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From: J.C. Le Mentec <lementec@asuka.aerospace-lab.go.jp>
Subject: Re: Discussion: Flying Robot
Organization: National Aerospace Laboratory
Date: Thu, 11 Nov 1993 02:04:09 GMT
Message-ID: <1993Nov11.020409.3640@asuka.aerospace-lab.go.jp>
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May be the dream has come true. Here in Japan, I have found in a shop
some remote controled things very similar to what you are dreaming about.
They are commercialized by the firm Keyence:
- GyrosaucerII  It has four vertical propellers (each with an electric
motor)  and 2 gyros, weight 130g with batery and has 250 mm of diameter.
It is remote controlled and seems easy to pilot (with two different
modes). The price is 32000 yens ($300)
- Revolutor  It!s a small helicopter (290 mm 100g) with two electric
motors and two gyros. The speed of the main rotor seems to be monitored
to control altitude. Price is 48000 yens ($450)
These !things! are designed to be used indoor with seemingly a very
limited autonomy (1 minutes with onboard battery). Unfortunately the only
documentation I have is in Japanese (which I can not read) and I relied
only on the explanation of my Japanese colleagues. Keyence sells also
indivuduals elements like gyros, motor, blades. They also have a matchbox
size remote controlled car (20g 63 mm), and a !wonderWheel! which
stability is controlled by two counter-rotative propellers in the center
(it rolls, not flies).
Jean-Christophe LE MENTEC
National Aerospace Laboratory
Control System Division
7-44-1, Jindaij Higashi-Machi
Chofu, Tokyo 182
JAPAN
tel: (+81) 422-47-5911 (ext 2520)
fax: (+81) 422-42-0566
email: lementec@asuka.aerospace-lab.go.jp
