What I find most peculiar is that it's the first single propeller hovering machine I have ever seen. So, instead of using two or more propellers spinning in the opposite direction, or relying on a smaller one spinning perpendicullary to the main one to counteract its spinning force like most helicopters do, it counteracts this force by positioning the flaps below it at an angle.
The optional "Phantasm" drill attachment is available for an additional $750 but the warrantee is void if brain matter gets splattered on the unit upon removal.
@maikoo25 "but because it works like a propeller plane standing vertically, it can fly forward using wings, which a helicopter can't do" and the ground rolling part is a bonus.
This uses standard available hardware,what I like about the sphere,is it protects the hardware,so in case of contact,it remains pretty much repairable.
For everyone posting, "altitude not attitude," you're wrong. Attitude in piloting terms means angle in respect to the horizon and/or ground, I.e. planes tend to land nose slightly up with great forward trajectory while helicopters have to land as horizontal as possible without any non-perpendicular trajectory. This thing could land upside down at 60/kph and be fine, though the pilot better be in some sort of gyroscopic chair...
@2numberii Not just a copy. The sphere, weighing only 350 grams, is lighter that an AR drone by 30g (70g, if you attach the AR's rotor protectors). The AR drone has a top speed of 18km/h, the sphere: 60km/h !! Rolling on the ground is bonus.
this can be very useful in something like disaster response , fly into a wreaked building and if it hits some debris it can just roll its way in. you could send dozens of this things towards a way point and not really worry about them damaging themselves.
shiftee88, attitude is the correct terminology . "...In attitude flying, airplane control is composed of four components: pitch control, bank control, power control, and trim."
That is effin sweet. That top row of louvers (the ones that are edged up to the prop) look like they manipulate the vortex ring at the blade tips to allow more/less airflow, and the rest are ordinary control surfaces. No need to change blade pitch or rotor RPM like a helicopter, just create a partial vortex ring intentionally and you can change which quadrant of the disc is creating lift. Brilliant, guys! I want one! And if you need a test pilot for the manned version, I'll do it!
This video was uploaded 2 years ago, yet i'm only hearing of this amazing tech now. Hello mainstream media? How about reporting on stories of ingenuity and intelligence like this one rather than attempting to scare us all the time?
Not hard to build one of these. It is simply a coaxial prop setup with vanes under for control. Any of the $20 flight controller boards available everywhere these days can do all the stabilization, this is really where the magic happens. Back in the 80's I built a coaxial copter stabilized by small weights on a flybar over the props very similar to today's coaxial helicopters and powered by a tether cord, vector control vanes underneath. It worked but was heavy and the lack of today's technology BL motors, Li-pol batteries and flight controllers made it extremely challenging to control. Today it is a piece of cake.
By far the best drone design I ever saw. The quad copter is too power hungy and doesn't fly as fast or as stable as this thing. Genius solution to the torque steering too, little extra power spent.
Didn't NASA play with a ball shaped thing several years ago? It was an a proposal to provide a assistant to the astronauts inside the space station, it used little puffs and it could fly and hover in any orientation with or without gravity....
"All we've done is build this from commercially available parts and test whether it can fly in it's round form so it's performance as such has absolutely no significance" They made this for fun and they don't even consider it a significant invention.
@Originadmin "but because it works like a propeller plane standing vertically, it can fly forward at high speeds using wings, which a helicopter can't do."
@TheCornMast3r Place a camera on it. Now it can fly through a building searching for survivors? Be a mobile security drone/camera? It's a type of tool that leaves the application to others. I'm curious as to the duration of the charge.
the word has a few different meanings, attitude in its Aeronautics meaning = . the inclination of the three principal axes of an aircraft relative to the wind, to the ground, etc.
@laoinjo Except this can go sideways and fly fast enough to have the flaps you see in a ring act like airplane wings, and that it stabilizes itself, and that it can move around on the ground ;)
Please don't let the military get this. Let humanitarian organizations that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and other services that help people have it instead.
@UDavidT a military is defined as "the combined military, naval, and air forces of a nation". Japan's choice in terms of whether to attack or not is irrelevant to its classification as a military. A banana is not a plantain but a plantain is a plantain.
This make me feel soooooo old already, because I know that, in the future, people will watch this and say "I can't believe they were amazed by that 'medieval' floating ball" XD
@UDavidT Well, their constitution still says that Japan isn't allowed to have a military. This has resulted in the odd situation where Japan has a military that they aren't allowed to call a military technically.
