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World's Smallest Homebrew RC Unit

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the it's-a-chopper,-baby dept.

MC68040 writes "I assume you've seen the mini-helicopters and airplanes that are becoming increasingly popular as office toys out there. Well this guy decided the market wasn't filled enough, luckily =) He's built the by far simplest and most functional mini Remote Controlled unit. It weighs under 7 grams, is made of carbon fiber and it's smaller than your thumb (or a hamster, as the author seems to prefer to compare). Go check it, it's truly a amazing feat."

151 comments

  1. Want to buy one? by zeux · · Score: 4, Interesting

    From this page:
    Pixels are unique prototypes, and are not for sale. I am sorry for all those who would like to buy one.

    Too bad I can't buy one... Do you know if it's possible to buy an equivalent or to build my own? Is it a hard work?

    Looking at the pictures it doesn't seem hard to do...

    --
    Iraq: war to save the U
    1. Re:Want to buy one? by Stuwee · · Score: 5, Funny

      More importantly, anyone got the schematics for these thumb-sized hamsters?

    2. Re:Want to buy one? by maxbang · · Score: 5, Funny

      To make one 1) take a rectangular piece of paper sized 2 inches by 6 inches 2) from one end cut in three inches down the center, lengthwise 3) fold the resulting flaps back in opposing directions 4) affix a paper clip to the uncut end 5) climb atop the jungle gym 6) release 7) observer with awe and amazement, maybe with gusto

      --
      I also reply below your current threshold.
    3. Re:Want to buy one? by dboyles · · Score: 4, Funny

      I didn't know Richard Gere had a /. account.

      I know, I know, the first time you heard that one you almost fell off your dinosaur...

      --
      -- "Complacency is a far more dangerous attitude than outrage." -Naomi Littlebear
    4. Re:Want to buy one? by cfuse · · Score: 0, Redundant
      I didn't know Richard Gere had a /. account.

      Ewww! Remote Controlled Anal Probe!

    5. Re:Want to buy one? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative
      It's a prototype. Perhaps possible in the future, the guy is working with a vendor.

      Actually, you can nearly buy a 100 grams one from Petter Muren, Oslo, who can get a mini video cam, and can be driven entirely with the image (it's much more stable). In fact, proxflyer also made a sub 7 grams helico, and the two men have done that in friendly competition. Here is their press release:
      Engineers in Belgium and Norway have developed the worlds smallest and lightest autonomous and remotely operated flying robots.

      BRUSSELS, Belgium and OSLO, Norway, December 17, 2003. After many years of development in technology, concepts and materials, it has for the first time been possible to build micro flying robots weighing less than 7 grams. Unlike other micro flying robots, these recently unveiled robots operate fully autonomously without any cables to transfer power or control signals. The power comes from onboard batteries and they are operated by infra-red or radio based control devices. The micro flying robots were announced today, on the 100 year anniversary of the first powered flight by the Wright Brothers.

      In Brussels, Alexander Van de Rostyne together with leading suppliers of micro robotic components, has developed the Pixelito, a 6.9 grams helicopter-like flying robot with a full 4- axis control similar to larger helicopters. Its two-bladed rotor has a diameter of 148 mm and can be controlled by an infra-red control device that enables the pilot to have full control over it in all the dimensions of space.

      In Oslo, Petter Muren in close contact with the same team of component suppliers, has developed the Proxflyer Micron, a 6.9 grams totally silent and aerodynamically stable coaxial rotor flying robot that has a rotor diameter of 128 mm. It is controlled via a 2 channel radio transmitter and an onboard FM radio receiver.

      Both the Pixelito and the Proxflyer Micron are battery powered, utilizing onboard state of the art lithium polymer batteries, micro electronics and coreless motors. Space age material technology including carbon fiber and Kevlar is used in the rotors and in the mechanical structures. Both robots rely on new and patented, but totally different ideas to radically simplify the necessary control mechanisms. They are built, and unveiled to the public as proof of concepts and as a demonstration of what is possible to achieve in this field of technology using current commercially available materials and components.

      The robots are believed to be the lightest and the smallest flying robots or helicopters ever built anywhere in the world and they open a whole new area of possible applications, including indoor surveillance using onboard micro video cameras, military operations as well as other applications in the hobby and toy market. According to the engineers behind this latest achievement, it is possible to build even smaller and lighter flying robots with today's technology, and as the development of motors and batteries moves on, the flight time and capabilities of such robots will further increase.
      with a picture

      They beat Epson who did a 9 grams one just one month before: Press release

      If you want more on micro R/C, see RC groups

      If you want to buy a 10 grams living room plane,
      Didel, Switzerland sells a kit. The weight record seems to be 4.4 grams, with muscle wire :) in this thread.

      --
      Croco
    6. Re:Want to buy one? by ASDFnz · · Score: 1

      Here you go;-

      http://www.slyshobbyden.net/

    7. Re:Want to buy one? by LucidityZero · · Score: 1

      Seriously. I own several hamsters, and they are all considerably larger than my thumb.

