Airborne Video With an R/C helicopter

Wow. Just what I've always wanted. by qewl · 2003-07-30 21:44 · Score: 3, Funny

Now I can spy on the chick next door.. I just have to hope she doesn't see a mini helicopter with a camera hanging off of it flying outside her bedroom window!

--

(\_/)
(O.o) This is Bunny. (> <)

Just when the wife thought it was safe to tan nude by writertype · 2003-07-30 21:47 · Score: 0, Funny

...the pale, skinny kid next door gains a new weapon in his unending pursuit of porn.

"I just love the smell of coconut oil in the morning," he'll smirk, piloting his wanking whirlybird closer to the unsuspecting female.

And voila! a new fetish is born.

hah! by Jedi+Alec · 2003-07-30 21:49 · Score: 5, Funny

MacGyver would be jealous

Only if they built it from some branches, a trashcan that was lying around somewhere and an old carburator from a dead moped.

--

People replying to my sig annoy me. That's why I change it all the time.

Re:hah! by www.microsoft.com · 2003-07-30 22:17 · Score: 5, Funny

[From Primal Void Engineer, via Sebastian's Humor Group]

MacGyver Cookie Recipe

Well, folks, here it is. I didn't have time to cook this stuff myself for you the way Paul Newman does, so I just wrote up this cookbook to give you all the recipes, tried and true just like I make'em in my own kitchen at home.

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES:

Frequent flier coupons
One medium paperclip (not plastic coated)
One movie ticket stub
Now remember that chocolate-chip cookies are supposed to be a nice relaxing kind of food, so the first thing you'll want to do to make them is to go somewhere where you can kick back and relax. Ecuador is good, so use your frequent-flier coupons to pick up a round-trip ticket there. The stewardess will hand you a couple of bags of peanuts, but don't eat them, since we're going to need those for the cookies.

You'll find yourself sitting next to an attractive woman who teaches archaeology at Cornell; she'll explain that she's going to Ecuador to try to find her father--a biochemist by trade, but he dabbles in archaeology as a hobby--who went down there to find the lost pyramid of Sesquichachloride, well known in archaeological circles as the fabled storehouse of the god Valhequesal who, according to myth, rode down from the skies on a pillar of fire bringing with him a wealth of powerful but somewhat failure-prone magical devices that, according to the priests of the day, were pretty darn all-around nifty.

Now her father, after examining several stone tablets depicting the god Valhequesal, discovered that he is always shown wearing a curious bracelet on his left wrist that looks surprisingly like a digital watch, leading him to the conclusion that Valhequesal did actually exist, but he was really an advanced space traveller with comparatively poor taste in accessories, and that the lost pyramid of Sesquichachloride must contain his spacecraft and untold other devices from his world. About this time, the stewardess will bring by the main meal and you'll want to be sure to save the little packets of salt and butter that come with your meal--the woman next to you will be too worried about her father to eat and so you'll want to take her packet of butter and go ahead and keep her crackers too.

When you get off the plane in Ecuador, just go out to the front of the airport and try to locate a cab. There won't be any, for some reason, so you'll go inside to inquire about where transportation might be found and some guy will stumble against you and when you look at him, you'll notice that he's been stabbed in the left side and is bleeding pretty profusely. With a weakly shaking hand, he'll thrust the key to a safety deposit box into your hand, gasp something about "be careful of the poison ivy" and expire messily on the floor of the terminal. You'll decide that maybe waiting for a cab is the better part of valor and head back outside--on the way, though, be sure to stop at the concession stand and ask for a half-pound of chocolate chips. The clerk will measure the appropriate amount and put it in a bag for you. Be sure your movie ticket stub is visible in the handful of change you pull from your pocket to pay her. She'll reach down under the counter and then surreptitiously drop a roll of microfilm into your bag along with the chocolate chips, then hand you the bag, saying, "On the house."

At this point, speed is of the essence--get back outside the concourse before a swarthy man with a mustache strides up to the snack shop holding a movie ticket stub. Moments later he and the clerk will run out the door looking for you, just as the woman who sat next to you on the plane drives up in her rental car and offers you a lift. Cheerfully accept, and hop in before the man with the mustache disconnects the safety on his gun. If all goes well, you'll both be out of the parking lot and on your way before he has time to squeeze off more than one shot--and he'll miss on the first one anyway and the woman driving the car will think it was just another vehicle b
Re:hah! by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-30 22:38 · Score: 0

This is the best thing I've ever seen associated with the name Microsoft ;) And I don't even hate them...
Re:hah! by japhmi · 2003-07-31 03:16 · Score: 1

Only if they built it from some branches, a trashcan that was lying around somewhere and an old carburator from a dead moped.
...and Duct Tape!

--
"Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys" P. J. O'Rourke
Re:hah! by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-31 03:17 · Score: 0

Thanks for posting what is now my favorite humor piece.

Should be great for filming sporting events by Wiktor+Kochanowski · 2003-07-30 21:50 · Score: 5, Interesting

For example, cross country bicycle racing. As a sport - it's fantastic to do it, but extremely boring to watch, because the camera cannot follow riders as it does in road racing. A heli-mounted camera is what this sport is waiting for.

Re:Should be great for filming sporting events by Tall+Rob+Mc · 2003-07-30 22:04 · Score: 4, Interesting

If you watched the Tour De France, they already use helicopters and video cameras to cover the race. Race observers know not to watch the road, but rather the skies, to anticipate the arrival of the pack. I'm not sure how many RC helicopters would have the 200km range necessary to film an entire stage like a full-size helicopter with a cameraman.
Re:Should be great for filming sporting events by Tall+Rob+Mc · 2003-07-30 22:07 · Score: 1

Sorry to reply twice, I missed the "cross country" and "road racing" specification you mentioned. I agree with you, since most cross country races aren't of the same 200km length as road races like I mentioned in my previous post. My fault.
Re:Should be great for filming sporting events by Wiktor+Kochanowski · 2003-07-30 22:11 · Score: 5, Informative

Yeah, the problem with standard-sized, manned helicopters in XC racing is that

* they are too big to fit between terrain features, to come close to the riders, and to film something else than their backs from above

* they are too expensive - even in road racing only the biggest races can afford them.

But given a cheap RC that can fit between trees and come really close to the racers to make a side shot, follow the racers on hard technical uphills and downhills, and XC racing could look, in TV, way more interesting than it is now.
Re:Should be great for filming sporting events by swaic · 2003-07-30 22:26 · Score: 1

That might work, but you would probably want some gyro mounted camera otherwise the image may be shaky as all hell. Anyone has a place to host, I just mirrored the site locally but have no place to host.
Re:Should be great for filming sporting events by Samedi1971 · 2003-07-30 23:39 · Score: 3, Insightful

The scale on this is way too small for anything beyond line of sight. For one thing, you have to have control over the heli (hobbyist RC transmitters like the ones used have limited range), and more importantly, 2.4 ghz video cameras like the ones used in the article have much shorter range, even with a clear line of sight. The cameras are also nowhere near broadcast quality.
Re:Should be great for filming sporting events by henley · 2003-07-31 00:10 · Score: 5, Interesting

Err... See, the thing about model helicopters is that they're a complete pig to fly. I think the mean-time-before-superglue for learner pilots is about 30 seconds of flight time. It's inherent in the technology: they're very mechanically complex and dynamically unstable.
So having said all that, do you think it would be a good idea to have a whirling mass of blades teetering close to anything you think as valuable? Such as cyclist's heads, for example?

--

--
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy
Re:Should be great for filming sporting events by Croaker · 2003-07-31 01:02 · Score: 1

I'm sure, in addition to the whole whirring blades thing, that atheletes will be thrilled to have a noisy, fast-moving distraction hovering right on the edge of their vision for the whole race.

