A small gadget that transforms any paper plane into a smartphone-controlled flying machine has passed $US1 million ($A1.13 million) on crowdfunding site Kickstarter.
New York inventor Shai Goitein set a goal of $US50,000 and 1400 backers when he pitched the PowerUp 3.0 on the site in late November.
With the campaign set to end on Saturday, more than 20,000 backers have pledged just shy of $US1.15 million.
The gadget, which Goitein says took him 57 prototypes to perfect, clips to the middle fold of any homemade paper plane.
A small propeller and rudder on the back provide propulsion and steering, while an advanced chip on the front houses a battery and a Bluetooth 4.0 transmitter.
The plane can be controlled within a range of 55 metres via a proprietary app, which includes thrust and height controls alongside a magnetic compass, artificial horizon and range indicator.
Turning is controlled by tilting the Android or iPhone left or right, while the lithium polymer battery provides 10 minutes of flight per charge, and can be recharged via micro-USB.
A sturdy carbon fibre frame means the gadget is able to withstand repeated crashes, Goitein says.
Backers, including several in Australia, will begin receiving their gadgets in May, with the first versions going on sale in the US in June.
Australian availability and pricing has not been revealed.
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