From News 3 in New Zealand, news that engineers are using a Parrot AR.Drone to inspect the inside of the Christchurch cathedral damaged in the earthquake:
It's a type of toy called a ‘quadricopter’ and was bought from Dick Smith. Controlled by an iPad, it can fly and film. Opus engineers have put a polystyrene reinforcing around it. The drone recently crept its way inside the cathedral for a test flight. The whole area's too dangerous for engineers to get close.
“Even if we lost it in the building ‘cause we're never quite sure with the wi-fi range or the battery life, but if it turned out to be a suicide mission it's a $500 one not a far more serious one,” says Opus engineer Nicholas Dawe.
Apart from a little bother getting in, the drone was able to fly round inside and show the heavy dust that's fallen on the seats below.
Video from inside the cathedral is here.
[via Multi-Rotor news]
Comments
I fully agree, Ritchie. Thanks for sharing this, Chris! It's impressive what that little gizmo can do.
This reminds me of a William Gibson (Neuromancer, etc) quote: "The street finds its own uses for technology."