to a helicopter -- and way sweeter looking. For the price of two high-end squad cars (around $75,000), the heat can go air-bound, compared to $1-4.5 million for a standard whirlybird. The machine also requires far less pre-flight prep before soaring 13 feet per second into the sky only to max out at a face-melting speed of 115 mph. With a rotax motor, pilots can dip from the air quickly and easily since the copter's already in autorotation, unlike a standard helicopter, which requires some heavy maneuvering. The downside? It's horrible at night and in bad weather, meaning the cops will have to keep those Crown Vics in the garage, just in case.

Flying cops board gyroplane for Big Brother-style eyes in the sky originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 19:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Auto-Gyro MTOsportAuto-gyroMtosportAutoRotationcopcopsgyroplanehelicopterhelicopterslaw enforcementLawEnforcementpolicepolice surveillancePoliceSurveillancerotaxtexastromballTue, 13 Sep 2011 19:53:00 EST<![CDATA[World's only turbine-powered Batmobile up for sale on eBay, recession hits Bruce Wayne, too]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/30/worlds-only-turbine-powered-batmobile-up-for-sale-on-ebay-rece/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/30/worlds-only-turbine-powered-batmobile-up-for-sale-on-ebay-rece/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/30/worlds-only-turbine-powered-batmobile-up-for-sale-on-ebay-rece/#comments Remember that Boeing-powered Batmobile we ran across last month? Well friends, it could be yours via eBay auction in about a week. Currently, the highest bid is you can buy it now for $620,000 -- which would be enough to cover the cost of several cars not fit for the Caped Crusader. However, none of those come equipped with a helicopter turbine, now do they? Putsch Racing reminds interested parties that the mean machine is street registered in the US, so you can roll like the Dark Knight without fear of the police pursuing you. An iPad loaded with digital avionics helps you monitor the jet engine, and you can use your choice of three fuel sources to power the thing: Jet A, kerosene, or diesel. Hey now, we never said it was environmentally friendly. If you, like Jay-Z, are "planking on a million," check out the detailed auction shots below and bid on Batman's ride yourself.

Gallery: Turbine-powered Batmobile up for sale

World's only turbine-powered Batmobile up for sale on eBay, recession hits Bruce Wayne, too originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 30 Aug 2011 08:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auctionavionicsBatmanBatmobileBoeingcarseBayfor saleForSaleGPShelicopteripadjetjet engineJetEngineturbineturbine-poweredTue, 30 Aug 2011 08:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Man builds turbine-powered Batmobile, brags about having the only one (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/14/man-builds-turbine-powered-batmobile-brags-about-having-the-onl/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/14/man-builds-turbine-powered-batmobile-brags-about-having-the-onl/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/14/man-builds-turbine-powered-batmobile-brags-about-having-the-onl/#comments So you think you're a huge fan of the Dark Knight, huh? Not so fast. Do you own a full-sized Batmobile? Yeah... we didn't think so. But, auto restoration guru Casey Putsch does, and to launch himself further into super-fanboy status, he upgraded the engine with a Boeing turboshaft -- snatched out of a naval drone helicopter. According to him, this makes his collector's item one of a kind, in true Bruce Wayne fashion. Sure, these discarded movie props are usually powered by a standard 350 (especially the older models), but that wasn't enough for a dude's dude who appraises and designs all types of vehicles for a living. Mods were also made to the interior, including an iPad in the dash which serves as the avionics system and keeps track of the important GPS coordinates -- you know, stuff you'd expect Lucious Fox to toss in to track villains and such. For a look at this beast in action, check out the video after the break; meanwhile we'll try to figure out how to cram a jet engine into a Tesla Roadster.

Continue reading Man builds turbine-powered Batmobile, brags about having the only one (video)

Man builds turbine-powered Batmobile, brags about having the only one (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Jul 2011 06:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>avionicsBatmanBatmobileBoeingcarsGPShelicopteripadteslatesla roadsterTeslaRoadstervideoThu, 14 Jul 2011 06:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Navy blends Jet A and algae-based biofuel, uses it to power Seahawk chopper (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/24/navy-blends-jet-a-and-algae-based-biofuel-uses-it-to-power-seah/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/24/navy-blends-jet-a-and-algae-based-biofuel-uses-it-to-power-seah/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/24/navy-blends-jet-a-and-algae-based-biofuel-uses-it-to-power-seah/#comments
Considering that helicopters are entirely dependent on a spinning rotor to remain in the air, an MH-60S Seahawk doesn't exactly seem the most likely candidate for experimental fuel. That didn't seem to stop the US Navy, however, which successfully completed a test flight with a 50 / 50 blend of algae-based biofuel and Jet A (traditionally the flavor of choice for turbine-based aircraft). The mixture used is known as Solajet HRJ-5 Jet fuel, which doesn't quite have the same ring to it as good ole Jet A -- but it does happen to be based on a renewable resource and managed to keep the rotor spinning. There's no word on how much the new fuel costs to produce or when it might be ready for commercial use, but if all goes to plan, we may soon be using the green stuff for more than just sushi rolls and miso soup.

