The world’s tiniest drone shows privacy may be dead for good

BGR ^ | 5 May 2015 | Brad Reed

[shove_it]

That's what they said about computers ... ... fifty years ago.

[knarf]

Here's a SYMA X8C that impressed ME for a hunnert bucks

[Poison Pill]

No camera.

Yet

[bgill]

Attach a camera to a kite.

[prisoner6]

Well you can always get a key chain camera and tape it on. Lots of RC people have done that. Camera cost is less than $10.

Best with self contained battery and no remote control.

RC plane flyers have done that as well.

It is also VERY possible to mount First Person View gear to quads, copters and RC planes. They work very well BUT it really isn’t a good idea to fly FPV because even with a wide angle lens you miss branches and other things.

[BobL]

Maybe the smallest easily available to the public, but I hear ARPA is working on insect-sized drones.

[slouper]

This is nothing new, I got an Estes quad a couple of years ago, several actually. They’re the same size, fit in the palm of your hand. I have a couple at home and one at the office. I fly it around in the afternoon to recalibrate.

One piece of advice, the pros make it look easy, it actually takes a lot of practice and at least a few ruined quads to get proficient, but maybe that’s just me.

[Steely Tom]

Good point!

[caww]

Gust of wind will do it in.

[piasa]

Greencheek conure chew toy.

[MasterGunner01]

Tower Hobbies has some very easy to control quad copters and mini-helos for reasonable prices. None come with CCTV, but the tech is such that a mini-camera could be fitted for spying. They do tend to be noisy, so sneaking up on someone unawares is not too likely.

[dfwgator]

Electric Eye - Judas Priest

Up here in space
I’m looking down on you
My laser’s trace
Everything you do

You think you’ve private lives
Think nothing of the kind
There is no true escape
I’m watching all the time

I’m made of metal
My circuits gleam
I am perpetual
I keep the country clean

I’m electric, electric spy
I’m protective electric eye

Always in focus
You can’t feel my stare
I zoom into you
You don’t know I’m there

I take a pride in probing
All your secret moves
My tearless retina
Takes pictures that can prove

I’m made of metal
My circuits gleam
I am perpetual
I keep the country clean

I’m electric, electric spy
I’m protective electric eye

Electric eye
In the sky
They feel the stare
So always there

There’s nothing you can do about it
Develop and expose
I feed upon your every thought
And so my power grows

I’m made of metal
My circuits gleam
I am perpetual
I keep the country clean

I’m electric, electric spy
I’m protecting electric eye

I’m electric, electric spy
I’m protecting
Protective, detective
Electric eye

[MasterGunner01]

I just checked out the Tower Hobbies site and they have a Kodo Dromida mini-quadcopter with still and video camera for $60 (shipping included). It is a ready to fly unit that comes with the controller, blade guards, spare blades (4), two AAA batteries, USB cable, a 4 Giga Byte SIM card, card reader, and LiPo battery. Air time is about 6.5 minutes on a battery charge. The quad is quite stable and appears to be easy to fly for a beginner. Price is very reasonable and allows one to get into the hobby without a lot of expense. Here: http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/WTI0297p?C=EA

[shove_it]

Good find ... here’s the video ...

https://www.youtube.com/embed/MmErBM5l-QU