On 2/26/2013 11:28 AM, soartech wrote:

http://www.vlab.org/article.html?aid=463

Following this link for a ways I discovered the amazing fact that you
can now purchase a complete
8 channel, GPS guided auto-pilot capable of landing, takeoff and
multiple pre-programmed waypoint flying for only $179.
This includes gyro, GPS, digital compass, accelerometer and high
performance barometric altimeter.
The software has been developed as a labor of love and is available
for free!
Not only that but the system is capable of controlling fixed wing,
rotary wing, multicopter, hovercraft and boats!
I can't imagine what could be done with this (peaceful uses only) but
it should spur some wild ideas.

http://store.diydrones.com/APM_2_5_A...r-apmpwrkt.htm


Since RAS "membership" seems to contain a high proportion of technophiles,
I'll note an obvious technology-driven trend that - at the very least - will
be "interesting" to watch develop over time.

The trend is claims upon airspace "because we technologically can (play up
there)." Yeah, there's gonna be a lot of additional airspace user wannabes in
the (very near) future. Am I the only one to note the irony that "drones" will
be a huge part of the coming societal distress?

Bob - winter can't end soon enough - W.