Hi everyone -
We wanted to share our project with this community and see what you guys think. It's a small quadcopter called the PhoneDrone and we have it on Kickstarter right now. The concept is to give your smart phone the ability to fly and follow you around while taking video and pictures. The PhoneDrone can be controlled with your Apple Watch or another phone or tablet. Your phone will be very well protected in the body of the copter.
The main Specifications
- Weight: 350g (12.3 oz)
- Dimensions: 267 x 231 x 56 mm (10.5 x 9.1 x 2.2 in)
- Compatibility: iOS, Android, and Apple Watch - See compatible models below
- Wireless Pairing: Wi-Fi
- Flight Time: 15-20 minutes
- Speed: 0-35 MPH
- Payload: 200g (7.0 oz)
- Patent-pending smartphone core design
- Device Compatibility
- iPhone: 4S, 5, 5C, 5S, 6, 6 Plus, 6S, 6S Plus
- Apple Watch
- Android: Designed to operate on Samsung Galaxy S II and newer. Will operate on most similar-generation Android smartphones.
API Release
Our team will be releasing the PhoneDrone Controller API to the market, allowing developers to build drone capability into their existing apps, and even create completely new apps around this technology - imagine the innovation.
Main Features
- Easy to use - No drone experience necessary.
- Affordable - Your smartphone already has a powerful processor and multiple sensors. Why pay for all those things again when buying a drone?
- Familiar - Our companion app is simple and intuitive.
- Packable - Pack PhoneDrone Ethos for next adventure. It will be ready at a moment's notice.
- Compatible with all your devices - iOS, Android, and even Apple Watch!
- Control and video streaming - Easily tether to another mobile device for control and video streaming.
- Built-in charger - Charge from any USB source - or swap batteries for extended flight times.
- A camera mirror - Shoot straight down, forward, or to the side
We would love to hear your thoughts. You can contact us here on the forum, xcraftdrones@gmail.com or our Kickstarter page.
Excluding the phone from the price of the aircraft seems awfully generous, given that it too stands to be destroyed in a crash--and given that an entirely workable flight controller costs $15 these days, saying it saves a bunch of money is also pretty disingenuous.
I don't see this as a good idea. I mean, selling it is a fantastic idea, because tons of people who don't realize how risky it is will buy it--I just feel sorry for anyone who buys one and smashes a phone.
Actually, I think a vastly better system would be to use the phone for its auxiliary sensors--camera and maybe GPS--and leave the flight stabilization and other critical processes to a dedicated chip. That way it could at least maintain stable flight or descend in a controlled fashion if the phone decided that that was the moment to restart randomly (as they do).
Log In to reply
And you said that it's cheaper than other quad-copters? is that just the price of the quad or the quad + phone? because modern phones can cost $400 low end to $700 + for the latest and greatest phones.
I think it's a cool thing and a great looking design but I would hesitate about putting my every day phone in it.
Log In to reply
2nd - In response to mavrik12, the "lower cost" of the copter is dependent on the fact of you having a smart phone, which I'd say 90% of people in the hobby most likely already do, so you wouldn't put that in the price.
The big thing that I agree with is the fact of someone potentially losing their phone while flying, but I see this as more of a consumer product, not necessarily something someone in the hobby would fly, but that's just me opinion.
I think it's a genius idea and often wondered why it hasn't been made yet.
Good Luck!!!!
Log In to reply
And using the phone as the flight computer and sensors is a great thing. I've see rockets guided with phones as there computer, and some satellites. The phone is a great and powerful little computer right now now.
Log In to reply
Log In to reply