Newsgroups: comp.robotics
Path: brunix!uunet!charon.amdahl.com!pacbell.com!sgiblab!spool.mu.edu!umn.edu!csus.edu!netcom.com!nagle
From: nagle@netcom.com (John Nagle)
Subject: Re: Intelligent Blimps?
Message-ID: <1992Nov18.060242.24569@netcom.com>
Organization: Netcom - Online Communication Services  (408 241-9760 guest) 
References: <1d8r02INNlrh@clover.csv.warwick.ac.uk> <25803@sybase.sybase.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 06:02:42 GMT
Lines: 19

crs@sybase.com (Craig Saunders) writes:

>I was directed to this news group by someone who said there was a thread
>about using small blimps to simulate "fish behavior".
>I am actually interested in chatting with anyone who has experience building
>small blimps (<12') that could be used with radio control...

      There are commercial model blimps set up for R/C control.  I've
seen them, but don't have a manufacturer.  Payload is low, but sufficient
for R/C control and battery-powered propulsion.

      Some Media Lab people tried to convert some of these units to
autonomous operation, but never got it working, despite what it says
in Brand's "The Media Lab".  But there's a group in (I think) Austin
TX which had some model blimps with steerable ultrasonic sonars
operating autonmously for art performances.  I've seen a video of this,
and Joegh Bullock of Climate Theatre in SF would know who they are.
						
					John Nagle
