The idea to control with the help of iPhone, iPad or iPod any external device not new. Today, many programs have been written for iOS devices, by installing which on your gadget you can control a smart home, a video surveillance system, an access intercom and a home theater system. A special place is occupied by the topic of controlling various robot toys and various models. In this sense, the iPhone, iPad or iPod is particularly interesting. Powerful processor, wireless capabilities network connection, highly sensitive multi-touch screen and G-sensor, allow you to implement on the basis of these devices, an intuitive remote control remote control, which will provide the most natural way to control a particular toy.
On the net you can find several interesting ideas proposed and implemented by enthusiasts. In most cases, the implementation of these ideas looks very funny, but that's not the point. The main thing is that they really work.
In addition to homemade solutions for remote control of toys, there are a couple of unique products on the market that can hardly be called toys. Rather, these are prototypes of the androids of the future. Surely you have already heard about the AR Drone quadrocopter equipped with powerful computer, running Linux OS, with cutting-edge sensors that allow you to control the flight of a quadrocopter, and make control available even to a child. AR Drone Equipped front camera, a "live" picture from which is transmitted in real time to the screen of your iPhone, iPad or iPod. AR Drone is a really unique "toy", especially if you have someone to fly with and arrange a real dogfight. True, it costs about $ 500, which makes it available only to real fans.
Another droid WowWee Rovio, moves on three wheels, a unique design that provides maximum maneuverability. WowWee Rovio is also based on a specialized computer with powerful software. WowWee Rovio has a movable camera on board, allowing the operator to see everything that happens in front of the droid. Communication with the outside world is carried out via Wi-Fi, and the droid can be controlled using any browser, including mobile versions safari. This toy is even more expensive.
Today we will not consider these interesting toys, instead we will talk about a new generation of helicopter models, the main highlight of which can be considered control from an iPhone, iPad or iPod while maintaining a very affordable price. We are talking about Func HGI-36i and HGI-35i helicopters.
In terms of capabilities, these two models are identical and differ only in size and weight. So, the HGI-36i model has dimensions of 225x50x126mm and a weight of 156 grams. The HGI-35i helicopter has slightly smaller dimensions (190x42x95mm) and weighs only 42 grams. It is on the example of this model that we will consider the features of helicopter control using one of the iOS-based devices.
So, let's start with the design features of the helicopter itself. At first glance, Func HGI-35i is the most common three-channel helicopter, which uses a practical and reliable coaxial propeller scheme. This means that the helicopter can move up and down, as well as turn in place around the axis. To move forward and backward, a small tail rotor is used, located horizontally.
Unlike the models I've tried before, the Func HGI-35i looks to be more robust. The main landing gear of the helicopter is made of light metal, which, in combination with flexible blades, ensures high reliability and durability of the structure. For greater reliability, all structural elements are rigidly attached to the chassis or tail boom.
Just in case, the Func HGI-35i kit includes a pair of spare blades, tail fans and a set of plastic main rotor bushing rods.
Inside the cockpit there is a controller board, which is based on a gyroscope, which ensures the directional stability of the helicopter in the air. In addition to the controller board, the cockpit is equipped with a battery, one charge of which is enough for 5-7 minutes of flight, and two main engines. For beauty, the helicopter is equipped with two LEDs in the front of the cockpit, playing the role of frontal searchlights, and one two-color LED located under the tail engine.
On the left side there is a connector for connecting an external power source and a switch. The IR receiver is located at the bottom of the fuselage.
Having dealt with the basic design features Func HGI-35i, it's time to talk about the main thing, namely the control that is implemented on the basis of any iOS devices. Func HGI-35i control is based on just the homemade idea of model control, which we talked about above. Only, here it is implemented as a very small IR transmitter that plugs into the audio jack of your iPhone, iPad, or iPod. The transmitter transmits signals received from software and converts it into IR signals to control the helicopter.