Continue reading Navy blends Jet A and algae-based biofuel, uses it to power Seahawk chopper (video)

Navy blends Jet A and algae-based biofuel, uses it to power Seahawk chopper (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 02:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircraftalternative energyalternative fuelAlternativeEnergyAlternativeFuelaviationChopperexperimentalflyingfuelhelicopternavySolajetsolazymesolazyme SolajetSolazymeSolajetus navyUsNavyvideowargadgetFri, 24 Jun 2011 02:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Eurocopter X3 hybrid sets new speed record of 430km/h, readies for next search and rescue mission]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/20/eurocopter-x3-hybrid-sets-new-speed-record-of-430kmh-readies-fo/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/20/eurocopter-x3-hybrid-sets-new-speed-record-of-430kmh-readies-fo/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/20/eurocopter-x3-hybrid-sets-new-speed-record-of-430kmh-readies-fo/#comments
See that chopper right there? That's the Eurocopter X3, and as of last week, it can cruise at more than half the speed of a commercial jet. Although the helicopter was striving to hit 220 knots, it actually blew past that milestone to maintain 232 knots (450 km or 279.6 miles per hour) in level, stabilized flight -- a new record for this aircraft. For the uninitiated, the X3 earns its "hybrid" moniker by combining two turboshaft engines that power five-blade main rotor system and two propellers installed on short-span fixed wings -- which, in layman's terms, allows it to hover like a helicopter should while reaching the kind of speeds you'd expect from a turboprop-powered aircraft. (And before you get too excited, yes, this one requires pilots.) While we love the idea of a high-speed joy ride for tourists, this thing will be used for long-distance search and rescue missions, along with border patrol, coast guard duties, offshore operations, passenger and troop transport, and medical evacuation. So no ride for you, but you can get your vicarious thrill anyway with a short, percussion-heavy video after the break.

Continue reading Eurocopter X3 hybrid sets new speed record of 430km/h, readies for next search and rescue mission

Eurocopter X3 hybrid sets new speed record of 430km/h, readies for next search and rescue mission originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 May 2011 09:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>border patrolBorderPatrolchopperchoppersdefenseeadsEurocopterEurocopter X3EurocopterX3helicopterhelicoptershybridhybrid helicopterHybridHelicoptermilitarymilitary techMilitaryTechrecordrecordssearch and rescueSearch and Rescue helicoptersSearchAndRescueSearchAndRescueHelicoptersspeedspeed recordSpeedRecordvideowargadgetx3Fri, 20 May 2011 09:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Rolling robot learns to fly, plots escape from human captors (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/16/rolling-robot-learns-to-fly-plots-escape-from-human-captors-vi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/16/rolling-robot-learns-to-fly-plots-escape-from-human-captors-vi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/16/rolling-robot-learns-to-fly-plots-escape-from-human-captors-vi/#comments

Why settle for a robot that can just roll or fly? That's the question some researchers from the University of Minnesota's Center for Distributed Robotics recently asked themselves, and this little transforming contraption is their answer. As you can see in the video above, it's able to roll around on the ground with relative ease (although obstacles may be another matter), and then prop itself up to take flight like any other robotic helicopter. Those thinking about trying their hand at a DIY version may want to think twice, however, as its not exactly as simple as it may appear. In fact, the researchers apparently spent a full $20,000 just to develop the folding rotor mechanism.