However, for futher out shots, RC helicopters are certainly a cheaper alternative to a full-size helicopter. You can have a perfectly good camera these days in a light enough package for a small RC copter... Heck, I'm sure you could mount several on the thing, one dedicated to the pilot, and another on a swivel that produces the pictures seen by the audience.
Re:Should be great for filming sporting events by KjetilK · 2003-07-31 01:03 · Score: 1

Yeah, same thing with orienteering and ski-orienteering! Great idea! I have to build one! :-)

--
Employee of Inrupt, Project Release Manager and Community Manager for Solid
Re:Should be great for filming sporting events by Luigi30 · 2003-07-31 01:08 · Score: 1

Don't you mean Tour de Lance?

--
503 Sig Unavailable

The Signature could not be accessed. Please try again later or contact the administrator
Re:Should be great for filming sporting events by dallask · 2003-07-31 01:37 · Score: 2, Informative

I can host...

--
The Code Ninja is swift with his tool, precise in his delivery, and deadly accurate in his execution.
Re:Should be great for filming sporting events by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-31 01:53 · Score: 0

I don't think the sport needs decapitation via crazed whirly-ghig. But, that's just me.
Re:Should be great for filming sporting events by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-31 02:12 · Score: 1, Informative

Dude, modern day RC helicopters are very stable. Just check out any RC helicopter competition. Even more so if you incorporate something like FMA Direct's Co-Pilot stabilization device. That thing can hold a helicopter motionless, minus any breezes, which would be correct by a human operator. This is definitely a doable thing.
Re:Should be great for filming sporting events by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-31 02:30 · Score: 0

"I'm sure, in addition to the whole whirring blades thing, that atheletes will be thrilled to have a noisy, fast-moving distraction hovering right on the edge of their vision for the whole race"

Did you watch the Tour de France? On some occasions, cyclists (especially one alone in the lead) ride through 3 foot wide corridors extending no more than 5 feet in front of them and made up of crowds of people cheering interspersed with team cars, motorcycle mounted cameramen and the occasional motorcycle mounted police escort.
Re:Should be great for filming sporting events by Politburo · 2003-07-31 03:25 · Score: 1

Your points against this system would all be ironed out if it were to be used professionally. All of the equipment would be upgraded above "hobby" level. Small wireless broadcast quality cameras exist - CART uses one inside a driver's helmet. The view is spectacular. AFAIK though, these cameras, and a similar system used in F1, are all LOS. The systems used in auto racing shoot the signal up to TV chopper above. Of course, if the point of using such a system is to eliminate a chopper, then the signal may be able to be broadcast to a trailing vehicle. Last year, when the F1 Digital system was in place, they used trackside recievers for video.
Re:Should be great for filming sporting events by CurlyG · 2003-07-31 03:26 · Score: 2, Interesting

Well, the people developing Autopilot seem to think it's feasible to automate RC heli flight, which would surely make a compelling package - when combined with an onboard camera - for producers of TV sports of all kinds.

It would have minimal labour costs, and be cheap enough in comparison to hiring a chopper for an hour or two that you could afford to have a few flying even if you lost on now and again...

--
You know they call 'em fingers but I've never seen 'em fing. Oh, there they go.
Re:Should be great for filming sporting events by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-31 03:49 · Score: 0

Excuse me, but I don't want an RC flying guillotine(sp?) coming anywhere near me when I'm racing!
Re:Should be great for filming sporting events by babyrat · 2003-07-31 04:03 · Score: 1

These guys seem to have come up with a solution for the easy to fly part.

http://www.netpackx.com/html/dragan_fly_micro_he li copter.html

Hmmm..seems they have an integrated camera with wireless transmitter too. Too bad the sites linked here are slashdotted - can't compare.
Re:Should be great for filming sporting events by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-31 05:34 · Score: 0

This is already (relatively) commonplace. I've seen RC camera helicopters at motocross races on more than one occasion, though they are not your standard buy-a-kit-at-the-hobbyshop breed of RC choppers. Some are highly modified high-end "hobby" choppers, others are purpose-built camera ships. They are also used to film scenes for movies, car commercials, etc. Much more economical than a full-size heli, and able to do stuff you wouldn't try with a regular heli (fly under a low bridge or through a tunnel)
Re:Should be great for filming sporting events by yertle38 · 2003-07-31 10:14 · Score: 1

I work at a small company [remotei.com] that makes camera mounts for R/C Helicopters. The mounts accept normal Camcorder-size (Mini-DV) video camera, or still digital cameras. It requires an extra person in addition to the pilot, who has a second remote that gives full control of pan and tilt functionality on the camera mount. We are currently developing a third roll axis for the mount, which will auto-stabilize the camera back to level with accelerometers.

This mount was built by students at UC Santa Barbara. We CAD'd all the assembly components, and had them machined on a CNC mill. We have assembled a handful of the mounts, and are currently shipping them to our first customers. Please check it out, tell us what you think.
Re:Should be great for filming sporting events by tonekids · 2003-07-31 12:37 · Score: 1

Use a simulator. A simulator will pay for itself in three or four crashes.

-paul

Application in Sporting Events or Biohazzard? by FauxReal · 2003-07-30 21:52 · Score: 5, Interesting

Lets just hope it doesn't block that winning touchdown pass at the superbowl. Seriously though.. how about outdoor sporting events in rugged terrain. Or maybe to survey the damage at a post nuclear accident or some kind of toxic gas filled area. Then again you could allways fit it with a laser and paint targets for cruise missiles.

--
Deltron 3030 - Virus (music video)

Re:Application in Sporting Events or Biohazzard? by palad1 · 2003-07-30 22:17 · Score: 3, Funny

Or maybe to survey the damage at a post nuclear accident or some kind of toxic gas filled area. Then again you could allways fit it with a laser and paint targets for cruise missiles.

Are you suggesting we should come up with a device that could allow us to fire a cruise missile on a target that survived a friggin' nuclear accident??? Talk about overkill!

...Unless your target is Prof. Xavier's School For The Gifted.
Re:Application in Sporting Events or Biohazzard? by Blue+Stone · 2003-07-30 22:34 · Score: 2, Interesting

How about you use one so you and your mates can watch a sporting event without paying? I wonder how much of a fuss this could cause?
Heh.

--
Corporation, n. An ingenious device for obtaining individual profit without individual responsibility. - Ambrose Bierce
Re:Application in Sporting Events or Biohazzard? by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-30 23:45 · Score: 0

Hey... we gotta do something about that allready more than we can hope use nuclear stockpile. P.S. If any government entities are reading this... I would be willing to leave my friends and family and receive lots of money to come up with more concepts for spending money on weapons of mass destruction.

Could this be a possbile 3G killer app? by neglige · 2003-07-30 21:54 · Score: 3, Interesting

Just imagine: build a helicopter with a camera and equip it with a 3G mobile phone.

Then you can dial in to the helicopter and control it with another phone in your hand while seeing the video streamed live to your device. This could, of course, already work with GPRS or HSCSD, but with 3G its much more l33t.

And you do not want to receive a call from your mom, which would interrupt your current transmission :/

--
My cats ate my karma. They also wrote this comment.

Re:Could this be a possbile 3G killer app? by CProgrammer98 · 2003-07-31 01:05 · Score: 1

wouldn't that mean you have both hands full... it wonder be rather difficult to "achieve your objective" shall we say while youre spying ;)

--
And the people shall be oppressed, every one by another, and every one by his neighbour Isaiah 3:5

Nice going, guys. by mu_wtfo · 2003-07-30 21:54 · Score: 5, Funny

We've Slashdotted Estonia!!

--
If all the world's a stage, anyone who says they want better lighting spends far too much time in a dark theatre.

Re:Nice going, guys. by Luigi30 · 2003-07-31 01:10 · Score: 1

Next is France, then Germany and Hungary. We're going for Zimbabwe by 2006.

