Parallax shows off hexcopter at Defcon (pictures)

Nick Ernst, a member of Parallax's technical support team, demonstrates how the Elev-8 hexcopter interacts with a six-band, $450 radio controller. His colleague, Jim Carey, who's not pictured, said that it's more stable with the two extra rotors, so it's easier to fly.

However, controlling the hexcopter requires skill. While the Propeller multicore processor electronically manages stability, you still have to manage four rotors simultaneously, while navigating gusts of wind, tree branches, and other airborne obstacles.