New product naming contest: the quadcopter!

[Ken Gracey]

Hey all,

Nothing like poking a hornet's nest and walking away, but I'm going to ask my esteemed colleague MattG to supervise this thread, manage the expectations and award a prize to the winner (their choice of $250 worth of Parallax products). Since today is Sunday and I don't have time for too much unofficial quadcopter stuff at Parallax during the week I thought we better get this quadcopter named.

Let me tell you a few things about it. First, there's some dialog here http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?133372-Ken-s-QuadCopter-Build-Log-%28now-includes-videos%29 Get the idea? Easy, huh!

Next, this is a community project. Everything about it is (rah rah) open-sourced. The Hoverfly guys are producing an open-sourced Hoverfly OPEN board (until we have it, we'll provide the SPORT version). The airframe drawings are free for anybody's taking, even if they want to manufacture this on their own. No royalty to us, not even recognition!

The quadcopter is an unofficial product in Parallax. It's growing up in front of our eyes on the forums. Kevin Cook, MattG, Nick and myself have squeezed it in around all the other priorities. It's also not to be relied upon as a profit generator. Aside from our airframe, the big investments come from others (Spektrum, Hoverfly, HobbyKing) so we can't burden it with profit. Should be priced so you can build one.

It's time that the Propeller P8X32A shows it's abilities off in multi-rotor and UAV applications.

Also, we favor descriptive names that make sense to search engines and describe the product. The Eddie bot might be an exception to this naming approach. But this product isn't named yet. It would be ideal to include the word "quadcopter" in the name. It uses a Propeller processor, of course. Heck, could even be called Propeller Quadcopter. But since employees of Parallax can't participate somebody else will need to suggest that name.

This contest ends Friday, September 23rd.

Handing over the microphone to MattG for his skilled moderation, crowd management, and overall positive influence. . . to you, Matt [when you get back from the beach vacation!]

Thanks very much for your participation -

Ken Gracey

http://forums.parallax.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=85193&d=1313364499

[Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)]

Here's my entry: "Flip"

What?!! That's what one would do if I tried to fly it. :)

-Phil

[ctwardell]

"Octocore Quadcopter"

C.W.

[Ken Gracey]

Here's my entry: "Flip"

What?!! That's what one would do if I tried to fly it. :)

-Phil

There's hope for you, Phil. It's called First Person View (FPV) - put a video camera and wireless transmitter on it, and fly it from your shop over Port Townsend.

Even if you can't get it off the ground it will provide worthwhile entertainment for Browser.

Ken Gracey

[W9GFO]

You've already got a QuadRover... now you need a QuadFlyer.

Kolibri (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flettner_Fl_282) (Hummingbird), the first mass produced helicopter. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdYPQLvuJh8

Air Rover
Propel-Air

Trying to not get carried away...

Super Happy Fun Copter!

[Jay B. Harlow]

"Whirlybird Quad"

Whirlybird as that's a long time reference to helicopters.

Quad as its 4 propellers.

A variation might be "Whirlybird^4" or "Whirlybird to the fourth"

Jay

[Jay B. Harlow]

I like QuadFlyer, I forgot about the QuadRover...

Jay

[Jay B. Harlow]

There's also "Whirlybird quartic" or "Whirlybird biquadratic" for "Whirlybird^4", but it doesn't roll off the tongue as well as "Whirlybird cubed"; hence "Whirlybird Quad" and the others in my first post...

Jay

[bsnut]

Since, I need to collect my $150 from Parallax products for the Spinneret contest any way and plus I can use another $250 worth of Parallax products.

So, my name for quadcopter is "The Quad".

[mindrobots]

Propeller Quadcopter

..just to get it on record.

Let's see, in Matt's "New Product Ideas" contest, I won a ping with:



A UAV (Unmaned Aerial Vehicle) kit.

Either a full kit or a kit containing the hard to find components so you can just add your own plywood (or building material of you choice).

An "airbot" for those that are tired of rolling around the floor.

Please let me know when you need my shipping address. :lol::lol:

Rick

P.S. Matt, you can then have a "name the Airbot" contest!

P.P.S If you already have an airbot on the drawing board, then I should still win a prize for guessing the new product.
so if the new "yet to be named" quadcopter is an unofficial kit of parts which is now looking for a name, the predictive properties of my 6/22 posting are pretty darn impressive. I'd say that earns me an unofficial quadcopter kit based on the rules set forth for that contest. :thumb:

Now, as far as a name for the new kit, I'll need to work on that a bit.

[bill190]

Food for thought...