--
503 Sig Unavailable

The Signature could not be accessed. Please try again later or contact the administrator
Re:Nice going, guys. by admbws · 2003-08-04 02:31 · Score: 1

Actually, Estonia has rather excellent connections to Finland, Sweden, and the UK, as well as its baltic neighbours. It is very technically developed and has an ultra modern telephone network. I think it would take some to bring the country offline (or, at least, if you can bring down Estonia, you could bring down virtually any country in the EU!)

It's not as poor and underdeveloped as your average ignorant fool might think. It's done a hell of a lot in the last 10 years (Estonia: Where the Internet is a Human Right).

Re:Hum... by SoupIsGoodFood_42 · 2003-07-30 21:58 · Score: 2, Funny

You'll need a pretty f'n big RC heli to hold a decent size morter plus all the other camera gear etc. It would probably just be easier to walk up and fire it.

Re:Hum... by perly-king-69 · 2003-07-30 21:58 · Score: 4, Insightful

Trrsts don't tend to need that sort of accuracy.

A van packed with explosives parked against a building usually does the trick.

--

--
This sig is inoffensive.

Old news or not, it'll get slashdotted. by tugrul · 2003-07-30 21:59 · Score: 5, Informative

Mirror in progress of those videos...

This might give me the final push in ordering a R/C heli. Any advice on starter models and how steep the learning curve is?

*goes back to playing the R/C heli mission in GTA Vice City*

Re:Old news or not, it'll get slashdotted. by JiffyJeff · 2003-07-30 22:26 · Score: 5, Informative

Any advice on starter models and how steep the learning curve is?

Two Part Question: 1) Starter Models don't exist -- You can buy a small model built for a .30 engine for the least amount of money, but it in no way equates to an "easier to fly" machine. In fact, the larger engined machines are easier to fly, but when you crash them it costs more to repair.

2) The Learning Curve is very steep. If you buy an R/C Heli, count on spending another $200 or $300 simulator. The simulator will allow you to connect your radio transmitter to your computer with a cable that allows you to use your own radio to control the on-screen heli.

More Info: For every minute I've ever flown on an RC Heli, I've spent at least 5 fixing/repairing it on the ground. And for every hour flown, I've spent probably 10 on the simulator... Before I got into the hobby, I was told that flying one of these beasts was like "balancing a steel ball bearing on a convex glass lense" which is pretty damn hard.
Re:Old news or not, it'll get slashdotted. by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-30 22:34 · Score: 0

Thats just crap.. The Piccolo is an excelent starter model and small crashes does not effect it that much.
Re:Old news or not, it'll get slashdotted. by hoofie · 2003-07-30 22:46 · Score: 3, Interesting

No its not crap - have you ever flown one ? At least have the bottle to say it winout being an anonymous coward.
The Piccolo is indoors only or else on a day with zero breeze.

The main posters comments are spot on - I used to fly .30 rc helis for a while and they are very hard to fly - even with gyroscope stabilisation and computerised transmitters.

The best advice is don't buy one unless you are serious about learning to fly one - its expensive and you will bend it on numerous occasions, although everything is repairable.

Also, safety first - even a little .30 copter has a lot of inertia in its rotor blades at full power and could cause some serious damage to someone.

Having said all this, when you eventually manage to get it into a stable hover for as long as you want, its a real feeling of accomplishment.
Re:Old news or not, it'll get slashdotted. by Chazmati · 2003-07-30 23:39 · Score: 2, Interesting

Do you think it would be easier to fly if you had real-time video feedback from the helicopter's point of view? Maybe not as good as balance feedback from your inner ear, but to the uninitiated (me) it seems like the hard part of flying an R/C heli would be visually picking up the subtle changes in orientation and correcting through the controller.
Re:Old news or not, it'll get slashdotted. by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-31 00:23 · Score: 0

I was told by someone who was very good at flying them that the easiest way to learn was to take lessons in a real helicopter and once you can handle that, work up to the radio controlled ones.
Re:Old news or not, it'll get slashdotted. by AmigaAvenger · 2003-07-31 00:40 · Score: 1

the pic is NOT a good starter model!! It took me over a month of crashing just to get the thing to take off and survive for more than 10 seconds... it is light, skittish, very sensitive to setup problems, but does have the advantage of not doing much damage during crashes...
my favorite comment is having an rc fly along with the riders on a bike race. go watch a heli fly sometime or get some buddy box time. might reconsider your answer! this isn't possible!
Re:Old news or not, it'll get slashdotted. by mav[LAG] · 2003-07-31 01:40 · Score: 1
Any advice on starter models and how steep the learning curve is?

The two main things you need to learn are:
- how to set up, balance, tweak and generally configure a model heli before it will get off the ground
- how to fly it
Both require lots of help for the beginner. The latter's learning curve is immensely shorter with the use of a simulator. Probably the best starter package is the Hoverfly. Normally beginners should stay away from small electric choppers because they traditionally are light, squirrely and very hard to learn on, but the Hoverfly's flight characteristics are deliberately very similar to larger gas models. It has lots of other benefits:
- it comes with its own controller, saving you big bucks on a heli-capable radio transmitter. If you do have a transmitter it just plugs into the buddy cable interface
- it runs off the mains via an umbilical cable. No money needed for super ultralight rechargeable batteries and no ten minute limit on flights either. You can't really do loops or somersaults of course but you can learn to fly.
- Indoor flying is all-weather :)
- It comes with a simulator already
- It's cheap and again, doesn't force the purchase of a 7-channel helicopter capable Tx if you eventually decide model heli flying is not for you
I've found a lot of resistance to r/c simulators in general, especially among older pilots. "It's not the same, you need to practice like we did, blah blah blah." If you experience it, take it with a grain of salt. Simulators, while not perfect and obviously not the same, are an excellent way of developing your co-ordination and reflexes to be instinctive - easily the steepest part of the curve. I've flown a powered fixed wing plane precisely once - a friend let me fly his and it was exactly the same as a sim I'd practised on. Helis and gliders are the same.
--
--- Hot Shot City is particularly good.
Re:Old news or not, it'll get slashdotted. by Lord_Dweomer · 2003-07-31 02:25 · Score: 1

" Do you think it would be easier to fly if you had real-time video feedback from the helicopter's point of view? "
While I can't say I've ever flown a real helicopter, I do have a lot of in game experience flying the various choppers in the Eve of Destruction mod for Bf1942. I can't tell you how impossible it is for me to fly the helicopter from a third person view. Yet when I get into first person view, it suddenly becomes a lot simpler, because you have a much more accurate feel for the movement. You would be surprised how much extra flight data can be picked up by your brain when you're eyes actually sense you are moving. Yet when you're on the ground, the helicopter may be making minute changes in its movement, yet you are not. Very interesting phenomenon and I think this technology will definitely help.

--
Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
Re:Old news or not, it'll get slashdotted. by Mr.+No+Skills · 2003-07-31 02:32 · Score: 1

More Info: For every minute I've ever flown on an RC Heli, I've spent at least 5 fixing/repairing it on the ground.

I think this might jive with full-size helicopters. I think they also spend several times the hours with the mechanic than the pilot.

I don't personally have RC stuff, but I'm terribly tempted to try it (my brother-in-law flies gliders). I've heard the same comments on the helicopters, but watching telented people fly them really gets the geeky juices flowing...