      Random Google Image Search for hamster: here

      Shows the perspective a bit for a normal sized hamster.

      --
      Sig.i>
    8. Re:Want to buy one? by skaag · · Score: 3, Informative

      I temporarily Mirrored the site here:

      http://gw.nsa.co.il/pixelito

      It was simply too slow and I figured why not...

      Skaag

      --

      All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain... time... to... die...

    9. Re:Want to buy one? by danila · · Score: 3, Informative

      Needless to say, Richard doesn't have anything to do with hamsters.

      I particularly like the following part: "Cedars-Sinai is apparently the best-staffed hospital in the world, since several hundred different doctors and nurses were reportedly on duty at the time Mr. Gere was allegedly brought in for treatment."

      And the recording of a radio announcer breaking up (300 Kb, Real Audio) as he attempted to read one of the versions of the "gerbil in the anus" article as a straight news story.

      --
      Future Wiki -- If you don't think about the future, you cannot have one.
    10. Re:Want to buy one? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Odd that you are intelligent enough to post on /.

      But ignorant enough to listen to snopes!

      I guess it takes all kinds

    11. Re:Want to buy one? by wisdom_brewing · · Score: 2, Funny

      all you need to do is get a new born hamster chain smoking... maybe that would stunt its growth enough to keep it from getting larger than a thumb... either that or compare it to a really really large thumb... (see guiness book of world records)

      --
      I am very sucseptible to "let's have another drink"
  2. Isn't the point of an RC unit lost... by JoeBaldwin · · Score: 0, Insightful

    IF IT'S TOO SMALL TO USE!?

    --
    I'm amazing. You aren't. SUCK IT
    1. Re:Isn't the point of an RC unit lost... by good(k)night · · Score: 1

      isn't that remote controlled?

      --
      my endian is bigger than yours!
  3. Neat-O! No swashplate! by GMontag · · Score: 3, Interesting
    So, how many hamster units equal a Library of Congress?

    Neat that he eliminated the swashplate, but he is a bit mysterious about the details:

    Back in 2000, I started playing with the idea of eliminating swashplate, servos, pushrods and so on. I was actually successful in realizing this.

    A patent was filed early 2001. The 'problem' is that soon after that, a company took a license on this technology, and required to keep confidentiality. This implies I can not show pictures, or give details or comments about the way this works. I even had to edit some of the pictures on this site to make sure this was respected. And off course there is a money side to it. I hope you understand.


    Interesting development though. It certainly cuts down on the weight and complexity. Wondering if it is workable in full-size aircraft? Well, that is an assumption that it is not a variant on the "Rigid Rotor" system that the Cheyenne AH-56A and other aircraft used.

    More history of Army aircraft here
    --
    Eve Fairbanks says I drive a hybrid!LOL
    1. Re:Neat-O! No swashplate! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If it's patented can't you look it up?

    2. Re:Neat-O! No swashplate! by Cid+Highwind · · Score: 3, Interesting

      A patent was filed early 2001. The 'problem' is that soon after that, a company took a license on this technology, and required to keep confidentiality. This implies I can not show pictures, or give details or comments about the way this works. I even had to edit some of the pictures on this site to make sure this was respected. And off course there is a money side to it. I hope you understand.

      Ummm, the whole *point* of a patent is that it protects your implementation, but makes the underlying theory available to anyone who wants to know. Part of the patent process is disclosing how your invention works.

      Who is this unnamed company, and why do they get to demand this secrecy that is contrary to what a patent was meant to accomplish in the first place? IM(NS)HO, a stunt like this should be grounds for throwing out a patent.

      --
      0 1 - just my two bits
    3. Re:Neat-O! No swashplate! by caseih · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Since the technology has been patented, full details should now be available in the patent application itself. Despite the company trying to require him to keep the technology secret, since it's in the patent, it can no longer be secret. Seems that legally the most the company could do is require him to license the technology to them exclusively. But to force him to keep it secret is quite absurd.

    4. Re:Neat-O! No swashplate! by GMontag · · Score: 1, Insightful

      If it's patented can't you look it up?

      That was just dawning on me, thanks for the shove, but after re-reading this:
      A patent was filed early 2001. The 'problem' is that soon after that, a company took a license on this technology, and required to keep confidentiality. it sounds like he filed, but went the "trade secret" route instead, if that is applicable and IANAPL.

      If patent filings are searchable then it would blow away that confidentiality business, but if he withdrew the application it *might not* be open to the general public. If someone knows for sure that patent applications are searchable, without a patent granted, please post?

      --
      Eve Fairbanks says I drive a hybrid!LOL
    5. Re:Neat-O! No swashplate! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It does not say he got a patent, it says he applied for one then someone licensed the system from him.

