8 Cool New Drones Taking Flight
Whether you're a prosumer, a hobbyist, or a professional filmmaker looking for polished aerial cinematography, a new crop of drones invading the market in 2016 offers something for everyone. Drones made a big splash at CES earlier this month, and even new FAA regulations can't dampen the enthusiasm. With that in mind, InformationWeek picked eight offerings that you should keep an eye on.
There were an incredible number, and variety, of drones on display at the 2016 CES expo in Las Vegas -- including one that can act as a personal transport -- and some interesting prototypes that resemble a wide range of designs -- from stealth bombers to floating picnic baskets.
In addition, tech companies are making drones more user-friendly. The newest Parrot Bebop 2 drone, touted as one of the easier drones to fly, is tailor-made for newbies.
Almost all of these drones are also controllable with either Google Android or Apple iOS mobile devices. In addition, most come with a free app and software that help you make the most of your flights.
However, anyone looking to invest in a drone should also take note -- the US Federal Aviation Administration recently issued a set of recommendations following the meeting of a drone task force.
The task force recommends registration for pilots, not individual drones. If the FAA accepts the task force's recommendations, registration will be mandatory prior to the operation of any unmanned aircraft system (UAS) weighing more than half a pound.
[Read more about how cities are using drones.]
The recommendations also suggest that there be no fee for registering, and that the registration should be Web-based.
While there are some more regulations this year, as well as concerns about privacy and other issues associated with drones, these devices are still proving extremely popular. The Consumer Technology Association expects more than 1 million drone sales this year, a 145% increase over 2015. Those numbers only count those drones that need to be registered with the FAA.
Before you get wrapped up in those issues and the associated red tape, you first need to pick your flying object of choice. This selection of the best and newest drones on the market will help you do just that. Most of these drones are available, although a few have not been officially released yet and one is still in the concept phase.
Light enough and small enough to carry in a backpack, the Bebop 2 sports a new design for its camera's lens cover and uses three-axis digital stabilization for smoother video results. In addition, the drone can be completely controlled with just an iOS or Android device using Parrot's FreeFlight 3 app.
Price: $450
Aimed at the prosumer, the Typhoon H boasts a 360-degree gimbal with a new CGO3+ camera. The configuration allows unlimited panning for 4K videos and 12 megapixel stills. Updated safety features include ultrasonic proximity detection to assist in avoiding large obstacles, and a fail-safe system that allows Typhoon H to remain stable and land if a motor should sputter out.
Price: $1,800
With its software upgrade, Smart Shot functionality enhances the platform's existing Smart Shots. For the uninitiated, Smart Shots make up 3DR's computer-assisted cinema technology that enables beginners to capture cinema-quality aerial video from day one. The hardware may be the same, but the software sophistication raises this drone's capabilities significantly.
Price $1,000
Pre-orders for Lily's smart camera drone have reached $34 million, equaling 60,000 units, according to a report in Forbes, though the device isn't scheduled to hit the market until the summer. Using a tracking device you keep in your pocket, this quadcopter can follow you around at a height of 10 to 30 feet.
Price: $800
Billed as an autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV), this drone, built by Chinese company Ehang, is equipped with a total of eight rotors pushing 142 horsepower, and could represent the future of personal flight. However, for now, it is illegal to operate in the US since it hasn't been tested or approved by the FAA. Still, this drone had a lot of people talking at CES.
Price: Not available
This drone is currently nearing the end of its successful Kickstarter campaign. The main innovation of Fleye is its unique spherical design, where all moving parts are fully shielded. This means that you can hold, touch, push, and bump into Fleye without any risk of injuring yourself or others. It also means that Fleye will be more robust when it bumps into something.
Price: $1,300
Scheduled to hit the market later this year, the Disco echoes styling cues of a stealth bomber and was conceived with the help of senseFly engineers, the leaders in commercial fixed wing drones. The front nose camera shoots FullHD 1080P video and boasts automatic take-off and landing thanks to ground sensors, among other advanced features.
Price: Not available
Scheduled to hit the market later this year, the Disco echoes styling cues of a stealth bomber and was conceived with the help of senseFly engineers, the leaders in commercial fixed wing drones. The front nose camera shoots FullHD 1080P video and boasts automatic take-off and landing thanks to ground sensors, among other advanced features.
Price: Not available
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