Epson Creates Tiny Flying Robot 261
xyote writes "As reported by the Inquirer. More info on Epson's website with a nice picture with explanatory labels and all. It weighs a little over 10g, uses an 'ultra-thin ultrasonic' motor and Bluetooth for remote control." Epson is using the robot to showcase their micromechatronics technology, and by exhibiting it, they hope to discover and test problems with using robots in three dimensions.
Featured Use? (Score:2, Funny)
Seriously, what other useful projects than a camera could we attach to this little contraption?
Re:Featured Use? (Score:2)
Re:Featured Use? (Score:2)
Re:Featured Use? (Score:2)
Re:Featured Use? (Score:3, Insightful)
one word: military.
now, i'm not saying that the dod is going to buy a bunch of these down at frys and ship 'em off to the overseas theatre d'jour - but this is exactly the kind of tech that the military will want to embrace and extend (and explode). put a camera and a bomb on this and you have the perfect tool for eliminating heavily unarmed and shoeless enemy combatants.
Re:Featured Use? (Score:5, Insightful)
Probably the first use the military would consider for these does not involve combat, but rather reconnaissance. An earlier post jokingly advised putting an X10 cam on one of these, but such a capability is exactly what would benefit both peacekeepers and police forces in urban areas. Much cheaper than a UAV, these things could hover over rooftops to see areas held by insurgents to avoid further bloodshed.
Modified flying bots could also be used to detect mines, explosive residue, and chemical or biological agents.
So perhaps before you jump on the soldiers-are-babykillers bandwagon, you should consider how the military can (and does) leverage cutting edge technology to save lives.
Re:Featured Use? (Score:3, Informative)
That said, the U.S. military is not full of bloodthirsty killers. Sure, you may occasionally run into the REMF yahoo who is eager to "go to war" but any soldier, sailor, airman or Marine with time under his or her belt will know the soberi
Re:Featured Use? (Score:2)
Re:Featured Use? (Score:2)
Naw, lightly unarmed means that it simply has a blowgun. Unfortunately, with no respiratory system, not to mention a mouth, using it is a bit more difficult. So much for quality control.
Re:Featured Use? (Score:2)
Unless, of course, you actually have a sense of humor. Then it makes a great deal of sense.
Re:Featured Use? (Score:2)
(I know the context is a bit messy with my selective quoting)
I don't know much about IR, but how useful would it be in a flaming building? Doesn't fire throw off IR signals, or am I just being clueless? Probably the latter.
Epsonborg... (Score:3, Funny)
That can have scary results (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:That can have scary results (Score:2)
but since you're worried about something that's already illeagal, shouldn't you be worrying about that some separate authority looks after them and locks them up if they break the law(internal investigations)? if you're worried abo
Re:That can have scary results (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:That can have scary results (Score:2)
I'm guessing you already know this, but it uses Bluetooth, which means it can't do anything useful while under direct control. Of course, Bluetooth could be used just to feed it a set of instructions &/| a map, then tell it to go do it's thing. Surveillance usually requires almost real-time interaction, which BT could not handle, AFAIK. I don't think that was your point, but I just posted it here ferthuhelluvit.
They're practically giving these robots away... (Score:5, Funny)
College fun (Score:2)
Sounds like a small radio transmitter and could make the perps. life a lot easier
Simon.
Re:College fun (Score:2)
--RJ
Re:College fun (Score:2)
You think that's good? In my hall we had drop-cielings in the hallway, but not in the rooms. We would drill a hole above our door (wooden panel above doors instead of brick - THE FOOLS!) and run RCA cables to the "victim's" door and mount a camera inside the dropped ceiling and point it through another hole there. Granted, the picture quality was pretty crappy since it was a new camera in 1996 and it would be too obvious to drill a hole too big, but it worked well enough.
Onl
Hrmmm (Score:4, Funny)
Communicates by bluetooth does it? Who's going to be the first to create an automatic fly swatter to take this thing out when it flys near? Of course I wouldn't build such a device because I personaly welcome our minature flying robot overlords. Sorry, got carried away there.
Re:Hrmmm (Score:3)
Where does the power come from? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Where does the power come from? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Where does the power come from? (Score:5, Informative)
Power consumption: 3 W
Wireless module/control units: About 2.5 g
Sensors: About 0.9 g
Mechanism: About 5.1 g
Total weight: About 8.9 g
Seems to me it would have to be tethered
2.5+5.1+0.9=8.5g
Anyone know of a battery that can provide 3.5V @ 3W and only weighs
Re:Where does the power come from? (Score:2)
Anyone know of a battery that can provide 3.5V @ 3W and only weighs .4 grams?
