A video of a flying spherical reconnaissance drone developed by Japan’s military has lately been causing a stir online – the device makes for quite a spectacle.
The video:
The unit officially goes under the prosaic name of “spherical flight vehicle,” having been developed as a prototype miniature drone.
It is 42cm in diameter, 350g in weight and can fly for some 8 minutes, being capable of reaching speeds of 60km/h. Autopilot systems are said to be under development.
Interestingly, the developers report “buying most of the parts in Akihabara.”
Reminds me of the “copseye” device from some of Larry Niven’s “Known Space” science fiction stories – used by police to “patrol” public areas rather than doing it on foot. Of course those could go for more than 8 minutes, but everything has to start somewhere….
When do we get the blueprnts? xD
Though it doesn’t look that hard to construct. The idea of building it into a ball is quite interessting and usefull too. Now the ball sceleton just has to resist a drop of roughly a 100 metres so it can be recovered after “failed” reconnaisance…
needs to be small and have a spy camera with a very very wide wireless range
Well, it has Iron Eagle music, in its intro soundtrack so the developpers know their cult geek c movies.
Somehow I am suddenly reminded of Orianna from League of Legends… Can It ram people for AoE damage?
Japan’s “military”? Really?
Eventually they’ll remove the whole “hovering” gimmick and just let the thing roll around, collecting everything with its newly added monster strength adhesives.
what wrong with akihabara, it used to be an central market of electronic goods. It only became “hobby street” in recent decade..
Hey look! They’ve finally caught up to RC!
So… Where can I invest in this delicious apparatus?
first is the Haro, next is the ball, after that comes the zaku, then, the gundam!!!
japs still has a long way!!
Call me again when it doesn’t require moving parts to fly…
UAV RECON, STANDING BY….. OUR UAV IS IN THE AIR…
Well you could strap a few rocket engines on it, but that only makes it louder, easier to see and more dangerous…
I’M A GENIUS! *runs to the drawing board while laughing maniacally*
there already is a rocket version.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPFj8kGXnwk&feature=related
Muhahaha!!!
“FLYING HOMING/REMOTE CONTROLLED BALL OF FIRE!!!”
that would be great ehh?? or attach nailguns in it or sawblades MUAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!
It’s called a missile. Sorry mate. 😀
I don’t care about the moving parts thing, more about the automated movement, and ‘perhaps’ a ‘bit’ longer flight-time.
just take a giant dyson ring and amp the power up!
nice toy..
The proto-type of the Cypher. Next thing on the list is METAL GEAAARRRRRRRR.
Metal Gear???
I would have thought something like this would see more use in ‘hostage’ situations, ie. being used to look through windows in a building that can’t be seen into from other vantage points to help get a better idea of the situation at hand, etc.
The last thing you’d want in a situation involving dangerous people with guns and hostages is to spook the dangerous people with a weird flying sphere which they may interpret as an attack.
I don’t get it, no bukkake?
aren’t black sphere drones the sign of the end of times in most anime?
basically this is a helicopter wrapped in plastic cage
Is it really that impressive? I can go to the mall and buy a toy helicopter for less then a $100 and maybe put a spherical cage around it and man it would look the same, though I don’t know about 60km/h
hmm…nothing much more than a remote mini helicoptor, except with a camera and shape of a ball. THough the most redeeming features is probably the speed it can get up to and light weight.
also reminds me of the HK-Drone except in a ball shape and without weapon… another step closer
I love how we have a far more violent version of these drones in the US. DARPA’s been working on a drone with an attached AA-12 and 160 magazine drum for the past few years. Effectively, it’s that thing, but with a swivel automatic recoiless shotgun.
And it really only costs around $1000.
the use of it???
Playing the japanese/american national anthem depending on the land your in and broadcasting prerecorded, propagandistic speeches by your current leading party. Kudos to Fallout 3
I’ll just leave this here..
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&biw=1476&bih=786&q=hexacopter&oq=hexacopter&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=e&gs_upl=26818971l26822451l0l10l8l0l0l0l0l0l0l
PROTIP: the only thing new and unique about this little item is its shape. R/C-sized UAVs have been around for years now.
yea but… this is japanese
Wow only 8 minutes of flight. In otherwords it cannot survey some range where getting there will take over 4 minutes or it wouldn’t have battery to return.
Imagine the drones having to travel back and forth to recharge ever to frequently.
That reporter is really cute.
The drone looked like it was chasing her to rape.
I wish it could ripped her clothes
Looks disturbingly like the torture-droid from Star Wars…
seriously, fuck u
No, it will fuck you.
HIIIGHWAY TO THE DANGERZONEEEE! anyone else notice that?
