Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
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Flying RoboBeacon

Re-use old coaxial copter toys
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When your vehicle is disabled on the roadway, you should place markers along the approach to your vehicle to warn oncoming motorists of the trouble ahead. Often, however, due to heavy traffic and other hazards, you can't safely get out there with orange triangles or flares... if you have them in the first place.

Quadcopters and other hovering toys are getting very good at holding station, using gps in many cases, over a given spot. Modify that mallcopter, case it up in an aerodynamic shell on the roof of your car, where it'll remain protected and charged.

When an accident or breakdown happens, push the deployment button, and the 'copter will fly straight up to a pre-designated altitude, to begin flashing a bright red or yellow strobe, visible from a far greater distance than a few puny road flares (not to mention the fire hazard) for as long as the 'copter's battery lasts.

Police/Fire/Rescue can see it from a great distance, and can respond even if your phone has no signal.

Long term, especially in really desolate areas, it can be landed, recharged, and redeployed as often as needed (and your car battery lasts. maybe pack a solar charger with it).

Another option: Include a personal rescue beacon in the 'copter to add to your odds when lost and stranded in the middle of nowhere.

spacer, Jan 23 2015

Balloon version LED Emergency Signal Beacon
[scad mientist, Jan 23 2015]

[link]






       // recharged //   

       Tether it. Power it through the tether. No worries about the beacon depleting the onboard powerpack. Add a camera - see what's around.
8th of 7, Jan 23 2015
  

       Very good.   

       Smaller hat-mounted version for non-vehiculated persons.
pocmloc, Jan 23 2015
  

       Nice, [poc], you should post that.
8th of 7, Jan 23 2015
  

       Why, so you can claim it's redundant and link back here? Not falling for that.
pocmloc, Jan 23 2015
  

       Balloon version instead? Cheaper, albeit more susceptible to winds.
david_scothern, Jan 23 2015
  

       The balloon version has already been halfbaked and unsuccessfully kickstarted.
scad mientist, Jan 23 2015
  

       I read this as "flying robobacon". I like this idea too.
Voice, Jan 23 2015
  

       Hmm, a quadcopter that delivers fresh, hot bacon sandwiches on command ?
8th of 7, Jan 24 2015
  

       Rather than the balloon version, a "kytoon", which merges kite and balloon to ensure the device flies upward whether or not there's wind. That would work as well. I'd add that, even with the tethered version, after a given amount of time, the 'drone' can break away from its connection or station and fly toward the nearest hint of civilization, broadcasting as it goes.
spacer, Feb 03 2015
  

       // fly toward the nearest hint of civilization //   

       Drones have a range of, at most, a few kilometres. What if you've broken down near, for example, Tolouse ? Civilisation is hundreds of kilometres away to the North-west, and your drone has to cross the Channel, too …
8th of 7, Feb 03 2015
  

       Then you may have a problem.
spacer, Feb 10 2015
  

       Indeed, the biggest one being that you're in france. The wine is OK, and reasonably priced, though they all seem to have forgotten how to speak English, and even worse not only are the road signs in gibberish, but (like most places abroad) it's crawling with foreigners...
8th of 7, Feb 10 2015
  
      
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