Maybe but you will never have children again if you use it ;)
Re:Where does the power come from? (Score:2)
Re:Where does the power come from? (Score:2)
It might not, but it would be really nice if it did.
Re:Where does the power come from? (Score:2)
Re:Where does the power come from? (Score:2)
Here's a commodity cell that's close. [energizer.com] It weights 0.32 grams and has a capacity of 112 mW-h, which would give the robot a flight time of about 2.2 minutes. Granted, you'd need a charge pump to get the required voltage, but that isn't really big deal. And you'd need to get the impedance down to get enough current. But it's not inconceivable.
Maybe its a capacitor? (Score:2)
Re:Where does the power come from? (Score:2)
Also no mention of how noisy these are. I'm guessing that secret surveillance use is unlikely.
Re:Ni-MH battery? (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Ni-MH battery? (Score:2)
Does noone on /. have any imagination? (Score:5, Interesting)
Epson have not created this so they can test out battery technology, but to experiment with the problems of robots that operate in three dimensions. This is about solving the problems of navigation and control, not power supply, that's a job for Duracell.
Not everything has to have an immediate use, commercial or otherwise, to be worthy of existance. To get from here to there, you have to got to all the places in between.
Have we become a population with such a short attention span that we can no longer appreciate the value of long-term research? Far too much research is being scuppered these days because people keep asking "but what's the use of it", and "can we make a profit". Can't we just appreciate it for it's coolness and leave them too it.
Perhaps I'm a pessimist, but I think that if this attitude continues to grow, we will ultimatly be screwed by a lack of blue-sky research.
Paul
Re:Does noone on /. have any imagination? (Score:3, Insightful)
One of the biggest problems in controlling a 10g flying robot with a tether, is the frigging tether.
Re:Does noone on /. have any imagination? (Score:2)
Re:Does noone on /. have any imagination? (Score:2)
Huh? Sorry, what was that you were talking about?
Re:Does noone on /. have any imagination? (Score:2)
This is a research robot. It is for *experimenting*. Saying "what's the point" just because it is tethered is just lacking in imagination.
The article seems to imply this will lead to a commercial product, and is not simply pure experiment. The article also doesn't mention that the robot is tethered by a power cable, though that's certainly the case. Not mentioning the power tether is a major ommision.
Epson have not created this so they can test out battery technology, but to experiment with the p
Re:Does noone on /. have any imagination? (Score:2)
You are ABSOLUTELY WRONG! I grew up in the Internet/VideoGame age, i have no problems at all when I like to keep things going the way I want when.. - I am thinking, Does anyone
Ultrasonics, maybe? (Score:2)
Only the Japanese... (Score:2)
Micro-mechan-tronics. Like something out of anime.
Epson (Score:3, Funny)
Amazing image ... not. (Score:2)
It's interesting how a company so well-founded in image-related technologies can only manage something that looks like it was cobbled together by a secretary.
Re:Amazing image ... not. (Score:2)
One catch... (Score:2, Funny)
Re:One catch... (Score:5, Funny)
Until a hacker developes a firmware that lets it suck blood for fuel.
Anyone read "Prey" (Score:2, Interesting)
Anyone read the article? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Anyone read the article? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Anyone read "Prey" (Score:2)
For these, I'd be worried some mosquito would try to mate with it.
Mobile Phone Toy! (Score:2)
You can already get toy cars you control from your phone using Bluetooth, I'm sure you could also sell toy helicopters. You can just see people flying these things around the office!
Note the box underneath (Score:2)
Payload (Score:3, Interesting)
micromechatronics? (Score:5, Funny)
"Our use of micromechatronics will help us succeed in our quest", stated project lead Optimus Prime. "We will defeat the decepticons and obtain all minicons", he then went on to say. Megatron was unavailable for comment.
Re:micromechatronics? (Score:2)
After Bill Gates "bought out" Compuhyperglobalmeganet, he sold the IP off in pieces.
esRe:micromechatronics? (Score:2)
Levitation? (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:Levitation? (Score:2)
Rip-off (Score:2, Interesting)
What a wimp... (Score:4, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)
Re:What a wimp... (Score:2)
Re:What a wimp... (Score:2)
I think... (Score:2)
As far as I'm concerned, he's got the right-of-way.
Tiny flyers (Score:4, Interesting)
Plus it sounds like this Epson thing is tethered because there ain't no power source on it.
What was that paper about the CIA developing a dragonfly? It worked but they couldn't use it outside because it was too light.
