Gizmodo Australia » draganfly

Draganfly X4 UAV Is Cheaper Than Ever

Dan Nosowitz — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:49:00 +0000

Draganfly’s series of photo/video-based UAVs have always been awesome, but they’ve also been more of a pipe dream than anything else. The X4 is smaller than the X6, but the smaller size also comes with a 25 per cent price cut. Yes!

Like the X6, the X4 is a 680-gram (with battery) carbon fiber-bodied UAV with four carbon fibre rotating blades. It’s capable of using a still/video camera (in this case, a Panasonic Lumix point-and-shoot), an infrared camera and a low-light camera, all of which can be controlled from the ground. The X4 also features three accelerometers, three gyroscopes, three magnetometers and a barometric pressure sensor, and the controller is based on an OLED touchscreen. The X4 only has four motors to the X6’s six, but that comes at a big boon to the pricey ‘copter: The X6 checked in at about $US15,000 and the X4 should be more like $US10,000.

So yeah, this thing is still super expensive. But it’s also just about the best heli-cam we’ve ever seen, capable of flying both indoors and in inclement weather (up to 18mph of wind). Check out these videos at Draganfly’s site to get a real sense of the true badassery of the copter. [Draganfly]

Exclusive Photos of the Draganflyer X6 UAV: Police Edition

Adrian Covert — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 03:00:00 +0000

The Draganflyer X6 has been around for a bit now, but only recently have Canadian law enforcers begun using it to serve and ~~profit~~ protect. Here’s the first look at these flying UAVs in uniform.

The X6 is a spy drone with wireless video and still cameras (in hi-def, infra-red and 0 lux flavors) that can fly autonomously, or as a remote-controlled bot. It has 11 sensors (including gyros, accelerometers, barometers, magnetometers and GPS) and is so easy to pilot, a Wii gamer could do it. Now it will be used by the Ontario Provincial Police and the Saskatoon Police to patrol crime scenes and help gather evidence.

At it’s core, this is the same Draganflyer X6 we’ve come to know and love in the past, but now with a shiny police badge and a healthy distaste for crime. Canadian perps, be afraid. Be very, very afraid. [Draganfly]

At Gizmodo Gallery: Draganflyer X6 Unmanned Autonomous Vehicle

Jesus Diaz — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 19:00:00 +0000

Do you know what we are going to do while we are not playing with the Lego Death Star, waiting for the laser-etching machine to tattoo one your gadgets for free and listening to our original Sony Walkman? I mean, apart from unsuccessfully calling for pizza in the Apple phone prototype while watching the Panasonic 103-inch screen. Dodging the amazing Draganflyer X6, one of the coolest unmanned autonomous vehicle in existence.

[Thanks to REED ANNEX and thanks to our benefactor gizmine.com]

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Draganfly X6 UAV: UFO Thingy Packed With Carbon Fibre, HD/Night Cameras and GPS

Brian Lam — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:09:04 +0000

The Draganfly series of heli cams have been impressive, but the just announced X6 is freaking amazing. The triple-tipped carbon fibre body has two carbon rotors on each end. The design allows it to move in all directions rapidly, provide enough control to zip around indoors yet resist up to 29 kilometres per hour of wind.

The oil-dampening vibration killing mount can be loaded with an HD camera, night vision camera, still camera, low light camera or thermal imaging camera. The machine also has GPS, which feeds positioning data into the remote control’s LCD. The X6 even can maintain flight if one of its 6 motors stops working. The battery can be charged in 30 minutes, yet can supply the device with 450 watts of power, which allows the machine to climb 7 metres per second, turn 90 degrees in the same time or do fly-bys at 48kph. I don’t know how much these cost, but I’m getting enough enjoyment out of watching the videos at Dragonfly’s site. [Draganfly]