Rolling robot learns to fly, plots escape from human captors (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 16 May 2011 18:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Center for Distributed RoboticsCenterForDistributedRoboticshelicopterrobotrollingtransformingUniversity of MinnesotaUniversityOfMinnesotavideoMon, 16 May 2011 18:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Swiss rocketeer jetpacks above Grand Canyon, lives to tell the tale (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/11/swiss-rocketeer-jetpacks-above-grand-canyon-lives-to-tell-the-t/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/11/swiss-rocketeer-jetpacks-above-grand-canyon-lives-to-tell-the-t/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/11/swiss-rocketeer-jetpacks-above-grand-canyon-lives-to-tell-the-t/#comments There's "crazy" and then there's "craaazy." Crazy is going swimming five minutes after eating, or wearing white after Labor Day. Craaazy, on the other hand, is Yves "Jetman" Rossy -- a Swiss flight fanatic who jetpacked across the Grand Canyon at 190-mph yesterday morning. Rossy's suicide mission began inside a helicopter hovering some 8,000 feet above the canyon's floor. After hurling himself out of the chopper, Jetman ignited his four-motor jetpack and, using his body as a rudder, gently steered himself across the abyss. The daredevil proceeded to coast for a full eight minutes at just 200 feet above the canyon ridge before he presumably realized that he was flying above the Grand Canyon and decided to parachute down to the bottom. Rossy completed the flight with his physical health fully intact, though his mental condition remains up for debate. Blast past the break for a video that'll throw your acrophobia into overdrive.

Continue reading Swiss rocketeer jetpacks above Grand Canyon, lives to tell the tale (video)

Swiss rocketeer jetpacks above Grand Canyon, lives to tell the tale (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 11 May 2011 14:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crazydaredevilflightGrand CanyonGrandCanyonhelicopterJetPackmotorparachutespeedstuntswissvideowingsYves RossyYvesRossyWed, 11 May 2011 14:42:00 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[LaserMotive's unnamed quadrocopter hovers for 12 solid hours using lasers alone]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/01/lasermotives-unnamed-quadrocopter-hovers-for-12-solid-hours-usi/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/01/lasermotives-unnamed-quadrocopter-hovers-for-12-solid-hours-usi/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/01/lasermotives-unnamed-quadrocopter-hovers-for-12-solid-hours-usi/#commentsProtip: $900,000 goes a long way, particularly when you're dumping practically all of it into a single investment (Hello Kitty lap warmers notwithstanding). LaserMotive, the company lauded for bringing home nearly a million bucks in the 2009 NASA-sponsored Space Elevator Games, has just broken an endurance record for laser-powered hovering with its unnamed Pelican. This here quadrocopter is designed to get energized by converting beams into power via a set of photovoltaic panels on its underside, and in a recent test, lasers were able to keep it afloat for over 12 hours. It never hovered much higher than 30 feet, and it barely moved from left to right while in the air, but we're guessing it was marginally more interesting than watching paint dry. All jesting aside, the milestone makes it a lot more feasible for the company to get this technology into UAVs used in the military -- "for example, laser-powered copters could perform on-the-road reconnaissance missions when convoys travel through a combat zone." And if you're looking to take home something similar on a far smaller scale, there's always the AR.Drone.

Continue reading LaserMotive's unnamed quadrocopter hovers for 12 solid hours using lasers alone

LaserMotive's unnamed quadrocopter hovers for 12 solid hours using lasers alone originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Nov 2010 22:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Ascending TechnologiesAscendingTechnologiesautonomousflightflight recordFlightRecordHelicopterlaserlaser powerlaser poweredLaserMotiveLaserPowerLaserPoweredPelicanphotovoltaicquadrocopterrecordrobotsolarsolar powersolar poweredSolarPowerSolarPoweredUAVMon, 01 Nov 2010 22:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Wooden DIY quadrocopter gets no respect from Minnesota State Fair]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/04/wooden-diy-quadrocopter-gets-no-respect-from-minnesota-state-fai/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/04/wooden-diy-quadrocopter-gets-no-respect-from-minnesota-state-fai/http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/04/wooden-diy-quadrocopter-gets-no-respect-from-minnesota-state-fai/#commentsDIY quadrocopter is made of wood, gets disrespected by Minnesota State Fair The Parrot AR.Drone may be the hot quadrocopter of the moment, but not everyone has $299 to add one to their scale-sized hangar. We're not sure if it was financial reasons or a simple desire to get creative that drove Greg "Grease" Lehman of St. Paul, Minnesota to build his own, but build it he did, and out of wood. Using plans for a kit called the Roswell Quadrocopter, Greg hewed this from ash, oak, walnut, and paduak via CNC and a Sherline Mini mill. Thanks to its MikroKopter electronics the thing can hover and automatically fly to coordinates via GPS, or you can switch to a first-person view and do it your way. Most importantly you can build it your way using the instructions at the source link, and then enter it into your own local state fair. Greg entered his into the Minnesota State Fair's "airplane flying model, scratch built" class and came in second. Yes, second. Sadly the Fair's results sheet doesn't describe what came in first, but it damn well better have had lasers and some degree of sentience to have beaten this.

