$20,000,000 for 160 units. $125,000 each. Slightly more expensive than the remote control helicopters you buy as toys. If this number is correct, I would love to know what justifies that amazing cost per unit.
That's a simplistic way to look at things. As others mentioned, there's of course R&D. But there's also a huge difference between military-grade hardware and your hobby kit. Would you rely on the latter with your life? To work reliable in all conditions? To provide an encrypted video stream to a special control unit?
Meh. Still sounds like an absolute bargain for a government project which always entails tons of overhead starting with a complex and time consuming procurement process, project management, auditing, vacations, management changes, political spin doctoring, competing priorities, etc etc.
And then it's military on top of that, which means ruggedized equipment, security and lots of field testing.
This combined with Google glass. Each soldier could have a couple of them buzzing around with "autonomous" or "controlled" modes, with a landing/charging pad on their backpack.
I find it pretty amazing how quickly this Minority Report stuff is turning into reality. Don't know how autonomous these are right now but I would assume in near future you would just open a box to release a swarm of these and they would manage themselves, patrol on certain area, come back for reloading etc.
Visualizing the information is then one thing. That reminds me about Microsoft maps augmented reality presentation from TED where they superimposed live video feed over street view style imagery [1].
(...) and now that we have balanced the defence budget we are able to confidently invest in these kinds of cutting-edge technologies. - The nano helicopter has been developed by Prox Dynamics AS of Norway as part of a £20m contract for 160 units
That's loads of money if they are not much different from toys/hobbyist UAVs. Do you think that those helicopters are just streaming video or is there some kind of software merging it all together into a 3D reconstruction (odometry?)? If not, what can justify this price?
A hobbyist UAV is probably not weather sealed, hardened against interference or heavily tested under battle like conditions. These are assumptions but they'd be my requirements if I was specing this system. They also appear to be an order of magnitude smaller than hobbyist UAVs with video.
I have a feeling that we're still just scraping the surface of drones-as-military-equipment. They are being used now in very remote parts of a remote (and relatively small by global standard) war.
[+] [-] forbes|13 years ago|reply
EDIT: Jeebus, it is actually 20 million pounds.
[+] [-] eliben|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] GiraffeNecktie|13 years ago|reply
And then it's military on top of that, which means ruggedized equipment, security and lots of field testing.
[+] [-] hartror|13 years ago|reply
The production cost of the units is likely quite reasonable but the cost of developing and testing the system is what cost ₤20mil.
[+] [-] sakri|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] mtrimpe|13 years ago|reply
I'd prefer it be used for non-evil uses somehow though ;)
[+] [-] jpalomaki|13 years ago|reply
Visualizing the information is then one thing. That reminds me about Microsoft maps augmented reality presentation from TED where they superimposed live video feed over street view style imagery [1].
[1] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TOqikZTBMY
[+] [-] pawelwentpawel|13 years ago|reply
That's loads of money if they are not much different from toys/hobbyist UAVs. Do you think that those helicopters are just streaming video or is there some kind of software merging it all together into a 3D reconstruction (odometry?)? If not, what can justify this price?
[+] [-] hartror|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] boothead|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] arethuza|13 years ago|reply
[+] [-] piggsvin|13 years ago|reply
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=no&sl=auto&...
[+] [-] netcan|13 years ago|reply
The future is scary.
[+] [-] conanite|13 years ago|reply