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AR.Drone gets Urbi open source robot interface drivers, tracks a red rubber ball like nobody's business (video)
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.
AR.Pursuit augmented reality shooter app for AR.Drone now available on iTunes
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.
Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 sees public beta release
We knew good and well it was coming, and here it is. Microsoft has today introduced the Release Candidate (RC) of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 (SP1) to the public, and for those unaware of how these software rollouts "work," the RC release generally signals that a final build is just about ready. As previously announced, the only new features added to the SP1 are the Windows Server 2008 R2-related virtualization technologies, Dynamic Memory and RemoteFX, and while Windows 7 SP1 will enable PCs to take advantage of these server-based features to provide a more scalable and richer VDI experience for end users, there are no additional new features specific to Windows 7. If that's cool with you, there's a source link (and a download) waiting for you just below. [Thanks, Logan]
Lego RC tank captured in action by Lego RC camera rig
A Lego RC tank inspired by SNK's classic Metal Slug series is pretty impressive all by itself, but Lego builder Peer Kreuger apparently isn't satisfied by being simply impressive. He decided to take the tank, dubbed "Metal Grudge," to a skateboard ramp and film it in action with the aid of a remote-controlled Lego camera rig, which he also naturally built himself. Head on past the break to check out the results.
Halo RC Warthogs: Now in rocket flavor
As part of its line of RC Halo toys, NKOK will soon release a new RC Warthog. The hog sports a rocket turret -- though regrettably not night vision -- and includes figures of Noble 6 and Carter from Halo: Reach. The diminutive ride will retail for $25, but can you really put a price on childhood?
Lamborghini dishes out a Reventon you can actually afford: a 1:10 scale RC car
At long last even us plebeian supercar lovers can afford to say we own a Lambo. And we wouldn't even be lying if we claimed it had an internal combustion engine (3cc, vroom vroom!), hydraulic shock absorbers, disc brakes, or permanent all-wheel drive. Such must have been the stringent requirements handed down from Lamborghini HQ to DeAgostini, which has scored the license to produce a limited run of 65 1:10 scale models of the Reventon. The radio-controlled mini-supercars haven't been priced yet, but we suspect they'll fall quite a few zeroes short of the real deal's $1.2 million sticker. Update: As it turns out, these come in parts and can be built up if you keep buying a collection of 65 "booklets." Each one costs €8 and the remote control is priced at €60, leading you to a total around €580 ($737) [Thanks, wii_willie!]
Call of Duty: Black Ops Prestige Edition ships with full-blown RC spy vehicle
We tell ya, these game bundles are getting completely out of hand... and we love it. If you reckoned that Modern Warfare 2 Prestige Edition bundle was hot stuff, wait till you get a load of this. Call of Duty: Black Ops Prestige Edition (promo video beyond the break) just went up for pre-order at select retailers in the US, and if we had to guess, we'd surmise that every last one of 'em will claimed in just a few hours. Aside from getting a beastly box, the game itself and some sort of medal, the package also includes a fully functional RC spy car, complete with a camera that sends back video and audio to the owner's LCD-equipped controller. There's absolutely no telling what the MSRP on this thing will be, but our comrades over at Joystiq are pegging it at $149.99. Mom, dad -- go ahead and add this to our holiday wish list.
German designer brings Wipeout racing game to life, burns up cardboard tracks with an R/C car (video)
The intersection of video games and real life is a fantastic place to play, as evidenced by Roombas, Halo and the occasional six-string guitar, but all you really need to blur reality is a webcam, an R/C car and a studio filled with cardboard. That's what Malte Jehmlich and company used to create this rendition of Wipeout, which moves practically as fast as the PlayStation original due to the blinding scale speed of its 1/28 model cars. It's all controlled by an arcade racing cabinet complete with steering wheel and on-screen display wirelessly connected to an Arduino board. Originally a two-month hobby project, the designers are presently working towards an advanced version with force feedback and powerups (including boost!) using sensors built right into the track -- and hopefully a forklift to lug all that corrugated wood pulp around. See it in action after the break.
Remote Control Mario Kart toys tested, don't drift but do shoot (video)
To win at Mario Kart on a console you must master two things: drifting and power-ups. Half of that is replicated in these R/C Mario Kart toys, which we saw standing still last month but now can finally see in action motoring around what looks to be either Corporate Carpet Raceway or CDR Castle. The controller emits that familiar jingling item select sound when you've snagged a virtual power-up, and you can see how mushrooms boost your speed while banana peels cause your opponents' cars to freak out. Sadly there is no drifting to be found in this version of the game, but we're wondering if a little tape on the rear wheels wouldn't help address that shortcoming. [Thanks, Jarom]
Found footage: Fly an RC plane? There's an iPhone app for that
We're supposed to hear more about the AR.Drone at E3 in a few weeks, but you may not have to wait that long -- Flypad is an app coming soon to the App Store that purports to let you fly any RC-controlled plane with an iPhone, just by connecting the iPhone's audio out signal up to an adapter. The iPhone can even be connected directly to a PC with the use of special RC simulation software, and from there you can use the dual-joystick setup to control any other games or software. It's not an all-in-one solution like the AR.Drone (and the controller is just that, no video or special AR included). But if you already have a plane and a transmitter that's compatible with this setup, the app could be a cheaper way to use your iPhone as a controller. No price yet, but the app is under Apple's review right now.