--
Sleep is for the Weak
Re:Old news or not, it'll get slashdotted. by ryanwright · 2003-07-31 05:53 · Score: 1

While I can't say I've ever flown a real helicopter, I do have a lot of in game experience

BWAHAHAhahaahhahahaah!!! Only on Slashdot!! ;)

--
-Ryan, with the unoriginal sig
Re:Old news or not, it'll get slashdotted. by Pyrosz · 2003-07-31 07:16 · Score: 1

The learning curve can be VERY steep for any RC Helicopter, but there is one that will allow you to fly and have moderate crashes without having to fix/replace expensive parts everytime.

http://www.litemachines.com

I have the Model 116. I would recommend the Model 117 though, as it has a much better gyro for tail stablization. It has flexible plastic rotor blades that can take a lot of abuse (ran into a wire fence once.. no damage) Here is a site that sells them in Canada (I buy all my stuff from them.. they know what they sell) Great Hobbies. The link goes to the heli page. Note it states the heli has a VMax 6 engine, but the 117 comes with the VMax 7 which is a better engine. The lite machines heli is about half as complex as the big expensive ones but it will let you actually learn and fly for half the frustration. Email Great Hobbies and ask about it and what you will require to get up and flying if you so choose. Have fun :)

--

An optimist believes we live in the best world possible; a pessimist fears this is true.
Re:Old news or not, it'll get slashdotted. by Lord_Dweomer · 2003-07-31 07:19 · Score: 1

"BWAHAHAhahaahhahahaah!!! Only on Slashdot!! ;)"
I know you were joking, but if you think about it...how many people do you know (assuming you are not a helicopter pilot for a living) that fly real helicopters? For many people, game simulations of helicopters are the closest they will ever come to flying one.

--
Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
Re:Old news or not, it'll get slashdotted. by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-31 07:53 · Score: 0

Advise on getting started?:

#1 get a sim like realflight, playing a 1st person heli shoot-em-up doesn't count!

#2 find your local RC club with heli experts, they will be able to help you select a model, set it up (where most beginners fail) and get a Tx for it.

#3 bigger helis (50 size - 90 size) are much more stable than their smaller counterparts and handle wind better. You can get them higher and still see them well, which will give you the ability to correct your mistakes before smacking the ground. Most people still start with 30's though.

#4 get an AMA license, and don't fly in your local city park where there are lots of people and kids around. These things attract kids like flies to honey, just an accident waiting to happen. (They are basically flying lawnmowers with blades rotating at speeds usually between 1500 and 2000 rpm.)

You can always pop over to rcgroups.com, runryder.com or the myriad of other rc sites and snoop around for more info.

Flying a real heli is very different, RC helis have rigid blades, it makes them less stable (no coning effect), it of course also allows them to do aerobatics that you can't do in real helis, not to mention the whole 3rd person perspective deal and all the angles/orientations you need to be able to fly in.

For reference, I have a Hornet micro, a Logo10 and a Raptor 50 and have been flying for many years.

As for the topic of this thread initially, there are a number of pro rc pilots that have been filming with their helis for years. There has been micro video cameras our that we have mounted to Piccolos well over a year ago. What's the big deal? And NO this won't help learning RC heli flying.
Re:Old news or not, it'll get slashdotted. by ryanwright · 2003-07-31 08:49 · Score: 1

how many people do you know that fly real helicopters?

Only one, and God willing, he is going to teach me some day (a buddy's father has a Robinson R-22; I've only been up in it once, but man, what a rush. A heli is the first thing I'm buying when I'm filthy stinking rich ;) ).

--
-Ryan, with the unoriginal sig

If only . . . by patch-rustem · 2003-07-30 21:59 · Score: 1, Funny

It's a shame I can't fit into a 2.4 ghz channel.
If only these toys could be made big enough to put people inside. The experience of actually being up in the sky, as well as having the view, would be amazing.

--
Karma: Bad due to google bombing - Robert Watkins woz 'ere.

Re:If only . . . by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-30 22:04 · Score: 2, Funny

you know, real helicopters do actually exist, you can even pay to take a ride in one - imagine that eh ?
Re:If only . . . by aflat362 · 2003-07-31 01:48 · Score: 1

Do you not recognize a failed attempt at humor when you see one?
At least I hope that was an attempt at humor.

--
Conserve Oil, Recycle, Boycott Walmart

Re:Hum... by joFFeman · 2003-07-30 22:06 · Score: 5, Insightful

naturally someone had to bring 'this' up. the fact is there's no way to be totally safeguarded from an attack by someone who has issues with your country. the best thing for a government to do is try to refrain from making enemies, and the best idea for a private citizen is to get on with your life and go about your business without constant worry. widespread paranoia in the public doesn't do anyone any good, save for those manufacturing gas masks, bomb shelters, or war.

--
"Life is great; without it, you'd be dead." -Harmony Korine

Re:news?! by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-30 22:07 · Score: 0

Not only that, but I have seen this link before in the slashdot article that covered the MIT helicopter autopilot project.

Another application by fven · 2003-07-30 22:08 · Score: 5, Insightful

If the camera fitted was an infrared camera, this would be great to help find lost hikers/ skiiers.

This could also be adapted for something like rogaining - every team carries some form of tag. Helicopter flies around competition area giving real-time tracking of competitors and also some cool video.

Re:Another application by clickety6 · 2003-07-30 22:47 · Score: 2, Funny

This could also be adapted for something like rogaining...

Using it to look at the tops of guys heads to see who is developing a bald spot?!?

--
----------------------------------- My Other Sig Is Hilarious -----------------------------------
Re:Another application by beef3k · 2003-07-30 23:59 · Score: 1

The range of the R/C controllers is quite limited so you would have to ski/hike along with the chopper, but it would be great to survey inaccessible areas, plus you won't have to clim every damn hill

One day... by Ascender · 2003-07-30 22:14 · Score: 2, Funny

Someone will have a webserver running in a hovering helicopter... which we can slashdot, yay! Brings new meaning to the phrase "crashing the server".
It's pretty impressive that the server's not crashed yet (even though it's not on the actual helicopter), seeing as it's offering avi's on slashdot.

Obligatory slashdottism... by Ascender · 2003-07-30 22:16 · Score: 1, Insightful

Imagine a beowolf cluster of these!

Seriously, though - multiple helicopters with onboard computers obeying simple rules could quite feasably do useful things like intelligently scouring disaster sites for victims, or evaluating the extent of a fire.

Of course, they could also all coalesce and become Skynet! :)

Re:Obligatory slashdottism... by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-31 02:33 · Score: 0

or dusting a few city blocks with anthrax. Be careful with the repercussions of any new technology.

Whatever happened to ... by Alaska+Jack · 2003-07-30 22:21 · Score: 3, Interesting

Video eyeglasses?

Seeing this guy wearing his clunky "Video I-glasses" made me wonder why these never caught on.* Three or four years ago I tried on a pair of television eyeglasses, and was sure that within a few years, the technology would improve to the point where these things would become practical, ubiquitous and cheap replacements for computer monitors. So why the total lack of demand? * And no, I don't mean as fashion accessories. Smartass.

Re:Whatever happened to ... by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-30 22:51 · Score: 0

Cuz you can't see office tang through the glasses! A monitor allows the eyes to wander.
Re:Whatever happened to ... by aug24 · 2003-07-30 23:14 · Score: 2, Interesting

Sony made some things called GlassTrons, which, according to their website, were excellent.
I actually tried to buy some for use with my laptop while commuting, but all the Sony outlets are franchises and couldn't afford to lay out the cash to Sony to buy (very expensive) unproven stock. So I couldn't find anywhere to actually try them. So I never got a pair.
In other words, they were successfully manufactured, but badly marketted, and now Sony and others don't seem to think there is a market. Arse.
Anyway, how come you got modded interesting instead of off-topic?
J.

--
You're only jealous cos the little penguins are talking to me.
Re:Whatever happened to ... by FrenZon · 2003-07-31 00:37 · Score: 1

Seeing this guy wearing his clunky "Video I-glasses" made me wonder why these never caught on.*
I own a pair of the newer i-glasses, and it's easy to tell why no-one uses them - as the focal distance is set quite far away, unless you wear glasses underneath, it's a blurry mess. Even if you do, the optics feel cheap, there's still some blurring, and you can never see all of the screen at once (maybe my eyes are more inset from my forehead than others).

