The point of this copter is not that it's cheaper or faster or easier to fly than other quadcopters. The point is that it's open source, it's hackable. If it's not faster than other 'copters, you make it faster. If it's not as easy to fly as you need, you hack the code and make it easier to fly. If you don't like the way it works, you make it better and then share your improvements with the rest of the world so that everyone gets a better 'copter.
It's not just a quadcopter, it's a flying development platform.
RojoNinjaIt's not just the software (flight controller) but the hardware (the actual quad) that's open source. It is completely hackable in every way. That comes at a cost, true, but well worth it for the person who's into that sort of thing.
I own three of these intending to study multi-drone interoperability. Then my daughter was born and let's just say, progress has been slow (the lead engineer on my one-man team has NOT been pulling his weight!). I've also looked at home security applications, teaching applications (I help mentor a high school robotics team) and daily use stuff like getting the paper or walking the dog.
Because it is open source on all levels, I'm free to pursue any direction my imagination takes me.
bmason"The point of this copter is not that it's cheaper or faster or easier to fly than other quadcopters. The point is that it's open source, it's hackable. If it's not faster than other 'copters, you make it faster. If it's not as easy to fly as you need, you hack the code and make it easier to fly. If you don't like the way it works, you make it better and then share your improvements with the rest of the world so that everyone gets a better 'copter.
It's not just a quadcopter, it's a flying development platform."
I think this needs to be reiterated here over and over. I personally have neither the skill nor the desire to "develop" anything so I'm probably not joining this drop. But others may, just keep that in mind here.
banzaiburgerThey are advertising it in a bad way. The beauty of it is that you get to benefit from it being open. Easy mods like downloading others firmware that they upload, adding faster motors/better props etc that people release. You don't have to hack it to benefit from what it provides.
It's not just a quadcopter, it's a flying development platform.
I own three of these intending to study multi-drone interoperability. Then my daughter was born and let's just say, progress has been slow (the lead engineer on my one-man team has NOT been pulling his weight!). I've also looked at home security applications, teaching applications (I help mentor a high school robotics team) and daily use stuff like getting the paper or walking the dog.
Because it is open source on all levels, I'm free to pursue any direction my imagination takes me.
I think this needs to be reiterated here over and over. I personally have neither the skill nor the desire to "develop" anything so I'm probably not joining this drop. But others may, just keep that in mind here.