Cheap, tiny camera for RC planes captures video proof when you buy the farm
Radio controlled airplanes aren't quite as exciting as their full-sized counterparts, but they're pretty darned fun just the same. What would be even more fun? Rigging up an RC craft so that you could see as if you were flying inside the thing, and that you can now do for less than you'd spend on a high-end servo. $47 gets you this aptly titled "RC Plane Camera," a VGA quality cam that won't deliver quality high enough to film an RC version of Les Chavaliers Du Ciel, but should be enough to see what your little plane sees. You can rotate the lens in any direction you like (while on the ground) and, since it weighs only 20 grams, it should work just fine even on a kite. What could you do with such a thing? Watch the video after the break and we think you'll get some ideas.
Mario Kart RC game brings the Mushroom Cup to your living room
Sure this ain't the first time we've seen Mario Kart step outside the game console, but we'll be damned if Tomy's Japanese line of RC cars don't inspire a serious case of gadget lust. In addition to the usual remote controlled shenanigans, these guys have the ability to "shoot" virtual shells and bananas at other cars; power-ups are indicated on the controller via LEDs; and cars contain infrared sensors so you know when you've been hit with a weapon (which causes you to rumble and slow down) Cars are available from Amazon Japan to the tune of ¥2,730 (around $30) each.
iPhly app lets you control an RC airplane with your iPhone
Ari Krupnik is developing an iPhone app called iPhly that interfaces with any standard DSM2 radio control module, allowing you to control an RC airplane or helicopter with your iPhone. As you can see in the video above, you hard-wire your iPhone to the DSM2 module and then launch the iPhly app. The app allows your iPhone and module to talk to each other, thus controlling your RC plane. The iPhone's accelerometers control the pitch and roll, while the touch screen controls the throttle and rudder. While iPhly isn't in the App Store yet, Ari hopes to see it there soon and is currently looking for beta testers. This isn't the first time we've seen the iPhone used as a remote control. As we showed you earlier this year, a company called Parrot unveiled the AR.Drone at CES. The AR.Drone is a sexier version of iPhly because there's no module you need to strap on to your iPhone to use it with. You simply use the iPhone's built-in WiFi to control the AR.Drone's quadricopter -- and try not to decapitate TUAW bloggers in the process. Yeah, those kites I used to get when I was a child seem pretty lame now.
Radio Controlled EC280MG excavator is a big, bad Tonka come to life (video)
We don't cover all that many radio controlled objects on this program because, well, there are just so many of them. But, every now and again we catch sight of a truly special one, something like this excavator from Modellismo Maximo that's been around for awhile but we thought you'd want to check it out regardless. It's an RC version of the Despe EC280MG, scaled down to 1:14.5 scale and weighing in at an impressive 31.5kg (about 70lbs). It has six axes of movement and is just perfect for loading up the back of your toy trucks -- and then hauling them away, as you can see in a series of videos after the break (each with worse music than the previous). How much to get in on this kind of fun? A mere €4,160 -- $5,630. Nobody said diggin' like this would be cheap.
Parrot's AR.Drone helicopter brings military-style amusement to the iPhone
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-81517%
Found Footage: iPhone as remote control
Earlier this week, news of iDriver hit the Internet. In case you missed it, it's an app that was developed by computer science researchers at Berlin's Free University to drive a modified minivan, the "Spirit of Berlin." Steering, break and accelleration commands are sent over Wi-Fi. In the demo video, researchers are driving it around an airport for testing. I'd really like a turn. Of course, this isn't the first iPhone-controlled vehicle we've seen. Here's a video roundup of iPhone- and iPod touch-powered vehicles both big and small. [Via Popsci]
Halo RC vehicles aren't just for Avatars anymore
Why should your Avatar have all the fun with a Warthog prop? Available from NKOK, a RC controlled Warthog can be yours for a mere $25. So save that money you'd have spent on your Avatar and spend it on yourself. You're worth it! Later this month, NKOK will also release an RC Mongoose (that's the dune buggy-thing) and the Hornet (chopper-thing) for $25 and $35, respectively. Now, not to look a gift horse in the mouth but ... where's our RC Scarab? [Via 1Up]
Brando Tiny USB Rechargeable RC Helicopter prettifies your desk, might fly
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]
Windows 7 RTM begins rollout August 6th, OEMs and some beta testers to get early headstart
So last we heard Windows 7 would be officially hitting RTM status some time this month, but as to when we'd be able to get our hands on it, turns out that's a very tricky question. According to the official Windows blog, OEMs will be able to get it approximately two days after the OS goes RTM, and beta testers who are already subscribed to TechNet can download RTM shortly after it happens for free. Independent software and hardware vendors can download via Microsoft Connect / MSDN on August 6th. Same goes for MSDN-subscribed developers and IT Professionals with a TechNet account, but only the English language version. Microsoft Partner Program Gold / Certified members can join the fun August 16th via Microsoft Partner Network portal on the 16th, and Action Pack Subscribers on August 23rd -- both also English only. All other language versions for those groups are due out by October 1st. Finally, if you don't happen to fall in any of those categories, Microsoft is happy to remind you that Release Candidate doesn't start giving the annoying reboots until March 1st, 2010, with full expiration happening June 1st -- plenty of time to avoid picking up a copy if you didn't get a chance to pre-order at the much more reasonable discount price.
Video: iPhone 3GS can tether... to an RC plane
We're still not sure what to make of the iPhone in a pool video, but if this one is legit, it certainly represents one of the most glorious ways to endanger expensive hi-tech gadgetry. Let's face it -- who doesn't want to see Apple's moneymaker strapped to the belly of an RC plane and shot up into the air? Major engine noise and the phone's camera struggling for focus are all excused by the awesome landing that seems to place the iPhone about an inch away from the gravelly ground. Make your way past the break for the full vid.[Thanks, Mark]