They also only go up to 800x600, with a view area equivalent to a 19" monitor from 3' away. It's much smaller than it sounds, and so is really only useful for watching videos in private.

They're not much cop for gaming, either - the display is so manky that any benefit gained by the stereo 3d (which is quite excellent) is lost by the fact that you can't really see what you're looking at.

Sure, these problems can be overcome with more research, but with headsets like this, no-one's getting interested enough to create a decent market for them. Let's hope those motorola/frogdesign glasses turn out ok.
Re:Whatever happened to ... by Politburo · 2003-07-31 04:07 · Score: 1

So why the total lack of demand?

2 reasons:

1. As said below, the current versions really aren't that great.

2. We like to be able to look away from the screen. If you're working on editing a document, or watching tv at the same time, or have 2 monitors... there are hundreds of situations I can sit here and list where you want to be able to look away from the screen instantly. Video glasses just don't allow us the same flexibility as a monitor does right now. The only application I would use them for now is privacy.

Cheaper by how much? by The_Hun · 2003-07-30 22:25 · Score: 1

OK, it's a toy-story (old or new - egal), but how much do you save, if you use it instead of a "big" helicopter? An idea anyone?

--
Sig. under reconstruction.

Aha! by Sir+Haxalot · 2003-07-30 22:44 · Score: 0, Funny

These would make brilliant spy planes! They could silently sneak into a Russian military bunker in the middle of the night!
*whirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr*

--
I have over 70 freaks, do you?

Google Cache by Sir+Haxalot · 2003-07-30 22:48 · Score: 0

here and here

--
I have over 70 freaks, do you?

The first and only X10 costumer! by Dark+Lord+Seth · 2003-07-30 22:58 · Score: 2, Funny

Beside the CONRAD equipment, also the well-known US XCam/XCam2 system (from X10) is available in Europe from EDENTRONICS. Both options are still low-power small-range systems.

Wow, someone bought an X10 camera! I think I'd prolly refuse to buy an X10 camera out of principle or at least sue X10 afterwards for failure of said cameras to reveal scantly clad women all over the place!

--
Hate me!

Great! Now I just need. . . by MikeA · 2003-07-30 22:59 · Score: 1

to learn how to fly an R/C helicopter.

OR just get it all in one by ItsIllak · 2003-07-30 23:11 · Score: 3, Informative

Buy one of these:

http://www.rctoys.com/draganflyer3.php

Re:OR just get it all in one by kevlar · 2003-07-31 01:30 · Score: 1

I'd rather have a gas powered one. Electric powered heli's and planes are constructed to be light weight. As a result, they are easily manipulated by the wind, so outdoor use on a breezy day can be annoying. This guy also only runs for a 5 minutes before it requires a charge...
Re:OR just get it all in one by rossifer · 2003-07-31 05:45 · Score: 1

Actually, the LOGO 20 is roughly equivalent to a smaller .30 gas helicopter in weight and outdoor performance. There are many even smaller helicopters (Hornet, Piccolo, etc.) that are gram-shavers and awfully sketchy in a light breeze, but that's not what we're talking about here.

All flying machines are constructed to be light weight, but the new LOGO 24 will weigh almost four pounds all up and if you use lithium-polymer cells it will weigh a little over three pounds and should fly for 25-35 minutes. My Piccolo gets similar flight times on much smaller LiPo cells. Now I don't know about you, but with my Piccolo, I start to brain fry at about 15 minutes and need a break anyway, so two flights per battery pack seems pretty good to me.

Regards,
Ross

Re:Hum... by Ed_Moyse · 2003-07-30 23:28 · Score: 1

You have some good points which you obliterate by needlessly saying "so unless you are a Nazi I suggest you think about that statement a little more."

That's insulting and stupid: saying that countries should not make enemies might be naive, but it certainly does not make someone a Nazi! The best answer I guess is, try to refrain from making enemies whilst acting in a way you believe is honourable. You probably think the US is fulfilling these obligations. I'd disagree, and suggest that the warmongers in the current administration are creating problems for future generations of americans. Bu having different views doesn't make either of us nazis.

Beware: This is a hoax ! by OMG · 2003-07-30 23:29 · Score: 2, Funny

From the viedo page:
"All videos are made at the field back of my house in Bielefeld, Germany."

This is clearly a hoax. Everybody knows that Bielefeld does not exist. But THEY want to make us believe that it does exist.

Obviously they choose to use advanced tactics to make us believe it exists. But THEY can't fool me ;-P

Re:Beware: This is a hoax ! by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-31 11:57 · Score: 0

it is not a hoax. rc heli cams have been around for years. now that mini wireless cameras are cheap, every average joe and his dog are doing wireless video on their rc aircraft. i have done it myself using exactly the same model helicopter as the guy in this article. search google for "heli cam" and you will get plenty of evidence.

Re:Hum, hum... by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-30 23:43 · Score: 0

And regarding mindless... Zwitserland was never invaded nor 'rolled over'. They were neural. You must be thinking of Austria. But hey, it's all the same, right?
But more on topic: Think of everyone having a helicopeter like this hovering over their head, controlled by 'men on walls'... Nice addition to the TIA or LifeLog program!
Your method of achieving security has its costs.

But wait... Incorrect facts, nazis....right wing nuts.... Flamebait! Damn! fell for it again....

other examples by jsailor · 2003-07-30 23:53 · Score: 2, Interesting

This has been done for some time with RC planes. Examples are here
[kitesplus.com], here
[k8xg.com], and here
[zagicam.com].

On the news today... by vasqzr · 2003-07-30 23:58 · Score: 1

A Japanese farmer was cropdusting his rice paddy with an R/C chopper and it cut his leg off when it crashed in to him.

Moral of the story? Becareful, Slashdotters!

Re:Hum, hum... by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-30 23:59 · Score: 0

They were neural? You mean they were mental as in 'going mental'? Or they had neural nets? In the 1940's!?!?!

A cheap way... by Mostly+Monkey · 2003-07-31 00:19 · Score: 1

A cheap way to do this is with an X10 camera. Once taken out of it's base, the camera element and circuitry is fairly light. The biggest problem with them though is that they use a directional antenna. Unless you have a strong receiver the picture is going to look like crap unless you manage to keep the chopper oriented correctly. You could try aiming the antenna straight down and flying above yourself, but that really limits the usefullness of the setup. I would recommend wiring up an antenna from a 2.4ghz phone. (By being designed for the same freq, 2.4ghz, it should work pretty well)
I don't remember the voltage that the camera runs on, but it is definately low voltage DC. You could wire up a battery holder from Radio Snack for pretty cheap and get several hours of use out of it. If you're going to be away from electrical outlets simply use a powerful enough inverter hooked to your car battery to power the receiver and recording device.

--
Chika Chik-ah... do-e ow ow.

This is not that new or innovative by march · 2003-07-31 00:23 · Score: 1

Kite fliers have been hanging cameras off their kites for a long time now. Despite the freakin' pop-up ads, X-10 has a wireless camera that we have dabbled with on R/C cars for a while.

It is only logical that as the technology gets better, more features will be backed into smaller spaces making this sort of "event" (new tech in old applications) even more commonplace.

That said, I'd rather put the camera on a model P-51 Mustang and get some really high speed shots doing insane stunts that would never be humanly possible! :-)

Re:This is not that new or innovative by Luigi30 · 2003-07-31 01:16 · Score: 1

I'd pay to see the P-51. How about mounting a little tiny camera inside the payload canister of one of those model rockets, on a timer, so you can snap pictures.

