Robot Dragonfly

In the video, the founders suggest that I can "spy on people" and simultaneously show a picture of little girls. I would suggest removing that from the video.<p>Also in the video, they proudly announce that "the dragonfly has 5 technology patents on its design, ranging from mechanics, aerodynamics and flight controls". The fact that they intend to use the patent system to prevent competition might help them attract investors, but it sure as hell is not going to encourage me to contribute to their funding campaign.

Can someone explain something to me. These guys have 5 patents for their Dragonfly and, according to them, the research that led to these patents was funded by taxpayers to the tune of $1,000,000. So, the government funds the research, and the researchers get to patent the results for themselves? Is that the usual arrangement?

would love to know how much noise this wing design makes. The quadra/hexa/octocopters we fly are great but pretty noisy<p>Ours are slightly bigger though - designed to lift a RED Epic camera and a big bunch of batteries :) <a href="http://londonhelicam.co.uk" rel="nofollow">http://londonhelicam.co.uk</a> - password to see the video is 'helicam'

I find it disturbing that they advertise it with "spying on people".

Hardware ftw. See also the Mimix quadrocopter on Kickstarter: <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/qfolabs/mimixtm-tilt-to-fly-controller-and-nanoqtm-copter?ref=6342p1" rel="nofollow">http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/qfolabs/mimixtm-tilt-to-...</a><p>Wish these kinds of toys were available when I was a kid!

I like all the comments about how "original" and "innovative" this...even though the CIA did this 40 years ago. <a href="http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/30/cia-dragonfly-drone-uavs-40-years/" rel="nofollow">http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/30/cia-dragonfly-drone-uavs-...</a><p>On a side note, I wonder how well it holds up in the wind?

neat. but conveniently no mention of battery life or range; always a huge issue with tiny fliers.

Not sure if you can spy on people. These things are going to be too loud.