Unmanned reconnaissance is all the rage these days, if you happen to be paranoid ex-military or on the extreme side of Facebook stalking. Regardless of the source of your psychosis, you’d probably get your hardware from Cyber Technology, a Western Australia-based company that manufacturers the cyberQuad MINI UAV shown above.
The little guy comes in at 420mm x 420mm x 200mm WDH, and has a top speed of 15 knots, or 27km/h. The default loadout is a VGA resolution camera, but you can replace this with a camera capable of 5MP stills and 1080p video capture.
Of course, if your needs are more extensive, you can go for the cyberQuad MAXI, which is bigger at 690mm x 560mm x 200mm WDH. The upgrade gets you a sizzling 20 knots (37km/h) of speed and the option to add a 14MP still camera.
Sadly, these devices weren’t designed for overnight jaunts — the MINI can hover for 12-20 minutes, while the MAXI last a little longer at 15-25 minutes.
What is nifty about the cyberQuads is that some of their parts are built using a 3D printer. This wasn’t always the case — previously the company had to rely on traditional materials and construction techniques to get things done. Now, with the help of a material called “DuraForm”, Cyber Technology can save time and money building what they need using 3D printers.
The technology has come a fair way, and if we’re able to partially build UAVs with it, it won’t be long before 3D printing isn’t limited to making prototypes.
More pictures of this floating wonder can are below, including its suitcase friendliness.
[Cyber Technology via Shapeways]
Chris M
Saturday, October 22, 2011 at 3:00 PMMy mate Jeremy works for these guys in Bibra Lake and makes these, they’re freaking awesome. Australian designed and a world first as well.
Huddo
Saturday, October 22, 2011 at 3:54 PMI fly quadcopter all the time… http://www.youtube.com/huddorc
Heaps of fun :-)
Just about to start building up a Hexcopter :)
Jeremy
Saturday, October 22, 2011 at 4:50 PMThat’s actually the tilt only cyberQuad MAXI pictured above. We also do a tilt and roll camera stabilized cyberQuad MAXI now as well.
The cyberQuad MAXI also has 3 payload options. You can have 1920 x 1080 Full HD video camcorder or 14.2MP DSLR camera or combined video and Thermal imaging camera. We can also do custom payloads to suit particular needs
Franz
Saturday, October 22, 2011 at 7:59 PMI think this blends the blender.
Seriously, they need to make a (for lack of a better word) nerd version of survivor, where the challenges all involve technology, in one you could make them use this to pick things up and drop them in a basket…
ANDROIDS WIN IMMUNITY! Apples, I’ll see you at Tribal Council, where one of you will be leaving the mobile broadband zone.
Bruce
Saturday, October 22, 2011 at 8:18 PMLooks awfully like the AR Drone!! I guess al Quads look similar. Not exactly a first. Great though
wade
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 10:15 AMman i hate it when sites don’t have pricing.
mike
Monday, October 24, 2011 at 10:49 AMDepend on what components you buy, you can put together a 600mm Quad for around $500.
I probably won’t look as clean but even for a first timer its pretty accesible.
A 600mm Quad should weigh about 1kg and be able to lift about 1kg (will impact endurance of-course).
It’s also pretty easy (although can be expensive) to upgrade it with First Person View flying.
uavXpert
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 2:34 AMEhi, I see it is amusing, but 25 thousands dollars for a MikroKopter seems expensive (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_much_does_cyberquad_cost)