    6. Re:Neat-O! No swashplate! by wfberg · · Score: 5, Informative

      A patent was filed early 2001. The 'problem' is that soon after that, a company took a license on this technology, and required to keep confidentiality. This implies I can not show pictures, or give details or comments about the way this works.

      European patent search

      DEVICE FOR STEERING A HELICOPTER, filed 24-03-2003, inventor Van de Rostyne, Alexander, number WO03080433; on this link, simply click on the number again to get access to 31 pages (each in one PDF document)..

      The original link is slashdotted, but at least we can admire this guy's "secret" patent.

      --
      SCO employee? Check out the bounty
    7. Re:Neat-O! No swashplate! by ed333 · · Score: 2, Informative
      I work for an IP firm, but IANAL.

      Patent applications are searchable if they are published (many are, but not all), even if the patent has not been granted yet. I'm not sure about abandoned applications, though. In addition, the full text of every patent since the mid-1970's is available online at www.uspto.gov. Anyone, AFAIK, can use this website.

      Ed

    8. Re:Neat-O! No swashplate! by jovlinger · · Score: 1

      sooo...

      it seems he's put the servos inside the rotor head, and has replaced the swashplate with electrical connections.

      Seems kinda weird tho. can servos really react that quickly?

    9. Re:Neat-O! No swashplate! by pavon · · Score: 1

      Well theoretically that the way it is supposed to work, but in practice what happens is that one applies for a vague patent for "a device which does x" and all the technical details about how you actually managed to get the device to do x are treated as trade secrets.

    10. Re:Neat-O! No swashplate! by mindstrm · · Score: 3, Informative

      That's not true... that's just what you learn on slashdot because everyone just reads the patent synopsis or summary or whatever (Which has no legal standing) and doesn't read the patent and all it's claims.

    11. Re:Neat-O! No swashplate! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

      he doesn't use servos but magnetic actuators, PicoBird from Didel: "The the 6.9 grams Pixelito. built by Alexander van de Rostyne uses DIDEL motor, gears, PicoBird and IR control (TedRa and Mim4)."

      --
      Croco

    12. Re:Neat-O! No swashplate! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      One way it has been done before (for a rc prototype at least) is to use peizoelectric actuators to warp the blade near the hub and change its angle of attack. The actuators are driven to setup an oscillation and the hub/blade assembly is designed so the resonance frequency lies near the frequency with which the blades need to change angle.
      With that way you get the frequency you need and the total deflection can be larger than the static deflection a peizoelectric actuator would give.

    13. Re:Neat-O! No swashplate! by Crypto+Gnome · · Score: 2, Interesting

      A patent was filed early 2001. The 'problem' is that soon after that, a company took a license on this technology, and required to keep confidentiality. This implies I can not show pictures, or give details or comments about the way this works. I even had to edit some of the pictures on this site to make sure this was respected. And off course there is a money side to it. I hope you understand.

      You licensed your patent to a company and allowed them to include draconian exclusivity clauses?

      All I can say is I sure hope you are now *really friendly* with your bankers in Switzerland otherwise you got *badly screwed*.

      --
      Visit CryptoGnome in his home.
    14. Re:Neat-O! No swashplate! by GMontag · · Score: 3, Interesting

      There was something like that in the old (1985-era) Army Aviation Museum at Ft. Rucker, AL. The aircraft was much older. Concept did not go past the flyable prototype stage IIRC. Was essentually a fully-articulated rotorhead with servos and a multi-connector disk/brush system.

      Even if this new concept is exactly the same thing that certainly would not stop some patent offices from granting a patent anyway (as we have seen reported by /. numerous times).

      --
      Eve Fairbanks says I drive a hybrid!LOL
    15. Re:Neat-O! No swashplate! by toroko_nomura · · Score: 0

      "In your not so honest opinion"? Are you some sort of lawyer? You should avoid pretending the rest of the world is america btw. This man is in europe, where the laws are different and your constitutionally-protected opinionated attitude would get you gleefully shot.

  4. New solutions create new problems... by jmuzic1 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Now all he has to worry about is the toy going out of his sight range, not the radio range.

    1. Re:New solutions create new problems... by Moderation+abuser · · Score: 4, Interesting

      You put a camera on board.

      http://www.rc-cam.com/

      --
      Government of the people, by corporate executives, for corporate profits.
    2. Re:New solutions create new problems... by kfg · · Score: 2, Funny

      Great, a video game that you still have to buy tires for.

      KFG

    3. Re:New solutions create new problems... by Rolo+Tomasi · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Judging from the weight of this thing, the slightest gust of wind would probably send it tumbling to the ground. So I'm guessing he's only flying it indoors.

      --
      Did you know you can fertilize your lawn with used motor oil?
  5. Wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny
    The server must be hosted on one of those things. I feel sorry for the Hamster RC unit! It must have already burst into flames and burnt to the ground...

