Guess what? Rick (Mind Robots) is a WINNER!

Matt Gilliland

Set the "way back machine" for "a long time ago"...

...back to an era devoid of stable, flying robotic vehicles...

...back to when other (4) propeller driven aircraft tried in vain to remain rock solid in the air...

...back, yes, even to an age where people actually tried to control a propeller driven aerial platform ...without a propeller! (can you imagine?!)

Rick was the first to make the suggestion back during our "Give us new Product Ideas" contest thread.

Therefore, according to Contest Rules:

He gets one!

Hoorah!

Rick - if you haven't already done so, PM me or Ken with your shipping address :-)
-Matt

mindrobots

Matt!! Long time no forum!! Glad you've come out of your exile to announce a winner.....even better that winner is ME!!

I'd like to take this time to thank Parallax and the promotional genius who came up with the brilliant idea for this contest as well as the excellent leadership team that backed his decisions (I think that's what you put in your PM).

Best of all, the forumistas can now look forward to "How NOT to build a Quadcopter" and "How NOT to fly" tutorials to go with my "How NOT to Program" collection.

Seriously, thanks!!

Ken Gracey

Safety first, Rick. This promises to be the most adrenaline-pumping activity you've ever done with microcontrollers.

No matter how many How Not To tutorials you can produce it's likely you'll not match the some of the episodes that have occurred in and around the premises of Parallax. Have you met my colleagues? If you can come visit at some point you'll see our ELEV-8 crash board where different symbols (cars, water, blood, people) denote the type of accident that occurred with hash-marks by our names.

Ken Gracey

Matt Gilliland

you'll not match the some of the episodes

I think you're right on this one, Chief!
-Matt

ratronic

Rick you are going to have a blast with this! If youv'e never flown one before I think it's best to try to hover just above the ground in the beginning, although some of the more expert people than I may have something to say about that.

mindrobots

Thanks for all the warnings and advice....now, I'm excitedly scared!!

I was thinking of shrouding the props for safety sake and then hanging it from a bungee in my basement a couple feet off the floor and then hooking a 5 or 5 foot bungee from it to the ground. That way I can go up a bit, hover, descend and have a little lateral motion. Sort of aerial training wheels for hover practice.

...and a crash board.

...need to order a crash kit, a radio and a few batteries.....the radio I have is too few channels, the batteries are too small and the current crash parts are for electric foamies.

ratronic

Rick what I did in the beginning (the experts are going to laugh) is make sure the craft was level with the earth using a pocket level front to back and side to side. It seems easier to hover and you should at least half the rate of the Ailieron, Elevator, and Rudder sticks, I did this with my radio by setting the dual rates to 50% Ken mentioned he only uses 40%. And I am a total beginner with any kind of flying. Just try not to touch down on the moon your first flight!

Oldbitcollector (Jeff)

@mindrobots.. Load that sucker up with some utra-bright, flashing LEDs so we can see it flying from here in Orrville!

Congrats!!!

OBC

mindrobots

@OBC Thanks! If I get it built in time, I can chase Microcontrolled's robots at UPENE! Can ELEV-8's and Nerf cannons be a potential combination??

"Fast? Are you kidding, it's the ship that made the Orrville run in less than 12 hours!"

Great, another rash of Ohio UFO sightings!!

mindrobots

Ken wanted pictures.....sorry if this spoils your breakfast or lunch!

I was surprised to see that it was going to show up TODAY!!!! :thumb:

"Parallax: You dream it, we'll help you build it!!"

I haven't even had time to clear off my work table yet. Guess who's cleaning up the basement this weekend!!!

This is REALLY cool!

Thanks, PARALLAX!!!