Seiko Epson create 12.3g UAV

[Fat Tone]

http://www.epson.co.jp/e/newsroom/news_2004_08_18.htm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/3579232.stm

[ZokesPro]

I was expecting a camera, but that device is way better!

I want one!!!

[VJ]

You get the best of both worlds: it has a camera!
(3 minutes of autonomy... considering the predecessor was tethered and still weighed more, it is a great achievement) The weight is apparently less than an empty can!

But...: Pixelito presented a remote controlled helicopter that weights 6.9 g....
article: http://www.gizmodo.com/archives/pixe...ter-019918.php
pixelito home: http://pixelito.reference.be/


Jörg

[Fat Tone]

Next step: Getting the hamster to pilot the 'copter!

[VJ]

For those interested, there is a description of the construction and the parts used on the pixelito site...


Jörg

[Greebe]

Actually there are many hobbiest who have much lighter weight R/C aircraft (which is what this is). The lightest is ~4.7 grams

[Greebe]

The camera on the black widow weights in at a whopping 2.7 grams

To have such ultra light craft the trade off is a flying time of upto a couple of minutes... that's not counting the power requirements of adding a camera.

whoops, just checked a few references... Henry Pasquet has a 4" (~10cm)CO2 powered Lacy M-10 that weighs a whooping 2.6 grams including the R/C system used. The R/C system for it was made by Nick Leichty and single silver oxide 337 (hearing aid) battery powers it.

Nick himself has a Aero Master biplane that has a 5.5" (14cm) span and weighs in at 5.5 grams

[Greebe]

My favorite tho has to be Matt Keennon's twin powered electric scale P-38. Weighs in at 1.23oz (35 grams) and has twin 145mah lipo batteries and has a 10.5" (26.5cm) wingspan. It's not as small as the others but flys very impressively.

Matt works for the US Goverment on micromodel projects.

[Fat Tone]

For any of these to have a use beyond entertainment value, they also need to be controllable over a useful distance and transmit surveillance info over the same distance. How do your references perform on that score?

[Greebe]

Better Question is how do you see them @ range

Most are flown only indoors (Golf domes, sports areanas and gynasiums to name a few) they can do range, but only if fitted with a camera and flown with a head up display.

The Goverment/military application would be the perverbial fly on the wall reconnaissance and or as a tactical weapon where direct placement with in a room/building to would be neccessary.