    *sniff*

    1. Re:Wow by Rufus211 · · Score: 1, Redundant

      that has to be one of the fastest /.'ings ever. I tried to mirror the page when there were only 3 comments. Got through the index page at 1kb/sec then died (and the index is fairly uninteresting w/o pics).

    2. Re:Wow by RESPAWN · · Score: 1

      The server must be hosted on one of those things. I feel sorry for the Hamster RC unit! It must have already burst into flames and burnt to the ground...
      *sniff*

      I love how no matter what the subject this same old joke just never gets old on /.

      C'mon folks! We're intelligent people! We should be able to come up with some new jokes here. Or at least find some way to kidnap a comedian and force him to come up with new material for us. ;)

      *now waiting for the obligatory "Imagine a Beowulf cluster of these" joke...*

      (I guess I shouldn't complain too much. At least the Natalie Portman and Grits jokes have died down over time...)

      --

      If Murphy's Law can go wrong, it will.

    3. Re:Wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
      *now waiting for the obligatory "Imagine a Beowulf cluster of these" joke...*

      (I guess I shouldn't complain too much. At least the Natalie Portman and Grits jokes have died down over time...)

      Imagine a beowolf cluster of these RC units over-flying a naked and petrified Natalie Portman covered in Hot Grits!

    4. Re:Wow by Stinking+Pig · · Score: 1

      I quiver in fear when I think of someone deciding my site is interesting enough for slashdotting :-) Though it wouldn't do anyone much good since I host it on my ADSL line :-) However, a coworker did have an ugly experience when his fractal images got linked via Google's math-celebration logo some weeks ago, which was followed up by a slashdotting the next day. Ow, two for one...

      --
      "Nothing was broken, and it's been fixed." -- Jon Carroll
  6. Obligatory Slashdotting Joke by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 0, Redundant
    It appears his server was running on this thing. Badum-dum-ching. *deflects objects being thrown at him.*

    --
    Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
  7. "Home Brew"? by ergonal · · Score: 4, Funny

    Damn, when I saw the title of this article, I was imagining a minature home beer brewing kit, with a remote control to deliver beer to my desk! The disappointment upon reading the rest of the story was overwhelming.

    1. Re:"Home Brew"? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      he should disclose Payload and add a wireless Video link so atleast it could retrive an aproprate sized beer for it to carry if it were to be equipped with a mechanism to grab and hold your beer :)

    2. Re:"Home Brew"? by Telex54 · · Score: 0

      I'm sure I'll be similarily dissapointed when I get a chance to read the article... slashdotted

    3. Re:"Home Brew"? by Wuukie · · Score: 1

      I'm sure I'll be similarily dissapointed when I get a chance to read the article... slashdotted

      I too am eagerly waiting to be disappointed! Oh boy, can't wait! Yey!

  8. Popularity by Wexton · · Score: 4, Funny

    I wonder if being posted on slashdot has over loaded the server banded with, i threw "Gansta Nation" - Westside Connection music video and the webpage was still wasn't loaded after the end.

    1. Re:Popularity by ch-chuck · · Score: 3, Funny

      I wonder if being posted on slashdot has over loaded the server banded with

      you must be new around here

      --
      try { do() || do_not(); } catch (JediException err) { yoda(err); }
    2. Re:Popularity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      I wonder if being posted on slashdot has over loaded the server banded with

      you must be new around here

      Maybe not. He spells like the regulars.

    3. Re:Popularity by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Didn't you hear? All new users must fail a spelling test to verify their account.

  9. I've patented Slashdot! by Linker3000 · · Score: 5, Funny

    "A device for rendering a previously-accessible Web site inaccesible by the mass mobilisation of Web users, in effect by directing said users to visit the stated Web site in response to a brief article posted on a publically-accessible forum-based, user-moderated news service."

    All your user IDs are belong to ME!!!

    L3K

    PS: Are you with me (small licence fee payable) or do I have to sue you all?

    --
    AT&ROFLMAO
    1. Re:I've patented Slashdot! by quonsar · · Score: 5, Funny

      Federal agents have arrested Commander Taco, of Slashdot.org on cyberterrorism charges under the USA PATRIOT Act for a malware attack against over 20 internet web sites. As part of an online weblog on February 29, 2004, Mr. Taco "linked" the sites on the front page of his website. He disguised the links as ordinary "hypertext", thus inducing users to click them. This effectively sent the malicious links to his 800,000 readers. The next time they tried to log on, they would end up killing the servers linked to. Prosecutors charge that the act meets the definition of cyberterrorism since it endangered public internet safety."

      --

      Sacred cows make the best burgers.

  10. Flight issues at small scale? by Lord_Dweomer · · Score: 4, Interesting
    So I know when you scale helicopters down they get much harder to control, which is why RC helis tend to be so damned jumpy compared to their full size brethren.

    Could anybody who knows the physics behind this please explain how this thing will perform/behave compared to a normal RC heli, and then compared to a full size heli?

