Actually it was out the other day when the news contained crime scene shots that could only have been taken by a quadcopter or similar.

http://www.bbc.co.uk...siness-24712136

Next... the anti-surveillance copter copter (deploys smoke screen)!

I wasn't aware this was a secret, 3G! This sort of surveillance equipment has been in use with security services across the land for many years. That one's surprisingly big!

Agreed, but I'm referring to use in national news gathering. They've also been used by smaller film companies getting maximum bang for production buck for quite a while too. I don't think any Beeb claim for first use in news gathering will stand up; likely other organisations just got on with it whilst the Beeb suits were in endless meetings and writing their rule book.

I'm told by an "expert" that: "that's a zenmuse gimbal on a DJI hexacopter". So.. now you know what your licence fee is being spent on.

Malcolm, if you like that, watch this....http://www.ted.com/talks/vijay_kumar_robots_that_fly_and_cooperate.html (and if someone can make it a clickable link for a technophobe me, please do....)

 

edit; ooh, it is one!

 

** also, scroll a few minutes in to where the fun starts

Edited November 30, 201312 yr by mercuryg

Remember seeing ASIMO on QI - 2011 and thinking that must be the current best. Later discovered that those in the know think there is a more advanced robot, not in the World's 10 most Amazing Robots, and that is Petman:-

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGZoMPXG0MI