In fairness, we note that this is not the only factory implementation of such a transmitter, and unlike them, this implementation has several advantages. It is very tiny, thanks to which the whole structure can only be held on the audio connector. In this case, the user can rotate it and choose the most convenient angle for controlling the helicopter. The transmitter has its own power, so the charge iPhone batteries, iPad or iPod it does not consume. The built-in battery is charged from the same power source as the helicopter itself.
To control the helicopter, you need to download the i-helicopter software from the AppStore. It's completely free and won't take up much space on your phone or tablet. The layout of the controls in the i-helicopter application is identical to a conventional remote control. There are: a speed control lever, a joystick for selecting the direction of movement, a "potentiometer" for calibrating the gyroscope, as well as buttons for selecting a communication channel, turning on the backlight, flipping the image and, in fact, turning on the "remote control".
So, we connect the transmitter, set the volume to maximum, launch the i-helicopter, select the desired helicopter model and... take off. At first it may seem that it is very difficult to control the joystick and lever without feeling them. In fact, fingers get used to such unusual controls very quickly. If you want to make the control even more natural, then you should pay attention to the control mode using the G-sensor. In this mode, in order to select the direction of movement, simply tilt your iPhone, iPad or iPod in the desired direction and the helicopter will immediately follow your movement.
Having flown and having made more than one helicopter crash, we found one moment that seemed to us not very convenient. Unlike conventional remotes, in which the speed lever has an automatic return, which allows you to quickly turn off the main propeller by simply removing your finger from the lever, in the i-helicopter program the lever remembers the selected position. On the one hand, this allows you to easily maintain the required flight height, on the other hand, it does not allow you to turn off the propeller in the event of a fall, which can lead to scratches on the floor or furniture. Of course, it is not difficult to get used to the fact that during a helicopter crash it is necessary to quickly lower the speed lever to its original position, however, it would be better if the program developers took this feature into account in new version software, and implemented an automatic return of the lever in case the user removed his finger from the lever.
In conclusion, I would like to say a few words about the price. Compared to the AR Drone, for which you will have to pay from 13,000 rubles, the Func HGI-35i will cost you a ridiculous 1990 rubles, and if you look carefully, you can buy it even cheaper. In our opinion, the price is more than adequate for a helicopter model assembled on the basis of a metal chassis with details thought out to the smallest detail and original controls. In other words, Func HGI-35i can be a great gift not only for a child who sees in his iPod something more than a music player or pocket game console, but also for us, adults, and at first glance, serious people who are interested in everything that happens around Apple mobile gadgets with great curiosity.
Craftsmen have repeatedly demonstrated the capabilities of Google phones as a control panel various devices. Indeed, they cope with the tasks of the joystick "with a bang." And no worse than Apple devices, for which there are a huge number of controlled robots and various equipment. Fortunately, more recently, manufacturers have turned their attention to Android smartphones. For example, radio controlled helicopters not only acquired their own application in the Market, but also appeared in free sale. One of these toys came to us for review.
Delivery of the helicopter from Moscow to Kirov took only four days (including weekends), the Russian Post was a pleasant surprise. So, the box (very light) in the hands. Let's unpack!
Inside is most importantly - a helicopter. Optional and necessary - a device that transmits signals from a smartphone to a toy. That's the whole basic set of the pilot. In case you are not yet ready to call yourself a pilot, an instruction book is provided that will tell you about the main points and nuances.
Another must-have item in the kit is the charger. On one side there is a regular USB connector, and on the other side there is a special one, with which the transmitter and the helicopter itself are charged. The charger on the side of the USB connector is equipped with a red LED signaling the end of charging.
By the way, the standard chargers of many smartphones are equipped with USB connectors, so they are also suitable for charging, it is not necessary to have a computer or laptop at hand.
And in case of any breakdowns spare parts set from a pair of blades, a rear propeller and other parts, which are probably more correctly called by special terms. Let's leave the development with the basics of the position of a flight mechanic for the future, and now let's move on to the most interesting.
The first impression is that it is surprisingly light. Of course, because every gram will significantly reduce flight time, maneuverability and capabilities, which is why the designers made the helicopter as light as possible. Of the materials, plastic prevails, from which the cabin, blades, and gears are made.
