Toy: Flying sky surfer

[Sunstorm]

I was looking at this toy online.

It's at this page.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/rc/a4f0/images/3234/

The video is here....


The product details are;
R/C hovering toy "surfs" through the air
Powered by two counter-rotating ducted fans
Built-in solid state accelerometer keeps the surfer perfectly balanced

So, my question is, the c-r ducted fans blow air downward; so in theory, this could be replicated with dual props, right?

I'm quite curious, what are the roles of the accelerometer? How do they balance? How would one replicate such an item?

Just curious, since Vortices posted another similar item in another thread.

[chiadennis]

I was looking at this toy online.

It's at this page.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/rc/a4f0/images/3234/

The video is here....


The product details are;
R/C hovering toy "surfs" through the air
Powered by two counter-rotating ducted fans
Built-in solid state accelerometer keeps the surfer perfectly balanced

So, my question is, the c-r ducted fans blow air downward; so in theory, this could be replicated with dual props, right?

I'm quite curious, what are the roles of the accelerometer? How do they balance? How would one replicate such an item?

Just curious, since Vortices posted another similar item in another thread.

Looks cool and inexpensive.

[yongsinchee]

I know nuts about RC equipments and those terms you are using, bro.... But very, very nice.... Good find...

I think they should commercialise it. Sure can find buyers for it....

[Sunstorm]

Thinkgeek has a lot of other good stuff.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/rc/a5b7/

this is the link to the hovering jump jet. Very nice work!

of course, while there, you can check out the flying f*** helicopter.

So back to topic. Hope some guru can share some insight on the dual hover surfboard thingy.

[yongsinchee]

I think the VTOL can be found in Walkera website. I think I saw it there, or some HK hobby link.

[Sunstorm]

Thinkgeek has a lot of other good stuff.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/rc/a5b7/

this is the link to the hovering jump jet. Very nice work!

So back to topic. Hope some guru can share some insight on the dual hover surfboard thingy.

Opps, I did some thinking and realised the flying f- heli is not so approriate. My bad.

[yongsinchee]

Shit you, Julian...........For introducing that website to us....

Alamak, now I got alot of wishlist stuff......

Like the surfer, the mini UFO, R2D2.... shit... I think I better stop looking at it...

[Sunstorm]

Shit you, Julian...........For introducing that website to us....

Alamak, now I got alot of wishlist stuff......

Like the surfer, the mini UFO, R2D2.... shit... I think I better stop looking at it...

Shit me? SHIT ME? THIS IS WAR! I will send my hordes of RC zombies after you. Just be so kind as to press the brain-shaped remote control.

Seriously dude, a lot of the stuff, I've seen at Metro Sengkang and Kiddy Palace. I don't know if they are still on sale. But it's probably more worth it to check these places out before you make your order.

Cheers and have fun surfing.

[yongsinchee]

I dare you to send your Zombies at me....

Just be warned..... If they reached my area, they will not be released back to you..... Then I can take those zombies off my wishlist....

[Sunstorm]

Back to topic....

Here's another version based on the same principles...counter rotating ducted fans.

http://www.trekaerospace.com/Trek_VTOL_OVIWUN_Vehicles.htm

[Jack_Chen]

I am guessing the accelerometer is actually some kind of gyro which is programmed to correct the 'sky surfer'.

[bigfilsing]

I am guessing the accelerometer is actually some kind of gyro which is programmed to correct the 'sky surfer'.

good guess!!!

Actually an accelerometer measures motion in one plane. Put 2 together at 90 degrees to each other and perform a signal differential measurement and you have a gyro. Put 3 together and you can sense motion in all X,Yand Z planes.

What's cool about the surfer is it has the weight ( the sufer guy) above the fans = much more difficult to control than if it was suspended below the fans.

If anybody knows where to get one of these in Singapore i'd appreciate the info.

Cheers

[wantime]

good guess!!!

Actually an accelerometer measures motion in one plane. Put 2 together at 90 degrees to each other and perform a signal differential measurement and you have a gyro. Put 3 together and you can sense motion in all X,Yand Z planes.

What's cool about the surfer is it has the weight ( the sufer guy) above the fans = much more difficult to control than if it was suspended below the fans.

If anybody knows where to get one of these in Singapore i'd appreciate the info.

Cheers

Are these accelerometers the same one as those in Ipod touch, Iphones, some digicams n handphones? I mean function/application wise?

[bigfilsing]

Are these accelerometers the same one as those in Ipod touch, Iphones, some digicams n handphones? I mean function/application wise?

Functionally yes ...of course they have different levels of sensitivity for different applications.
Some of the most sensitive acceelrometers are used to measure vibration ( in machinery or similar) The most sensitive ones i know of are the ones that measure earthquakes ( sometimes hundreds of miles away).

The advances made in this technology in the last 5 or so years has made them cheap to manufacture and so we are seeing them more and more is "every day" items.

[stuartteo]

I was looking at this toy online.

It's at this page.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/geektoys/rc/a4f0/images/3234/

The video is here....


The product details are;
R/C hovering toy "surfs" through the air
Powered by two counter-rotating ducted fans
Built-in solid state accelerometer keeps the surfer perfectly balanced

So, my question is, the c-r ducted fans blow air downward; so in theory, this could be replicated with dual props, right?

I'm quite curious, what are the roles of the accelerometer? How do they balance? How would one replicate such an item?

Just curious, since Vortices posted another similar item in another thread.

Hi, just wondering is this available in Singapore?