Wooden DIY quadrocopter gets no respect from Minnesota State Fair originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Oct 2010 10:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>diyGreg Grease Lehmangreg lehmanGregGreaseLehmanGregLehmanhelicopterminnesotaminnesota state fairMinnesotaStateFairmodelquadrocopterwoodMon, 04 Oct 2010 10:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Quadrocopters can now fly through thrown hoops, the end really is nigh (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/16/quadrocopters-can-now-fly-through-thrown-hoops-the-end-really-i/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/16/quadrocopters-can-now-fly-through-thrown-hoops-the-end-really-i/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/16/quadrocopters-can-now-fly-through-thrown-hoops-the-end-really-i/#comments The future of humanity is assured. Assuredly doomed, that is. That blur you see up above is one of our familiar foes, the GRASP Lab's autonomous quadrocopter, flying through a thrown hoop without the assistance of a human director. Yes, it's downright insane that we're allowing this so-called research to continue our descent toward the robot uprising -- where's the FBI, the CIA, hell, why is DARPA sleeping on this thing? The lethal precision of these quadrotor helis doesn't end there, however, as they've now been enhanced with the ability to recover from "extreme" starting conditions. In simpler terms that just means you can toss one up into the air and it'll right itself into a steady hovering position. From where it can strike upon the unsuspecting and complacent humanoid populace.

Continue reading Quadrocopters can now fly through thrown hoops, the end really is nigh (video)

Quadrocopters can now fly through thrown hoops, the end really is nigh (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Sep 2010 04:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autonomousflightflying robotFlyingRobotgrasp labGraspLabhelicopterquadrocopterquadrotorresearchrobotrobot apocalypseRobotApocalypseuniversityuniversity of pennsylvaniaUniversityOfPennsylvaniaupennvideoThu, 16 Sep 2010 04:58:00 EST<![CDATA[U of M laser mimics helicopter heat signatures to thwart missiles]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/06/u-of-m-lasers-mimic-helicopter-heat-signatures-thwart-missiles/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/06/u-of-m-lasers-mimic-helicopter-heat-signatures-thwart-missiles/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/06/u-of-m-lasers-mimic-helicopter-heat-signatures-thwart-missiles/#comments
Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed a new laser-based countermeasure for aircraft, and unlike others we've seen (and we've seen a few) this technology aims to "blind" missiles rather than knock 'em out of the sky. The system uses a mid-infrared supercontinuum laser to mimic the heat signature of a helicopter, and it has no moving parts -- making it rugged enough to last a long time on rotor-based aircraft. The school has even spun off a company, Omni Sciences, to develop the thing, and has received some $1 million in grants from the Army and DARPA to build a second-generation prototype. Of course, questions remain: is it really a wargadget if you can't blow something up with it? And even if it is, where's the fun in that?

U of M laser mimics helicopter heat signatures to thwart missiles originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 06 Sep 2010 20:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armycountermeasuresdarpadefenseheat seekingHeatSeekinghelicopterlaserlaser-based countermeasuresLaser-basedCountermeasuresmissileOmni SciencesOmniSciencesuniversity of michiganUniversityOfMichiganwargadgetMon, 06 Sep 2010 20:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Lockheed Martin and Kaman's unmanned helicopter wins military contract (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/30/lockheed-martin-and-kamans-unmanned-helicopter-wins-military-co/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/30/lockheed-martin-and-kamans-unmanned-helicopter-wins-military-co/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/30/lockheed-martin-and-kamans-unmanned-helicopter-wins-military-co/#commentsLockheed Martin and Kaman's unmanned helicopter wins contract with Army and Marines When developing an unmanned vehicle there are two paths to choose from: create an entirely fresh design with no room for a carbon-based pilot, or simply take an existing craft and make it self-sufficient. That's the direction Lockheed Martin chose for its submission to the the joint Army Marines Autonomous Technologies for Unmanned Air Systems (ATUAS) program, and it turned out to be a winner. The idea is to create an autonomous helo that can resupply military forces, and Lockheed Martin started with a Kaman K-Max cargo chopper (demo'd after the break), capable of lifting 6,000lbs plus one pilot -- who was made optional. This customized K-Max can place its cargo within a 10 meter drop zone after flying 200km or more, but a principal advantage of this submission is that you can still put a pilot in there and use it like a traditional heavy lifter, while the competition from Boeing was a bespoke UAV with no room for meatbags. It's unclear when exactly this sentient K-Max will be hitting battlefields, but hopefully the Army and Marines come up with some other, rewarding jobs for their pilots, because between this and the Unmanned Aircraft Systems Roadmap released earlier this year that particular job market could be getting tight.