    --
    Buy Steampunk Clothing Online!
    1. Re:Flight issues at small scale? by Moderation+abuser · · Score: 5, Informative

      The small cheapo ones don't have gyros. The more expensive, larger RC ones usually do.

      --
      Government of the people, by corporate executives, for corporate profits.
    2. Re:Flight issues at small scale? by BuckaBooBob · · Score: 1

      Not knowing for sure.. But Cheap components and weight is most likely the factors that hare the most likelyness to contribute to this.

      --
      Who needs WiFi when we can have Packet Over Sheep! http://datacomm.org/PoS-InternetDraft.txt
    3. Re:Flight issues at small scale? by LiquidCoooled · · Score: 4, Interesting

      isnt it to do with the range of motion the servos have than the full sized control units?

      TO miniturise them you can only get a preset range of positions.

      I am only speculating, but it seems plausable after the mini RC cars I have owned, my original large 1/12 scale had variable steering, but the smaller ones all seem to operate simply between straight ahead and full lock.

      --
      liqbase :: faster than paper
    4. Re:Flight issues at small scale? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      It's all weight and momentum.

      Just like a huge ship takes a long time to turn, the larger/heavier flyers are more stable (especially outside).

      With gyros the small ones can be very stable when there is no wind.

    5. Re:Flight issues at small scale? by c4Ff3In3+4ddiC+ · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Actually, you just have to quit buying toys. For example, I recently picked up a 1/18 scale Losi Mini-T. It's just a smaller version of their 1/10 scale truck. Fully proportional stearing, electronic speed control, etc. Mine will go about 20MPH (No, it's not stock).

      --
      *twitch*
    6. Re:Flight issues at small scale? by LiquidCoooled · · Score: 1

      :) maybe your right

      --
      liqbase :: faster than paper
    7. Re:Flight issues at small scale? by mav[LAG] · · Score: 2, Informative

      Could anybody who knows the physics behind this please explain how this thing will perform/behave compared to a normal RC heli, and then compared to a full size heli?

      No idea but the Hoverfly flies like its much larger brothers by using small upward facing motors on its rotors and then co-ordinating them electronically. It does have a small gyro but there are no servos since cyclic and collective are controlled electronically and the anti-torque rotor is much smaller than normal since it's not the main rotor providing the thrust.

      --
      --- Hot Shot City is particularly good.
    8. Re:Flight issues at small scale? by Crypto+Gnome · · Score: 1

      I wonder if perhaps the larger mass and therefore momentum of the full-size chopper has anything to do with it?

      --
      Visit CryptoGnome in his home.
    9. Re:Flight issues at small scale? by X86Daddy · · Score: 2, Funny

      The small cheapo ones don't have gyros. The more expensive, larger RC ones usually do.

      For anyone wanting this to be cost effective, I seriously recommend eliminating the in-flight meal.

    10. Re:Flight issues at small scale? by Suidae · · Score: 3, Informative

      Radio Shacks ZipZap Special Edition 1/64th scale RC cars use a digital proportional control system for throttle and steering. When it works correctly you get about 7 discreet steering steps to the left and right, 5 foward speeds and 3 reverse.

      Unfortunately Radio Shack can't seem to get the manufacturing right and the steering usually sucks in a big way. There are three models of the PCB (so far), one can be fixed and works beautifully, the other two pretty much just suck.

      You can find lots of information about the various cars on the micro RC forums, one of which can be found here . Just be aware that most of the contributors are in the 10-15 year old age range.

    11. Re:Flight issues at small scale? by jd_esguerra · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Not-too-technical speculation ahead:

      A few points: First, a craft with small inertias would be susceptible to random environmental disturbances: It would get blown around in turbulence. Second, in the case of sensor/electrical noise, the lower inertia of an RC craft would allow the actuating mechanisms to impart a noticable mechanical response to higher frequency noise (F=ma, T=I(dw/dt)). And C, the huge mass of the control surface components of the full-sized helicoptor would not allow their servo control loops to be operated at so high a bandwidth. An analogous situation would be the power steering mechanism of a car vs the steering mechanism of a RC car. (How fast can you alternate between 45-degrees right and 45-degrees left with the RC car ? With the real car ?)

      These args also apply to the system response to operator input. A twitchy finger on the RC control will send a twitchy reference signal to the servos on in the RC vehicle. The high-bandwidth servos will move track the "twitchy" reference signal, moving the control surfaces. Being not-so-massive, the RC heli will respond (accelerate) quickly to the change in forces/torques created by those surfaces. A "twitchy" operator in a real heli might impart an equally "twitchy" reference signal to the heli's servos, however, a combination of large-mass, actuator/control system limitations, and mechanical limitations will cause the "twitchy" part of the signal to be low-pass-filtered.

      In a calm operating environment with undisturbed air, a RC heli could probably be made to operate like a full size heli by lowpass filtering the commands to the actuators controlling the control surfaces.