The word "Quad"...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quad

The word "Helicopter"...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helicopter

[RonP]

I like

Propeller QuatroCopter

or

Propeller TetraCopter

I think "Quad" is also good, but it would be nice to be a little different.

-Ron

[RonP]

How about Propeller X4 Copter. Pronounced ex 4...

[ypapelis]

Kind of a cliche, but how about going greek. The term tetracopter has been used elsewhere, but how about any of the following plays on tetra (from the greek tesera, i.e., 4) and the propeller

TetraProp

TetraProp-o-Rotor

PropTetraRotor

ok, I'll stop now ...

[ScribblerKart]

I have a name! How about Heli-Propeller?

May the best man/woman win!

[Microcontrolled]

@RonP: Out of curiosity, how else would you pronounce it? :)

My name suggestions:

The Air Rover Quadcopter
The Propeller Air Rover Quadcopter
The Propeller Quad-ro-copter
Sky Flyer Quadcopter
Sky Controller Quadcopter
Propeller P8X32A UAV Quad-Bladed helicopter

EDIT: That last one could be changed to Quad-rotor as well. Any instance of the word "Propeller" can be replaced with or proceeded by "P8X32A"

[sylvie369]

Quatrecopter ("caa-tra-cop-ter", from the French for "four").
Where the Four Winds Dwell (from the Dead song "Franklin's Tower").
Freedom Flies (because it follows an incredibly stupid tradition of naming things)

[RonP]

@Microcontrolled, some people might say 'times 4'. That was my fear, 'ex 4' sounds so much better that 'times 4'. :smile:

[Fxc2hh]

It reminds me of the joke, "What is red, white and black all over?" LOL.

I've watched enough Wiggles to call it the Big Red Copter (after the Big Red Car) but I can't.

If you follow the naming convention that you've been using it would be the Propeller Quad Robot Copter but you might want to break with tradition but it is probably more remote control than robot. I suppose call it the Propeller Quad Copter.

I don't expect to win but any winnings can go to my son's school. I don't want anything.

[Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)]

Okay, a serious entry this time: "HoverProp"

-Phil

[Microcontrolled]

@Phil: HoverCopter may also work, assuming there isn't one already.
@RonP: Ah! I had never thought of that. I'm getting used to a multiplication symbol as a dot or a * I guess.

[ratronic]

" Quasair "

[RonP]

Been busy:

Propeller X Copter

Propeller Quarter Copter

Propeller HoverQuad Copter

Propeller HoverQuad Chopper

Propeller Quad Chopper

Propeller X Chopper

Propeller Hover Chopper

Propeller Quatro Chopper

Propeller Quarter Chopper

Propeller Hover Quad Copter

Propeller Hover Quad Chopper

Propeller X Quad Copter

Propeller X Quad Chopper

Okay I'm done I think. :smile:

[Tubular]

"Cog Air"

(after the 1997 movie "Con Air")

[ElectricAye]

Quadriceptor

Think of it as an interceptor with muscle. And it kicks butt.

[Ken Gracey]

"Cog Air"

(after the 1997 movie "Con Air")

Lachlan, that's really funny. Good thing I'm not a judge because I'd choose that name. . . Matt is a pretty straight guy though and he might think it reflects poorly on Parallax. That Con Air plane was filled with a couple dozen really scary people. But I like it, a whole bunch. It might even be acceptable without the connection to Con Air - it stands on its own nicely! We'll see what the judges [err, I mean Matt] decide to do. Don't you just love these informal contests?

Ken Gracey

[blittled]

How about the Propeller Quatro Spinner

[ElectricAye]

Quadrisoar

[john_s]

4SPIN or SPIN4 :-)

[W9GFO]

Quadralair

ParaQuad :frown:

[RonP]

I didn't think I was done:

Propeller Octal-Quad Copter/Chopper 'Octal for the 8 Cogs'.

Propeller 8X4 Copter/Chopper Simplify the above.


Propeller Octaquad Copter/Chopper

Propeller Cog Copter/Chopper

[Tumbler]

Let's give it a try

Xspinner

[Al Booth]

How about 4Prop ?

[rosco_pc]

What about Psquare or P2?

[Matt Gilliland]

Handing over the microphone to MattG for his skilled moderation, crowd management, and overall positive influence. . . to you, Matt [when you get back from the beach vacation!]
Here I am!
Rested. Tanned. Ready.
Golly, look what happens when I leave Ken to fend for himself ;-)


esteemed colleague MattG
Ok, everybody together: Awwwwwhhhhhhh...
-Matt

[Ravenkallen]

Cog Air, haha... Nice one:) I think it needs to have a edgy sounding name like...