Helicopter frame, skis, gear protection and other important elements are made metal, which provides sufficient strength with low weight. By the way, it is worth noting separately the protection of the main gears, because thanks to it, one of the most vulnerable parts will be safe and will not be damaged in a collision.
But if the helicopter gets “five” for materials and protection, then the build quality can be estimated at no more than four. We will not evaluate squeaks, gaps and the like, the requirements for the toy will be slightly lower than the requirements for HTC smartphones :). Therefore, we simply “run” on the helicopter and stop on the most obvious disadvantages. Luckily, there are only two. The first is a wobbly tail part:
Whether it has any purpose or is it just a decorative element is unknown. Backlash does not cause any problems during operation, but is simply present. An attempt to tighten the results did not bring - the screws were already tightened tightly. By the way, not only these, but in general all.
The second claim is to the signal reception sensor, in the photo above it is located above the on / off switch and the socket charger. As you can see, it's installed. crooked. But this minus is purely aesthetic - it does not affect reception or flight characteristics.
It is difficult to resist the temptation to immediately test the helicopter in action, and why deny yourself the pleasure? But first you need to prepare the control panel - our Android smartphone, by downloading special application in the Market.
We download, install, select a suitable room, turn on the helicopter itself, install the transmitter in a smartphone, run the program, select our model - and we get a control panel ready for flight. Are you ready? If yes, then it remains only to turn on the remote control with the “on / off” toggle switch. Stop! Previously, it would be better to take the “young pilot course” from the instructions. Which, however, comes down to one page with a description of the controls.
So, we have a helicopter control panel. The left control, which moves up and down, is responsible for the power of the engines, with it you can order the car to fly up or down. The circular joystick on the right is the steering wheel, the main control. The “forward” and “backward” actions move the helicopter in the appropriate direction, while the left and right controls rotate the winged vehicle in the desired direction.
Additional controls are channels, light, trim, MoveMotion, screen orientation change and on/off.
The channels are designed to launch more than one helicopter at the same time. For example, if you decide fly with friends, this will not work on one channel - all control panels will simultaneously transmit a signal to all helicopters, and in this case it is difficult to predict the behavior. But if each helicopter-pilot pair is given its own channel, the problem will disappear. Total for this moment three channels are provided.
On the sides of our helicopter are located two LEDs switched on from the control panel. IN official instructions they are called operation indicators, and were used for just that in testing - after turning on and before starting the engines, it is useful to blink the light to make sure that everything is ready for takeoff.
Do they have any practical use? Perhaps, yes - once turning on the light helped in the search for a helicopter brought under the sofa. But seriously, it’s not possible to fly comfortably in the dark with built-in lighting. But if you are a professional and have a great feel for the device, avoiding collisions is not difficult, there is enough light to notice the wall. But a comfortable and interesting flight can hardly be discussed.
Trimmer - function for fine tuning helicopter. If it starts spinning at startup (how fast is not important), then a couple of touches on the screen can correct the situation. But it's better to see once, isn't it? Here is an example of the trimmer in action:
Move Motion - one of the most interesting features remote control. With its help, you can manage without a joystick, and the accelerometer (g-sensor) of an Android smartphone will be responsible for the position of the helicopter in space. That is, commands are given simply by tilting the device in the right direction. For example, like this:
The screen orientation button simply rotates the image 180 degrees. This has been done for your convenience. The signal transmitter is attached to one of the sides of the smartphone and can interfere with the hand when operating. And with this key you can choose the most comfortable position for yourself.
Well, the last control is the start key. After transferring it to the “On” position, the transmitter is turned on, the helicopter is tuned to its frequency and, after a few seconds, it is completely ready for takeoff.
We switch the toggle switch to the “on” position, slightly move the power regulator up, and the winged machine begins to rotate the blades with a characteristic buzz. Let's add a little more power - and the helicopter will slowly lift off the ground, will begin to gain height. Now the main thing is not to get carried away. And ten centimeters will be enough to get used to the controls.
