Puzzlebox Orbit - Brain-Controlled Helicopter
The power of the human mind. It inspires nothing less than awe and reverence. Even the minds of idiots, which often serve either as entertainment or pleasurable, self-elevating disbelief that someone could be dumb enough to inadvertently take a swig of gasoline, spit it out, and then light a cigarette to get the taste out of his mouth. The Puzzlebox Orbit, a brain-controlled helicopter, gives us further reason to marvel at this exceptional organ between our ears.
Aptly named, the Orbit consists of a small helicopter whose propellor spins inside an open spherical cage. Used in tandem with the system's NeuroSky MindWave EEG headset, pilots can fly the Orbit by clearing their minds, focusing on the device, and maintaining uninterrupted concentration after liftoff. It's as much of a tool for developing attentive skills and mental relaxation as it is a toy for showing off telekinetic powers.
In addition to serving as a nifty gift and trainer, Puzzlebox has chosen to make the Orbit open source, and published online all of its code, hardware schematics, 3D models, and step-by-step hacking instructions. The company encourages people not only to improve themselves with their products, but improve their products themselves by precisely tailoring each Orbit to the mind using it. Wow! And...uh-oh.
The Orbit Mobile package includes a Puzzlebox Orbit Helicopter, an IR transmitter, a USB charging cable, and the NeuroSky MindWave mobile EEG headset. Also required are an Android or Apple iOS (iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch) mobile phone or tablet. Orbit software is free and can be downloaded directly from Google Play or the Apple App Store.
Note: Puzzlebox recently developed a brain-controlled helicopter add-on called the Pyramid. The Pyramid is a base station and RC unit for the Orbit that uses multi-colored LED lights to indicate a pilot's levels of concentration, mental relaxation, and EEG signal quality during helicopter flight. At printing the Pyramid had sold out of its first run, with stock supply replenishment anticipated in January 2014.
/the-best-fidget-toys-24989.jpg?mode=crop "The Best Fidget Toys & Fidget Spinners")
The Best Fidget Toys & Fidget Spinners
Fidget toys or fidget spinners are increasingly being turned to as a simple, low-cost means of reducing stress and anxiety. The fiddle-friendly gadgets can also help address symptoms associated with ADD / ADHD, Autism...
/myo-telekinetic-armband-17931.jpg?mode=crop "MYO Telekinetic Armband")
MYO Telekinetic Armband
Well, telekinetic is only part of the story. Is telemusculokinetic a word too? Maybe that's redundant. Remote control muscles? Yeah, let's go with RC muscles. MYO armbands transform muscles--specifically the arm, or as...
/rc-airsoft-battle-tanks-31182.jpg?mode=crop "RC Airsoft Battle Tanks")
RC Airsoft Battle Tanks
Radio-controlled tanks that fire actual BBs? Glass sliding doors beware. These RC tanks, which I don't even know how they're allowed really in this day and age but I'm glad they are, are modeled after some of the most...
/the-best-rc-toys-for-adults-33556.jpg?mode=crop "The Best RC Toys for Adults")
The Best RC Toys for Adults
The best RC toys for adults span well beyond remote control cars and drones. In the case of the giant RC Bald Eagle, a full 9-1/2-foot wingspan beyond remote control cars and drones. And, honestly, I'm kind of over drones...
Fidget Rings
Maybe you fidget because you're anxious. Because you're bored. Because you have ADHD. Because you're 5 minutes away from walking into the biggest interview of your life. Because you just drank 11 cups of coffee. Now fidgeters...
Smartphone Controlled Paper Airplane
We've seen electric paper airplanes. And we've seen flights of fancy controlled by smartphones. But never before in the history of mankind's existence on the universe have we seen an electric paper airp
/tri-spinner-fidget-toy-24947.jpg "Tri-Spinner Fidget Toy")
Tri-Spinner Fidget Toy
If, like Selena Gomez, you can't keep your hands to yourself, check out Yomaxer's version of metaphorical gin and juice, the Tri-Spinner Fidget Toy. Hands idle can kill time, and hands anxious may find some relief from...
Crazyflie Nano Quadcopter
Whether or not this nano quadcopter flies is entirely up to you. I mean up to your skillz. The Crazyflie is an open source DIY kit primed for development and hacking, but its assembly demands proficiency in soldering...
Taxidermy Animal Drones
When I first read about, but hadn't yet seen, Copter Company's taxidermy animal drones I though they just sounded kinda goofy. Then I got a look at the Orvillecopter here. A spread-eagle taxidermied quad-cat-ter flying...
/c3-custom-remote-controlled-55243.jpg?mode=crop "C3 Custom Remote Controlled Coolers")
C3 Custom Remote Controlled Coolers
Maybe the best quote a company president has ever made about their product comes from C3 Custom Cooler Creations president, Scott Seljan. In speaking to The Milwaukee Sentinel of his Remote Controlled Rover Coolers, Seljan...
T8X Robotic Spider
I know. It's just a remote control spider, right? Fun for 5 minutes' worth of scaring Grandma, but otherwise unremarkable. And $499? Is that a joke?...
Remote Control Superhero
A life-size, remote control foam superhero probably isn't going to be much help if you're looking for someone to swoop in and save your kid from the schoolyard bullies next time they try to weave his body through the...