Cyclone 4
SkyDevil
Prop-Stream
FunnelX4
Bob-

Hey, wait? What?:)

[lanternfish]

"Cog Air"

(after the 1997 movie "Con Air")

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol: My wife loved that ... ummmm ... movie. I thought it was ..... :swear:

And in a moment of complete lack of imagination, I can't come up with a single unique name. So I guess I won't be the winner

[Loopy Byteloose]

The Propter
The PropCopter
The PropelCopter
The Propellerter

The Invader

(I kinda like Cog Air.)

[Beau Schwabe (Parallax)]

Can I play?...

How about the "Cartesian Ace" ?

[Kevin Wood]

Well, both Rodan and Mothra have been used elsewhere, so I guess they're out...

My suggestion is to call it the Hummingbird, since it captures the essence of it's flight style.

[Jorge P]

How about paying homage to the fist functional helicopter, since it is Parallax's first flying machine, and dub it the:

Parallax Wulf or just Wulf

After the Focke-Wulf Fw 16 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Focke-Wulf_Fw_61)

Or maybe after the second one, DragonFly

[W9GFO]

Or maybe Kolibri (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flettner_Fl_282) (Hummingbird), the first mass produced helicopter.

edit: I really like that one, I'm going to add it to my first post.

[Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)]

I really like Jorge's Dragonfly suggestion. Maybe expand it to the Parallax Dragonfly Quadcopter Kit.

-Phil

[Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)]

Here's one that sure to win the hearts and minds of Parallax's marketing team (for the complete kit, of course):


Hoverfly con Carne

the brains (Hoverfly) with the brawn (i.e. the meat). It's a natural -- a shoo-in!

What?!! Oh, come on: if you repeat a bad idea often enough and loud enough, it starts to sound good. Trust me! :)

-Phil

[Gadgetman]

Maybe "Air Quad"?

[Jan E]

8 cog 4 prop
8 cogs for prop

[Jan E]

As I understand, Ken you had som fun time when you spinaround with yoy new toy. So why not name it "Spinfun"...

[Heater.]

Be scared...

The Parallopter.

[zappman]

"Flight P8X32A" or "Quadpeller" or "P4X8X32A" or "P4X8X32A Copter" or "Flight P4X8X32A"

[Fxc2hh]

My co-worker called it the four legged chopper :)

[Tony B.]

FreeBird or FreeBird Quadcopter

After the Open Source nature of this unoffical product.

[Loopy Byteloose]

The Flying Dodo
A bird of a different feather

(I still like Cog Air.)

[ratronic]

My question is Parallax maybe going to offer a kit of the airframe for those of us that are not to mechanically endowed with our hands in the end?

[Matt Gilliland]

Hey rat -

is Parallax maybe going to offer a kit of the airframe
Yes!
-Matt

[ratronic]

Very cool!!

[mindrobots]

In the spirit of recent industry news:

Parallax CHROME! (I'm sure THEY won't mind! :lol:)

of course, that's the:

Complex
Helicopter
Robotic
Open
Modeling
Environment

...still working on real names!

[sylvie369]

"Cog Air" is easily the best one so far. Hipness dictates...

[Fxc2hh]

Ken,

It would be interesting to see how much that helicopter can lift. If you put a camera or robotic claw on it, we could probably put some different names on it as it might have different uses and there would be different ways to market it. I saw an RC Club with WWII fighters drop an egg with their planes and they were very strict about keeping it legal but I'm sure there are some fun uses for the copter.

Chuck

[mindrobots]

I had forgotten this thread...way back on August 2nd when Ken was building the prototype, my predictive powers kicked in:

[QUOTE]
Hmmmm....could this be a prototype of things to come from Parallax???? (as I predicted during the "Product Ideas Contest")

The Air-Scribbler?

Penta-Prop?

Air cover for Jessica's M&M delivery S2?

Regardless, this is truly inspiring and clearly is the latest shiny thing to wrench my attention from a bunch of other unfinished projects!! Great job!!
[QUOTE]

I'll officially submit

Air Scribbler

[Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)]

I think the "Air Scribbler" needs a smoke generator! (Not a magic one, though.)

-Phil

[mindrobots]

@Phil - how about a 5th (non pitched) POV rotor in the middle to spin the LED bar? Then you could hover and generate POV messages!

[Fxc2hh]

It should probably have a blinky light for flying it in the dark and it would make it more realistic.

