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Sweet Drone Alabama

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  • The US Defense Department recently announced a contest for citizen scientists to design the next generation of unmanned aerial vehicles or drones. Travis and the crew want to see what they can do. The militarys design specs are simple: fly remotely, send back video images, hover, and fit into the backpack of a single solider. Its a tall order, but Travis and the guys want to take it up a notch and give their drone weapons.
  • The guys sort through bags and boxes of remote control planes and parts, and being to mix and match parts for their drone. They create a helicopter rotor that can lift 5 pounds, and decide they will make a quad-copter that will ideally lift 20 pounds. Rog finds an old hula hoop that turns out to be the perfect frame for the lethal flying weapon.
  • Travis Taylor arms the hula hoop drone.
  • Michael Taylor and Pete Erbach watch Travis Taylor pilot the hula hoop drone.
  • Rog watches the test flight of the hula hoop drone.
  • Michael Taylor smiling for the camera.
  • Travis Taylor pilots the hula hoop drone during its inaugural flight.
  • The hula hoop drone spies on neighbors.

  • Citizen Drone

    Photograph by National Geographic Channels/Flight 33

    The US Defense Department recently announced a contest for “citizen scientists” to design the next generation of unmanned aerial vehicles – or drones.  Travis and the crew want to see what they can do.  The military’s design specs are simple: fly remotely, send back video images, hover, and fit into the backpack of a single solider.  It’s a tall order, but Travis and the guys want to take it up a notch – and give their drone weapons.

  • Flying Machine

    Photograph by National Geographic Channels/Flight 34

    The guys sort through bags and boxes of remote control planes and parts, and being to mix and match parts for their drone.  They create a helicopter rotor that can lift 5 pounds, and decide they will make a “quad-copter” that will ideally lift 20 pounds.  Rog finds an old hula hoop that turns out to be the perfect frame for the lethal flying weapon.

  • Arming the Drone

    Photograph by National Geographic Channels/Flight 35

    Travis Taylor arms the hula hoop drone.

  • Spectators

    Photograph by National Geographic Channels/Flight 36

    Michael Taylor and Pete Erbach watch Travis Taylor pilot the hula hoop drone.

  • Rog

    Photograph by National Geographic Channels/Flight 37

    Rog watches the test flight of the hula hoop drone.

  • Michael

    Photograph by National Geographic Channels/Flight 38

    Michael Taylor smiling for the camera.

  • Inaugural Flight

    Photograph by National Geographic Channels/Flight 39

    Travis Taylor pilots the hula hoop drone during its inaugural flight.

  • Spying on the Neighbors

    Photograph by National Geographic Channels/Flight 40

    The hula hoop drone spies on neighbors.

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