We had a chance to visit the Game of Drone combat arena at Maker Faire and learn more about what it's all about!
The Game of Drones / Aerial Sports League (ASL) puts on a "Drone Combat" event in front of a live audience at Maker Faire and other events around the country.
The (currently undefeated) and youngest Game of Drone sponsored pilot took some time to talk about his battle-quad design.
Building off of Hobby King components, Kyle's design is a 3rd or 4th generation that he's put together.
One key component to his design is the carbon fiber 'dome' that keeps his props protected during battle.
Having extra components and spare parts is all part of the game and Kyle's got his side pack filled with everything he needs for drone combat.
Alex had a chance to go up against Kyle in a the ASL battle arena. Game of Drones let Alex barrow a Hiro Action Sports Quad with the transparent airframe.
Mark took some time to share his battle drone setup which is built around the Hiro Action Sports Quad (Hunter Orange).
When starting as a flight club years ago Mark and the Game of Drones group realized that typical multi-rotor designs didn't hold up well to crashes and began developing the "indestructable" Hiro Action Sports Quad.
Mark's battle setup is a skirt that is designed to catch the opponent and crash them.
The Hiro is made from military-grade polymer that allows it to withstand hard hits and crashes.
(aka: "crash-proof quad")
Stay tuned for upcoming ASL events here: www.aerialsports.tv
We want to thank Game of Drones for hanging out and giving us a chance to experience Drone Combat first hand! We're looking forward to see what events they will be involved in the near future!
You can learn more about the Hiro Action Sports Quad on their website here: www.gameofdrones.com
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Basically the frame disallowed him from getting engaged in the netting. He spent a fair amount of time on the netting and in one instance was asked to "motor off" as he was trying so hard to get of the net he was endangering the viewers (heavy thrusting sideways into the net). Anyone else got near that net and it was match point.
Pairing that with the springiness of the catch meant "hard landings" or force downs were basically ineffective. The only thing that really could have stopped him was not allowed to be used...
Specifically long sticks to reach into the props... deployables that could detach from the craft so you wouldn't get intangled as he went down (as with Helen of Troy). No carbon props to counter the carbon frame.
Once that was clear I just volunteered old King Koopa to the challenge because hey.. someone has to loose in every battle.
On Friday.. prior to this craft arriving I was 4-0 using the combat readiness of the Hiro and some fancy flying.
Was a great time.. I appreciate his efforts to bring such a dominating force to the games. He was a great sport and left a comment in my brain he'll soon regret next year "Oh... I wish there was something more creative". More creative? You asked for it ; )
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If I had a good reason to compete, I'd try something like what I mentioned above. However I think they would probably disqualify something designed to be deadly =P
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