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Autonomous Model Glider Flies from 60,000 Feet

Posted by michael on from the buzz-bomb dept.

saccade writes "A couple years ago we read about a telemetry laden balloon launched to 80,000 feet single-handedly built by a laid-off engineer. Here's an even more elaborate one built at around the same time: A balloon launched model glider taken to about 60,000 feet that autonomously finds its way home. It had an auto-pilot and elaborate mission control system. Also impressive is the extensive testing done before launch."

9 of 170 comments (clear)

  1. Dangerous? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I guess I'm just glad that when it "finds its way home" it doesn't define "home" as "the White House Lawn" - and that the laid-off engineer who built it isn't angry with the world.

    1. Re:Dangerous? by Beryllium+Sphere(tm) · · Score: 5, Funny

      >Nothing at all, which is why missile defence against 'rouge nations' is a farce.

      Are "rouge nations" something like red states?

    2. Re:Dangerous? by XB-70 · · Score: 2, Funny

      The flight started in Canada and ended in the U.S.
      They had a heck of a time getting into the States, but the best line is about coming back:
      "The border crossing back into Canada consisted of a big red sign at the end of a deserted marina slip, with a 1-800 number. We called the number from a cell and they "let us back in" over the phone. Oh, Canada."

      --
      *** Don't be dull.***
  2. It does something by odioalsoco · · Score: 3, Funny

    Well, it is nice to see that people actually employs some time doing pretty impressive things. Not like the guy sitting in a chair hanging at 10000 feet using balloons. ;)

  3. Re:Amateur guidance system? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Actually, I think we should package this "homing glider" with an "Al Qaeda approved!" sticker on it and sell it to the terrorists ourselves.

    "Ha ha! With our "homing glider" bomb we will destroy the whitehouse! Look at it go!"

    "Hey, uhh... it's deployed... and the plane's heading back this way. What kind of glider did you say this was again?"

  4. Re:For once I read the FA by mtrisk · · Score: 5, Funny

    Well if it was only 50nm I'll go out and get it myself then...

    --

    Without a proper flamewar, Anonymous was undecided on what shell to run.
  5. Big deal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I built a glider that can find its way home from 60,000 feet in the air too. The only limitation is that "home" has to be directly below it. Apart from that, my glider, which I have named "SpaceBrick One", has a 100% success rate.

  6. Thanks saccade and michael by TopSpin · · Score: 2, Funny

    I was fascinated by this site when I first found it a few years ago. Unfortunately I failed to bookmark it at the time, and several attempt via Google failed. Thanks for digging it up for me!

    --
    Lurking at the bottom of the gravity well, getting old
  7. QOTD from this Story by thelizman · · Score: 3, Funny
    On their first flight, their craft landed about six km inside US territory, which mean they had to deal with US Customs. Being Canadian, and therefore unaccustomed to homeland security paranoia, they were honest with the border guards, which resulted in an extensive questioning and search before being allowed into the US. They found their ship, and headed back, at which point they had to deal with draconian entrance procedure at the Canadian Border:

    " The border crossing back into Canada consisted of a big red sign at the end of a deserted marina slip, with a 1-800 number. We called the number from a cell and they "let us back in" over the phone. Oh, Canada."