Quad/drones like the DJI Inspire practically fly themselves:

[video]http://youtu.be/1TQQcBWV6Vs[/video]

just keep it old school

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlJXbr4KIIw[/video]

So when are we going to see the first weaponised toy?

😯

When I was a kid, there was a TV show about a gang of smugglers using RC aircraft – they were foiled by a bunch of pesky kids who fitted crossbows to their RC planes.

So when are we going to see the first weaponised toy?

Matter of time till someone nasty decides that autonomous drone + explosives = really cheap guided bomb/missile. 🙁

But then they could do that with an RC plane too.

Have you seen what happens when you let some very smart programmers play with quadcopters:

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2itwFJCgFQ[/video]

So when are we going to see the first weaponised toy?

Well my brother did manage to fly it into my face at some speed. Even managing to capture a video of the event…

Finally took mine outside yesterday Sam, flew it around the church yard and almost immediately got it stuck in a tree 😀

Quite entertaining taking it up really high then cutting the throttle, watching it fall like a brick, then giving it throttle and it magically stabilises itself.

Only got that wrong once. Lucky it is fairly durable. 😳

So when are we going to see the first weaponised toy?

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNPJMk2fgJU[/video]

Lucky indeed, though not as embarrassing as if you’d had to retrieve it from the church roof! On boxing day I managed to get mine stuck in the top branch of the one tree in the field out the back of my parents’ house. a solid, 20 metre tall beech. Fortunately I managed to rock it out rather than having to get the ropes. I wasn’t expecting it to survive the drop onto a concrete slab but it was absolutely fine!

Small drone recovered by Secret Service staff from the grounds of the White House

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-30982937?ocid=socialflow_twitter

I like that the sidebar on that page has one of the aliens from Mars Attacks.

I just got a Skeye nano drone to play with – it’s stupidly small but is actually really controllable. Pretty stunning for $35.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkd4vOxcao4[/video]

If you want a small and cheap nano quad you can get a Cheerson CX-10 for a tenner at banggood.com

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YysyZBWx4Dk[/video]

Just ordered that Cheerson CX-10, should keep me occupied/frustrated until my Drone arrives in… September 😥

Think you might have talked me into one of those CX-10s too 🙂

Is there any advantage to left or right-hand throttle? Is one more “normal” than the other? I guess likening it to consoles, your left hand steers whereas your right controls throttle, is it similar for these?

Edit: Why do I get the feeling I’ve just asked an utter “noob” type question? 🙂

That CX-10 looks identical to the Skeye, feeling a bit ripped off now 😉

Left throttle is what’s normally used in the UK, so probably best to get that if you’re planning to learn to fly others too.

Found my answer 🙂
http://forum.banggood.com/forum-topic-31689.html

Order placed 🙂

By the way, if you want something a little larger then BangGood also have the Syma X5C-1, which is the one with the camera which lemonysam is flying (I think?) for £38.

http://www.banggood.com/Syma-X5C-Explorers-2_4G-4CH-RC-Quadcopter-Mode-2-With-Camera-p-913827.html

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y93vzA-KRlM[/video]

By the way, if you want something a little larger then BangGood also have the Syma X5C-1, which is the one with the camera which lemonysam is flying (I think?) for £38.

Yup, that’s right!

edit: Couple more photos. The second is the only one I’ve taken in Wylam as I realised how creepy it could be…

Nice. The quality looks not bad.

I’ve seen a few places suggesting that these little 720p keychain cameras are good for attaching to toy quads:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/160874297245?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2648&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Not sure if mine will manage the load though. Will have to experiment.

It looks a lot better as video than as photos but it’s still fun. I haven’t got any videos uploaded though.

Tons of hacks for the X5C-1 on YouTube by the way. Including bigger batteries, better antennas and different cameras.

Common thing seems to be to add some cushioning for the camera to calm any vibrations.

… Oh dear… That Syma X5C-1 actually looks OK, especially considering the price….

Now where is the STW thread on building a quadcopter for £99…..? 🙄

… Oh dear… That Syma X5C-1 actually looks OK, especially considering the price….

It’s great fun for the price. If you get it stuck in a tree you won’t mind that much so you can fly it more aggressively than you might something pricier.

If I had a capable Quadcopter, I would so do this….

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NL0zLHLMBVw[/video]

The racing FPV Quadcopters look fantastic. Good video guide to building your own –

tempting

Got my CX-10… It is tiny and yet very controllable!

Now where are the empty loo rolls and selotape to make a course in the office or home!!! 😀

Well, that didn’t last long – the Skeye worked for a day, and now refuses to pair with the transmitter. Oh well.

Edit: And it'[s started working again, leaving it upside down for a few seconds works. Odd.

verses – Member

Think you might have talked me into one of those CX-10s too It’s here!

And so far, I’m a bit crap at controlling it…

3 snapped props later and I’m getting much better at it 🙂

I’ve been really surprised at how tolerant of being smashed into walls and ceilings my little quad is (Syma X7). It came with spare blades but not broken anything yet. *touch wood* I’ve even let the kids fly it.

I guess in its favour it is pretty light, so has little momentum, and the motors that power the blades are pretty weedy and easily stopped by an obstacle.

Aye, mine’s pinged off the walls and ceiling like a pinball and doesn’t show any signs of giving up.

I’ve let my daughter control the direction but not the throttle/yaw, she can wait till the prop protectors arrive before I let her have full control 🙂

Still can’t get the hang of “nose in” flying (i.e. quad directly facing you).

I’m okay when it is at a bit of an angle but for some reason as soon as I turn it to face me my brain blue screens.

Just posted about the (possible) death of my quad here (didn’t want to clutter this thread with it).

I seems my mini-quad wasn’t dead after all, just resting (see my other thread, linked above, for details).

I can’t believe how robust it is 🙂