Re:Tiny flyers (Score:2)
I can't find it on my shelf right now, but the Professor who invented it destroyed it because of the *privacy implications*, before the military too
OMG - I READ that book! (Score:3, Interesting)
But also kind of cool - if an immersive headset were built for even a largish kind of flying toy I'd think it would be pretty cool! The micro helicopter review linked\mentioned above made for a good read and
Re:Tiny flyers (Score:2)
Well, I must respectfully disagree; I don't think it's "near impossible", merely an unsolved problem at this point. Trillions of lightweight insects seem to make do pretty well, so there should be no fundamental obstacle from a basic physics standpoint.
Re:Tiny flyers (Score:2)
That's pretty inclusive and negative.
Perhaps I am being generous in my treatment of the word "device".. but aren't organisms essentially devices, "designed" by evolution? Or God, depending on your beliefs
Re:Tiny flyers (Score:2)
Ballet Theatre? (Score:2)
Come on, is that really the best demo application they could come up with. How about a battle simulation. Or at least a Cirue de Soleil type thing. This is definetly a move by Epson to erode the geek badge of pride.
Flying microrobots (Score:2)
Re:Flying microrobots (Score:2)
Yet! (Score:2)
Just what we need. (Score:3, Funny)
Then it's only a matter of time before someone makes a swarm of them with wee little bombs and turns them loose on a bigger target.
Then it's only a matter of time before someone makes a counterswarm of them.
Then slashdotters will have an unlimited number of slightly charred tiny flying robot parts to experiment with.
I for one, (Score:2)
*SWAT*
Damn bugs.. oh erm.. well.. nevermind...
How long... (Score:2)
Power ? (Score:5, Funny)
Maybe they can have photocells, and convert the energy they need from natural or artificial light sources. So, at night we could see a bunch of those thingies hitting their heads on street lamps.
Maybe they can fly down for a recharge every once in a while, landing on a bigger robot's back and sucking some electricity.
And maybe, if all else fails, we can leave them energized by a thin wire, hanging from the tip of a long rod. They won't get far, but if you leave the rod close to the water you may be able to fool and electrically stun an obtuse trout, which you will then take home for dinner.
Re:Power ? (Score:2)
Yes, yes, your joking (just what I need, electronic moths in my house), but the reality is dissappointing:
For those thinking solar/ambient light would be great, I'll spot you you 15% efficiency and 1200W/m^^2 full sunlight. You'll need 3W of continuous power. So as long as you can get a non-obscured, perpendicular line of site to the sun, you'll need about 1/1200/0.15*3=167sq cm or a 16.5cm diameter round
Only a prototype? (Score:2)
Damn. I was hoping to add one to my list for Santa/Thinkgeek [thinkgeek.com]
Vectron Ultralite (Score:2)
*Seiko* Epson? (OT) (Score:2)
Any slashdotters out there work for S-E? I'm curious if the corporate culture is more Japanese or American. Just wondering.
Dan Brown's books (Score:2)
Counter rotating blades. Not flying insect motion. (Score:2)
If anybody remembers the great TLC channel show 'Connections' will connect the dots here and see that SEIKO is a watch company and their microcopter looks a bit like a watch. Interesting. But more of a novelty .
Printer company? (Score:2)
robots in 3D (Score:2)
What's available now - (Score:2, Informative)
Ikarus Piccolo mini rc helicopter
280 grams (.6 lb), about 50cm long (20 in)
Some videos at dreamhobbies.com [dreamhobbies.com]
Good fun.
What happens in a strong gust of wind? (Score:2)
Nice... (Score:2)
Alternative uses: (Score:3, Funny)
Chip H.
Re:picture of a rendering of the thing... (Score:2)
Read the article. They have a picture of the real thing in somebody's hand there. Also, did anybody notice how suspiciously like one of Leonardo Divinci's drawings this thing is?
Re:picture of a rendering of the thing... (Score:3, Informative)
So, my questions: where can I buy one and how much?
Re:picture of a rendering of the thing... (Score:2, Interesting)
Sadly, if you look at the very bottom of the page:
*Please note that this product is a prototype. There are no plans to market it as a commercial product.
I recently broke down and order one of these [centuryheli.com]. It's not quite as small but should be a lot of fun if I can figure out how to fly it.
Da Vinci (Score:2)
I think it looks surprisingly like Da Vinci's helicopter type drawing:
http://www.emmerling.com/helicopter.jpg
What a brilliant inventor...
Re:Battery advances for microflight (Score:2)
Re:Battery advances for microflight (Score:2)
Re:Terrorist Device? (Score:2)
Re:a million points of light recording our every m (Score:2)
Re:Bluetooth? (Score:2)