Update: Bo from Lockheed Martin wrote in to let us know of a different video we've added after the break featuring higher production values, more guitar solos, and plenty of autonomous cargo liftin'.

Continue reading Lockheed Martin and Kaman's unmanned helicopter wins military contract (video)

Lockheed Martin and Kaman's unmanned helicopter wins military contract (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armyATUAScargocargo helicopterCargoHelicopterhelicopterk-maxkamanlockheed martinLockheedMartinmarinesu.s. militaryU.s.Militaryuavunmannedunmanned aerial vehicleunmanned helicopterUnmannedAerialVehicleUnmannedHelicopterus militaryUsMilitaryvideoMon, 30 Aug 2010 11:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Inhabitat's Week in Green: frozen energy, spray-on solar and the hydrogen peroxide helicopter]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/15/inhabitats-week-in-green-frozen-energy-spray-on-solar-and-the/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/15/inhabitats-week-in-green-frozen-energy-spray-on-solar-and-the/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/15/inhabitats-week-in-green-frozen-energy-spray-on-solar-and-the/#commentsEach week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green.

It was a big week for green transportation as San Francisco broke ground on its massive green-roofed Transbay Transit Center and unveiled plans to install 5,000 EV charging stations throughout the Bay Area. We were also wowed by several fun new forms of alternative transportation - a single-person helicopter that emits nothing but water vapor and a human-powered car that can go 30 MPH while driving uphill!

It was also an exciting week for energy storage tech as New York prepared to power up the world's first grid-scale flywheel energy plant and researchers cracked the code on a new cryogenic energy storage system. We also showcased a plan for a ribbon-like solar field that unfurls over the desert and saw researchers unveil a transparent solar spray that can transform practically any surface into a sun-capturing source of energy.

In other news, solar tech energized the arena of interior lighting as we showcased an adorable solar-powered table lamp and were dazzled by this set of folding OLED origami lights. Finally, a team of scientists blew our minds with this light-bending invisibility cloak made from gold-coated silk.

Inhabitat's Week in Green: frozen energy, spray-on solar and the hydrogen peroxide helicopter originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 15 Aug 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cryogeniccryogenic energyCryogenicEnergyCryogenicsh2o2helicopterhumancarhydrogen peroxideHydrogenPeroxideinhabitatsolarsolar powersolar spraySolarPowerSolarSprayspray onSprayOnthin-film solarThin-filmSolartransbay terminalTransbayTerminalweek in greenWeekInGreenSun, 15 Aug 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Autonomous quadrocopter flies through windows, straight into our hearts (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/28/autonomous-quadrocopter-flies-through-windows-straight-into-our/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/28/autonomous-quadrocopter-flies-through-windows-straight-into-our/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/28/autonomous-quadrocopter-flies-through-windows-straight-into-our/#comments We don't know whether we should be terrified or overjoyed. We've just come across a video demo from the University of Pennsylvania's GRASP Lab that shows an autonomous quadrotor helicopter performing "precise aggressive maneuvers." And trust us when we say, nothing in the foregoing sentence is an overstatement -- the thing moves with the speed and grace of an angry bee, while accompanied by the perfectly menacing whine of its little engine. See this work of scientific art in motion after the break.

[Thanks, William]

Continue reading Autonomous quadrocopter flies through windows, straight into our hearts (video)

Autonomous quadrocopter flies through windows, straight into our hearts (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 May 2010 04:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autonomousflightflying robotFlyingRobotgrasp labGraspLabhelicopterquadrocopterquadrotorresearchrobotrobot apocalypseRobotApocalypseuniversityuniversity of pennsylvaniaUniversityOfPennsylvaniaupennvideoFri, 28 May 2010 04:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Parrot AR.Drone to get official launch, price, street date at E3 2010 (update: Android client video!)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/25/parrot-ar-drone-to-get-official-launch-price-street-date-at-e3/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/25/parrot-ar-drone-to-get-official-launch-price-street-date-at-e3/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/25/parrot-ar-drone-to-get-official-launch-price-street-date-at-e3/#comments
If you've been chomping at the bit to get your hands on the AR.Drone iPhone controlled, augmented reality-sporting, WiFi quadricopter (and you know we have been) we've good news for you. According to a brief blip on Parrot's Facebook page, the thing will get its official US launch, complete with pricing and street date, at E3 come June 15. Sort of makes WowWee's Tinkerbell look silly in comparison, don't it?

