You see, it’s relatively easy (for nerds) to build a robot that can find its way to a target outdoors, thanks to the magic of GPS. But what if you want to search inside a building? GPS won’t help you there, believe me. I researched it extensively. If you don’t have a map of the building or whatever structure you’re infiltrating, you’re screwed. But more importantly, GPS receivers need a strong signal to work, something which you’ll have difficulty obtaining inside a building.

So the aforementioned MIT students came up with a laser scanner that sweeps the helicopter’s immediate area, and that along with some algorithm magic (yeah this is where I lose track of definitions) builds a corresponding rough three-dimensional map of the autonomous vehicle’s immediate environment, as shown in the image above. Now I need you to watch the video below and then answer one tiny question for me: when the narrator uses the word “we” and “us”, does he mean that they can control the robot remotely which means they can see the map that the laser sweep generates, or is the robot fully autonomous?

Maybe the chopper is the narrator, and it’s talking using lasers. I don’t know. I’m confused.

[via MIT Tech TV]

The helicopter uses a motorcycle’s engine, as well as steel pipes for the frame and wood from an Elm tree for the rotor blades. Wu’s father says that all in all his son spent less than £1,000 (approx. $1,700 USD) to develop the helicopter. Now the helicopter doesn’t look impressive – or safe – but you try building a helicopter with your own hands. I can’t even make a decent sandwich with mine.

Wu also claims that he “used his memories of middle school physics lessons” as well as other “relevant knowledge” acquired via surfing the internet on his mobile phone to build the helicopter. Awesome. What’s not awesome – although it’s probably for the best – is that the Chinese government has forbidden Wu from flying his creation, citing safety reasons. And probably envy.

Edit: I’ve removed the video because the helicopter in it is almost certainly not the one built by Wu. But it gets better: According to the person who posted the video, that other helicopter was also made by a Chinese farmer, Shaorong Chen. What are the chances? Can someone else back this up? And what is it with Chinese farmers and helicopters?

Thanks to Black ICE for the heads up!

[via Ananova & DVICE via Inventor Spot]

Japan’s Taiyo Toy makes these unusual toy helicopters that come with a voice control mode. Just speak into the included microphone, and you can direct the helicopter up and down, and turn the engines off and on.

Of course, it doesn’t quite understand English, so the commands are a little odd. To start up the engines, say “engine staato”, to shut the engines off, it’s “toe-mah-reh”. To go up, you say “appu”, but to fly down, you still say “down”. Go figure. You can always just hover by saying “holdo”.

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There’s also a good old RF radio controller in case you want to use conventional controls. But what fun would that be.

If you’re in the market for one of these oddities, you don’t have to go to Japan. You can now get your hands on the Voice-Heli worldwide, courtesy of the Japan Trend Shop. It’ll set you back $78 (USD), plus another $24 for international shipping. I’m not sure I’d spend over $100 bucks on something like this, but if you’ve always longed for a voice-controlled toy helicopter that understands half-English/half-Japanese, go for it.

Brainz showcased some of America’s present and future killing machines, developed in the superpower’s quest to lessen bloodshed. On their side at least. I must say, these warbots look like a bunch of proto-Decepticons.

The white one on the left is Boeing’s X-45 UCAV (Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle). Here’s how Brainz describes them: “Like horrors from a science fiction film, these things are meant to travel in packs, autonomously, and engage targets with lethal speed, maneuverability, and armament.” Sounds like Protoss Interceptors to me.*pees a little*

Uhm anyway the “dwarf-sized autonomous helicopter” on the right is the MQ-8 Fire Scout. Although he looks friendly with his smile and starry eyes, the MQ-8 is a killing machine. It can be fitted with Hellfire missiles and other “laser-guided armaments”; testing is also being done with alternative versions that are equipped with .338 caliber rifles. For pew pew pewing humans.

The one on the left looks like a movie prop, but its actually the US Marine Corps’ Gladiator. Smaller than a Mini, the Gladiator can be fitted to carry supplies for fleshbags, or it can be equipped with “enough mortar tubes to level a building a quarter-mile away.” Wow.

The one on the right isn’t actually autonomous, but I’m mentioning it because it comes closest to being the future infantry. Called TALON, it’s remote-controllable for up to 1,000 ft away, and although it “only comes up to knee height”, the TALON is a remote-controlled nightmare. It can be fitted with an M16, a .50 caliber rifle or an M249 machine gun. In the future, Counter-Strike players will have to choose between terrorists and TALONS.