[Publison]

Keeping with the KISS method that won me the "Parallax Multi Board Enclosure" contest, I give you:

Parallax Quadcopter

or

Spin Quadcopter

SpinCopter

Parallax-Hoverfly Quadcopter

[mindrobots]

Parallax Foxbat

or the Phoxbat (Parallax Hoverfly Open eXperimenter Basic Airframe Technology)

Mount 4 pings for echo location/collision avoidance PLUS a couple of blinky lights for those of us who see at night better than we hear at night.....

[Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)]

The Spin-a-Four (Our Brit friends can call it the "H.M.S. Spin-a-Four." :) )

-Phil

[sylvie369]

Air Scribbler

Unless I'm thoroughly confused, there is another candidate for this name, one that should have been demo'd at Maker Faire last weekend, per the discussion here (http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?134178-quot-mystery-project-quot/page8).

Any news on the skywriting robot?

[Heater.]

Booo...get I'm off. Lobs tomatoe.

[Fxc2hh]

Give it longer legs and develop lighter parallax vehicles that it could grab with a hook and you can call it a Spider.

[Jay B. Harlow]

"Paraquad" pair of quad = 8, para is flying quad is 4...

Although I like Cog Air or Hummingbird also. I was trying to come up with a more specific hummingbird that it (may) resemple...

Jay

[tdlivings]

How about MultiCoreCopter to make the propeller multicore concept and prop chip stand out. The rest of the world uses
Quad to define four airplane propellers . By using MultCore it makes Parallax stand out from the others

Tom

[Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)]

VTOL 8-Core-leone, a.k.a. the Quadfather.

-Phil

[mindrobots]

...maybe it's time to mention con Carne again?

[mindrobots]

can you make the flight deck large enough to hold a laptop running MRDS?

Then it could be known as FREDDIE :smile:

"Flight Ready Expandable Development Disk for Innovation and Experimentation"

[Fxc2hh]

Maybe it should have a call sign like the P8X32A and the other symbols symbolizing the package the Prop comes in.

[Fxc2hh]

can you make the flight deck large enough to hold a laptop running MRDS?

Then it could be known as FREDDIE :smile:

"Flight Ready Expandable Development Disk for Innovation and Experimentation"

You could probably run the copter off of USB or netbook batteries!

[Spiral_72]

A snazzy name? Maybe not, but maybe a snazzy logo :)

85232

(Ok forgive the choppy 6minute photo-editing)

Names:
Parallair
uC-Flyer

[Tubular]

"I can't believe it's not butterfly"

[W9GFO]

OpenFly

OpenFly

[Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)]

OpenFly
LOL! Game over! It's a wrap folks! We can all go home now.

-Phil

[icepuck]

Q.U.A.D. A.I.R.: "Quad Upgraded Android Designed for Assassination and Immediate Repair"
or simply just plain "S4"
-dan

[Roy Eltham]

Perhaps "OpenQuad" would be slightly more descriptive of the type of flying vehicle?

Other names I like:
SpinQuad
PropQuad
P3 (Parallax Propeller with Propellers)
SpinCopter

[RDL2004]

"QuadSpinner", or "Quadspinner", or "Quad Spinner", all with or without prefix of "Propeller" or "Parallax Propeller"

[THAT guy]

First of all, very cool quadcopter, Ken!

For names:

What about HeliPROPter? QuadPROPter?

[Oldbitcollector (Jeff)]

Orbit Collector?

OBC

[lanternfish]

APtitude - Aerial/Air/Aero Propeller with attitude

[PJ Allen]

Contest Entry: Free Four

Free Four Flyer

[Publison]

Second try,

Parallax Ascensor

Ascensor Quadcopter

Ascensor - Italian for Elevator or lifting platform. Nice ring to it. :)

[Fxc2hh]

This is what my six year old came up with as far as names go:

Multicopter
Chips of Four
Jail Red Copter
Red Jail Copter
Wire Chips Copter
Four of One Copter
Copter of Treats

[$WMc%]

How about " WiFilesscopter "?...Did I say that out loud; Sorry, Mind on different project.
'
How does this sound? " Propeller-Air "
'
This name wouldn't tie the number of motors used to any one number.
It would also make the hardware more flexible by using different base plates.( 3 radials, 4 radials, 5, 6, 8, etc.)

[Whit]

The Spin-a-Four

I like it!

[Fxc2hh]

Raceline Copter
Red Jail 4 Copter
Jail Red 4 Copter

[Whit]

HeliPROPter?

Also very good...

