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Pilot a Plane with a PDA?
An anonymous reader writes "This whitepaper describes how engineers at IBM's Pervasive Computing Advanced Technology Laboratory created a Linux-based, intelligent, remote control system for a model airplane as a way to showcase gateway server technology. The onboard computer controls various navigational equipment and interfaces to a wireless access point and PDA. The user can control the plane through handheld wireless technology. A 3-dimensional virtual flight environment tracks the plane's flight and provides a gps-based autopilot function. The environment is based on LandSAT maps and gives the user a virtual view of the flight from the cockpit of the plane, which can be augmented by real-time updates from an onboard camera. The article briefly introduces "gateway server" concepts, describes the embedded hardware and software architecture, explains how the IBM developers implemented the control systems, and includes lots of cool photos."
So now, in addition to not being able to bring tweezers and nail clippers on a flight "because they could be used to hijack the plane", I wonder how long until palms and laptops are restricted.
handheld wireless tecnology. Pulse Code Modulated to boot.
Yeah, I understand that's it's cool that they've been able to do it this way and the technology may have some legitimate applications in the future and I applaud them for having done it.
Just remember, before you rush out to try to build one of these things, that's it's actually a pretty daft way to control a model airplane.
Just because we have a hammer does not mean that everything is a nail. The world is still full of screws and rivets, not to mention the odd bit of glue and welding.
KFG
+1 informative for a Goatse link? I hope the moderator gets hit hard in meta.