Slashdot Mirror
Epson's 12 Gram Flying Robot
fraxinus-tree writes "Epson has developed a very small (8.6g w/o battery) flying device, something like a bluetooth-controled palm-top helicopter." Since it can carry 5 grams for only 3 minutes, I can't imagine much practical use, but it's still neat.
12g - 8.6g = 3.4g battery. Can carry a spare and a half and fly for a few more minutes.
Engineering is the art of compromise.
Seiko Epson Corporation ("Epson") today announced that it has successfully developed a lighter and more advanced successor to the FR, the world's smallest and lightest micro-flying robot. Turning once again to its micromechatronics technology, Epson has redefined the state of the art with its FR-II micro-flying robot--the world's new lightest and most advanced microrobot, which also features Bluetooth wireless control and independent flight*2. The FR-II will be on display at the Emerging Technology Fair, part of the Future Creation Fair that runs from August 27 to 30 at the Tokyo International Forum.
Epson has long been engaged in the research and development of microrobots and in the development of applications for their enabling technologies. The FR-II is only the latest chapter in an Epson success story that began with Monsieur, a microrobot that was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's smallest microrobot and was put on sale in 1993. Having made micromechatronics one of its core technologies, the company has since created and marketed several more microrobots in the EMRoS series*3. April 2003 saw the introduction of the Monsieur II-P, a prototype microrobot that operates on the world's thinnest microactuator (an ultra-thin, ultrasonic motor)*4 and is remote-controllable via a power-saving Bluetooth module. The following November, Epson unveiled the prototype micro-flying robot FR, which featured two ultra-thin, ultrasonic motors driving two contra-rotating propellers for levitation, plus the world's first*5 linear actuator stabilizing mechanism for attitude control during flight.
However, the FR prototype microrobot's flying range was limited by the length of the power cord attaching it to an external battery, and although it was radio-controlled, it had to be kept within sight of the operator while flying. Consequently, Epson decided that the next step was to extend the flying range by developing fully wireless operation paired with independent flight capability. The main issue to be tackled with regard to wireless flight was the need to combine lighter weight with greater dynamic lift. Epson made the robot lighter by developing a new gyro-sensor that is a mere one-fifth the weight of its predecessor, making it the world's smallest and lightest*6 gyro-sensor. Also helping to shed weight is the high-density mounting technology used to package the microrobot's two microcontrollers including the Epson-original S1C33-family 32-bit RISC. Dynamic lift was boosted 30% by introducing more powerful ultra-thin ultrasonic motors and newly designed, optimally shaped main rotors. As for the challenge of independent flight, Epson brought its many years of micromechatronics experience to bear in realizing the development of a linear actuator with faster response time and a high-precision attitude control mechanism, and a flight path control and independent flight system (primarily for hovering).
To top it off, Epson added an image sensor unit that can capture and transmit aerial images via a Bluetooth wireless connection to a monitor on land, and they also devised two LED lamps that can be controlled as a means of signaling. Epson was assisted by Chiba University's Nonami (Control and Robotics) Laboratory in developing the control system for independent flight. The company also received advice on the rotor design from the Kawachi (Aeronautics and Astronautics) Laboratory at the University of Tokyo.
The key concept behind Epson's R&D efforts in micro-flying robots has been to expand the horizons of microrobot activities from two-dimensional space to three-dimensional space. Now, with the successful implementation of Bluetooth communications and independent flight in the FR-II, Epson has literally added a new dimension to microrobotics while greatly expanding the potential range of microrobot applications by incorporating image capture and transmission functions. At the Emerging Technology Fair, the FR-II micro-flying robot's features are expected to be showcased in artistic aeria
The Pixelito http://pixelito.reference.be/ is a far lighter RC helicopter. It weighs in at only 6.9 grams *with* battery. Check out the page for as size comparison with a hamster.
The future doesn't have to be like the past -- http://www.si
That was before it could fly untethered. Now that it's pseudo-autonomous and all, it's a lot slicker.
at 6.9g With battery!
http://pixelito.reference.be/
Nuke Gay Whales for Jesus.
Here's an in-flight picture, and another angle here.
Visit the Game Programming Wiki!
I never have mod points when I need em. Alexander Van de Rostyne pretty much single handedly created the micro r/c heli phenomenon. Really kicked off a whole new wave of ultra light/small electronics.
Check out the forums here for more info on all things R/C.
http://www.ezonemag.com
In the Globe and Mail version of the story, they say:
In Wednesday's demonstration at the company's Tokyo office, the Micro Flying Robot barely managed to get off the ground by a couple of metres and crashed off a table at one point.
The Globe article does have a picture of it hovering in front of some guy's face, however!
Visit the Game Programming Wiki!
With all the other micro and even nano-mechanical devices out now... am I the only one not impressed at all? There is nothing original at all about this device: technology, design, implementation, etc.
Maybe it's just me but this technology seems kinda dated at this point. Unless they make that thing the size of a dime or at least a quarter I'll just go back to my game of solitaire thank you very much. ;)
Did a little research, methinks the power-weight ration of solar is crappier than anything around.
Even with this thin-film solar cell, this little fella would need 133in^2 of surface area, and the solar cells alone would weigh 21.6g.
Too bad, but it'd still be cool to make an RC plane/predator/mini-uav/whatnot with the RC Aircraft series.
now I can hussle in the ghetto without worring about the po-po trying to bring me down cause they always hating.
nah, but seriously, 5 grams could be a lethal amount of many biotoxins.
validator.w3.org reports that page has 338 errors (instances of non-compliance).
Way to go, boys!