B - The RC Hybrid Car-Helicopter
I can't fit inside it. That's the primary downside to B, a patent-pending, remote-controlled car-helicopter hybrid capable of plowing along unfriendly terrain and then, when said terrain turns too rugged, lifting off and flying right over it. At first I thought maybe I could--its creator, Witold Mielniczek, lives in Southampton, UK, and we've all come to expect the Brits to make things bigger on the inside--but seeing it scaled to about the size of Mielniczek's upper chest in the above video makes me doubtful. I'm no spry, 5'0" female circus contortionist after all. (But if any of you out there are, please contact me here).
B's ability to transition smoothly and efficiently between ground and air travel crowns it nearly unstoppable as an RC toy, and primes it for treks and tricks otherwise impossible to execute. Central to its expanded capabilities are a quad of 8.66" diameter wheels fitted with helicopter blades. The oversized rollers conquer many of gravity's obstacles that would stop, flip, or ruin other RC toys, as well as contribute to the car's high flat-terrain speeds. They also protect the interior propellors--if a side impact occurs, a prop-saver ensures the blades don't get crunched. Other B hybrid braggin' points:
- Sturdy, almost indestructible Polycarbonate main chassis--the same material used in protective goggles and bullet proof windows--to protect B against impacts and hard landings. When it crashes from high altitudes, the driving rings detach from the housing and can be put back together easily.
- Vertical take-off and landing abilities.
- Up to 15 minutes of action in a single charge.
- 1280 x 720 px HD camera with recorder on board.
Though pricy to support--B starts at $189 for a DIY kit, and ascends to nearly $700 for a fully assembled model with high-end RC transmitter--interested parties can back the car-helicopter hybrid on Kickstarter through July 13, 2013.
Suggested via Dude Product Tips by Mattias N. Thanks, Mattias.
November 2013 Update: B vastly exceeded its crowdfunding goal and is now available for direct purchase through the B Go Beyond website--follow the link below.
/zero-helicopter-8499.jpg?mode=crop "ZERO Helicopter")
ZERO Helicopter
Holy hovering vehicle of flight! It's the ZERO concept helicopter from Spanish helicopter thinker upper Hector del Amo. How does it work? How fast can it go? How far can it go? Is it safe? Who the hell knows?! Apparently...
/hoverbike-2605.jpg "Hoverbike")
Hoverbike
The Hoverbike is what happens when one really wants to be a superhero, but really needs to figure out a way to more efficiently herd cattle. Aussie Chris Malloy has created a prototype for this motorcycle-helicopter hybrid...
/rc-airsoft-battle-tanks-31182.jpg?mode=crop "RC Airsoft Battle Tanks")
RC Airsoft Battle Tanks
Radio-controlled tanks that fire actual BBs? Glass sliding doors beware. These RC tanks, which I don't even know how they're allowed really in this day and age but I'm glad they are, are modeled after some of the most...
/mosquito-xe-single-seat-28953.jpg?mode=crop "Mosquito XE Single Seat Helicopter")
Mosquito XE Single Seat Helicopter
Composite FX's single seat helicopter is definitely the first mosquito I've ever seen that I don't want to squash between my hands, or watch fly right into a zapper. The company's XE line of Mosquito choppers is intended...
/the-best-rc-toys-for-adults-33556.jpg?mode=crop "The Best RC Toys for Adults")
The Best RC Toys for Adults
The best RC toys for adults span well beyond remote control cars and drones. In the case of the giant RC Bald Eagle, a full 9-1/2-foot wingspan beyond remote control cars and drones. And, honestly, I'm kind of over drones...
Smartphone Controlled Paper Airplane
We've seen electric paper airplanes. And we've seen flights of fancy controlled by smartphones. But never before in the history of mankind's existence on the universe have we seen an electric paper airp
/airdog-auto-follow-drone-for-13405.jpg "AirDog Auto-Follow Drone for GoPro")
AirDog Auto-Follow Drone for GoPro
Looks like tech that autonomously follows its owner around could be the next trend in Stuff You Can't Believe Is Real. Well, maybe not entirely autonomously. Like the HEXO+ and Double the roaming robotic iPad
/ehang184-life-size-rideable-20674.jpg?mode=crop "EHang 184 AAV - Life-Size Rideable Drone")
EHang 184 AAV - Life-Size Rideable Drone
EHang cut its teeth on drone manufacturing a couple years ago with the GHOSTDRONE, a quadcopter they dub "smart" and "the easiest drone to fly in the world." But now it's 2016. Smart and easy to fly are standards. EHang...
Crazyflie Nano Quadcopter
Whether or not this nano quadcopter flies is entirely up to you. I mean up to your skillz. The Crazyflie is an open source DIY kit primed for development and hacking, but its assembly demands proficiency in soldering...
/jetson-one-personal-electric-51537.jpg?mode=crop "Jetson ONE Personal Electric Aerial Vehicle")
Jetson ONE Personal Electric Aerial Vehicle
Jetson calls their Jetson ONE "a commercially available personal electric aerial vehicle that you can own and fly." For our purposes, we'll call it a human-totin' drone...
Taxidermy Animal Drones
When I first read about, but hadn't yet seen, Copter Company's taxidermy animal drones I though they just sounded kinda goofy. Then I got a look at the Orvillecopter here. A spread-eagle taxidermied quad-cat-ter flying...
/c3-custom-remote-controlled-55243.jpg?mode=crop "C3 Custom Remote Controlled Coolers")
C3 Custom Remote Controlled Coolers
Maybe the best quote a company president has ever made about their product comes from C3 Custom Cooler Creations president, Scott Seljan. In speaking to The Milwaukee Sentinel of his Remote Controlled Rover Coolers, Seljan...