Gizmodo: picooz

Indoor R-C Helicopters Go DIY, Use Spare Electronics Parts

Kit Eaton — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 10:30:00 EDT

Forget the Picoo Z's, no matter how much fun they are they can't be as cool as making and flying your own indoor remote-control 'copter. And over at this site there's a set of instructions that'll help you DIY, assuming you have some spare CD drive motors and servos lying around, and are happy with soldering and detailed rotor-carving. The instructions even say how to add a wireless cam beneath the fuselage... useful for, um, imaging the precise moment you crash it into your cat? I suspect more nefarious purposes. Still, it's a full cyclic-control aircraft, so it should be extremely flyable. [Heliproject via Hacknmod]

iBird R/C Toy Looks Like Flapping Good Fun

Kit Eaton — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 05:55:46 EST

The new iBird comes from the same makers as our favourite R/C microcopters, but this time takes a leaf from Mother Nature's design book. Controlled with the same kind of infrared remote and charging system as the Picoo Z's, the flapping wonder is supposed to look and fly like a real bird. Real, hey? I'd say really cybernetic, but what the heck: check out its "realistic flapping motion" in the video.

It looks easier to control than the choppers, but is apparently made to be "ultra tough" in case you still manage some high-speed collisions when playing with it. Available in three color schemes, it's out now for around $50. [Geekalerts]

Tandem Z1 Chinook Minicopter Flying (and Crashing) on Video

Kit Eaton — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 08:30:22 EST

My new Tandem Z1 Chinook finally arrived. And guess what? Two rotors and proper six-way control actually does equal twice the crashes. At least while starting out, anyway— just like a real helicopter these things are a bugger to learn to control. Balancing throttle, forward, backwards, turning and the trimming controls felt like it needed about three extra hands. So, I had crashes. A lot. But, eventually, I got the hang of it, as the video shows.

Once my crash factor had reduced, it's the most fun toy I've ever played with. I even felt bold enough to take off the extra plastic vane at the front—something the instructions say to do only once "you obtained certain control skills." Then there was renewed whirling and high-speed encounters with floor, ceiling, curtains and wife (sorry!), but I eventually got the hang of this maneuverable mode too.

Alas, the attempt to carry a Legoman hanging from its payload hooks totally failed, as you can see from the crash compilation video. There was lots of footage to choose from.

The Tandem Z1 charges from the remote control, just like other Picoo Z choppers, though this controller has an extra trim adjuster for forwards/backwards. The four-way steering joystick comes with a plug-in limiter so you can get the hang of things while starting out. The attention to detail on the model is great: it's even got undercarriage and a switchable nose searchlight. Despite the extra complexity of the design, the styrofoam seems pretty resilient, and has survived a hundred crashes with only a few dents.

Overall verdict: awesome, flyable, crashable fun.

Tandem Z Chinook R/C Helicopter Has Two Rotors for Double the Crashes

Kit Eaton — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 06:46:54 EST

Picoo Z has just doubled the fun of R/C mini helicopters with the Tandem Z Chinook. Yes, two rotors, just like the real thing, for twice the number of high-speed crashes into walls, twice the chased-by-your-cat action. Its also got a three-channel remote control now, so you can try forward-backward moves properly—remember how tricky the original Pico Z was to fly with only up-down and left-right? Available for around $79. [Geek Alerts]

AH-64D Apache Rechargeable Micro RC Helicopter is Licensed by Boeing

Charlie White — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 09:15:18 EDT

Looks like one more of those tiny styrofoam helicopters has taken to the air, and just like the others, this one pretty much goes up, down, and bangs into walls. This AH-64D Apache Rechargeable Micro RC Helicopter is supposedly so realistic it's officially licensed by Boeing (that Apache name was the part that was licensed, not the design). More pics, post-jump.

It does seem to have a few more design details than its run-of-the-mill PicoZ brandmate, but it looks like its flying mechanism is the same. The company mentions it has a "super wide infrared remote controller," but that looks just about the same, too.

If you do want to fly one of these $32.90 choppers, here's a helpful hint: Slightly bend the tail rudder and you get just enough directional control to accurately fly the thing. [Brando]

PicooZ Sky Challenger Laser Tag R/C Choppers Selling Soon

Wilson Rothman — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 17:27:45 EDT

Remember those sweet laser-tag type R/C choppers we showed you a few months ago, the ones that fulfilled at least two of Adam's childhood fantasies? Today, I saw them, or well, something ridiculously identical, both in and out of the box. That's right, PicooZ is coming out with a $80 duelin' chopper set called Sky Challenger, and it'll be on Firebox.com within the next four weeks (though it's not up yet). Looks like Christmas will come early for Mr. Frucci! [Firebox.com]