So I happened on an RC helicopter demonstration and it happened to be indoors and I think my dreams of jury rigging a UAV would take a lot of work beyond what I thought they would.

HOWEVER I still had to buy one. The effect of a decently mid-sized RC helicopter closing in on you could be extremely disruptive -- I wasn't commiting any crime and it still kinda absorbed my attention immediately. It looked like some kind of sci-fi drone c-c-c-c-c-c-c-c-c-oming to k-k-k-k-k-k-k-ill me... for real.

Now if you were thinking straight any person of average strength could pretty much swat this RC helicopter out of the air or else just ignore it, because really the worst it could possibly do is buzz around like a giant fly... the blades aren't even dangerous, really (except maybe to your eyes).

But if you're drunkenly trying to commit an aggravated assault and you see a sci-fi drone close in on you with maybe a laser pointer or even just an eerie red LED light attached to it... I bet that you would run away and if you didn't then you'd at least probably shift your focus to destroying the RC helicopter.

(...which would leave me out of $120, but also notably not involve you stabbing me between the intercostal space of my second and third ribs on the left side of my chest)

I can't wait to paint this thing and start learning to fly it. And it cost about as much as two-three cartons of cigarettes do here.

Another thing I learned from the demonstration, the littler ones (some of which are higher end than this one) actually would not have this disruptive effect.

could, depending on weight limitations, mount a small but bright light on it. add a switch on the controller to toggle it on remotely. Maybe a three way switch: off, on, strobe.

fly it in, turn on the light to illuminate the perp, set it to hover in place and go confront them.

Think about this: you're attempting a break in (for example). Trying to be sneaky you're already paranoid about getting caught. You are suddenly illuminated from above. Then this sorta robotic looking (really, you are, lol) thing comes stomping out of the darkness towards you, loudly telling you to get away from the window...
Man, I'd be outta there so fast my shoes would be smoking, lol...

My original plan was actually to portray myself as a robot in my RLSH persona, but the idea introduced too many impractical/restrictive elements...

I'm kinda hoping the helicopter can be an option to disrupt bad activities in some cases without involving physical risk. The thing really looks kinda waspish and startling.

Also I had the fantasy just now that I could mount a light just like my helmet light on it, fly the helicopter at about 7 feet in a diversionary direction, and then do a whole "switch to kryptonite..." fake out scenario... unfortunately I don't think that would work. It would definitely work on video, tho. :/

Now I want one of these -- only $17,500...
http://www.theflyingeyeprojectusa.com/rc_heli_camera_for_sale.htm

I also plan to build a UAV as the resources become available. The concept is to use the van as the mobile base and use an RC copter with camera and GPS to locate stranded people. Then once I have a location I can be much more efficient when I go out to rescue.

=AP=

Is this the one you got

click

I saw this one in pop sci a few weeks ago. They said it was pretty good and easy to fly. plus built in web camera to catch people in the act

Thats exactly the one I was going to suggest. I saw them at Target the other day for like $54, not bad

The problems with it is that it does not transmit the video to a screen you can watch in real-time and the range of these Airhogs is VERY limited.

=AP=

Hmm... no, but I think I'll have to get that. Even tho video isn't real time, you could do a short "recon" of an area and then FF thru it, I think.

Actually the helicopter I got isn't intended as a UAV -- it's intended as a disruptive presence in certain circumstances. I'm thinking of what kind of light(s) and shrill noise makers I might be able to attach.

The reason I thought of this is that I just stumbled on a demonstration and it was indoors at a kind of shopping mall... the effect of the helicopter approaching you under those circumstances is actually kind of menacing.

In actuality the model of RC helicopter I got is difficult to fly, which may have something to do with my suspicion that the control thingie is broken.

Still working on it.

I see a lot of imposters of Iron Rat showing up in the near future, lol!

all RC choppers are hard to fly. the guys in the mall make it look easy but its a bitch.

what he said. Even the little two channels. I have like three. You can get good at it with practice though.

I'm thinking of trying small (bat-like) ornithopters next... if I can just at least figure out how to make them quickly go in a straight line forward, they could be like the real life version of batarangs or Captain America's magical shield that goes wherever he wants it to (or those ninja stars the majority of us agree aren't good to carry).

Or they could show up and not work at all, but this time I'm gonna buy from someone who will at least exchange them.

This might be worth a read, although I personally place it in the same category of "illegal" as violating the trademark to the word "superhero." Good to know, tho --
http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/digital-video-industry-news/145993-rc-aerials-illegal-says-faa.html


Iron Rat, don't worry about it -- by the time I'm anywhere near where I want to be I'll be swiping methods from pretty much everybody.

the artical says "commercial or promotional" I.E. to make money with. I dont think the RLSH fall into that category.

For me it doesn't directly fall into that category, but I'm not going to worry six months down the road whether or not some aerial footage can legally be used in a video that somehow makes money directly or indirectly. Apart from being an RLSH, I do plan to make videos for entertainment post retirement and if they 100% never make a dime that'll surprise me (although rampant success and super wealth would surprise me, too).

BTW, my next field tests will involve the Vamp ornithopter and Hawk Eye flying eye helicopter thing. Both are in the mail.

seriuosly you need to be video taping this stuff. We would like to see it

Heh... well, it is the month I start video taping stuff for my "show." But nobody would have wanted to see the Mark I Mega-Copter test.

"Wow, it crookedly flew five feet and now it won't fly and some internal component of the remote control is rattling around..."

I got the Hawk Eye flying camera thing in the mail today and tested it briefly to the extent that I know it's fly-able (not broken).

But it's comedy night. So I'll have to leave further testing until later.

Also it's WAY smaller than you'd think from the picture.