In one embodiment of the present invention there is described a vehicle
having a propeller mechanism for propelling the vehicle in a horizontal
direction. The vehicle includes a transmitter positioned on the bottom of
the vehicle for transmitting a signal from the vehicle downwardly away
from the vehicle. A receiver is positioned on the bottom of the vehicle
for receiving the signal as it is bounced off of a surface, defined as a
bounced signal. A control system is also provided that automatically sets
a speed of the propeller mechanism in response to the receiver. The
control system sets the speed of the propeller mechanism to a first speed
when the receiver receives the bounced signal and the control system sets
the speed of the propeller mechanism to a second speed when the receiver
does not receive the bounced signal. The first speed is predefined as a
speed that causes the vehicle to gain altitude, while the second speed is
predefined as a speed that causes the vehicle to lose altitude. When the
vehicle reaches a predetermined distance away from the surface of the
object, the vehicle will hover at the predetermined distance as the
control system toggles between the first and second speeds.