It looks like they've still got a lot of work to do to make this Pocketcopter a reality, but it's a cool idea (I've backed it):
How does the Pocketcopter work?
The Pocketcopter itself is powered by a 12V battery (rechargeable or replaceable) and is controlled via the touch screen of your smartphone.
The connection is via WiFi (similar to the remote control of the GoPro) or Bluetooth.
Due to the fact that, although the rotor arms are fixed one above the other, each spins in the opposite direction to the other thus achieving stability
and ensuring quiet recordings.
Should the Pocketcopter lose the connection to the smartphone it automatically floats slowly to the ground.
The software interfaces will allow the pictures or videos taken to be instantly shared directly on social networks like Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
Specifications
- Height about 19 cm
- Diameter about 4.5 cm
- 12V rechargeable
- 3D HD camera
- Range about 10 meters
- Rotor blades removable
- Previous tests showed that the running time of a fully charged battery is about 6 hours (camera) and 25 min flight time.
- Storage Medium: Micro SD card
Blue, Yellow and Black
Comments
I'm not surprised. It looks like somebody's 'concept' evolved into a 3D rendering with the hope that if they collected a ton of money through crowdfunding then they would figure out how to actually build one.
Seems like it "landed" here:
http://kickscammed.com/project/3d-pocketcopter-the-flying-camera
@Gerard betabeta.com has a lot of hilarious articles about crowdsourcing and how its flawed and funny when and how they fail.
Don't cross the streams!
There is actually two "height of overinflated expectations" hitting at the same time here I think.
The obvious drone one, but also the one about crowd funding.
Gary, I think that the success largely has to do with the fact that it's around $100, and it's a "drone". The fact that it's a drone gives it big exposure, being reposted around the net, such as here. Then since it's $100, it's easily affordable by the "I want one" crowd. It's a tolerable gamble for them. Most don't even realize it as a gamble since drones are currently approaching the "height of overinflated expectations".
So they've found 950 out of 5 billion people who just don't know any better.
As a guy who works really hard to build things that actually work, I just get really upset at this sort of thing. I should probably just go and do my own kickstarter, but I just can't stoop that low.
I have been developing a hover-in-place, fold-up, micro-quad camera and have thoroughly enjoyed the comments on this thread. Send me a message if you're interested
The fact that they have received 95,000 pounds out of a 15,000 pound goal certainly seems to me to be an indication that there are a lot of people who have no idea what they are investing in.
Clearly the people proposing this have a very limited concept of the technical issues involved and have failed to mention at all how they plan to address some very significant issues (directed horizontal motion and "3D Camera" among others).
I am not convinced that they have the slightest idea what they are doing and the fact that they have been so successful is scary.
I have this great bridge in one of the boroughs of New York I'll give you for a really good price.
You can charge tolls on it.
@Rob,
I saws this indiegogo project a while back when viewing my Feedley feed, but decided not to blog post it as it looked like "pie in the sky" to me!
Regards,
TCIII Admin
Personally, I think that these sorts of projects should not be posted on here. Or at least, should not be promoted.
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