iphone as UAV brains

[sloperb]

I was thinking this week that the iphone 3G might make the perfect UAV brains. Built-in accelerometers, GPS, 3D graphics processor, ARM processor, USB, wifi all at $199 and ~140grams.

Anyone trying this?

[spastic]

only $160 a month to use all that :)

now you have to do it! ;)

[sloperb]

If you're not using the phone and the 3G data services, you should be able to cancel the monthly service plan and the rest should still work.

[Gary Mortimer]

I think its already been done, try DIYdrones.

Could be wrong

[pthompson24]

I was thinking this week that the iphone 3G might make the perfect UAV brains. Built-in accelerometers, GPS, 3D graphics processor, ARM processor, USB, wifi all at $199 and ~140grams.

Anyone trying this?
If someone developed the software I'd buy one for my plane. I've always wanted an iPhone since they are so cool but I have a phone from work so it didn't make sense. If I could throw it in my plane though then it would be a no brainer!

I saw an app on one that looked like a glass of beer. It used the accelerometers to make it appear as if beer was sloshing around in the glass. I couldn't believe how accurate it was at maintaining a level horizon. Just what we need I thought.

[zlite]

I think its already been done, try DIYdrones.

Could be wrong

The Pict'Earth guys modded an iPhone to take aerial pictures (the mod involved a french fry!) but that was before the possibility of iPhone apps.

Of all the major smartphone platforms, I think the iPhone is probably the worst for UAV purposes, due to the relatively closed developer process and poor camera. Needless to say, the onboard accelerometer is of no help at all without accompanying gyros.