[Fxc2hh]

Propeller Copter

[blittled]

How about the Cardinal (after the four cardinal virtues)
1. Prudence (Wisdom)
2. Justice
3. Fortitude
4. Temperance

or The Forerunner, Four Runner

[W9GFO]

OpenFlyer
KenCopter

[Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)]

blittled,

Based on those criteria, I'm afraid the "Cardinal" would exclude too many of us! :)

Rich,

"OpenFly" was too good! It won't win (unforunately), but let it stand on its own merits. Don't neutralize it by adding the "er". Sheesh!

-Phil

[lanternfish]

ELEV8

E for ???
L for ???
E for ???
V for Vehicle
8 for Prop

[Capt. Quirk]

.

---> Parallax VTOL platform (I like this one because it's name says exactly what it is)

micro-VTOL

(Vertical take off and Landing)

---> Parallax VTOL UAV

Do a google search for VTOL or VTOL UAV

Parallax UAV

Parallax UAV platform

Parallax "Multi-Function" Quad-Copter

Parallax "Multi-Functional" Quad-Copter

Parallax "Multi-Purpose" Quad-Copter

Open R/C UAV
==================================================
Taking a different approach: IF Parallax named for a comic book character?

Yellow light of fear --> YLF

YLF-4

Hal Jordan -->HJ UAV




:)
================================================== ===
Pursuit aircraft had the P designation

P4 or P-4

Or the spyplane U designation

U4 or U-4

Q4

[Capt. Quirk]

Another Airplane reference is the X-22a (in the picture).

The Quad-copter is the X-22's little brother: X-22b

[Loopy Byteloose]

OpenFly certainly has immediate evocative impact. People would generate a lot of word of mouth advertising by it. Social networks would give it much attention. You would reach a heck of a lot more people with the humor of the double entendre than you could ever reach with other means.

In sum, a good laugh may be the right approach.

[Fxc2hh]

I thought of these names last night:

propsoarus
propsaurus

[NikosG]

" IcarUS"
Icarus in Greek mythology (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icarus) is a mythical pioneer who attempted to conquer the skies
I like the US at the end of this name (US United States)
I think this name follow the general idea of “MadeUSA” (http://www.parallax.com/Store/Robots/AllRobots/tabid/755/ProductID/666/List/0/Default.aspx?SortField=ProductName,ProductName)

[Loopy Byteloose]

I am really impressed by OpenFly. It is a superior attention getter.

How about...

OpenFly with superior COG-native intelligence.

(Cog Air is my 2nd choice now.)

[Gadgetman]

Icarus flew too high, the wax that held the feathers on his wings melted, he fell down and died in the sea.
Maybe not the right name...

Maybe one of the ancient Gods had a chariot with a good name?

[NikosG]

I think It doesn't matter the dead of "Icarus".
The main point is the passion to conquer the skies and the brilliant mind of the human to ghange the destiny.
I can see both here in this forum!

Icarus flew too high, the wax that held the feathers on his wings melted, he fell down and died in the sea.
Maybe not the right name...

Maybe one of the ancient Gods had a chariot with a good name?

[Loopy Byteloose]

Airships are often named after women, just like sea vessels.

So how about Psyche? She was the prettiest gal in the world, made Venus jealous. And after she was turned into a nymph, she almost could fly.

[Jorge P]

If it came down to me voting, I would of course vote for my DragonFly name, But if I could not vote for my own name, I would most definitely vote for OpenFly. However, I would never let anyone play with my openfly.

lol, please excuse me as my mind floats down the gutter.

[schill]

After seeing Cog Air, my first thought (after the movie) was "Air Cogs" but I think that might be a little close to "Air Hogs" :).

Also, I think Daedalus would be more appropriate than Icarus. Daedalus was the inventor (Icarus's father) who also flew but stayed away from the sun.

[Matt Gilliland]

Well done, so far...Keep 'em comin'! Deadline approaching...
-Matt

[Matt Gilliland]

Besides, it's kinda cool when the Boss starts a Contest Thread...

$250.00. Whoa!

Beau, you're right - bummer to not be able to play!
-Matt

[Fxc2hh]

Propdragon
Prop O Soar

[localroger]

Icarus flew too high, the wax that held the feathers on his wings melted, he fell down and died in the sea.
Maybe not the right name...

It think it was recently removed, but for a long time there was a life-sized statue of Icarus in lifelike detail and mid-fall hanging from the ceiling of the main gallery of New Orleans' airport. I always thought it was an odd choice.

