Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

Yea I think this is a bit harsh. I don't think it is quite such a trivial task to figure out when a FPV drone has such degrees of freedom. It can basically change to any direction at any time. Then the known space is the air in the room.The humans are also training on a known course.

A legit drone racing pilot is incredible at this also so it is not like there is a ton of meat on the bone to pick at.

It is cool from the perspective of racing drones even if less impressive from the perspective of AGI or something.




A drone can in fact not accelerate in any direction at any time. It can only accelerate along the thrust vector which is the normal of the plane that the rotors sit on.


That’s a distinction without a difference. In theory, of course you’re correct. In practice, your parent comment is correct.

The rotation rate in the roll or pitch axis is around 1080 degrees per second - 3 complete revolutions per second. Many freestyle pilots fly higher rates than me.

I can, and do, go from 80mph in one direction, flip 180degrees to accelerate back to 80mph in the direction i just came - a 160mph change of speed in around 5-6 seconds approx.

The only axis i cant turn very fast in is yaw (quads have poor yaw authority compared to other axes) but even then it’s fast enough most people would consider it instant.


It can accelerate straight down at 9.8m/s^2 regardless of its orientation.


They can accelerate in any direction in a fraction of a second. Saying that's not the same as "at any time" is needless nitpicking.


There has to be gliding too and of course accelerating towards earth?




Consider applying for YC's W25 batch! Applications are open till Nov 12.

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: