Hasta La Gadget!

I am quite sure that folks who live near Roswell or Area 51 would have had their fair share of run ins with UFOs in the past, so much so that these have ended up being “normal” to them that the sight of a UFO no longer piques their interest as life goes on. Well, for there rest of the conspiracy theorists out there, perhaps the $39.99 R/C UFO Ball Copter might be just the thing to revitalize that flagging spirit of yours when it comes to having something that keeps you going on.

The R/C UFO Ball Copter is ideal to scare not only the neighbors but kids as well, where it sports LED lights for that added touch of alien-inspired night flights. Of course, do expect plenty of grainy images starting to appear in the local papers as well as Facebook accounts and Instagram posts when you start taking out this bad boy for a spin – it is a given. Sporting an advanced intelligent balance system and all round 3 channel control, the R/C UFO Ball Copter will be powered by half a dozen AA batteries, and will not carry the threat of an anal probe, either.

[ R/C UFO Ball Copter copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Do you remember the feeling of being invincible when you are in a M1 Abrams tank, taking down old school T72 tanks from the Soviet era with ease while remaining nicely protected within? Well, here is the £69.99 Bigtrak XTR that might just give you that sense of invincibility, albeit in a slightly different manner. After all, the first of Bigtraks did make their way into homes all the way back in 1982, sporting high tech features as well as programmable movement, making it the ideal toy for the 8-bit generation. Fast forward by three decades, and here we are with the Bigtrak XTR which completely revamps the design and comes jam-packed full of onboard technology.

For starters, the Bigtrak XTR is a 6-wheeled, foot long programmable rover that boasts an exciting range of features, and will definitely be able to live up to its name XTR (which incidentally, stands for eXtra Technology Rover). Some of the more noticeable features include control of the XTR over a smartphone or tablet device (it can be an iPhone or the iPod touch and iPad, or basically any other device that runs on the Android platform), using the computer for driving with a joystick or via the onboard keypad. You can even record movement and playback that are dialled in using the onboard keypad, making it the ideal situation for you to plan and execute missions throughout the home.

Sporting a couple of accessory ports, the Bigtrak XTR can be further expanded using optional accessories (where each of them are sold separately) such as a missile launcher or an IR gun that are great ways to cause mischief. Not only that, there is also the wireless camera which allows you to “see” exactly what the XTR sees thanks to the computer command centre. With an intelligent loading bay that detects whenever you place something onto it, it is also one of the more fun and innovative ways of transporting snacks from the kitchen to your couch in the living room whenever you do not feel up to it. Talk about rolling back the years in style!

[ Bigtrak XTR for some remote controlled fun copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Writing notes is so passé. Looking for a better way to pass messages around the house or office? Maybe it is time for dinner and you want to tell the kids. Or maybe your office mate asked you a question via email and you are looking for a humorous approach to answering. Sticky notes are no fun. Let’s use technology instead!

Brookstone has the perfect device for creative messaging – the Skywriter UFO. This is no ordinary flying device, resembling a pod rather than a plane. Program in up to about 20 words (170 characters) via the IR controller and let it take off. You control the flight pattern. LED technology displays your message via the fast moving propeller while in midair so you can communicate in a whole new way.  The controller requires 6 AAA batteries. But the UFO itself will automatically recharge its lithium-polymer battery through the controller. And the Skywriter UFO can be used by most of the family as it is safe for kids 8 or older. Brookstone features this programmable flyer for $34.99. Whether you need a new way to say “Happy Birthday” or a subtle colleague reminder of “Time for Lunch” or any other creative method of getting your message across the Skywriter UFO adds a new twist to communicating with others.

[ High Tech Note Writing copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

The world’s – or should I say, the galaxy’s most beloved astromech droid, R2-D2, has just gotten yet another boost to its portfolio of devices and toys that will further enslave the minds and wallets of parents (and Star Wars fans) everywhere, coming in the form of the $59.99 Star Wars R2-D2 Inflatable R/C. Yes sir, can you say that this is the ultimate galactic accessory?

Since this is one R2-D2 that is inflatable, it is a good thing each purchase will be accompanied by a pump for easy inflation, instead of you having to huff and puff your way while roping in the help of a certain Big Bad Wolf. Unfortunately, while you cannot send any kind of holographic messages on this puppy, this inflatable and feisty droid measures over 65cm in height, and has detachable drive units that ensure R2-D2 remains compatible with other Star Wars characters. You can opt to spin it 360 degrees, drive forward, back, turn to both left and right, and get this – in the indomitable spirit of R2-D2, it also boasts of a self-righting system that ensures it remains upright even when knocked over or driven down stairs. Up to 3 units can be driven at once for some R2-D2 mayhem at home, and the handset requires a single 9V battery, while the drive unit runs not on lightsaber crystals, but a quartet of AA batteries.

[ Star Wars R2-D2 Inflatable R/C copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Do you love all things remote controlled? If you have answered in the affirmative, then we are pleased to bring you word that QFO Labs, a startup which hails from Minneapolis, has just announced that they will be rolling out a mini quadcopter toy that they have dubbed the NanoQ. It will rely on relatively affordable 3-axis gyros and accelerometers, in order to help it remain nice and stable in mid-flight. Apart from that, it will be accompanied by a one-handed remote which integrates tilt sensors for smooth and natural control. It is different from most of the other quadrotors in the market however, as the NanoQ’s propellers will come in an inverted manner which prevents them from colliding with ceilings. This is a good thing, especially if you have your home’s ceiling fan turned on.

Just what kind of dimensions does the NanoQ come in? Well, for starters, it measures a mere 5.25” across while tipping the scales at a diminutive 35 grams with a maximum payload of 10 grams. Having said that, it is capable of remaining up in the air for up to ten minutes on its rechargeable LiPo (that’s lithium polymer for you) batteries, with a controlling range of up to a hundred feet (30 meters). The company hopes that the future will see multiple NanoQs competing at flying laser tag, since they are capable of “shooting” one another using onboard infrared (IR) sensors.

The NanoQ does seem to carry far more potential than just being a toy, and courtesy of its relatively low planned price of $149 a pop with its PC compatibility, it could double up as a research platform for university labs that are running on a tight budget. Whenever you hook up the controller to a PC via USB or a USB RF dongle, you are able to send it commands while accessing its sensor data and more.

Source
[ NanoQ mini quadcopter takes to the skies copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]