--
503 Sig Unavailable

The Signature could not be accessed. Please try again later or contact the administrator

Been done. by Phreakiture · 2003-07-31 00:32 · Score: 2, Interesting

At the 2003 Rochester Hamfest, some folks were demonstrating a lower-tech, longer-range, lower-cost concept. They were using the 220MHz band to control a blimp (which has a lower energy cost than a chopper, and is also less noisy), and the 440MHz band to send back NTSC video. This setup has been used in previous years, also.

Of course, it required a license, but the license is easy to get these days, and every geek should have one, because it also makes higher-powered 802.11 legal.

--
www.wavefront-av.com

Re:Been done. by spinkham · 2003-07-31 04:17 · Score: 1

Note that when you transmit with ham priviliges, you are not allowed to use encryption, making it sort of useless in my view...

--
Blessed are the pessimists, for they have made backups.

finialy,.... by dallask · 2003-07-31 00:39 · Score: 1

High-Rise perverts can take it to a whole new level.

--
The Code Ninja is swift with his tool, precise in his delivery, and deadly accurate in his execution.

Why is it so friking hard to fly these things by Sodade · 2003-07-31 00:42 · Score: 2, Interesting

You'd think that it would be possible to abstract the control scheme and build a controller that was more natural. That RC mission in Vice City sucked 'cause it was way to hard to grok the controls.

Definitely a biohazard by sakusha · 2003-07-31 00:48 · Score: 2, Interesting

RC Copters are popular with Japanese farmers, they use them to spray pesticides on a small scale. Aum Shinrikyo used this idea, they bought 3 mini copters with the intention of spraying botulism toxin over Tokyo. But they crashed all 3 copters while learning how to fly them. End of plan.
On a related note, here's a story from yesterday's Mainichi Daily News, "Farmer's radio-controlled chopper cuts off his leg"

http://mdn.mainichi.co.jp/news/archive/200307/30 /2 0030730p2a00m0dm024000c.html

How about an autonomous pilot project? by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-31 00:55 · Score: 0

You could use LOGO to program the directions...

UAV by punish3r · 2003-07-31 00:59 · Score: 2, Interesting

I'm suprised no one else has mentioned this yet. If you are 'all-thumbs' and can't learn how to fly a R/C chopper, why not buy/build a system that flies itself based on GPS waypoints. This bad boy has been on my "When I Win Powerball" list for about 3 months now: http://www.nationalinfrared.com/x20/shop/pshow.php ?SKU=UAV-E2&id_category=17 3 Hour flight time... TI camera... Even has a target tracking mode! And it literally flies itself. The only shortcoming is that you lose the stationary flight capibility of a chopper. But really, all this does is preclude you from getting arrested for being a Peeping Tom. Check out the movies, they do an impressive job of showing the capibilities of the system.

How about a Sony Clie on an RC Airplane? by jbarr · 2003-07-31 01:09 · Score: 2, Interesting

Yup...Someone strapped a Sony Clie to the bottom of an RC plain to film the "experience"! Check it out here

--
My mom always said, "Jim, you're 1 in a million." Given the current population, there are 7000 of me. God help us all!

my own rig by AcesAreWld · 2003-07-31 01:11 · Score: 5, Informative

Hey guys, I have been flying R/C for a long time. About 3 years ago I built a little, cheap, but highly functional mount for my .30 sized helicopter. Since then I started a company and purchased a 6.5 foot 23 lb helicopter that carries a Canon GL1 high quality video camera, 2.4 Ghz Video Downlink, Canon Powershop S400 Elph for stills, and more. My website is VERY OLD and outdated, but check out some of the stuff I have done here:

http://www.rchelicam.com

Most pics on the site are from the old demo .30 rig, the new rig is featured (for now) here:
http://www.rchelicam.com/gasser/
What do ya think?

--Geoff
"Aces Are Wild"
http://www.rchelicam.com

Re:my own rig by Naikrovek · 2003-07-31 09:45 · Score: 1

NICE!

I think i could fly an RC copter around all day if i had the money to do it. i don't think that would ever get old.

why haven't you updated the pages in a while - i'm SURE local news places would pay good money to have you be around when news events are happening, or the occaisional car crash or bank robbery or whatever. these may not happen where you are but you could pay for a hobby like this very easily via the news media.

anyway keep it up - i wanna see that page updated soon. great stuff there, needs more.
Re:my own rig by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-31 10:01 · Score: 0

have you got any customers yet ?
Re:my own rig by AcesAreWld · 2003-07-31 10:05 · Score: 1

It CAN get old when ya get frustrated.. that heli is HIGHLY modified and the mount is 100% custom from the ground up.. took a LONG TIME to design, engineer, build, test, R&D, etc etc etc... then blurry pics makes it very frustrating.. but that is all worked out now :) I havent updated the site in a LONG time because I am jsut so busy.. I have the logo, media kit, all that stuff ready, I just need some web design for the new site and some inspiration and time to do it. The possibilities are endless, and I am alraedy getting jobs without any advertising yet... I hope to get the site updated soon, but its not easy with all the stuff I have going on!

Thanks for the comments!
--Geoff
"Aces Are Wild"
www.rchelicam.com
Re:my own rig by AcesAreWld · 2003-07-31 10:26 · Score: 1

people's responce exploded like wildfire.... the problem was filtering out the "interested people" from the PAYING CUSTOMERS. LOTS of people want to see it fly, see how it works, take your card, etc... less people want to call you and schedule a shoot for real. Once we got going, it was smooth sailing.

--Geoff
"Aces Are Wild"
www.rchelicam.com
Re:my own rig by genka · 2003-07-31 13:22 · Score: 1

Wow! This is a truly professional setup! I wish you could have more pictures and, may be some high resolution ones. One question: Why is there a need for a pan/tilt? I thought that it would be easier to position the heli in the right spot.

Someone somewhere has solved the problem... by SharpNose · 2003-07-31 01:12 · Score: 1

I don't recall the name of the person or company that did this, but the video for the Emerson Lake and Palmer song "Black Moon" utilized a largish RC helicopter with a film camera that shot the band inside a limestone quarry. In addition to dramatic overhead shots from the swooping copter, it was able to do the job of a dolly or crane.

One problem that does crop up is that the helicopter has to shoot upwind lest its exhaust screws up the shot.

Permanent Solution by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-31 01:17 · Score: 0

That's a temporary solution to a permanent problem.

You should instead hope that she doesn't figure out how a mini camera transmitter got glued to the outside of her bedroom window.

That is obvious. You figure out how to change the batteries.

Re:The end is finally here... by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-31 01:23 · Score: 0

Your uid (584558) is pretty new, so you can't possibly know what /. was like for a couple of years ago. My uid is 70k-something, and I've been around since 1998.

I felt this article was pretty inspiring, didn't you want to run out and equip your RC car or whatever with a mini cam? Or how about equipping your heli with two cams and make read/blue 3d videos? No?

Then perhaps you've changed?

Support Vehicles by SEWilco · 2003-07-31 01:26 · Score: 1

Don't forget the phones in the radio-controlled GPS-equipped refueling, recharging, and cleaning truck.

Isn't that why the helicopter has GPS?

Cool... by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-31 01:33 · Score: 0

even better to have a gyro on board so the thing is self levelling and easy to fly.

You could drive along with a passenger in the car controlling it flying above you, and you wouldn't have to slow down for junctions... you'd know the roads ahead were clear. Lovely.

Or, from a fixed location, increase the range with a repeater system hanging from a tethered balloon. I daydream about these things, when I could be thinking about women instead... I truly am a geek :o)

Re:Cool... by liquidzero4 · 2003-07-31 02:12 · Score: 1

Most RC Helicopters come with built in GYROS for stablization. Even with the gyro they're still very difficult to fly.
Re:Cool... by walt-sjc · 2003-07-31 05:51 · Score: 1

Yeah, but do they taste good?

