From GeekDad Project to a Real Business

About two years ago, my then-9-year-old and I worked on a cool project to program Lego Mindstorms to fly a RC plane, which we cheekily called a Lego UAV. (And were then, even more cheekily, accused of "weaponizing Lego"--UAVs are export controlled as weapons!) It worked, amazingly, and was a lot of fun.

Then, as sometimes happens, I got obsessed, while he moved on to other things. In the past two years, I've made cellphone UAVs, Basic Stamp UAVs, autonomous blimps, and a true gyros+acellerometers+GPS autopilot version of the Lego Mindstorms UAV that's now in the Lego Museum in Billund, Denmark. We set up an amateur UAV community at DIYDrones.com, and get thousands of people each day exploring this new dimension of aerial robotics.

Now this project has gone pro. Our first commercial autopilot, the Arduino-compatible ArduPilot, has been released and our goal of taking an order or two of magnitude out of the cost of an autopilot has been achieved: it's $24.95!

Combined with a RC plane, this makes it easy to build a complete UAV for less than $500, which is really kind of amazing. As exciting as that it is, it's also sobering to know that a technology that was just a few years ago the sole domain of the military is now within the reach of amateurs, so we spend a lot of time educating our community on FAA regulations and safe and responsible flying (always under 400 feet, stay within line of sight, pilot always able to regain control).

As for my kids, well, the technology pretty quickly went over their head (in all senses of the word), but they're still involved a bit: video taking, pointing the ground-based telemetry antenna at the plane, laughing at Dad when his plane crashes and being bribed with ice cream if they'll tag along for yet another test flight. Someday, maybe one of them will want to get involved with some aspect of this again--programming, hardware design, even piloting. But until then, this counts as another project that started GeekDad and ended all Geek ;-)

Comments

[Corey Frisbee]

Love this story

[Chris Brogan...]

Heck of a story. The implications are even bigger than the story, because it hints at other areas where we could, with some persistence and with a small community of interest, break through into another new territory.

I remember seeing one of your blimps on an episode of BoingBoing TV, of all places, and was interested to see the project, but seeing this a little more finished is pretty darned cool.

Who knows? Maybe we'll see each other at a conference this year. I'd love to shake your hand for this accomplishment.

[Jé Maverick]

Well done!

[Konteyner]

ouw nice model.. Thanks for your ideas... I will continue to you :)

[watzabatza]

that's great... good job... your kids are so happy with it..

[lara]

Well done,really nice idea and good creative power.I gonna try to do this.
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[Benny Wall]

Thanks! The models are great. The best thing I like in the story is that you did it with your son.

[Wholesale kids clothing]

that's great! it seems you and your son was very close to each other! such a nice bonding to both of you! thanks for sharing your story! keep posting..

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[Sophie]

Very cool! You are teaching your son what is the heart of this world: innovation. Now lets see if the DOD or Silicon Valley recruits him first out of college! :-)

[mercy1]

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[demedia]

This is a great post.

Finding a certain hobby or "thing" to do with the people that are close to you is becoming more important as we reprioritize our lives. The RC plane is a great example of how we're spending money on not "me" products, but "we" products. It's all a part of a human bond trend (http://sparxoo.com/?p=148) that we will continue to see ever-more in our daily lives.

[Janie Peterson]

Love this. Makes all the Legos I stumble over worth it. Great job and inspiration to my family.

[wholesale kids clothing]

Hey, this is pretty good stuff! I find your posts very insightful. and i love the way you teach your son in some high tech gadgets.you such a good father to your son! Keep up the good work.

-altheya-

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[eq2 plat]

Great idea and inspiring as well. At least the kids get to have a geeky bonding experience with their parents ^^

[lowongan kerja 2009]

nice sharing
thanks

[Luke]

Hey man! You are techi god :) I always have a dream to "drive" the RC flight.

[nedir]

Hey man! You are techi god :) I always have a dream to "drive" the RC flight.

[komik fıkralar]

Hey man! You are techi god :) I always have a dream to "drive" the RC flight

[Noel G]

I'd like to know how or where I can find out the sales statistics of audio-book titles at audible.com - real numbers, not just which book made the best seller list - does anyone know?

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[David]

that is a cool RC plain, i had one just like that when i was a kid!

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[medyum]

Great idea and inspiring as well. At least the kids get to have a geeky bonding experience with their parents

[beritahot]

thanks

[Cerita Dewasa]

Nice info, Useful for my job...this has made my life (my projects) goes a lot easier. Keep up the good work, thanks very much... :)

[cerita dewasa]

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[Foto Bugil]

Nice info.. thanks for share...

[Bokep 3gp]

Great idea and inspiring as well... thanks...

[cephe kaplama]

Great site.Thanks a lot.

[Online Haber]

yes... business.. GeekDad Project is nice thanx for share..

[iron]

Thanks for such a nice post. I love this story very much. You are really fantastic man.!

iron

[christmas gifts]

Thank you for posting such a great post here.This is great technology.I was not having any idea about this technique...I was wondering such type of stuff only...

[cerita dewasa]

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