Granted, controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle using the iPhone over a dedicated web-server is more a gimmick than a true use of the iPhone as a remote control. But, it’s still cool.
So, then, that would make this remote controlled iRobot truly trick. The iPhone you see in this video is being used to connect to, and control, the iRobot PackBot through WiFi. There’s no web-server, there’s not even any web-access involved here. The iPhone connects directly with the iRobot PackBot and issues controls without the assistance of a proxy server.
The iRobot PackBot remote control application was developed as a native iPhone application – which means, again, no web-based gimmicks here.
After almost a year of iPhone development, it’s still inspiring to see what creative minds can do with a flexible development platform. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the iPhone boasts 3.5 inches of multi-touch goodness.