Geek factor - Win, Practical factor - Lose... by spiritgreywolf · 2003-07-31 01:35 · Score: 1, Insightful

For those suggesting the idea of using it to track races, it would be far more practical, cheaper and less threatening to the public to use the weather balloon-pizza-box camera that was a thread here just last week.

Yes, flying model helicopters are dangerous to J.Q. Public when some nump loses control, yells "Oh Shit!", and the thing comes careening down and gives a bystander a close shave.

At least the balloon camera combo can be deployed with decent motor-mount cameras, more electronics and you wouldn't have to worry about some noob in the crowd scamming your same frequency with another chopper and turning the bike race into a game of drunken Battle-Bots in the sky.

--
Never have a philosophy which supports a lack of courage

Re:The end is finally here... by djupedal · 2003-07-31 02:00 · Score: 1

Just because this id is not as old as yours is no indication of how long I've been dropping by :)

R/C everything so long ago I have to take my shoes off to count...

Been there done that...years and years ago. R/C helo sending video to a Powerbook. R/C cars sending video to a monitor on the side of the track. How boring today.

Means little old me has the lead on so many...how can that be? Oh, wait...this is the new /.

Re:The end is finally here... by djupedal · 2003-07-31 02:03 · Score: 1

bameflaight? Yep, proves me point. This place has no more interest that an offline ATM... And just as useless too!

All Right! by rhiorg · 2003-07-31 02:07 · Score: 1

It's as if they took a remote controlled helicopter and PUT A VIDEO CAMERA ON IT!!!

Aerial Robotics by pergamon · 2003-07-31 02:10 · Score: 2, Interesting

Sorry, but that really isn't impressive at all compared to the Aerial Robotics Competition. They fly themselves!

Re:Aerial Robotics by helipilot · 2003-07-31 07:48 · Score: 1

Where is the fun in that?

BFD. I had a friend who did the same 4 years ago by liquidzero4 · 2003-07-31 02:10 · Score: 1

WOW. Some guy bought a camera from X10 and stuck it on a helicopter. Is this really news?

Modern day control systems.... by splerdu · 2003-07-31 02:16 · Score: 2, Insightful

...will be the solution. The aerospace industry has so many unstable designs now that would otherwise be unable to fly without computers, I can't see why the same school of thought shouldn't be applied to helicopters. If we can have small handhelds packing 300+MHz processors, surely we can have a similarly powerful system in an R/C chopper.

Re:Modern day control systems.... by DFarmerTX · 2003-07-31 03:24 · Score: 1

Check out http://www.rctoys.com/draganflyer3.php
It's impossible to fly without computer controls, and you can get a little camera for it. They also have a larger, commercial version.

-DF
Re:Modern day control systems.... by henley · 2003-07-31 03:27 · Score: 1

Great idea! That covers the control aspect admirably! I shall be sure and tell the great folks on RISKS Digest that all their fears and previous examples of control law systems going wrong are of no import.

OK, that was harsh. FBW works OK in the real world, I guess, after 30-odd years of development. I wonder about tuning it for a model Helo but never mind that

Rather more seriously, how do you propose to tackle the mechanical reliability issues? Model RC engines aren't up in the RB211-runs-for-years reliability range, and all that whirling mass and consequent vibration takes it's toll on the structure too. I think this would actually be the killer for any real world application involving long-duration (longer than 10 minutes or so) flight, high availability and high required reliability. But maybe I worry too much.

--

--
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy
Re:Modern day control systems.... by mugnyte · 2003-07-31 04:26 · Score: 1

Sorry, but modern nav systems are way too expensive than simply flying the existing infrastructure. Telephoto lenses, helmet mounts, and the prior investment in equipment slap your idea down, neat as is. Would you let your children play in a playground where one of these things swooped above them?

The liability you would assume in taking an RC hele above a crowd (moving or not) is immense. Perhaps a small blimp-like device would work, but in no way would a blade be accepted any closer than existing aircraft.

Spend one day at your local RC field to see the potential for destruction. I've driven my own planes into the dirt as a beginner, and seen 30-year experts lose the battle with a virgin ship on maiden flight. They are dangerous, make no doubt about it, and they crash a lot.

mug
Re:Modern day control systems.... by splerdu · 2003-07-31 09:20 · Score: 1

The blimps you suggest are actually a great idea. But I was really hoping that some of the advertisement money might be channeled into development of auto-flight systems. Nothing gets technology done better than profitable use. =)

Having said that, you might be interested to know the Discovery Channel featured a group who built an R/C helicopter that not only flies itself, but also lands itself onto a target through on-board optics. Granted the computer was still ground-based, but if there's a real use for ever increasing CPU speeds this might be one of them.

A bigger budgeted attempt at the same was done by Bell and the US Navy with the Eagle Eye. The demonstration craft was able to autoland successfully 10 out of 10 times, far exceeding the requirement of 10 out of 30.

Just because backyard enthusiasts haven't been able to do something doesn't mean it can't be done.

How about this then, you won't need to pilot this by mijok · 2003-07-31 02:16 · Score: 2, Informative

http://autopilot.sourceforge.net/ It seems very interesting and probably much nicer to use (once it's finsihed) since you get an autopilot :)

--
Karma. Moderation. Is my .sig good now?

x10 2.4G very directional by jeepliberty · 2003-07-31 02:30 · Score: 2, Informative

I bought an X10 camera kit. Advertized as a home surveillance system, it consisted of 3 2.4G wireless cameras and a base receiver connected to a PC. What a waste!

It was impossible to align the PC antenna to receive a clean signal from more than a single camera. The signal degrades quickly with distance.

The video picture reminded me of UHF TV before cable (rabbit ears). Maybe I should have tried a coat hanger or aluminum foil on the antennae?

Re:x10 2.4G very directional by Mostly+Monkey · 2003-07-31 06:19 · Score: 1

This shouldn't be too much of an issue outside since there are no walls to block the signal. For my house I ended up putting the receiver in a corner of an exterior room. This lets me aim all the antennas within +/-45% of the base antenna direction. Things would be worse in a two story house, but (un)fortunatelly I don't have one.

--
Chika Chik-ah... do-e ow ow.

MP3 Player by weeelookatme · 2003-07-31 03:11 · Score: 1

I cant wait till the attachable mp3 player comes to production, and maybe a obtional bb gun for those pesky tweety birds that block my view into my sisters bedroom window.... Not that i look at my sister or anything... oh shit nevermind

Re:Hum... by JonKatzIsAnIdiot · 2003-07-31 03:12 · Score: 1

The "peace in our time" strategy has proven ineffective time and time again. Those who refuse to learn from history are condemmed ... Ah forget it.

Negotiating or placating unreasonable or fanatical people just doesn't work. That's why cops carry guns. Not making enemies is a good start, but it is foolishness for a goverment (or an individual) to trust the good graces of a fanatic with people's lives.

* For those that didn't catch the historical reference, in 1938 (?) the current prime minister of England, Neville Chaimberlain, travelled to Germany to negotiate for peace. He brokered a deal and returned to England, proclaiming that there will be 'peace in our time'. Of course, World War II started shortly after.

Re:Wow. Just what I've always wanted. by palewhitemale · 2003-07-31 03:16 · Score: 0

actually...I find it's much better to use an RC blimp when conducting tomish peeping....it's quiet so they stay unsuspecting for longer.

Re: counter-measures by Wilk4 · 2003-07-31 03:19 · Score: 0

yeah, but I don't think they are nearly quiet enough to *sneak* anywhere... and you could take them out with simple technology, like a whack from a broom. ;-)

besides, what makes you think the military hasn't had their own RC spy drones already? They are currently in love with the predator and so forth and they do have projects on helicopter versions, though I think they are generally larger than this...