Then, when you already start to “feel” the helicopter a little, you can check the power by flying up and down. Be sure to raise the toy to eye level - at first it is interesting to see the apparatus hovering in the air on its own :)
Are you comfortable? You can try the first maneuvers or even fly from the floor to the table.
An experienced pilot of such devices said that the main danger represents a collision with the ceiling, so avoid it in the first place. But falls are the least terrible, therefore, in case of any emergency, we simply reset the power to zero, turn off the engine, and the helicopter falls to the floor.
The design forgives many mistakes for a novice pilot. A collision with objects and walls is fraught with a fall, but, as mentioned above, it is enough to turn off the engine - and nothing bad will happen.
If you do not have time to do this, the helicopter can roll across the floor along a self-chosen trajectory and hook something along the way with a propeller. And this, in turn, is fraught dents and scratches on blades:
However, such “combat wounds” do not affect flight characteristics. But still, with every serious crash, you raise the helicopter with fears “What if? ..”. Fortunately, not once did the flight end in a breakdown, although there were some serious falls..
And one more precaution - drafts. Due to its low weight, the helicopter is very, very sensitive to air currents. At open window or window, it is sometimes difficult to predict behavior, the machine can independently describe circles or hit objects. Even a small breath is enough to destabilize. For example, it took at least twenty attempts to fly out of the room into the corridor through a narrow doorway. And all because of the open window. Therefore, it will be better if you take care of the absence of drafts.
In flight, on the way you can meet not only various objects, but also people, pets and plants. During the testing process, the helicopter accidentally met with everyone on the list. The least dangerous was the meeting with the dog - the noise and wind look awesome, so she just left the room at the first sounds of the spinning motor.
For a person (both for me in the role of a pilot, and for those around me who found themselves at the wrong time in the wrong place), such a meeting is much more difficult to avoid. But the consequences are not dire. Yes, the sensations are not pleasant, but the pain passes quickly, there are no abrasions and bruises.
Ornamental plants had the worst. Once it was not possible to slow down in time, and the helicopter flew into the window sill with flowers. Fortunately, we managed to quickly turn off the engine and not turn the toy into a real trimmer.
And the last warning from the instructions is to avoid bright light. Apparently, this negatively affects the signal receiver. But when used indoors, you are unlikely to encounter such a problem.
The helicopter was tested on several devices, which made it possible to find out some compatibility data. The first to try to “make friends” with the transmitter was my Motorola Quench XT5 under Android control 2.3.7 (firmware based on CyanogenMod), but to no avail. The maximum that was achieved was to start the engine twice for a moment. Apparently, these are the problems of the smartphone itself, since the ones following it worked without problems. Among them were representatives Desire line: HTC Desire S( official firmware), HTC Desire (official firmware), HTC Desire (Android 2.3.7, CyanogenMod7.1). Everything worked great for everyone.
The iPad (iOS 5 GM) and Acer Iconia Tab tablets running Android 3.2 also tried themselves as a remote control. There were no problems with the first one, but Acer refused to transmit the signal.
So if you decide to buy a helicopter in a store, be sure to take a smartphone and check for compatibility b.
Not only the helicopter itself is equipped with a built-in battery, but also the control panel. According to the instructions, the transmitter charging time is 1 hour, and the total use time is twice as long - two hours. This is quite enough for about ten sorties.
It is impossible to objectively find the average time of one flight on a full charge, since a lot depends on the flight itself. Performing stunts or passing the “obstacle course” will require a lot more charge than just circling. In different cases, the time was different: 11:04, 11:43, 11:20...
But in whatever mode the helicopter was used, the timer never showed less 11 minutes in the air(occasionally with falls). Of course, not as much as we would like, but not bad for its class, given that many toy helicopters have a claimed time battery life limited to 5-8 minutes.
Charging the battery built into the helicopter takes much longer. In the same way, it is not possible to calculate the exact figure, so let's stop on the average option - 32 minutes. That is, half an hour after being charged, your winged car is ready to take off again.
