Looks like fun, and $85 isn't bad for the early backers (I'm among them). Details here.
The iStrike Shuttle was designed with the iOS in mind. We wanted to create something that was unique and unlike anything else out there. The iStrike Shuttle’s sleek vertical body gives it an almost human-like characteristic in its flight pattern and makes use of built-in balancing gyro technology which results in a more steady flight.
For greater ease of use, we have developed an app with multiple operation modes that will suite right and left handed people. In each mode, different operations are done by sliding your fingers over the controls on the screen of your iOS device. You can also use the G-Sensor swivel motions to make the iStrike Shuttle move. After a bit of practice you will be able to hover over your targets with a simple touch of a button you can drop the ball wherever you want.
Comments
Mine finally arrived. As is so often the case with iPad/iPhone controlled aircraft, it's nearly impossible to fly. All it does is go up and down and very slightly move in one direction or another with a complicated process of orienting the "front" of the copter in one direction and then using the side props to tilt it that way. There's nothing intuitive about the controls, either in "joystick" mode (move sliders around the screen) or "g-sensor" mode (tilt the iPad; confusingly, you tilt to yaw!).
And the ping pong ball almost never drops when commanded to.
Basically, as far as I can tell it's a pointless toy that's no fun at all. And at $130 it's hugely overpriced. Avoid.
I would guess that the patent relates to the control method for the flight, not the actual dropping of a ball, as that's silly.
Anyway, this company are asking money for create a patent about aerial vehicles that throw balls?
This is against the spirit of "community" behind crowfunding and open source philosophies. I hope that thet don't arrive to have enough money for create it. Like this we can have the freedom to thow things with our drones without brake any patent.
I'm a little unsure of that dual thruster design. Seems like it would be a bit hard to steer, because you can only change the attitude in one plane. So say you're trying to fly forward, but get blown sideways a bit. You can't simply counter with a bit of roll, you would have to yaw first, then apply pitch in the direction you want the flight path to go.
That is going to be tricky for people.
If they had had 3 thrusters, then it would work better.