    12. Re:Flight issues at small scale? by deblassc · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Its all about Mass.

      a full scale (real) heli in a hover is easier to control due to the mass of the aircraft. wind and turbulance have much less effect on it and the craft as a whole reacts "slower".

      when you get down to the .60 size choppers slight winds and such that wouldnt be even felt with a full scale start to buffet the chopper requiring more input . it also reacts quicker then the fullscale due to less mass being thrown around.

      when you get to something like the pixel sized... a small fan can be catostrophic.

      same with airplanes. a 1/2A scale plane (.049 sized engine) is a whole lot harder to fly then a 40% giant.... but a lot cheaper.

  11. "Go check it"... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Heh.. Aiming for the fastest Slashdotting again, aren't we?

  12. New page 1 by etnoy · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Well, I am unavailable to retrieve the whole page, but what I see is "New Page 1" as the page title (thanks /.) Now, that is what I call a professional page!

    --
    Quantum hacker.
  13. Re:Isn't the point of a Slashdot post lost... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    IF IT'S TOO STUPID TO READ!?

  14. Other things you can do with RC helicopters by Realistic_Dragon · · Score: 5, Interesting

    One of the research groups here has a RC helicopter that has mounted on the bottom a video camera, a still camera, location system and 4 FM 56kbps transmitters. It has an embedded xscale and embedded PPC processors.

    It's supposed to be a testbed for data compression and transmission type stuff, but in fact they mostly use it on hot summer days to look in local gardens for sunbathing women :)

    --
    Beep beep.
    1. Re:Other things you can do with RC helicopters by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      and when will the pics and video be posted up for all to see?

    2. Re:Other things you can do with RC helicopters by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ...like Danny Dunn, "Invisible Boy" (http://www.norder.com/nostalgia/Danny-Dunn-Invisi ble-Boy.html) One of the best Sci-Fi stories I read as a kid. I've been waiting for technology to catch up for, oh, the last 30 years

    3. Re:Other things you can do with RC helicopters by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
      but in fact they mostly use it on hot summer days to look in local gardens for sunbathing women :)

      Thanks for confirming the stereotype, you bunch of fucking losers. It's assholes like you that mean our RC club can't fly locally because everyone things that's all we're doing is spying on women.

    4. Re:Other things you can do with RC helicopters by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Thanks for confirming the stereotype, you bunch of fucking losers. It's assholes like you that mean our RC club can't fly locally because everyone things that's all we're doing is spying on women.

      Whats wrong with spying on women who are out in the open in their backyard? If they are hot, in their bathing suits, then their beauty deserves to be observed upon. What are you, a freaking homo or something?!

  15. so.. by jeff+munkyfaces · · Score: 0, Redundant

    how do i make one?

  16. This looks like a nice project.. by Awptimus+Prime · · Score: 4, Interesting


    I would like to see someone post some mini-RC howto sites. Some instructions on how to build a little chopper or plane would be some nice reading.

    1. Re:This looks like a nice project.. by Awptimus+Prime · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Okay, I am not one to usually reply to my own comment, but I went searching for small-scale projects and found a design involving using parts from a $10-40 TOMYTEC mini-RC car (or clone) and a $13 electric airplane.

      It involves a decent amount of hardware hacking, but looks like a fun design for not much money. Mind you, you can probably buy a pre-built toy with similar capabilities for about the same money.

      The project is located here.

    2. Re:This looks like a nice project.. by klone0 · · Score: 1

      Check out E-Zone The forums are very cool.

  17. he should really by Digitus1337 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    He should really attach a little beeper thing to it. Like a car in a parking lot, this thing could be lost very easily.

    1. Re:he should really by dougmc · · Score: 4, Informative
      He should really attach a little beeper thing to it. Like a car in a parking lot, this thing could be lost very easily.
      You mean something like this? At 7 g, it would double the weight of his helicopter. :) (but yes, you can buy or build similar devices that weigh less.)

      Still, for larger (larger than 7 g anyways) R/C planes, these things are *very* nice. I put one in just about all my planes, and already they've saved me lots of trekking around in the woods looking for a plane of mine that I've lost ...

  18. Interesting false premise. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    Since the technology has been patented . . .

    Stop right there with that incorrect premise. A patent was applied for in 2001, no mention of any patent being granted.

  19. google cached by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    http://216.239.41.104/search?q=cache:Q2NWz3JwXhIJ: pixelito.reference.be/+pixelito&hl=en&ie=UTF-8

    1. Re:google cached by swilver · · Score: 5, Informative

      Working link

    2. Re:google cached by Celsius10 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Look at that hamster watching and plotting, waiting for the right moment. Ten years from now the sky will be black with those things!

      --
      "Little things hitting each other. THAT'S WHAT I LIKE!" - Time Bandits
  20. Granted patent by nuggz · · Score: 4, Insightful

    This patent has not been granted yet.
    So they are keeping it a secret.

    If the patent is denied, they can have an advantage by rolling it out earlier.
    If it is granted, you can go look it up.

  21. Woohoo! Weeeeee! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Now I can feel like a kid again!

    Oh, wait...

  22. email by nycsubway · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I was getting dozens of junk emails about the "new mini RC cars! the smallest RC car available" around christmas time last year. I wonder if he had anything to do with those emails....... hmmmm.....

    --
    http://github.com/gbook/nidb
  23. Way to go by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Great, now the EvilCorporations will find him and erase him thanks to you!

    That is one serious slashdotting.

  24. The United Stated is the whole world, isn't it? by frovingslosh · · Score: 4, Informative
    I'm not sure about abandoned applications, though. In addition, the full text of every patent since the mid-1970's is available online at www.uspto.gov.

    Look at the site's URL. Alaxender isn't in the United States. Why assume he filed the patent with the uspto? Still, the "secret" may be a matter of public record, but not likely at the link you gave.

    --
    I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
  25. more by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    there's a nice article here

  26. Mirror to picture by va3atc · · Score: 5, Informative

    I have managed to get a picture off the slashdotted webpage. Appears small might be an overstatement of its size.

    --
    Candle burns its brightest in the dark
    1. Re:Mirror to picture by 3digitnic · · Score: 4, Funny

      I for one welcome our new giant hamster overlords?

      --

      If stupidity got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?
      --Will Rogers
    2. Re:Mirror to picture by System.out.println() · · Score: 1

      Umm... why are the PNG's dimensions 962x716 but the picture is only like a tenth of that?

      --
      I've got more mod points and GMail invi
  27. And I've patented mirrors! by yaj · · Score: 1, Funny

    "A device for rendering a site made inaccessible by 'SLASHDOT' accessible once again."

  28. *licks pencil, ticks off entry* by rtilghman · · Score: 0, Redundant


    Another hobbyist's site decimated by an irresponsible unwarned link from Slashdot.

    Its good to know we have teh power to single-handedly drive independant servers off the net by eating their bandwidth and overloading their systems.

    Hazah for pro only hosting!

    -rt

  29. Backyard Flyer magazine by Chr1s-Cr0ss · · Score: 2, Informative

    I just read about this nifty contraption in Backyard Flyer magazine, a publication for miniature RC planes and such. there's a little column on it, with a URL that they haven't posted yet.
    It says that the first one he built was in 1997, and it weighed 125 grams. "20 prototypes later, the Pixelito still has 4-channel control and weighs just 6.9 grams--almost 20 times lighter!" Apparently, it is controlled by IR from a modified futaba radio, so he wouldn't have to worry about it going out of sight, lol.

    btw: the body is made out of a single 1mm-diameter carbon-fiber rod. sweet.

    --

    68.3% of all statistics are made up on the spot.
  30. Battery? by Chr1s-Cr0ss · · Score: 3, Insightful

    You know, i haven't seen anything on how long the battery lasts in this thing. This article says it has a 45 mAh lithium-polymer cell, which would last about 5 seconds on a regular RC copter.
    I'd give the pixelito a generous estimate of lasting 90 seconds.

    --

    68.3% of all statistics are made up on the spot.
  31. Great... by chipster · · Score: 1

    Oh great - now I can't SSH into my freeshell.org account. Thanks a lot ;-)

  32. Oh NO... by roemcke · · Score: 1

    ... The Giant Killer Hamsters are attacking!!

    1. Re:Oh NO... by alteridem · · Score: 1
      ... The Giant Killer Hamsters are attacking!!

      In little tiny attack helicopters!!!

  33. Mod this AC up! Good info on the components by janbjurstrom · · Score: 1

    Reposting the AC's link: Didel, PicoBird.

    --
    668.5
  34. One small problem by Crusty+Oldman · · Score: 1

    One small problem: You won't be able to control this new toy because internet-over-power-lines is interfering with your radio signal!

  35. Saw these before, here. by nurb432 · · Score: 1

    There was a story about these same things last year.. ( summer perhaps? )

    Was disappointed to see they weren't for sale back then. Seems things haven't changed yet.

    --
    ---- Booth was a patriot ----
  36. A genius by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    Mod:Redundant but

    If you ask an Anonymous Coward like me i would say that this guy is a genius artist. the simble beuty if his design is wonderfull .

  37. really? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    How do powerlines affect an infrared signal?

    1. Re:really? by Crusty+Oldman · · Score: 2, Funny

      Uh oh! Looks like someone didn't read the Slashdotted site before he posted!

  38. You can buy them by ASDFnz · · Score: 5, Informative

    Even though the guy does not sell the ones he builds he got together with a German company a while ago called Ikarus. You can now buy micro-helicopters all over the Internet at places like http://www.slyshobbyden.net/fun_piccolo .