I was beginning to get worried looking through the comments and not seeing this mentioned. I guess 86 is probably before the time of most of the people on this site. YOU ALL MAKE ME FEEL OLD!
DO WANT! dowantdowantdowantdowantdowantdowantdowantdowantdowantdowant
epic TOP GUN music FTW.
was thinking the same thing.
This isn’t necessarily new technology….but for how simple it is it appears to work quite well.
this is the beginning of mecha drone pods
damn only 8min… not enough time to get under a skirt + fap…
Soooo……a remote control helicopter with a camera, and its special because it’s ball-shaped? Radio Shack’s been marketing shit like this since 1992…..
That reporter is hot!
Only Japan can present military technology using bubbly, cheerful, female reporters. The rest of the world watches Richard Machowicz in Future Weapons.
But was she ever in SEAL?
I’d love to see her dressed as a seal :3
I once saw something very much like this in the movie Real Genius.
Put on some mini airsoft guns, I wanna let them dogfight. :))
Anyway this is the dream of last decades, it has become true.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Wpsnb49IAI
now we’re half-way there.
That’s the idea for my bachelor thesis 😀
“We Bought Most of the Parts in Akiba”
Not suprising. The Phoenix rover went to Mars with a $30 PC sound card on it, beamed back sound of wind blowing across the landscape.
“lol not a predator”
Doesn’t have to be, if all you want to see is the other side of town “…where this party’s being held, how many’s coming, and what they brought to play with.”
You can already buy something like this: AR parrot.
Why they always show a deadly weapon with a cute girl
To create cute but deadly weapons :3 naah she’s just a distraction or something.
seems kinda elaborated… only needs some tentacles and it’s ready to go
I like monochrome but the black gives a bit of a sinister vibe to me. Maybe I just watch too much TV. Maybe I’m used to all their inventions being white. Maybe it’s after certain funding.
The thumbnail image made me think of the Gantz sphere. :3
I can definitely see the military uses out side of spying. What would happen if that was attached to a parachute?
I didn’t know that the JSDF were SGU fans! But anyways, there’s still plenty of room for obvious improvement. Like for starters, making it smaller and less noisy therefore making it more stealthy. Otherwise, anybody with a gun would be able to take it down very easily.
Soldier: “Sir we have confirmation…”
Commander “…And?”
Soldier: “…H cup”
Commander: “Fuck yeah”
One word:Haro
It looks like it costs less that 200 bucks and still could be better than those million dollar drones :/
No, it doesn’t have anywhere near the capabilities of military drones, which can carry weapons and stay in the air for 12 hours or more. I also doubt this drone can fly very high.
So this isn’t going to replace Predators and such, but I’m sure it has many other applications.
don’t forget the sensor suites, and no it doesn’t. Not at 8 minutes and 10 km/h with such a low ceiling.
It cost 110,000 yen. So, not quite that cheap, but still relatively cheap for sure.
It’s a pretty good deal really… I mean, $1300US roughly is a fair bit, but when you consider the camera and the parts that go with it, it’s pretty impressive with just off the shelf bits. The 8 minute flight time is a bit restrictive for usage but it’s definitely not bad.
I for one, welcome our new flying spherical vehicle overlords.
I’d make it look like a giant eyeball and creep the shit out of people
JSDF spherical dome. Contain intel GANTZ 7
lol. good one 😀
so in the real world, Gantz is made in akihabara huh…
From the 1st pic I deduced this was another chapter of Hirano saga :C
one word; Quidditch!
Catch it Harry! Ahh! My hand!
Fingers flying everywhere…
This isn’t that impressive. It doesn’t look like you can stuff that many sensors into it.
The hover function is nice but looks really puny.
All that’s missing now is a real life biribiri to shoot them down.
HARO HARO~
Reminds me of those drones in Half Life 2. Gordon Freeman was quite familiar with these.
Finally, someone who recognizes these!~
I couldn’t help myself. Not only Danger Zone but the Top Gun anthem as well.. I couldn’t not picture introduction to Top Gun with well…. Japanese men taking off in these rather than jets… I’m sure you can picture it.
I quess people haven’t heard parrot ar.drone. (google it) Plus you don’t need to be military to use it, you only need an iphone and 300ish dollars.
That’s just a helicopter. This is a flying sphere.
Lord Vader will be please on our progress on the Death Star
Now we shall discuss the location of the Rebel base.
can’t wait for kenny loggins to sue them for unlicensed usage of danger zone.
I don’t know if Japan has is it, but in the US there’s some clause that lets the news get away with using whatever music they want. I saw a report one time that had music from the Legend of Zelda.
Needs to be paper mache’d into HARO
Unfortunately it would no longer fly if you did that.
So I can beat the everloving crap out of it?
