CES 2014: A Powered, Remote Control Paper Airplane (Video)

Shai Goitein started with a powered paper airplane, the PowerUp 1, which was pretty cool. But he didn't stop there. The PowerUp 3 is a powered paper airplane you control with your smartphone. He calls this "a mixture of origami and technology." He also says it's a great toy, class project or whatever for the younger set, since kids start making paper airplanes at the age of six or seven. Adults? Why not? This is obviously a suitable toy for anyone with a two-digit (or three-digit) age number. And PowerUp 3.0 is a Kickstarter-funded project, with (at this writing) $928,091 pledged -- against a $50,000 goal, with another 15 days of Kickstarter funding left to go. There's also a smartphone-controlled PowerUp paper boat kit. Unlike the PowerUp airplane kits, it's not sold out (at this writing). Yet.

Comments

Smart phones make poor remote controls

[Ksevio]

I have one of those $15 remote control helicoptors that uses a smart phone as the control. It's difficult to work because you have to look at the screen to make sure you still have your thumb over the throttle/"joystick" while at the same time looking at the aircraft. It has a motion control mode too, but that only helps with steering and very precise steering is needed.

If it's cheap enough, it might make a cool remote control unit and it'd be great if it has an affordable camera.

Bluetooth

[TubeSteak]

How hard would it be to make a basic two or three channel RC controller that can handle bluetooth 4.0?

I'm a long time RC hobbyist and I lament the accelerating trend of using X hundred dollars worth of touchscreen + tilt sensors for the controller.
It's the difference between using a gamepad and a keyboard/mouse.