So Old Snake was right: War has changed. Read the full article at Brainz and be cautiously impressed. I mean it would be stupid to assume that these things can’t be used, hacked or reverse-engineered for evil purposes. Why can’t we all just get along, you know, buy the world a Coke?

[via Switched]

Stanford researchers have designed these incredible little robots are about the size of a quarter for use in atmospheric research on Earth (and one day) on Mars. I just want them for conducting research in my office building.

[via Brendan's Official Blog via Neatorama]

A pair of soft, brightly colored rotors help to propel the Roboppi (ROBO-P) flyer upwards and produce stable flight.

As it flies through the air, colored LEDs inside the spinning body of the Roboppi blink rapidly, producing a whirlwind of color. Roboppi can fly around for up to 6 minutes at a time on a 25 minute charge.

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Of course the pint-size flyer is no match for your cat…

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

Until recently, the Roboppi was only available in Japan, but thanks to the guys over at the Japan Trend Shop, you can get one flown in pretty much anywhere on the globe for $41 USD + shipping.

The Draganflyer X6 is an unmanned, miniature helicopter which can carry wireless video or still digital cameras up, up in the air. Interchangeable modules let you swap between high-def video, still images, low light and thermal imaging cameras.

The craft uses a sophisticated 6-rotor design to maintain smooth, balanced flight, and has an embedded GPS system so you can keep track of the exact location of your copter.

11 on-board sensors and custom application code automatically stabilize the flyer, and if it loses the remote signal, it can automatically land itself and transmit its position via the GPS module.

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Check out this video clip in which the operator does everything he can to try and crash the X6, and it just won’t give in.

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Draganflyer’s remote control is no slouch either. It features a schmancy OLED display which relays back video, images, and real-time statistics on the helicopter’s flight data and GPS coordinates.

Designed for use in video production, military, emergency management and educational uses, the X6 is certainly no toy. Although I’d love to have one to play with (hint hint, Draganfly guys). And with a starting price tag of $14,995, you’ll be mighty glad it can land itself safely.

Click to View Embedded Video Clip

You can check out all the pertinent stats, and many more videos of the X6 in action over on the Draganfly website.

Measuring in at just 4.65 inches long, the minuscule MX-1 chopper takes the crown for the Worlds Smallest remote-controlled helicopter (besting its closest competition, which measures in at about 6-inches long).

It’s actually so small that it stows inside of its own recharger/remote control when not in flight – and the remote fits in your pocket. The body of the copter is built from durable EPP foam, which should keep it safe and sound even if you do bump it into your ceiling. There’s even a little flashing blue LED on the helicopter so you can fly it with the lights switched off.

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Ready to hit the skies? The tiny MX-1 is available now over at ThinkGeek, and priced at $49.99 USD.

But the real cool factor is a special autopilot mode which lets the Bladestar atuomatically avoid ceilings and other obstacles. Heck, you can even steer it by waving your hands in front of it. If you’d rather have more precise control over your flyer, just use the included digital IR remote control.

Thanks to the multi-channel remote system, you can even fly two Bladestars at the same time and take down your friend in Dogfight mode. It’s all made from a durable crash-resistant materials, and safe to fly indoors.

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The spinning blade design sort of reminds me of those annoying Manhacks from Half-Life 2. Unfortunately, these ones don’t have deadly metal saw blades mounted on them. Oh well.

Still, they do look pretty cool even if they won’t decapitate your enemies. You can get your hands on the Flytech Bladestar over on Amazon for just under $50 bucks.

[Flytech Bladestar]

Pressing a button on the remote can fire an invisible IR beam at your opponent’s helicopter, making it start to spin out of control. A second shot makes your enemy lose some power, and one more deadly shot kills power altogether, sending their copter plummeting to the ground.

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You can grab a pair of the dueling mini helicopters from ThinkGeek for $49.99.

The CAUL (Car Action Unit’s Line, whatever that means) Helibot can fly for about 5 minutes on a full battery charge, and can be remotely operated up to 90 feet away using the included 2.4GHz controller.

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The Helibot is available for pre-order now from NCSX Imports for $65.