Smartphone-Controlled Electric Paper Airplane Kit Nears $1 Million In Kickstarter Funds
On the list of things we spent an inordinate amount of time doing as children, making paper airplanes (and floating them to inappropriate places at inappropriate times) was easily in the top ten, and it looks like very little has changed in *cough* the last few decades *cough*.
The PowerUp 3.0 is a smartphone-controlled paper airplane kit that actually appears far more compelling that you might think, and to date the group’s Kickstarter campaign is edging ever closer to $1 million. Currently, the amount of pledged funds is $965,447, and there’s still 13 days left in the campaign.
The PowerUp 3.0 sports a smart chip with a Bluetooth module on the nose, and the rear of the device has a fan a moving rudder. The creator, Shai Goitein, claims that the little PowerUp 3.0, which is constructed of a carbon fiber frame, is durable and can last through many crashes. You can charge the battery with any microUSB charger, which is a nice feature.
An electric paper airplane is cool enough, but this one has a smartphone app that lets you control it, too. Currently only for iOS (an Android version is in the offing), the app features an artificial horizon, magnetic compass, thrust level indicator, ascend/descend lever control, range indicator, and more. You simply tilt the phone to the left or right to maneuver.
With the funds raised the PowerUp 3.0 can go into production and (hopefully) appear on store shelves as soon as possible. Possible stretch goals include a dogfight mode wherein you can duel with another PowerUp 3.0, a dual-engine model, and a mounted video camera option.
The PowerUp 3.0 is a smartphone-controlled paper airplane kit that actually appears far more compelling that you might think, and to date the group’s Kickstarter campaign is edging ever closer to $1 million. Currently, the amount of pledged funds is $965,447, and there’s still 13 days left in the campaign.
The PowerUp 3.0 sports a smart chip with a Bluetooth module on the nose, and the rear of the device has a fan a moving rudder. The creator, Shai Goitein, claims that the little PowerUp 3.0, which is constructed of a carbon fiber frame, is durable and can last through many crashes. You can charge the battery with any microUSB charger, which is a nice feature.
An electric paper airplane is cool enough, but this one has a smartphone app that lets you control it, too. Currently only for iOS (an Android version is in the offing), the app features an artificial horizon, magnetic compass, thrust level indicator, ascend/descend lever control, range indicator, and more. You simply tilt the phone to the left or right to maneuver.
With the funds raised the PowerUp 3.0 can go into production and (hopefully) appear on store shelves as soon as possible. Possible stretch goals include a dogfight mode wherein you can duel with another PowerUp 3.0, a dual-engine model, and a mounted video camera option.