[localroger]

Oh, and I finally thought of a suggestion...

Propeller UP!

Neatly pushes both the brains and the motive power in the direction they're meant to go.

It's a lot better than my other idea, which was based on the ratio of cogs to rotors.

[ElectricAye]

It think it was recently removed, but for a long time there was a life-sized statue of Icarus in lifelike detail and mid-fall hanging from the ceiling of the main gallery of New Orleans' airport. I always thought it was an odd choice.

I don't know if it's still there, but the USAF museum in Ohio used to have one, too.

I thought the same thing you did. What exactly is the message here as I walk into the entrance?

http://www.davidpride.com/Air_WP/WP7_224.htm

[ElectricAye]

WhirlyNird

[Microcontrolled]

@ElectricAye: Would that be pronounced "Whirly Nerd"?

[prof_braino]

My suggestion: P8X32A UAV

But "OpenFly Cog Air" would get more attention :)

[Jan E]

Fly&Spi...
...If your intention is to put a camera one it

[ElectricAye]

@ElectricAye: Would that be pronounced "Whirly Nerd"?


Gosh, how about that. If you say it that way, it takes on a whole new meaning!

[Capt. Quirk]

Based solely on a Google search, a numerical prefix yields good results. For example:


4OS Quadrocopter (for open source Quad-ro-copter)
4OS Quadracopter (for open source Quad-ra-copter)
4OS Quadcopter (for open source Quadcopter)

4P QuadroCopter
4P UAV
Certainly leaves room for additional models, like a 3OS or a 6OS Quadcopter
================================================== ===============

Google Search results for Quadrocopter, Quadracopter were also very good.

Parallax Quadrocopter, Parallax Quadracopter

Propeller Quadrocopter, Propeller Quadracopter
(My apologies to Mindrobots for adding 2 letters to his suggestion)

(Microcontrolled already coined "The Propeller Quad-ro-copter" in Reply#16)

[Scope]

Tetrapeller

[Jay B. Harlow]

" IcarUS"
Icarus in Greek mythology (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icarus) is a mythical pioneer who attempted to conquer the skies
I like the US at the end of this name (US United States)
I think this name follow the general idea of “MadeUSA” (http://www.parallax.com/Store/Robots/AllRobots/tabid/755/ProductID/666/List/0/Default.aspx?SortField=ProductName,ProductName)

I love it!

Jay

[Publison]

I love it!

Jay

And a guy from Greece had to think of that with the US connection ?!

Nice one NikosG!!!

[ElectricAye]

The DweebWhacker

[KB3JJG]

PropCop
QuadPropter
QPropter
HeliPropter
QuadsiPropter
QuasiPropter

[bomber]

My guess: The Spin Spinner or The S.S (Spin Spinner) Quadcopter.

[lanternfish]

One last stab at this. As there have been number of classical references (Icarus, Psyche, etc) why not go for the supposed inventor of the helicopter (air screw) with either Leonardo or Da Vinci.

Though OpenFly and COG Air are still my faves.

[Loopy Byteloose]

I see that EDDIE is taking pre-orders at this point for a pretty sophisticated robot system. But I can't help but ponder which I'd like to explain to my friends, a rolling robot named EDDIE or a flying robot named OpenFly.

I am leaning toward buying an OpenFly for a Christmas present to myself.

I sense that I'd be a bit embarrassed trying to get across the acronym that EDDIE represents, but OpenFly would be a delight to explain and explain again. Good fun, that's what it is all about. I'll just have to buy an OpenFly in order to joke around with my friends. Apple may be sexy, but funny in a gentle way is good promotion approach as well.

The right name offers a prestige thing and it is catchy. I don't think that Air Screw would work (in reference to Da Vinci). But I do thing you should add "COG-native abilities" below the name. I don't expect a prize for this.

[mindrobots]

So EDDIE has a friend?

EFFIE (Expandable Flight Frame for Innovation and Experimentation)

...and because acronyms are so much the rage, lately

IDEA - Independent Developers Experimental Airframe

FLOAT - Flight Lab Open Airframe Technology

SOAR - System for Open Airframe Research

QUARK - QUadcopter Airframe Research Kit

[Humanoido]

THE Aerial Master

[Fxc2hh]

So EDDIE has a friend?

It would work out quite nicely and I'm sure they could build a platform on top of Eddie with a charging station. I think you would have to wait for Eddie 2.0 though to control the Quadcopter with Eddie. I think you might have to add a ping sensor for the chopper for helping Eddie land the Quadcopter. Sounds like Parallax needs to make a different kind of Ping sensor for flight.

