Ever wonder what it would be like to experience flying like a bird? Well, now you can with FLYBi’s innovative head-tracker goggles.
Operating a drone can be a daunting task for many folks, especially for novices looking to get started. Luckily, one Silicon Valley startup is hoping to ease the troubles by automating several aspects of the piloting process. The so-called FLYBi can easily take off, soar through the sky and land autonomously with barely any human intervention. What’s more, it can fly back to its home base and swap out its batteries when depleted.
FLYBi is equipped with many of the same features found in today’s more popular ‘copters, including a remote control, an accompanying app and a 12MP camera capable of recording 1080 HD video. However, that’s where all of the comparisons end, as its creators have specifically designed their system to take UAVs to new heights.
FLYBi’s camera is installed on a gimbal connected to a head-tracking unit which can be controlled using nothing more than the movement of your head. These head-tracker goggles offer an unparalleled bird’s-eye view of the UAV with a real-time video stream that’s sent to a pair of LCDs built inside the glasses. It should be noted, though, that FLYBi is limited to 55-degree rotation to keep you from getting disoriented.
What’s even cooler is that you can command FLYBi using a lightweight, water-resistant and adjustable wearable device. This wrist-worn controller consists of a small joystick and a set of buttons dedicated for taking off, hovering, snapping pictures and returning back to its Helideck base/landing. Plus, there’s a 1.8-inch display made of anti-glare glass that lets you watch your drone while in-flight.
As expected, flight range is limited when using its RC and video function. You can remotely control your drone from up to two or so miles, while streaming by phone and bracelet is limited to 2,000 feet and a mile, respectively. FLYBi connects its internal data storage to its cloud server via Wi-Fi when it lands. From there, you can modify and share them as you please.
Using its companion app, you can also configure your own flight path. Once set, the drone will follow your specified route, adjusting its course if and when it encounters an obstacle. From takeoff to landing, nearly everything about the drone can be performed automatically making it easy for new users to experience flying a UAV with little to no learning curve. Advanced users can disable the autonomous feature.
What’s more, FLYBi will return back to its base without your help. When docked, the Helideck rapidly charges the drone and even changes out its own batteries. Not just a landing platform, this unit serves as storage as well. Everything folds up nicely into one case, which can be thrown around your shoulders as a backpack.
Intrigued? Fly over to its Indiegogo campaign, where the FLYBi team is currently seeking $100,000. Delivery is slated for June 2016.