The first flights brought anxiety along with pleasure. There was no confidence in the reliability of the design, therefore, after each crash, the helicopter looked around for damage and breakdowns, and when approaching the wall at a distance of ten centimeters, it landed to avoid a collision.
After a couple of hours and three good falls, it turned out that helicopter crashes are not terrible, and you can try more daring and interesting turns. Flying from object to object, from room to room, extreme flying over people, fighting drafts and much, much more!
Since collisions are not terrible for the toy, only end of battery charge. But if the helicopter itself lands smoothly, gradually losing power to a degree insufficient for take-off, then everything is different with the transmitter. It stops working suddenly, and, having lost the signal, the helicopter just drops dead. So if you are not sure about the charge level, it is better to avoid flying off the balcony or flying over someone's head.
Other than that, don't worry - the helicopter is easy to fly, and the experience of just a few hours allows you to avoid obstacles, stop in time or avoid collisions. And just at this moment the question arises - will you get bored?
Interest in many toys can cool off after a few hours, and the monotony will suggest making another decoration for a shelf or desktop out of a helicopter. But in this case it won't happen soon. At least five days is not enough.
With each new flight you improve your skills, you feel the helicopter and its behavior better and better. Respectively, new horizons open. There have already been examples above: take-offs and landings on various objects (from the floor to the table, from the table to the chair), passing through doorways (by the way, because of the drafts, this is a difficult and exciting task). Or you can buy a miniature keychain camera (fortunately, they are not so expensive in Chinese online stores) and turn the helicopter into a spy, or simply view your maneuvers in the first person while charging.
In general, a radio-controlled helicopter is an interesting toy that can give you many pleasant moments. Smartphone control- rather than the main advantage, but a nice addition, the main advantage of which is the Move Motion function, the use of an accelerometer instead of a joystick. And the “helicopter + phone” combination is a great option for gadget fans who want to “take to the air”.
For the helicopter provided for testing, we thank the official distributor in Russia - the company Dom Igrushki "Maxi Toys" LLC.
Get to know everything model range, which currently consists of four helicopters, and you can also find out more about models and dealers on the official website.
Since the launch of the app store App Store , developers created programs whose purpose is to expand the possible areas of application iPhone. There was a lot - from the scanner credit cards and flashlights, up to . It seems that almost with iPhone now you can control almost any device.
iSpy Helicopter- another device of this kind. In some ways, it resembles the concept of the Parrot AR Drone. iPhone or iPad, a dedicated app, and a small transmitter that plugs into your iOS device's headphone jack - that's all you need to control your own mini helicopter.
iSpy Helicopter — small device, measuring 19.5 x 4.3 x 10.6 cm. Such small dimensions make it possible to use the toy indoors, for which, in essence, it is intended. The helicopter rises into the air with the help of two pairs of blades, and changes direction with the help of a tail rotor, just like in a real flying machine. Since no one is immune from hard landings or collisions with obstacles, spare blades and a tail rotor are added to the kit.
At first glance, the helicopter looks quite fragile and delicate, as it consists of a large number intricate and precise details. However, it is very resistant to sudden bumps and drops. On the left side of the helicopter is a small power switch next to the USB port for battery charging.
A full charge of the battery lasts almost 45 minutes, and it lasts for 8-10 minutes of continuous flight. This is quite comparable to what other models of the same class offer. Unfortunately, the developers did not provide any battery status indicator in the device.
At the bottom of the toy is a whole range of equipment, including a built-in VGA camera and a microSD card slot. The device comes with a 512 MB memory card and an appropriate USB adapter for connecting to a computer.
It is worth recognizing that the quality of both the photo and the video taken by the camera iSpy Helicopter wants to be better. But what do you want from a camera with a resolution of 640 × 480, and even mounted on a vibrating platform? The only drawback is the lack of a microphone built into the helicopter. Except for the camera, otherwise iSpy Helicopter similar to standard toys of this type, with bright LED flight lights.