Update: As our main man Kefs has pointed out, the gang at Parrot demoed the AR.Drone Android client at Google I/O last month week. Now we're waiting on news of a BlackBerry client -- which we sure hope makes the scene at E3! See it in action after the break.

Continue reading Parrot AR.Drone to get official launch, price, street date at E3 2010 (update: Android client video!)

Parrot AR.Drone to get official launch, price, street date at E3 2010 (update: Android client video!) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 May 2010 12:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ar dronear.droneArDroneaugmented realityAugmentedRealitydronee3e3 2010E32010gaminghelicopterparrotquadricopterremote controlRemoteControltoysTue, 25 May 2010 12:49:00 EST<![CDATA[The future of US Army helicopters: pilots optional]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/28/the-future-of-us-army-helicopters-pilots-optional/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/28/the-future-of-us-army-helicopters-pilots-optional/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/28/the-future-of-us-army-helicopters-pilots-optional/#comments Five years ago, the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter got a digital cockpit and fly-by-wire controls. Starting in 2011, the US Army would like it to perform missions without a pilot at the helm. In a 140-page "Unmanned Aircraft Systems Roadmap" released earlier this month, the Armed Forces reveal that the UH-60, AH-64, CH-47 and OH-58D whirlybirds will all be part of a new aircraft category called Optionally Piloted Vehicles (OPV) -- meaning in future, the flick of a switch will turn them into giant UAVs. If an unmanned Apache gunship makes your boots quake, you're not alone, but you won't truly have reason to fear until 2025. That's when the government estimates half of all Army aircraft will be OPV, and those bots will learn the more deadly behaviors, like swarming. Sikorsky says the unmanned UH-60M will fly later this year; read the full roadmap PDF at our more coverage link.

The future of US Army helicopters: pilots optional originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Apr 2010 07:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AH-64Apachearmyautonomousautonomous helicopterAutonomousHelicopterBlack HawkBlackHawkCH-47ChinookdefensegovernmenthelicopterhelicoptersKiowamilitarymilitary techMilitaryTechOH-58OH-58DOptionally Piloted VehicleOptionallyPilotedVehicleOPVsikorskyUH-60UH-60MUS armyUsArmywargadgetWed, 28 Apr 2010 07:13:00 EST<![CDATA[Toughbook plummets from helicopter, narrowly misses future Toughbook user]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/20/toughbook-plummets-from-helicopter-narrowly-misses-future-tough/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/20/toughbook-plummets-from-helicopter-narrowly-misses-future-tough/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/20/toughbook-plummets-from-helicopter-narrowly-misses-future-tough/#comments So, check it. You're out and about with mum and dad on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, eager to get whatever's on the grill into your own grille. You're pondering the origin of wildflowers, the middle name of America's 18th president and how humanity functioned prior to the invention of Mighty Putty. You're only ten years old, but your young eyes have lived to see a lot... so much, in fact, that you're semi-seriously considering penning your own novella. Bang. Three inches to your left lies a mildly deformed swivel-screen laptop, and all you can think about is the gush of air that's still rustling your fauxhawk. Turns out, a medical helicopter departing St. Cloud Hospital in Minnesota forgot to bring their Panasonic Toughbook onboard before heading out, and if fate were feeling just a bit more cruel, that shock-mounted hard drive may have left you out for the count. But as it stands, you've got a fairly stupendous show-and-tell to deliver in class this week, and who knows -- maybe that DIMM will work in your Nickelodeon Edition Mini 10.

Toughbook plummets from helicopter, narrowly misses future Toughbook user originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 10:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>colorcrazydeathfallinghelicopterinsanekillkilledlaptopminnesotapanasonicpanasonic ToughbookPanasonicToughbookst. cloudSt.CloudToughbookvideowildTue, 20 Apr 2010 10:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Quad-copter responds to your voice, isn't coming to a toy store near you (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/18/quad-copter-responds-to-your-voice-isnt-coming-to-a-toy-store/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/18/quad-copter-responds-to-your-voice-isnt-coming-to-a-toy-store/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/18/quad-copter-responds-to-your-voice-isnt-coming-to-a-toy-store/#commentsQuad-copter responds to your voice, isn't coming to a toy store near you (video) Hey, remember Taiyo's voice controlled toy helicopter from last year? This is way cooler. Like, way cooler. It's an autonomous quad-copter created by the Robust Robotics Group at MIT. It hovers and flies a bit like the AR.Drone that had us smitten at CES this past January, but this one has a lot more brains. It response to natural (though slowly delivered) language voice commands that look to be processed on an iPhone before being sent to the helo. In the video embedded below you'll see it responding to the command "Fly past room 124 then face the windows and go up." Sure enough, it does as instructed, and while we don't know how many takes that particular feat of robotic subservience took to pull off, we're suitably impressed. Mind you, this is a research project and not any product ever destined for retail, so after watching that video a few more times we'll just go back to crashing our Picco Zs into the walls -- and each other.

