Micro Drone 3.0 can livestream video for your Meerkat followers.
Like many types of electronics, quadcopters these days are becoming increasingly smaller and smaller. And rightfully so, as pint-sized drones are super portable and generally come at a much cheaper price tag for novices looking to start out. Developed by UK-based Extreme Fliers, Micro Drone 3.0 is a mini UAV capable of capturing and streaming HD footage right to a smartphone.
Extreme Fliers is no stranger to the drone industry, as their recent Indiegogo campaign is the third iteration of the flying gadget. While its earlier take on the device was able to snap images in 640p, their latest on-board camera promises video resolution of 1280 x 720 at 30fps, and is stabilized by what is said to be the world’s smallest gimbal. This tiny robotic arm, though optional, retracts for takeoff and landing. What’s more, the company has developed special algorithms aimed at allowing the 1.96” x 5.7”, 2.5 oz. drone to take on rough winds of up to 45mph.
Based on an ARM Cortex processor, the Micro Drone 3.0 is equipped with a six-axis gyroscope, an accelerometer, an electronic compass, contra-rotational motors and Wi-Fi compatibility. It can be controlled with a radio controller or an iOS or Android device by way of its accompanying app, and uses a combination of motion sensor enabling it to hover and fly in straight lines. In addition to that, the UAV boasts first-person view flying capabilities and is designed to work with Google Cardboard VR. This means, users can slap on a headset to better immerse themselves in the flight experience.
Fight time is currently eight minutes, while the apparatus also packs a rechargeable lithium battery through USB and an on-board micro SD card stores the footage. Beyond simply maneuvering the UAV with its smartphone app, Micro Drone 3.0 has several integrated social plug-ins, most notably Meerkat livestreaming.
Another nice feature is that the Extreme Fliers crew has included expandability in the drone’s design. In other words, users can easily transform their hummingbirdish ‘copter into a much larger, more powerful drone. According to its creators, the firmware is programmed with three different settings to allow for simple adjustments between sizes.
And with the Maker crowd in mind, Micro Drone offers enhanced customization through 3D-printed frames. Backers will receive a selection of ready-to-print CAD files, ranging from wasps to drags, and more accessories are expected to be unveiled in the near future.
Intrigued? Soar on over to its official Indiegogo page, where the Extreme Fliers team has already well surpassed its initial $75,000 goal. Delivery is expected to get going in November 2015.
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