[bomber]

QUARK - QUadcopter Airframe Research Kit
Go QUARK !!!

[Microcontrolled]

@mindrobots: EFFIE may start getting pronounced "Eff IE!", I wouldn't really suggest it. :) However, I like SOAR very much!

[Capt. Quirk]

OK, my last one, but there may be a licensing issue.

Quadinaros

I like his need for horsepower. If he had a better pit crew, he could have
beat Anakin in the pod race. Qui Gon Jinn and Obi Wan would be marooned
on Tatooine, and there would be peace in the universe!

[RS_Jim]

Here is my shot:
For-Play X2. The quadcopter being for play and the X2 represents the 8 cores of the Propellar.
Jim

[Loopy Byteloose]

Actually, I am very biased. I'd much rather have a quad copter regardless of name and this contest is just making more interested..

The EDDIE platform is nice, particularly because it is expandable.

But I really want to see how those four motors work with parallel programing. My place is so tiny that any rolling robot gets under foot. And even though I love CANbus, there really isn't much I can do with it in one room. Each to it's own.

But I do now understand that Eddie is expandable in ways that a flying machine will never be.

Anyway, here is another name suggestion......

The UpLift

[skylight]

I think the name needs to be short and sweet to be memorable so have gone for the "X-Fly"

[Fxc2hh]

Super Prop Open Flyer

[Fxc2hh]

Raptor

Reminds me of this news article:
New Raptor Dinosaur Used Giant Claw to Pin, Slash Prey?

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/09/110921-new-raptor-dinosaur-fossils-talon-toe-killing-utah-science/ (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/09/110921-new-raptor-dinosaur-fossils-talon-toe-killing-utah-science/)

[Matt Gilliland]

Honestly - this is going to be a really tough choice...

Two Days Remaining

Count 'em. Two.
-Matt

[Ken Gracey]

Hey MattG,

Since we didn't publish any rules for the contest and we have a number of certain winners in the prior 139 posts, can we end the contest a day early so you can make your choice on Thursday, Donut Day? After all, I'll be in the office tomorrow to eat a donut together and then we can review the winning choices before you make your final decision. Whatchya say?

Ken Gracey
Cog Air Co-pilot

[Matt Gilliland]

Hey Ken G. -
That's OK by me. 'Course, we could always do something really radical - how about we pick the "top 10" of our favorites, and then let our customers vote on these "finalists".

Of course, we would retain "veto rights" - but the customer's perspective is always what's most important, right?

What do you say Chief? You make the call!
hey, does your signature betray your favorite - not so fast buddy :tongue:

(wait a minute! Is this mic on? Did I say this in public?)

-Matt

[Ken Gracey]

Hey Matt,

I like that idea. I'm not supposed to be making any choices, so the pleasure of choosing ten winners (and the guilt of having 131 losers) shall lie in your hands. But how can I hold back? I guess I'll do a bit of lobbying for a few names along the way anyway, breaking the unofficial rules.

If Cog Air becomes a finalist it might be a good business to use quadcopters to drop cell phones over the walls in California prisons. I keep hearing on trash TV that cell phones are the new currency in prison.

I'm sure we've got some great winners up top.

Ken Gracey
Cog Air Co-pilot

[Paul K.]

P4
Propper
HoverUSA
Hover US
Prop's HoverUSA
Propper Chopper
Hover Prop
Spinning Prop

Or the man that created the spinning screw propeller, Archimedes
Archimedes
The Prop Arc
Arcing Prop
Spinning Arc
Power Arc
Quad Arc

These could have Parallax or Prop or some variation included in the name.

Just a few of mine

[Scope]

Prop Goes The Weasel?

[Matt Gilliland]

the pleasure of choosing ten winners (and the guilt of having 131 losers) shall lie in your hands.
(...evil laugh...)

NEW DEADLINE for Submissions is 2:30pm Parallax Standard Time Today!
-Matt

[Fxc2hh]

Prop Invader P8X32A Quadcopter

[Oldbitcollector (Jeff)]

Meh.. Call it now.. I can't come up with anything better than IcarUS.

OBC

[sylvie369]

I thought OpenFly and Cog Air were brilliant, and the rest of us were all struggling in the wake of such genius. And the follow-up logo contest would be hilarious.

[Scope]

(...evil laugh...)