NASCAR uses RC Choppers with Video by LoneStarGeek · 2003-07-31 03:20 · Score: 1

I know for a fact that NASCAR and other racing organizations use RC Choppers with a video link to record racing footage up close. They basically have a small video camera mounted on the chopper and fly it close to the edge of the track to get close up camera shots of the cars on the banked section of the oval. Gives a neat birds eye prespective to racing for the viewer at home. I will try and check out the videos from the article once the /. effect has subsided.

robot chppers by savuporo · 2003-07-31 03:41 · Score: 2, Interesting

http://www-2.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/project/chopper/www /heli_project.html
Carnegie Mellon's autonomous helicopter model. AFAIC, flew with on-board laser mapping system. Of course, development time and budget are of another league, compared to my fellow countryman Risto here. Restecp for such achievements.
Funny that our local news outlets, including ./ wannabe minut.ee have never mentioned it

--
http://validator.w3.org/check?uri=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.slashdot.org Errors found while checking this document as HTML5!

Solved by Sugeno in 1991 using fuzzy logic by xeo_at_thermopylae · 2003-07-31 03:45 · Score: 1

Japanese researcher Sugeno developed a voice-controlled autonomously stabilized small helicopters in 1991.

Re:Hum... by Cyno · 2003-07-31 03:49 · Score: 1

Duct Tape!
flags,
vaccines,
gas & oil,
hanging chads..

People have been doing this for a LONG time by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-31 03:54 · Score: 0

http://www.rc-cam.com

Learning curve by ehintz · 2003-07-31 04:25 · Score: 1

I can't speak for an RC model, but I am a student pilot in the real deal. And it's hellishly touchy. Keeping it stabilized in moderate winds can be a real bitch, and the slightest control inputs are sufficient for control. Overcontrolling is a very easy and common mistake-and still the bane of my existence at over 30hrs dual instruction time. For about my first 10 hours or so I'd have been up shit creek without my CFI. Gives me a helluva lot of respect for Sikorsky, who was both designer and chief test pilot for his first models (and has some accident footage to prove it). Anyway, given the realative difficulty of controlling the beast when you're sitting in it and can feel the balance, I expect remotely controlling one without the feel factor is at least as hard, if not harder.

--
ehintz

Oh, sure, go for the DoD money... by jabber01 · 2003-07-31 05:01 · Score: 1

Personally, living as close to a women's college as I do, my initial application would be a bit different. But, yeah, lasers and nuclear disasters. That too micht work.

--

The REAL jabber has the user id: 13196
What you do today will cost you a day of your life

This may sound silly, but... by TClevenger · 2003-07-31 05:26 · Score: 1

...why not an R/C airplane? They're a lot easier to learn to fly, they can be built to almost any size and speed, and they're cheaper to build. Granted you're not going to get stop action, but you can go slowly (or quickly) enough to follow the pack.

another remote control heli with camera by Anonymous Coward · 2003-07-31 05:57 · Score: 0

Check out www.helicamera.com

Re:Hum... by OECD · 2003-07-31 06:32 · Score: 1

Mod parent up. I've been kicking this idea around in my head for a while. No, he's not talking about putting a Mortar ON an RC Copter--he means using it for forward observation. And replace "terrorists" with "the 82nd Airbourne" if it offends your sensibilites.

It doesn't have to be limited to Artillery spotting either. Think how useful it would be in an urban warfare setting for seeing around (in?) buildings, etc. You could build a mini-Predator by strapping a grenade to it, too.

--
One man's -1 Flamebait is another man's +5 Funny.

Re:Hum... by mangu · 2003-07-31 06:55 · Score: 1

That "refrain from making enemies" should go further back than 1938. If, in 1918, France hadn't been allowed to impose such unreasonable conditions on Germany, Hitler would never have come to power. In WWI, Germany defeated France, fought to a draw with Britain, and lost when the USA entered the war.

WWI was the unfortunate consequence of an arms race running out of control. Germany may have started the fighting, but it was waiting to happen, anyway. When the French diplomats managed to transform that into a moral judgement of Germany, the seeds of WWII were planted.

RC helis are not toys!!! by helipilot · 2003-07-31 07:45 · Score: 2, Informative

Guys, it's just not as easy as you think. I have been flying rc helis for 2 years now. With many hours of simulator time and actual flying time I have finally gotten to the point of doing some mild aerobatics like loops and rolls. No one will just pick up a transmitter and fly one of these on the first try - no one. I have progressed from a .30 size to a .60 size and have great respect for them. It will cost you many dollars to get truely involved in this hobby. From the heli, radio, gyro, engine, and not to mention ground support equipment you are going to have easily over $1000 invested in just a .30 size machine. Are helis unstable - yes, to a certain point, but no where near what they were a few decades ago. Can you build and fly one without some expert help - possibly, but you will still have a huge learning curve this way and you better have a deep checking account for replacement parts. Also, if you are going to try it by yourself, which I don't recommend, please do it in a VERY wide open area with no one around. Small electrics like the Piccolo are not the way to start - they are far more difficult to control than a nitro powered machine. One of the best beginner helis is the Raptor 30 from Thunder Tiger (please note - there really isn't a "trainer" heli, they are all diffcult to fly. What make a good "trainer" is one with the control sensitivities turned down, cheap replacement parts, and a good training gear). If you want to see what some of these cost visit: www.heliproz.com They have all the kits, radios, etc. need to get started and to advance in this hobby.

RC helis *are* toys!!! by alienmole · 2003-07-31 20:19 · Score: 1

They're just toys that are very difficult to learn how to operate, and which can be dangerous. If you think they're not toys, what is it you're doing with yours, exactly? Running reconnaissance missions for the CIA, perhaps?

I second the Raptor 30 recommendation, BTW. Great little heli.

Surprise, surprise by ristokoiva · 2003-07-31 23:59 · Score: 1

What a nice surprise to find my page here listed (well there had to be a reason, why I suddenly got 30k+ hits per day and the webserver bandwidth was used to the end...).

To answer some of the posts:

the technology is readily available and not so high-tech as some might think

the original quality of the video is considerably higher than shown on the web (due to high compression, big losses)

no, I do not offer it as a kit for sale, but:

there are many companies offering ready-to-go solutions, like: http://www.blackwidowav.com/

no, I have nothing to do with peeking nude neighbours ;) or missles (or military in general)

I am aware that the video goggles make me to look like a nerd (if you have not got the opinion otherwise), but the pictures on the web just shows their relative size (in case never seen before)

the helicopter comes from Mikado http://www.mikado-heli.de/ and is a kit. Takes approx. 1 week to assemble, 2 for a novice. Cost around 700$ for a kit, I guess

controlling a model heli is not easy, but one can learn it. Best recommendation is to practise with PC Simulator (not a toy simulator, use a real thing like RealFlight G2 or Aerofly Pro etc.)

Greetigs, Risto

http://www.mh.ttu.ee/risto/rc/

for anyone really interested in these... by KiDas · 2003-08-01 11:37 · Score: 1

this company DraganFly Innovations has this remote control helicopter and this more expensive model.

The DraganFlyer 4 is relatively cheap and has an optional mini wireless camera too. It flies with all the same controls as a normal helicopter but it is much easier to assemble and requires much less maintenence.

If you are in the market to get an RC chopper, especially for beginners, this is the way to go. Once you learn to fly with one of these, then if you like go and buy an expensive heli.
One of my good friends had struggled with all the common problems (cost, maintanence, steep learning curve) with his 2 RC helis before he found these folks and got his DraganFlyer.

DISCLAIMER: I am not affiliated with that company in any way. I do own a DraganFlyer 3 and have learned to fly it with no previous experience.

--

A distinctive mark, characteristic, or sound indicating identity

Slashdot Mirror

Airborne Video With an R/C helicopter

162 comments