*this is one step away from being a UFO*
***** Yep. It just needs to be _unidentified._
This is Just the mini version
Its the early version of an Eyebot from the video game Fallout
What I find most peculiar is that it's the first single propeller hovering machine I have ever seen. So, instead of using two or more propellers spinning in the opposite direction, or relying on a smaller one spinning perpendicullary to the main one to counteract its spinning force like most helicopters do, it counteracts this force by positioning the flaps below it at an angle.
Kudos to the engineers!
Wichtcraft!!!
God this is so amazing! Imagine all the aplies that this ball have!!
The optional "Phantasm" drill attachment is available for an additional $750
but the warrantee is void if brain matter gets splattered on the unit upon removal.
@maikoo25
"but because it works like a propeller plane standing vertically, it can fly forward using wings, which a helicopter can't do"
and the ground rolling part is a bonus.
Attention: these have been seen in mohave county AZ as late as 4 years ago.
This uses standard available hardware,what I like about the sphere,is it protects the hardware,so in case of contact,it remains pretty much repairable.
Just damn cool...
those magnificent men in their flying machines...
A full scale version of this thing would be awsome...
For everyone posting, "altitude not attitude," you're wrong. Attitude in piloting terms means angle in respect to the horizon and/or ground, I.e. planes tend to land nose slightly up with great forward trajectory while helicopters have to land as horizontal as possible without any non-perpendicular trajectory. This thing could land upside down at 60/kph and be fine, though the pilot better be in some sort of gyroscopic chair...
@2numberii
Not just a copy. The sphere, weighing only 350 grams, is lighter that an AR drone by 30g (70g, if you attach the AR's rotor protectors). The AR drone has a top speed of 18km/h, the sphere: 60km/h !! Rolling on the ground is bonus.
The coolest part is when he lifts it up, and lets go, and it just keeps floating by itself. :D
it uses the same type of gyro control multicopters use,except this information would go the the control surfaces mainly.
this can be very useful in something like disaster response , fly into a wreaked building and if it hits some debris it can just roll its way in. you could send dozens of this things towards a way point and not really worry about them damaging themselves.
shiftee88, attitude is the correct terminology . "...In attitude flying, airplane control is composed of four components: pitch control, bank control, power control, and trim."
That is effin sweet. That top row of louvers (the ones that are edged up to the prop) look like they manipulate the vortex ring at the blade tips to allow more/less airflow, and the rest are ordinary control surfaces. No need to change blade pitch or rotor RPM like a helicopter, just create a partial vortex ring intentionally and you can change which quadrant of the disc is creating lift. Brilliant, guys! I want one! And if you need a test pilot for the manned version, I'll do it!
This video was uploaded 2 years ago, yet i'm only hearing of this amazing tech now. Hello mainstream media? How about reporting on stories of ingenuity and intelligence like this one rather than attempting to scare us all the time?
great concept, will have to build one of those and add to my collection of 10 drones so far
Wow, is it just me, or am I the only one truly amazed. The probability is just enormous. I can't wait to see where this heads off to.
Attitude is the combination of pitch and roll.
Not hard to build one of these. It is simply a coaxial prop setup with vanes under for control. Any of the $20 flight controller boards available everywhere these days can do all the stabilization, this is really where the magic happens. Back in the 80's I built a coaxial copter stabilized by small weights on a flybar over the props very similar to today's coaxial helicopters and powered by a tether cord, vector control vanes underneath. It worked but was heavy and the lack of today's technology BL motors, Li-pol batteries and flight controllers made it extremely challenging to control. Today it is a piece of cake.
@TheSe7enthSin
No, attitude (orientation) makes much more sense in all instances than altitude (height).
By far the best drone design I ever saw. The quad copter is too power hungy and doesn't fly as fast or as stable as this thing. Genius solution to the torque steering too, little extra power spent.
I've seen toy's like these in stores for year's this is just a more sophisticated version
@vukeidge its a little futuristic ball tht moves. dont sweat the details.
Gyros,servos,programabble board, xacto knife, radio TX, foamboard, propellors, wireless camera, battery. That's all that's in there.
Didn't NASA play with a ball shaped thing several years ago? It was an a proposal to provide a assistant to the astronauts inside the space station, it used little puffs and it could fly and hover in any orientation with or without gravity....
Why on earth has this concept not been made into a personal airplane? The possibilities are endless with this technology
This + GoPro = Insane YT videos!
"All we've done is build this from commercially available parts and test whether it can fly in it's round form so it's performance as such has absolutely no significance"
They made this for fun and they don't even consider it a significant invention.
@Originadmin
"but because it works like a propeller plane standing vertically, it can fly forward at high speeds using wings, which a helicopter can't do."
witness the power of this fully functional star destroyer!
This is the perfect recon drone
we need to make a larger version of this!
