Parrot ARDrone 2 is cheap and cheerful, and hackable - it has a ROS driver is is well used in research labs. It's so lightweight that it's very safe and survive

Parrot ARDrone 2 is cheap and cheerful, and hackable - it has a ROS driver is is well used in research labs. It's so lightweight that it's very safe and survives crashes. Streams live video to your mobile device. 3 or 4 times the price is the DJI Phantom 2 range, which are great, easy to use. Carries a GoPro or its own camera. A little more dangerous but still not too scary. Not so hackable, as far as I know. It's very easy to build your own, very powerful machine from parts using e.g the Pixhawk controller. Also you can buy ready to fly machines from e.g. 3D Robotics. Great fun. As dangerous as you want to make it. Take care!