Continue reading Quad-copter responds to your voice, isn't coming to a toy store near you (video)

Quad-copter responds to your voice, isn't coming to a toy store near you (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 18 Mar 2010 07:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apple iphoneAppleIphoneautonomousautonomous droneAutonomousDronehelicopteriphonemitquad helicopterquad-copterQuadHelicoptervoice recognitionVoiceRecognitionThu, 18 Mar 2010 07:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Dragonfly jet-powered helicopter runs on H2O2, shuns traditional tail rotors (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/17/dragonfly-jet-powered-helicopter-runs-on-h2o2-shuns-traditional/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/17/dragonfly-jet-powered-helicopter-runs-on-h2o2-shuns-traditional/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/17/dragonfly-jet-powered-helicopter-runs-on-h2o2-shuns-traditional/#commentsDragonfly jet-powered helicopter runs on hydrogen peroxide, shuns traditional tail rotors Your average whirleybird is driven by a big motor in the middle, spinning the blades one way and, as per Newton, rotating the body of the craft the other. A tail rotor counteracts the force, but a more efficient solution is to have the rotors power themselves, which is exactly how the Dragonfly DF1 works. It has tiny, hydrogen-peroxide jets on the blade tips, spinning them up without pushing the body of the helo in the other way -- though a small tail rotor is still needed to turn the craft. It's much like the tech that propelled James Bond toward his waiting DB5 in Thunderball, but unlike that jetpack this copter can fly for up to 50 minutes. It's the product of Swisscopter Americas and, while they've been playing with the DF1 for many moons now (demonstrated in a video below), the company is also working on the DF2 shown above, a rather more civilized version that seats two. The DF1 is certified for flight in the US, looks to be available for sale and, while no price is listed, they are said to be much more friendly to the environment than traditional helicopters. That'll surely add to the premium.

Continue reading Dragonfly jet-powered helicopter runs on H2O2, shuns traditional tail rotors (video)

Dragonfly jet-powered helicopter runs on H2O2, shuns traditional tail rotors (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 09:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>df1dragonflydragonfly df1DragonflyDf1h2o2helicopterhelohydrogen peroxideHydrogenPeroxideswisscopterswisscopter americasSwisscopterAmericasWed, 17 Mar 2010 09:17:00 EST<![CDATA[MIT's Flyfire paints images in the sky using micro helicopters, is apparently top-secret]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/19/mits-flyfire-paints-images-in-the-sky-using-micro-helicopters/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/19/mits-flyfire-paints-images-in-the-sky-using-micro-helicopters/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/19/mits-flyfire-paints-images-in-the-sky-using-micro-helicopters/#commentsMIT's Flyfire paints images in the sky using micro helicopters, is apparently top-secret Micro helicopters, the kind that fit in the palm of your hand (and sometimes spread holiday cheer) are huge fun -- and hugely frustrating. Have you ever tried to get one to hover in place next to another? Impossible! MIT thinks it can do that, not with just two but thousands of the little beggars all hovering in harmony as part of a project called Flyfire. By using LED-equipped drones the project pledges to build free-floating 3D displays, endowing them with enough smarts and positional awareness to organize themselves into an airborne canvas. It sounds deliciously exciting and challenging, yet for some reason the school has decided you aren't to know about it, pulling its concept video and website offline. We can only imagine there's a government agency involved here, possibly trying to stem the virulent spread of robo-socialism, but we invite you to leave your own conspiracy theories in comments.

Update: You can take your tinfoil hats off, the site and the video are both back online! We have the goods embedded after the break.