NEW DEADLINE for Submissions is 2:30pm Parallax Standard Time Today!
-Matt

The Ken-O-Matic . . . what else could possibly fit better, besides the incredibly ingenious "Tetrapeller" suggestion, of course (post #121)

[Oldbitcollector (Jeff)]

i thought openfly and cog air were brilliant, and the rest of us were all struggling in the wake of such genius. And the follow-up logo contest would be hilarious.

roflol!!

[Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)]

NEW DEADLINE for Submissions is 2:30pm Parallax Standard Time Today!
So 3:30pm Parallax Daylight Time, then?

-Phil

[sylvie369]

So 3:30pm Parallax Daylight Time, then?

-Phil

It's a good thing he didn't mention "Parallax Daylight Time" while we were still guessing about the Mystery Project". That would have certainly pointed in a dramatic direction.

[schill]

Meh.. Call it now.. I can't come up with anything better than IcarUS.

OBC

I think I prefer DaedalUS to IcarUS (to avoid the whole crashing reference - these things never crash, do they? :) ).

[NikosG]

Intelligent
cog
aircraft
resource
United
States

Is the above acronym correct?

I also love the “OpenFLY”

I don’t know what will be Matt’s decision about quadcopter’s name but I’m sure that “Daedalus” is the most suitable nickname for Ken!

[User Name]

Ken, did I understand correctly that Parallax is selling the Hoverfly Sport right now...until the Open becomes available?

Contest names:
Propter Copter
Propter Hoc (it's a Latin thing)...
which leads to... Propter Hawk

[Sapieha]

Contest name:

SkyProp

[Propability]

Didn't look thru all the pages to see if any have been propossed yet :

PropsRus

Propsforus

Quadacity

Quatrefoil

[Matt Gilliland]

T-MINUS TWENTY-FIVE MINUTES,
and counting...
-Matt

[Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)]

spin-up
spin-a-colada

[Matt Gilliland]

Five...
-Matt

[Matt Gilliland]

Four...
-Matt

[Matt Gilliland]

Threeeeeee.......

-Matt

[Matt Gilliland]

Two...
-Matt

[Matt Gilliland]

One!
-Matt

[Matt Gilliland]

Case Closed - jury is in deliberation...
-Matt

[Matt Gilliland]

After several agonizing minutes, er, I mean hours-yeah, hours, we have come up with the following top (Five) choices...

You may notice that some of the more "colorful" suggestions aren't in the "Top Five" list - not that they weren't great - they just didn't have that "squeaky clean" connotation that we strive for.

Every suggestion was appreciated, laughed at, or cast off as "not a snow-ball's chance under our watch".

So with that being said - Cast your vote!

(Poll in next post)

Edit: Apparently you can't create a Poll except when Starting a thread?
So go to here (http://forums.parallax.com/showthread.php?134683-Vote-here-for-Quadcopter-Name-Contest!), and Vote!
-Matt

[TheBobScott]

Since the Propeller has 8 cogs and this had 4 'propellers'
I thought that "Tesseract" was a good name

The Parallax Tesseract

From wiki;
In geometry, the tesseract, also called an 8-cell or regular octachoron or cubic prism, is the four-dimensional analog of the cube

[mindrobots]

I think you have a winner...if you meant to spell 'tesseract' like 'ELEV8'!

(see the voting thread)

[Jeffa]

QuadPropter

[Matt Gilliland]

lanternfish!
Still waiting for a PM from you!?
-Matt

[erco]

Oh sure, ELEV-8 is nice. But no one suggested Proptology?

Can we do a re-count?

[doggiedoc]

Oh sure, ELEV-8 is nice. But no one suggested Proptology?

Can we do a re-count? I came this |----| close to being a Proptologist, but that's another story entirely.

How about the Proptopter?

Just sayin'.

Paul

[lanternfish]

A big thanks to the Parallax team for choosing my ELEV8 entry. And with so many fantastic products to choose from it took a while to make my prize selections. And they arrived very quickly. So now I am GPS'ing, accelerating, Gyro'ing, VGA'ing, Pinging and Proto Boarding my way to a better understanding of the Prop, Spin and PASM.

[Ken Gracey]

A big thanks to the Parallax team for choosing my ELEV8 entry. And with so many fantastic products to choose from it took a while to make my prize selections. And they arrived very quickly. So now I am GPS'ing, accelerating, Gyro'ing, VGA'ing, Pinging and Proto Boarding my way to a better understanding of the Prop, Spin and PASM.

Great, excellent choice of products sent all the way down to Dunedin, too! In 1999 I ran a BASIC Stamp Educator's Course in Dunedin in concert with Electroflash - you've got a healthy tech community in that far-out corner of the world.

Ken Gracey