An example of shooting with an iSpy Helicopter camera
To control the helicopter with iPhone The transmitter is included with the device. This is a rather small and inconspicuous, if I may say so, device, about the same thickness and width as iPhone 5. But not only iPhone 5 can work with iSpy Helicopter. All models iPhone, iPad And iPod Touch may be compatible with the toy as per company information iHelicopters.
Two LEDs on the transmitter indicate the status - power on and charging. The transparent glass on the edge of the transmitter allows the passage of the helicopter control signal.
iSpy Helicopter indoor toy, since it cannot fly in bright sunlight and be far from the transmitter.
To control the helicopter, you need to download the WL Toys app from the App Store. Unfortunately, the program is not optimized for either iPhone 5, nor for Retina displays of other devices. Perhaps this will be fixed by the developers in the near future. However, the application works with iOS 7.
After connecting the transmitter and activating the program, you must select the desired helicopter model on start screen. All that is needed to start the flight is to turn on the power of the transmitter with the switch in the program. The application offers several basic controls. On the left is a slider to control the speed of rotation of the blades and select the flight altitude. On the right is a classic joystick responsible for moving the helicopter back and forth and rotating it around its axis.
It is also possible to control the aircraft using the smartphone's gyroscope, by tilting mobile device. There are also several buttons that allow you to use individual functions - take photos and shoot videos, control the side lights and others.
fly on iSpy Helicopter fun, but it still needs to be learned. The longer the flight time, the more confident the helicopter will “feel in the air”. The main thing is not to be too afraid to break it (it’s more worth worrying about your grandmother’s favorite vase). This is a fairly strong and resilient machine.
iSpy Helicopter is a very funny gadget and in a good way for expansion functionality iPhone. If the developers improved the camera parameters and increased the flying abilities of the device in open areas, then this would be an excellent “air spy”.
Buy iSpy Helicopter at a price of $70 is available on the official website of the company.
Video review of SYMA s107 i-Copter:
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The most popular helicopter model SYMA s107g received new life with i-copter tilt control function. Now this helicopter can be controlled from a phone or tablet running operating systems Apple iOS or android.
This model comes without a remote control and is designed to be controlled only from phones or tablets. To configure the control, you must install the appropriate application " i.Copter Syma"for your iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch or android.
You can fly the S107i helicopter in two modes:
Touch the gyroscope icon on the screen of your device to switch control modes!
It is possible to use two helicopters at the same time syma s107i in one room.
Helicopter control via iphone or android devices brings a lot of new and interesting things to the flight.
Can be charged from USB port computer.
Charging time: 30-35 minutes.
*The appearance and color of the product may vary depending on the batch. Specify the desired color and appearance at the manager.
We are very excited to buy this toy. And after three weeks of waiting, a package arrived from the iHelicopters.net store. Until the last moment, I did not believe that this colossus would be able to fly under the control of an iPhone. I read a lot about how Apple gadgets control other gadgets, but until you try it yourself ...
The main control element is a small box that plugs into the headphone jack, converting audio signals to IR.
Launched on iPhone special utility from the App Store - Free, [iTunes link]. This is a virtual control panel. At the first start, we select the model of our helicopter, activate the transmitter and prepare for takeoff.
It will not be difficult even for a child to understand the control keys. After 3-4 accidents, you can quite confidently fly from one room to another without hitting the closet once.
When fully refueled, the helicopter can fly for 10 minutes. Two tankers are required: one for the car (45 minutes to full charge), the other for the remote (120 minutes). The remote control has enough energy for about 15 full-fledged flights around the apartment with crashes and adventures. "Jet fuel" is supplied via USB-outputs via wires included in the set.
Spare blades are also included. For example, I already broke one, crashing at full speed into the TV.
At first, the son was afraid of an unknown flying object and hid in his bed, but then he got used to it and now every evening we arrange joint flights, getting great pleasure.
And in the end, watch the same famous video again. Unfortunately, you can't shoot your own video while flying a helicopter and holding a camera in your hand :)
Another video for half a minute.
The helicopter is sold on iHelicopter.net for 60 bucks + shipping to Russia. Great gift for kids and yourself :)
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