Parallax Penguin Robot Flying High with Mega Projects
by Humanoido
Left: Smaller kites are ideal when lofting penguin boards of lighter weight
I did a lot of work with this concept in China and leasing spacecraft flight vehicles. Working with kites was also an approved method for flying to high altitudes. I've had kites out there to a 5,280-feet with special lightweight military parachute string relatively impervious to taking on moisture, but don't try that with non-approved high flying non-Chinese rockets or it's looking for trouble!
Penguin also reached 1,555 feet altitude via one of their Mega Projects in China at a ticket cost of about $24 to go that high. You take the high speed elevator to get to the top and part way up your ears start popping! On the top level, the actual floor is made up of see-through glass, which is extremely disorientating to those afraid of heights. At Taiwan at 101 on the top ledge, Penguin reached 1,473-feet elevation and riding the Tram in Hong Kong to the Peak took Penguin up at least 1,200 feet. The actual Peak is at 1,800-feet. Penguin also visited the Great Wall in China around the highest elevation where he actually walked on the ancient Great Wall paved walkway and visited a temple (drawing a huge crowd).
A flying Parallax Penguin persona is not far fetched. After the Penguin Super Hero project, a Penguin Astronaut was developed for trips into space. Because Penguin robot uses the most powerful Stamp processor and already has sensors built in (compass, light sensors, infrared sensors, input switch, seven LEDs (as segments), ports for sensor add ons), it makes an ideal "working payload." As an astronaut, Penguin can control things with its two tiny and light weight leg NARO servos.
I should clarify the operation of the Penguin Astronaut. Penguin Astronaut thus far is lifted into space by two methods. One, it's attached to and flown on a kite where it data logs information during its flight. Two, it's carried aloft miles into space as part of the Near Space Program conducted by the Lab located in the South Pacific.
There are many modern quadcopters that can loft the Penguin robot, and this makes a good astronaut, reporting compass direction, GPS coordinates of position, date, time, thermal radiation temperature, ambient brightness levels, and elevation. He also fits into a tiny space suit designed to hold the mechanics to gain servo functions for various purposes.
Near Spacehttps://humanoidolabs.blogspot.com/2013/02/near-space-flight.html
Repurposing Penguin
https://forums.parallax.com/discussion/140572/proposal-parallax-penguin-repurposed
Flying Penguin
https://forums.parallax.com/discussion/137688/flying-penguin
