$50 kit to be available in June
It seems like a lot of different companies are getting in on the smartphone-controlled device game. ARCHOS announced its own series of home regulation devices earlier today. Belkin has its own thing along the same lines.
Although it's not exactly home automation, Tailor Toys LLC will have a smartphone-controlled device all its own to show off at CES next week. A module contained in the PowerUp 3.0 paper airplane conversion kit will turn a paper plane, which you can make yourself, into a smartphone-controlled beast--at least for ten minutes.
It works through a Bluetooth 4.0/Bluetooth Smart connection and Android 4.3 or higher (and iOS).
A tilt of the phone will control the plane's rudder, allowing steering of the plane. Propeller speed can be adjusted via a touchscreen interface, controlling the plane's altitude. It has a range of 180 feet.
The company launched a Kickstarter campaign to finance the PowerUp 3.0. It has raised almost $840,000 so far.
A 1,000 mAh rechargeable Li-ion battery also comes in the package.
It carries a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $50 and should be available in June.
Will you be picking up one of these for the kiddos or for kiddos at heart when they're available? Please make your thoughts known in the comments section!
Reader comments
Smartphone-controlled plane to soar to CES
A plane seems like it would require a pretty large space for anything more than flying in circles. I'll stick to RC helicopters.
Posted from my Motorola MicroTac via the Android Central App
There's an app for that •_•
Stick 3 more rotors and a bigger battery, a pinhole camera, and make your own quad copter kit would be more fun, and practically silent. Instead of paper just use thin balsa wood or Styrofoam.
Diy drone!
I find your lack of faith in android disturbing.
Might be fun to play with outside on a calm evening. I already fly electric RC planes, so the tech behind this interests me.
Posted via Android Central App on my Moto X
Why would I want this when I can buy 1 and a half Chromecasts?
Why would you want half a Chromecast? :P
Duh, for when I only have time to watch half a show
Better choice would be a chromecast and some money for Netflix and Google play movies....
Posted via Android Central App
You can't compare the price of a chrome cast to an air plane they are 2 completely different things
Posted via Android Central App
So much for the rubber band motor planes.
I find your lack of faith in android disturbing.
Its actually alive and well. Free flight is not huge, but still here.
Posted via Android Central App on my Moto X
I'll most definitely be picking one up. I never have enough room to fly my current fleet of electric fans... this looks like it'll work in smallish yards.
I've got one of these bad boys coming my way as I backed the kickstarter campaign.
Posted via Android Central App
Answer me this... Did Bluetooth get a huge bump in transmition range or does 180 feet seem far for Bluetooth?
Posted via Android Central App
Bluetooth has always had this range - just interference seems to knock it down a couple of notches...
Posted via Android Central App
They may have always "had" that range but its not the real world range. I have never got 100 feet even with a class 1 and clean line of site. Most I got was 75. Theoreticaly you should be able to get 300 meters with a class 1 and my car speedometer shows 150 mph but it can't get there.
Posted via Android Central App
Count me in.
Posted via Android Central App
That kinda stuff has been out for ages I've seen toy minis controlled be iPhone4 way back
Posted via Android Central App
Most definitely will at only $50.
Bluetooth missiles baby!
I find your lack of faith in android disturbing.
I am a backer for this on kickstarter for the kid in me and really excited to see this project come to reality. The stretch goals are pretty freaking awesome
Same here.
Posted from myPhone, not iPhone.
Backed this project and can't wait to get it in my hands...
...If they raise 2 million they will put micro camera's in them.
Meh.
I bought a phone controlled helicopter for all of $25 last year.
It was fun for about as long as this thing probably will be.
$50 seems really high for what you are actually getting. But I guess people love kickstarter. Feels like being part of the team.
-Suntan
Just make sure you can clearly see your phone's screen out in bright sunshine. Just sayin...