Continue reading MIT's Flyfire paints images in the sky using micro helicopters, is apparently top-secret

MIT's Flyfire paints images in the sky using micro helicopters, is apparently top-secret originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 10:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d display3dDisplaydisplaydroneflyfirehelicoptermitrc helicopterRcHelicopterFri, 19 Feb 2010 10:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Parrot AR.Drone hands-on: a quadricopter for the rest of us]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/07/parrot-ar-drone-hands-on-a-quadricopter-for-the-rest-of-us/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/07/parrot-ar-drone-hands-on-a-quadricopter-for-the-rest-of-us/http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/07/parrot-ar-drone-hands-on-a-quadricopter-for-the-rest-of-us/#comments
The Parrot AR.Drone was definitely one of the highlights of our day; how can you top a quadricopter that can fight with another using augmented reality, is easy to fly, and only needs an iPhone to control it? You simply can't -- this is just pure joy and is exactly what a gadget should be: it's an electronic aircraft, has multiple cameras (two to be exact), uses WiFi for control (via an ad-hoc connection), and likely has more intelligence on board than a lunar lander. This early version can only be controlled via iPhone, or iPod touch, but Parrot's Henri Seydoux mentioned that it could be (and we're really hoping will be) controllable by BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, and so on. The AR.Drone uses a pile of pretty sophisticated magic to enable it to fly -- those aforementioned cameras are just the start (one forward facing, one facing down running at 60 fps that allows stability in light wind) because you've also got two ultrasonic transmitters for vertical stability, a three-axis accelerometer, and a two-axis gyroscope paired with a single-axis yaw precision gyroscope for good measure. Needless to say, casual gamers and folks looking for a nice $30 gift need not apply. Read on for more impressions and video!

Gallery: Parrot AR.Drone hands-on: a quadricopter for the rest of us

Continue reading Parrot AR.Drone hands-on: a quadricopter for the rest of us

Parrot AR.Drone hands-on: a quadricopter for the rest of us originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 12:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ar dronear.droneArDronecesces 2010Ces2010dronehands-onhelicopterimpressionsparrotpreviewremote controlRemoteControlThu, 07 Jan 2010 12:37:00 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[NASA risks then saves lives of dummies in helicopters with external airbags]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/10/nasa-risks-then-saves-lives-of-dummies-in-helicopters-with-exter/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/10/nasa-risks-then-saves-lives-of-dummies-in-helicopters-with-exter/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/10/nasa-risks-then-saves-lives-of-dummies-in-helicopters-with-exter/#commentsNASA risks then saves lives of dummies in helicopters with external airbags Airbags have evolved from being in cars to on cars, so it's only natural that airbags in aircraft should be making the trip outside. NASA's Subsonic Rotary Wing Project is attempting to make autorotation landings a little bit softer by slapping a pair of expandable kevlar cushions between the skids, and the first test was a success. The helo was dropped at a height of 35 feet, achieving a speed of 48 feet-per-second before unceremoniously hitting concrete. The helicopter and its simulant occupants were said to be largely undamaged, giving hope that such a system could reduce injuries -- if you're not traveling downward at more than 48 feet per second, anyway. Future tests are said to be coming in the next year and, if all goes well, we hope to be seeing these on real whirlybirds soon.

NASA risks then saves lives of dummies in helicopters with external airbags originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 10 Dec 2009 09:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airbagcrashcrash safetycrash test dummyCrashSafetyCrashTestDummyhelicopternasanasa subsonic rotary wing projectNasaSubsonicRotaryWingProjectsafetysubsonic rotary wing projectSubsonicRotaryWingProjectThu, 10 Dec 2009 09:26:00 EST<![CDATA[MIT takes the wrappers off autonomous, robotic helicopter with intelligent navigation]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/16/mit-takes-the-wrappers-off-autonomous-robotic-helicopter-with-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/16/mit-takes-the-wrappers-off-autonomous-robotic-helicopter-with-i/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/16/mit-takes-the-wrappers-off-autonomous-robotic-helicopter-with-i/#comments Advances in autonomous helicopters have been many over the years, but as far as we can tell, there's essentially no limit to how awesome they can get. MIT's recently developed an autonomous, robotic helicopter which is also able to navigate itself intelligently through a changing environment. The helicopter, which is equipped with a dual-camera array and a laser scanner, maps its terrain in real time, identifying changes along the way. An integrated autonomous exploration module allows the heli to interact with the changing, unknown environment it is mapping. The helicopter was shown off at the AUVSI 2009 International Aerial Robotics Competition, completing five missions -- a feat not before seen in the 19-year history of the show. Check out the very educational video after the break.

Continue reading MIT takes the wrappers off autonomous, robotic helicopter with intelligent navigation

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MIT takes the wrappers off autonomous, robotic helicopter with intelligent navigation originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>autonomousautonomous helicopterautonomous vehiclesAutonomousHelicopterAutonomousVehiclesauvsihelicopterhelicoptersrobotrobotsvehiclesFri, 16 Oct 2009 13:01:00 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]

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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