I was wondering how long it’ll take to get an anime-skinned version.
Haro genki! Haro genki!
Nerai utsu!!
Its just Remote controlled I thought its robotic…
It says autopilot is under development dumbass, so of course it’s only remote control.
and it’s called a ‘drone’ not robotic.
Cool, first few steps to build Academy City~
….and the Death Star.
i don’t get the commotion, this is basically a hobo-version of a draganfly without the onboard-cam and the gps-control.
heck there are video on youtube where some rc-fans show off there own constructions with much more features.
and the japanese military really buys that crap?
It’s just a pet project by the looks of it, or maybe a sketch for a more serious one.
Personally I think they’re playing around with shapes.
So it was made from parts in Akiba… so that means it takes reconnaissance photos of girls upskirts?
Wouldn’t it make more sense if it tries to look down our blouses instead? XD
Well, so far it was doing a fine job of stalking/harassing that newslady…
Is it just me or there’s a girl in my internet?
OUR
wtf man our
No it’s only his internet because the term our would mean there are humans behind those 6 walls he calls room…xD
Nope, that’s just the prototype. The real model will have a propeller big enough to generate significant wind currents.
SO…..is a flying ball instead of helicopter miniature radio control…?
Well what do expect the shape? A flying PENIS or BOOBS shape?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haRZxPw0JYg that would be Russian
If you don’t then you clearly haven’t played Spore.
This is Funnel technology for Japan’s hidden Gundam project(s).
Imagine 8 of these firing lasers at your piece of shit planes and tanks and missiles.
This is clearly technology that will power Enclave Eyebots so they can fly around the landscape and play annoying radio stations.
One of these can be taken down by small arms fire as it is right now. Even if you somehow protect the drone, the rotary parts will still need to be exposed enough to allow air flow, which makes them highly vulnerable to AA fire, even if you put tank grade armor on it.
Also, lasers make crappy weapons. Even if you could generate enough power for a strong enough pulse, simple reflective coating would make them completely useless. Not to mention that lasers are very difficult to maintain in outdoor conditions and high grade capacitors are really expensive for large scale production.
Just putting on Tank-grade armor simply is defying the idea of a drone… the amount of power you’d need to generate to lift it is impossible without the rotor the size of a helicopter…. and then you can simply take a helicopter. Flying vehicles don’t have armor – WHATSOEVER!
You could however protect it from small arms fire simply by thin layers of advanced plastic compunds… as long as you dont hit the rotor (which could be grilled) you’d need a rocket to take it down then.
This is not Fallout 3 after all…
wai zo zeriouz?
Because this is the Internet. Everybody knows that the internet is a serious business, anon.
and if it gets better,DRAGOON and bits
Ganbatte! Amuro!
Now add some saw blades and you get a Manhack.
Ah, Manhacks. Very useful for all you fancy dictators with rebellions to repress.
be careful on touching that thing, it my slice your fingers…
So it’s appears to be a remote control helicoptor with a cage around it to protect the propellers. Is this actually impressive, or are people just going strry eyed over the aesthetic presentation?
it’s so simple that nobody even tried making one, before this one, also being simple is what makes it good, can mass product lots of them when improved.
imagine 10 of them on autopilot equipped with 9mm, it’s rain of bullets, Infantry will get raped.
*sigh*
there’s so many things wrong with that statement I can’t even bother.
I guess Sanka isn’t much smarter than the avg. person after all.
It was made with parts from Akihabara. Impressive if you compare it to billion dollar spy drone projects in the US. I believe it can fulfill it’s task by attaching a rapid camera and ultra fast fly by.
and worst of all, a loiter time of 8 minutes? It is a sketch for a more serious project, nothing more.
You should avoid talking about things you have no idea about. The article does not provide information on whether the launch platform can integrate the electronic and weight of a sensor suite or camera as you put it, and much less so does it display any ‘super fast fly by’ in the video.
At this point it is merely a novel RC design. It could go somewhere but it is not even in the same league as the leading weapons system you so trivially refer to.
I still don’t think this thing could see conflict given a few year’s time though… the market has lots of little recon UAVs, mostly made by the Israelis, Italians, French, etc…
mass producing RC helos and planes for scouting sounds like a good idea though, but I doubt the spend-thrift militaries will ever really go through with that, and for all I know they might have good reasons for it.
oh ok, sorry, just seens a lot of idiotic comments in this thread at large. kinda should’ve put the weight on the ‘compared to billion-dollar’ clause.
I’ve seen smaller RC helicopters at the local toy shop w/ cameras built in for under $100 US.
It was just a simple comparison. Did not state if it would actually go to war. Did not insult US military. Just that it works and flies.
