08-24-2004, 05:00 AM
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Magi
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,186
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The Bluetooth Helicopter: Why?
Our story begins in Japan, as many stories do. For some reason, a company best known for watches and printers decided that building a tiny helicopter was a good idea. Apparently having just a tiny helicopter wasn't good enough (maybe their friends in the Tiny Helicopter Making Club made fun of them?), so they equipped their creation with a bluetooth radio. It would be kind of cool if they could control the helicopter in real-time via bluetooth, but alas, the protocol is just used to send a one-time, pre-programmed set of instructions to the helicopter. I guess they didn't want it to plummet from the sky 30 feet from the operator. Pansies. 
What I'm having trouble with is the practical application here. The only thing I can think of is that it could be used to airlift very small insects for very short distances. Other than that, I've got nothin'. How about you? Any ideas? Besides the obvious search and rescue? :mrgreen:
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08-24-2004, 05:06 AM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,479
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Either to FUTUREPROOF it or failing that just to please SeanH
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08-24-2004, 05:10 AM
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Mystic
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,725
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Definely in the W?BIC category. :lol:
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08-24-2004, 05:28 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 168
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Fun Toy!
I would love to buy one that had real time control...Say $200?
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08-24-2004, 05:40 AM
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Mystic
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,911
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Fishie
Either to FUTUREPROOF it or failing that just to please SeanH
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:rofl:
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08-24-2004, 05:52 AM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,329
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Several thoughts.
1. Espionage use or practical military applications for building surveillance or deployment of bomblets that float to the ground and wait to be activated. Imagine a Galaxy transport dropping these in an urban environment. 50,000 of these things float down to the ground and sit there with a prox sensor. When the �good guys� (I�ll keep it generic for PC purposes.) come in they are all wearing BT transmitters that disable the devices when they get in range. So walking down a street littered with such munitions is hazardous for the �bad guys� but easy for the �good guys�
2. Commercial use in inspecting an area that isn�t reachable without going through the hassle of getting a ladder. Example would be to check out a roof for damage after a storm or something. Or possibly media use. Imagine the scene of a burning house or something. After everyone is evacuated the TV van deposits several dozen of these things in the area to get multiple vantage point of the scene without needing to call in a chopper.
3. Crowd control monitoring. Imagine a post collage football game that spills out onto the streets. Such a device could be linked to a squad car and linked back to dispatch.
4. You know those guys who fly model airplanes or do amature rockets? This appeals to the geek. This would be a cool toy to whip out IF it could be made to respond to BT commands.
In each case there are a few things missing from this implementation.
1. Solid battery life. (They were talking 3 minutes for one of these things. The above suggestions wouldn�t work with that kind of battery life.)
2. Ability to maintain a link at greater distances then current BT specs allow (But keep in mind with the right transmitter such a small receiver should be �good enough�
3. The ability to carry audio and video equipment on it.
4. The software and infrastructure to go with the suggested hardware. So a program that scans a house roof is �smart� enough to see yep that is a crack in your shingling and flags it red on the roofer�s Pocket PC.
However keep in mind this would be only a first generation device. Think 10 years from now.
__________________
PDA History: Palm Pilot 5000 -> Apple Newton 2100 -> Casio E-11 -> iPaq 3650 (64MB Upgrade) -> iPaq 3700 -> Casio EM-500 -> HP Jornada 568 -> HP iPaq hx4705 www.spreadfirefox.com |
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08-24-2004, 06:27 AM
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Thoughts Media Review Team
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 599
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jonathan1
In each case there are a few things missing from this implementation.
3. The ability to carry audio and video equipment on it.
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According to the report on the BBC News web site, the helicopter can take and send video.
Now, make it last a bit longer than 3 minutes and it would make a great alternative to hiring a crane or a normal helicopter when you want those overhead shots.
In fact, thinking about it a bit longer, it makes more sense to use pre-programmed instructions. BT doesn't exactly have a fantastic range so it would be better to plot a course, program it in and set it going. Easier to fly that way, as well.
I want! :mrgreen:
--Philip
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08-24-2004, 06:46 AM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,329
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Philip Colmer
In fact, thinking about it a bit longer, it makes more sense to use pre-programmed instructions. BT doesn't exactly have a fantastic range so it would be better to plot a course, program it in and set it going. Easier to fly that way, as well.
I want! :mrgreen:
--Philip
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Wasn't there something on PPCT about a month ago about someone getting a couple mile transmission with BT? As long as one side of the conversation can send a strong sig and receive a weak one you shouldn't need anything above and beyond BT. Then again if a reporting crew distributes a few dozen of these suckers you wouldn�t want to actually control them. A limited AI in the van should be able to handle navigation with more higher level functionality being handled by the crew in the van. So say Joe sees that cam 5, 16, 18, 21 have a good shots and all are steamed to the new station which is then streamed to the viewer who can view a scene from multiple angles. Then again the news is depressing enough as it is. Do you really want to see a train derailment from 16 different angles. :-\ On a brighter note how about sports? 
Also keep in mind that isn't the BT 2 specs due sometime next year? And I thought the distance and bandwidth of it was much better then the v1 standards.
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PDA History: Palm Pilot 5000 -> Apple Newton 2100 -> Casio E-11 -> iPaq 3650 (64MB Upgrade) -> iPaq 3700 -> Casio EM-500 -> HP Jornada 568 -> HP iPaq hx4705 www.spreadfirefox.com |
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08-24-2004, 06:53 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 134
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One question:
WHERE ARE THE PLANS?!
That is all.
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08-24-2004, 08:19 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 126
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Jonathan1
Several thoughts.
1. Espionage use or practical military applications for building surveillance or deployment of bomblets that float to the ground and wait to be activated. Imagine a Galaxy transport dropping these in an urban environment. 50,000 of these things float down to the ground and sit there with a prox sensor. When the �good guys� (I�ll keep it generic for PC purposes.) come in they are all wearing BT transmitters that disable the devices when they get in range. So walking down a street littered with such munitions is hazardous for the �bad guys� but easy for the �good guys�
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I can see it now...
A grunts BT transceiver gets damaged (say by a bullet), next thing he knows a swarm of these little guys start coming at him. Because he is with his patrol getting first aid (remember bullet) they all get blown up.
New meaning to Blue on Blue
I see a movie being made about this :-)
On a serious note, this isn't anything new - except Bluetooth part. The DOD has people (for years) trying to create insect size devices for the purposes quoted.
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