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We’ve seen Japan’s magic flying ball before, but this is the demo where the fumbly bumbly spheroid finally won my heart. The device could be used for reconnaissance, search and rescue, or as the world’s greatest piñata. Also: it’s adorable.
The sphere hovers like a helicopter, but because it’s designed like a prop-based aircraft, can tilt forward and accelerate quicker than a traditional chopper. With the help of three on-board gyroscopes, the sphere can handle running into objects and being struck without falling to the Earth. Airborne control isn’t the devices only trick, on the ground pilots can roll the sphere to destinations and easily set it back into the sky.
The sphere uses off-the-shelf parts, can be built for under £900, and can hit speeds up to 37mph. At that price, Japan could build thousands of these little wonders and could send one my way in time for my birthday. [DigiInfo TV via TechCrunch]
Wow, that is the single, most coolest thing ive seen in a while. I like how they tease you with; “The sphere uses off-the-shelf parts, can be built for under £900″ and not provided you with an instructable
Yeah, I want one too.
Looks like the solution to kicking your ball over someone’s fence, just get it to fly back again.
Is anyone else uncomfortably reminded of Darth Vader’s hovering torture droid? I mean, stick a dripping syringe to the thing and you’re there.
My first thought! It’s called an Imperial Probe Droid BTW.
This scares me. I’m thinking city 17 here. He always knows!
Hmm reminds me of this, just add a disruptor beam and we’re there: http://youtu.be/sa_p9Up9DFg?t=2m6s