This is just a prototype for their new Helicopter, it will be very cool when they produce it.
Well good to know that even if they crash into everything it'll keep going. They should make their cars like that too.
Anyone else reminded of the flying cameras in Back to the Future 2?
Best present ever. Period
@TheCornMast3r Place a camera on it. Now it can fly through a building searching for survivors? Be a mobile security drone/camera? It's a type of tool that leaves the application to others. I'm curious as to the duration of the charge.
Awesome quick take off imagine one the size of a family car top speed maybe 500 clicks or more love the concept...
the word has a few different meanings, attitude in its Aeronautics meaning = . the inclination of the three principal axes of an aircraft relative to the wind, to the ground, etc.
Off the shelf parts? Let's see some plans on the internet, please. I'm ready to make one!
One step closer to Phantasm.
Nicely done.
this would be awesome for a stealth UAV for the army if they make it smaller
Attitude is also an aerodynamics term.
@laoinjo Except this can go sideways and fly fast enough to have the flaps you see in a ring act like airplane wings, and that it stabilizes itself, and that it can move around on the ground ;)
and this is the birth of the cores of GladOs
we remember you,space core
SPAAACEEEEE!!
As an archaeologist, I sure would like to have one of these
Please don't let the military get this. Let humanitarian organizations that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and other services that help people have it instead.
all it needs is a gun and speaker and this is the new soldier
i like hes controling it with a 360 controller
this can be the future transportation , awesome =x
this is y i love japan
@Pliableone
Yeah, funny how many people thought that it was a bad translation and sought to "correct" it.
this explains why kano and blanka can turn into a ball and fly
@SylvianLight I think it's supposed to be Altitude.
@UDavidT a military is defined as "the combined military, naval, and air forces of a nation". Japan's choice in terms of whether to attack or not is irrelevant to its classification as a military. A banana is not a plantain but a plantain is a plantain.
never mind, they just said that at the end of the video
Wow !
They have invented the E-Flight Hyper Taxi.
Control when on the ground looks marginal at best
@gmiwoj Hehehehe dobre spostrzeżenie! U nas taka zabawka jest znana od 23 lat, a Japończycy teraz się chwalą. Wielka mi rzecz ;)
Am i the only one who thinks this thing could be a miracle for motion capture cgi?
Most impressive.
This make me feel soooooo old already, because I know that, in the future, people will watch this and say "I can't believe they were amazed by that 'medieval' floating ball" XD
@Malvisk
It already has a camera on it.
this is awesome. Although I guess we can now look forward to the future when the spheres from the Phantasm becoming a reality.
うーむ、なんでもこなせそうだ。
もうかなり高い完成度を誇ってますねえ。
これからの課題は完全自動化だろうか。
Magnifique !
I will have six of these accompany me wherever I go
So awesome.
@UDavidT Well, their constitution still says that Japan isn't allowed to have a military. This has resulted in the odd situation where Japan has a military that they aren't allowed to call a military technically.
@AlixaChannel Buoyancy (sounds like Boy-en-see) means something's ability or tendency to float on water
I got flashbacks from the Normandy cargo room in ME2....Bad, bad flashbacks...
They've come a long way since Johnny Sokko.
@afz3003 Electricity will never run out Einstein rule: Energy doesn't disappear, it transforms.
"And now, your highness, we will discuss the location of the hidden rebel base..."
Thank you Japanese DOD for being awesome.
@jiffyware No, that's definitely not a helicopter. It doesn't have a cyclic rotor system.
now all it needs is radio and we got ourselves the flying robotic radio from fallout 3
I want to see them build a large scale one.
when they make one the size of a plane ill be interested.
Oh snapz. I thought Pikachu was going to poped out that sphere ball. Bazinga!
"And now your highness, you will tell us the location of the Rebel base."
@lanabsta My thoughts exactly. Seeing that thing hover then zoom across the room like that was kind of terrifying
This looks like something a Sith lord would use to find Jedi on Tatooine.
amazing!
@korencek What are you talking about? It does fly without cables can't you see? only at 1:05 it does have cables for some reason.
That was great.
When it started rolling, I just couldn't help but think of Katamari. Lol.
Japan Ministry Of Defense budget has been decreased every year, however they created this amazing tool by spending only $1100.
Japan... always 100 steps ahead...
I can hear it now "We want the Master." "Yes, we love the Master."
1:30 "At that time, too, the control surfaces provides attitude control." I wish that feature came pre-installed on my wife!
This truly is the era of technological advances
Was anyone else reminded of the Doctor Who episode with The Master in it, when The Doctor got all old.
look for it in your local brookstone store in a month
great stuff...