PingLocust is a Remote Control System based on 3G, 4G, or higher Internet Data Systems and is implemented on mobile devices using the Android Operating System. This results in a simple, straightforward, plug-for-plug replacement of conventional RC(Radio Control) systems and at the same time, provide instant additional functionality like enhanced range and reliability, digital real-time video, GPS tracking, telemetry, etc.

Video: Drone 20000 km max theoretical range

Rise of AI in Drones

Since PingLocust is Android-based,higher levels of functionality like machine vision functions, enhanced autonomy, subject recognition and tracking, virtual tourism, coordinated flying, etc. are easily possible as future enhancements.

PingLocust has 3 main components:
1) Controller App which serves as the RC transmitter
2) Slave App which serves as the RC receiver
3) Slave Whitebox which provides the wired interface between the Slave App and the servos (in the case of a ground/water RC vehicle) or low-level flight controller (in the case of a UAV/quadcopter/multicopter)

Features:
-Enhanced Range (Maximum theoretical range > 20,000 kilometers or 12,427 miles)
-Digital live Video Feed and recording
-Up to 12 proportional digital channels
-Up to 6 telemetry digital channels (for special versions of Whitebox)
-Wireless operation
-Enhanced signal reliability
-Live GPS data reception and recording
-Location and orientation can be displayed on Normal or Satellite Maps
-Speech warnings on Controller
-Channel Controls customization (exponential, variable rates, etc.)

Controller Screenshot

Slave Screenshot

Whitebox pic

Future Features

Since PingLocust is Android-based, enhancements in the areas of safety, autonomy, and accessibility is easier to implement. The following is a list of possible future enhancements:

-USB joystick controller support - emulating a conventional RC 2-stick controller
-Altitude hold and GPS lock for easier hovering
-More accurate hover and tracking using optical flow and other visual technologies
-Point-to-point autonomous GPS navigation
-Collision Avoidance
-Human subject recognition and tracking
-Gesture control
-Facial recognition
-Full autonomy using Artificial Intelligence (AI)
-Integration into Android Wear and other devices
-Voice control
-3D geo-fencing
-Object recognition and tracking
-Full internet integration (Virtual Tourism, remote camera hire, non-local package delivery, etc.)
-Automatic autonomous re-charging
-Coordinated flying across multiple slave/drone units
-Autonomous automatic deploy and retrieve
-Automated construction and assembly applications

PingLocust Main Page: http://preflightsim.com/plmain.html

For installing and using PingLocust apps (free versions available for evaluation): http://preflightsim.com/plinstalluse.html

PingLocust Whitebox: http://preflightsim.com/plwhiteb.html

• 
  The Delivery Drones are now available.

  "Delivery Drone's Here" will be a common phrase in 2-3 years time as urgent flying deliveries will be commonplace - shipping cargoes as mundane as beer and pizza to more vital necessities like medicines and survival kits.

  >

  The word is out that big companies like Amazon will be hiring qualified drone pilots, preferably with lots of flying experience. PRE-Flight Delivery Drones are armed with cargo handling capabilities. Drop packages with precision using downward-looking cameras. The drones even rebound upward when you release the payloads like the real thing.

  So start building up your Drone flying hours now, in complete safety with PRE-Flight's collection of popular models:

• Amazon PrimeAir Drone
• Domino's Pizza Delivery Drone
• Parrot Drone 2 - Indoor mode
• Parrot Drone 2 - Outdoor mode
• DJI Phantom 2
• x525 quadcopter - popular DIY drone
• Octocopter - Carbon Giant, heavy lifter, high-speed
• Reaper UAV - scale model
• Reaper UAV - full scale
• Walkera UFO - one of the first true drones
• Walkera UFO - 3X scale for visibility and ease of flying

• 

  List of PRE-Flight Drone Edition sceneries (all sceneries have customizable wind conditions):

• Target Practice Scenery for accurate cargo deliveries
• Fireworks sceneries
• London Eye - animated
• Statue of Liberty - great for FPV exploring
• Titanic - explore the outside, and inside of this famous vessel
• Titanic and Iceberg - on a meeting with destiny
• Titanic sinking - be in the front seat with FPV
• 200 Windmills - animated windmills
• T62 Tank - animated - try to track this intimidating object in FPV
• T62 Tank - static - not so intimidating

Please visit www.preflightsim.com for details.

I would like to announce my latest free App - the PRE-Flight Virtual RC Controller (for PRE-Flight Drone Simulator).

Convert your Android Smartphone or tablet to a full-featured, 12-channel, wireless Controller for PRE-Flight Flight Simulator. This free downloadable app will allow you to control PRE-Flight models without the bother of cables, configuring, or even waiting for your controller to be delivered to you.

Operate the Virtual RC Controller with your thumbs on the control pads - as you would a normal 2-stick controller. An optional, on-screen (in PRE-Flight) transmitter display shows your control stick positions. All controls are fully user-cutomizable - you can move them around the screen and even re-size them to the most comfortable configuration.

You'll quickly find that the PRE-Flight Virtual RC Controller is more accurate and faster than your old USB Controller (actual performance is dependent on your hardware specifications).

Features: