OCUK RC Helicopter...

D.P. · 5 Dec 2006 at 17:40

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=TY-005-OK

Who has this baby?

Interested in getting it because I am doing a PhD in swarm intelligence control for flying coaxial robots etc. The robot design is not vastly different to the design of this RC toy. I hvae been researching the background R&D work on similar toys, and the papers on the proxyflyer. Although I wont be desiging the robotic hardware.

Soon enough I will get to play with far cooler robotic hardware, with a full range of sensors. I should be able to fly them down the corridor into other peeoples offices and spy on them with a camera....

But I kind of want to get my own personal toy RC chopper. Strip off the plastic body shell to make it lighter..., do some harwdare mods. Should be able to mount a bluetooth camera from the lab myself.

Do they actually do what they do on the tin??

Gibbo · 5 Dec 2006 at 18:06

Hi there

Well I have the samples at home.

They are good, but not state of the art, but there again remember these are £30, not £200.

The motor has enough power to get the helicopter off the ground at around half throttle, full throttle and they gain altitude very quickly and if outdoors would easily go high enough until they are out of the RC range.

Turning/rotating is easy, forwards movement is not quick but you can fly them round a large room quite easily, it takes some mastering but its fun.

Once the battery has been charged properly, very important you get about 10 minutes flight time, then re-charge and fly again.

For the price they are bargains and a lot of fun, just don't expect state of the art for this kind of money.

achitophel · 5 Dec 2006 at 18:20

Now that does look like fun

. £30 on a new game I probably won't play much anyway, or on a RC copter...Hmmm

D.P. · 5 Dec 2006 at 18:58

Thanks for the input Gibbo.

Yeah, I'll probably get. I know they aren`t state of the art... thats what I'll be controlling in my lab. But they seem fun, and some how appropriate.

with regards to the battery, Interestingly, part of my research will be to control the helicopter such that it can locate regarging stations on the gorund, fly down and exchange the battery, then fly off again. We are aiming for 30mins autonomy before a battery exchange is required. They will also be able to cling to the ceiling... anyone interested can find out more info here http://lis.epfl.ch/member.php?SCIPER=176398
or you can read Michael Crichton's book "Prey". Crichton was in contact with the lab I work in to gain some backround. Crichton provided inspiration for a compound eye inspired swarm sensing system.

Gibbo · 6 Dec 2006 at 09:05

D.P. said:
Thanks for the input Gibbo.

Yeah, I'll probably get. I know they aren`t state of the art... thats what I'll be controlling in my lab. But they seem fun, and some how appropriate.

with regards to the battery, Interestingly, part of my research will be to control the helicopter such that it can locate regarging stations on the gorund, fly down and exchange the battery, then fly off again. We are aiming for 30mins autonomy before a battery exchange is required. They will also be able to cling to the ceiling... anyone interested can find out more info here http://lis.epfl.ch/member.php?SCIPER=176398
or you can read Michael Crichton's book "Prey". Crichton was in contact with the lab I work in to gain some backround. Crichton provided inspiration for a compound eye inspired swarm sensing system.

Hi m8

Not sure if you've got a little bit mixed up or not. These helicopters don't have batteries in them. They have a special motor which takes charge if that makes sense. Yes they can cling to the ceiling too with ease.

Yes for £30 they are superb amount of fun there is no doubt about that.