    1. Re:You can buy them by ASDFnz · · Score: 2, Informative

      If you want more info Ikarus has a forum here;-

      www.ikarus-modellbau.de

      This is also a good site for general Electric Helicopter information;-

      Dream-Models.com

  39. A Hamster eh? by KanSer · · Score: 1

    Smaller then a hamster? What kind?

    What we really need to know is how many library of congresses this thing could remotely control...

    --
    • MOD PARENT UP by Anonymous Coward Wednesday April 20, @4:20
  40. Bending carbon rods by vikstar · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I'd like to try my hand at one of these. You can easily buy straight carbon rods at a hobby shop, but does anyone know of a away to bend them into a desired shape, like the helicopter chassis in pixelito?

    --
    The question of whether a computer can think is no more interesting than the question of whether a submarine can swim.
  41. You can get smaller by abennett · · Score: 3, Informative
    Jean-Marie Piednoir of France makes an even smaller one. 3 channels, built in speed control and weights 2.2 grams, including crystal.

    You can get them in the US from Bob Selman (http://users.joplin.com/~bselman/JMPCombo.htm).

    1. Re:You can get smaller by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      ...and a very nice unit it is, too. However, the device mentioned in the in the header also includes the weight of the surrounding helicopter.

      With cell. :)

  42. Low-cost aerial surveillance by Thomas+Shaddack · · Score: 2, Insightful
    Couple ideas for some bigger-scale heli models:

    Use a small RC-controlled helicopter, outfitted with a wireless camera pointing downwards. Fly in a criss-cross pattern over the area you want a photograph of. Use software mentioned on /. couple days ago for generating a high-resolution aerial photograph of the area. Could be also useful for espionage.

    Improvements: Use a fleet of microcopters with infrared uncooled bolometer cameras for patrolling over an area when eg. searching for a missing person or guarding a space. Load other instruments on board for eg. environmental monitoring, eg. taking air samples from the immediate vicinity of eg. factory chimneys - useful for eg. underground ecology groups without much funding.

    Speculative idea: Could it be possible to put some helium-filled balloons to the sides of the copter? That could offset the weight of the additional onboard equipment, and could serve as cushioning for expensive instruments in case of crash-landing (or as floating bags for crash-landing into water). It'd be a cross of a helicopter and a blimp/dirigible, though. But would make it possible to have a quite large frame with balloons and multiple rotors, capable of carrying considerable amount of equipment. Could also be pretty stable in flight.

    1. Re:Low-cost aerial surveillance by MagicYoshi · · Score: 1

      You could just go all the way and make a remote controlled blimp. I should think it would require less power and more of the power could go into steering and propulsion. Plus, they have some available already that you could hack.

      OT: What software are you talking about? I think I missed the story, but it piques my curiosity.

  43. Johnny 5 already did this better... by vistic · · Score: 2, Funny

    In Short Circuit 2, he had a REALLY tiny multifunctional remote control on his head... which he used to fly a toy airplane into the bad guy's butt.

  44. I couldn't find the feet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Where are these amazing feet the poster spoke of?

  45. Java buttons ? by bedok77 · · Score: 1

    That sure brings back memories.

  46. looks like it uses a piezo controller by nietsch · · Score: 3, Interesting

    instead of a swashplate, it uses one piezo contoller that adjusts the angle of the rotor blades (tilt is longitudonally (sp?)) The peizo element is driven by the current running between two contact pairs.
    1 for forward/reverse 1 for sideways.

    (now for some -i know it better than this guy- ramblings:
    It could be done even simpler with a little more logic in the controller: eliminate the divided pickup ring and replace it with two continous contacts on the rotorshaft. determine the rotor speed from a optocoupler or the motor, and have your controller output the right pulses at the right time. More electronics, less moving pairs. better control over the rotor angle at all parts of the cycle)

    --
    This space is intentionally staring blankly at you
  47. how can i be reading the details then? nt by nietsch · · Score: 1

    nt

    --
    This space is intentionally staring blankly at you
  48. RC = Radio controlled? by CaptainAmerica1941 · · Score: 1

    Where is the radio?

    1. Re:RC = Radio controlled? by Ill_Omen · · Score: 1

      In this case, RC means simple 'Remote Controlled' The signal is transmitted over IR, presumably because the IR receiver can be made smaller than an RF receiver.

  49. what a sell-out.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...part of the "tinkering" world is to sell or make available plans so you can build your own. By posting this website all this wanker is doing is saying, "Ha Ha, I have one, and you don't"

  50. Danny Dunn, Invisible Boy by neillewis · · Score: 1

    Does this amazing miniature RC video-controlled kit remind anyone else of the plot of 'Danny Dunn, Invisible Boy', a preiscient book I read repeatedly as a kid.

  51. Damn by jhylkema · · Score: 1

    I thought it said world's smallest homebrew unit.

    Oh well, back to my 20-quart boiling pot and carboys . . .

    (sigh)