A couple of years later, given funding and research, it could become something big. Fast produced low cost drones anyone?
Also, I’m not stupid if you think I’m comparing a recon heli-drone to proven UAVs. Just that a working one can be built for cheap.
If you look at the proliferation of ‘drones’ used by the US and other militaries, as well as civilian applications, they come in all shapes, sizes, capabilities, and costs. What are essentially upgraded RC planes and model helicopters are being used on the battlefield for local reconnaissance.
This appears to be a cheaper and more limited design similar to a commercial drone available from Honeywell.
Also cute as hell, and I want one of each, both the drone and the reporter.
Kinda interesting how Japan made new stuff just for fun yet they sorta already surpassed most weapon techs other military-famed organisations were trying to seriously build.
Please wiki “Honeywell RQ-16 T-Hawk”
I have to agree with Anon, that comment was rather retarded, but Anon’s comment is a bit retarded too, since a lot of those budget’s aren’t overinflated but rather haven’t got enough funding until the recent wars and the fact that this RC isn’t actually capable at all.
Agree here >.>
It was just a compliment. Why call her retard?
everyday people make unique stuff without an overinflated military budget. stop sounding like such a jap lover, this phenomenon is not limited to japan. retards.
theres a difference though.
something like this would be only able to travel only as far as it could get within 8 minutes (which wouldnt be too far).
those drones cost so much because theyre designed to travel further and carry other advanced surveillance stuff; endurance being a top priority.
impressive for something so small? yes. but not something that can be compared to a true UAV.
actually, cheap inexpensive recon drones do exist, though it is true they tend to inflate capabilities over generations
This drone could actually provide a cheaper option for ground troops on the front line who need recon.
Expensive drones are hard to replace if they get hit.
A cheap dispensable drone can be a better choice sometime IMHO.
exactly what i thought
The latter, don’t listen to the above poster. He’s retarded if he thinks this thing even compares to the Predator and Reaper’s loiter times, sensor suites, load capacity, etc…
a “reconnaissance” drone made mostly from parts available in akihabara
does anyone else see a pattern there?
Time to get one, girls showers/changing room here i come.
Someone should write s doujin with this where many of them go on a gangbanging rampage.
oh anon, you never disappoint me
Coming soon to Sora no Otoshimono…
Good luck with that. It is loud as hell.
Don’t you worry, the girl won’t hear anything at all when she takes a shower. >:3
It’s not like anyone is going to hear it when they’re taking a shower.
Who cares? It should have a large LCD screen with the line: “Hahaha bitches, I’m watching you!!”
What can they do?
Buy a sniper rifle.
Wait 8 minutes for it to stop then strip.
Strip.
Japan. Always thinking of new ways to peep.
imagine all the new posibilities thisgadget has brought to the porn industry
You speak of it as a crime.
Peeping is an art.
@10:20
In most places, it’s illegal to spy on people even if you are the police or some other government institution without a court order on that person. Even in the UK, the police is only allowed to watch the streets.
Incidentally, this does not apply to the “Lard of the not so free”.
I’m just afraid the government will make a whole ton of these and use them for their new department “Thought Police”. Better leave those windows and doors locked when you’re watching your porn, and you better not stroll around your own property naked!
It’s perfect to spy on Japanese females.
wait till it is just the size of a fly ^^
sadly,it’s a bit too big
Your face is a FUCKING PERVERTED STUPID PIGS THAT MUST DIE!
Unfortunately, Ishihara would probably use something like this on manga shops and lovers of loli.
Submit, conform, obey!
Just wait for the smaller version that can fly into tight spaces…
there are already smaller versions of copters… dont know why its so big.
I’ll leave that to your fertile imagination…
I don’t dare ask how tight or what spaces…
Revolutionizing the art of peeping with modern tech.
And now, your Highness, we shall discuss the location of your hidden Rebel base…
I’ll be impressed when they attached a high-powered pulse laser cannon to it…with parts from Akihabara of course.
Gotta love how the back round music near the beginning of the video is that Danger Zone song from Top Gun. Full of win…
Drone: I feel the need…the need for speed.
Drone needs a wingman
Damn, got scared.
For a second, I thought it was Aya Hirano.
Meh, just one of those chopper toys with spherical cage for body.
And shit, they call it JSDF Spherical Drone; they’re making a fool of themselves!
Its quite innovative thinking, for a drone.
The US has worked on similar things, but most of theirs don’t react well to bouncing on walls or obstacles. They’ve been using all kinds of fancy software to get around it when a simple roll cage would have sufficed.
Sometimes good ideas are simple.
That is true. The shape of it is the innovation here, nothing more, but a great idea nonetheless.
The reporter runs from the sphere like a retard.