Is This the Personal Drone of the Future?

 

Gone are the days where drones are limited to giant, military-style aircraft. How far have we come? Consider that there soon may be a drone small enough to fit in your pocket.

AirDroids, an unmanned aerial systems developer out of San Diego, has developed a small, stable drone with collapsible propellers that can shrink down to the size of an average tablet. The Pocket Drone has the capability to carry small personal cameras, like a GoPro, to give the user a unique vantage point.

AirDroids new unmanned aerial system is called the Pocket Drone, because its collapsible rotors and propellers allow the user to easily carry the device in a small case or a pocket the size of an average mobile tablet. (Credit: AirDroids).

The Federal Aviation Administration allows for these remotely-controlled devices to fly at altitudes up to 400 feet, and companies like AirDroids and DJI have introduced their version of personal drones to the market.

AirDroids claims 2014 will be “the year of the drones.” Their Pocket Drone is an example of the excitement the public has about the idea – the company has received 10 times the projected funding for their Kickstarter project.

AirDroids’ Kickstarter page explains:

Everybody can already take great looking photos and videos with their camera phones and share them online, but they have been limited to what could seen from the ground…(now) it’s never been easier to capture spectacular aerial images that open up a whole new perspective and insight that had previously been unseen.

Amazon’s futuristic plans to deliver small packages via drones caught nationwide attention last month, but the FAA has yet to authorize widespread use of commercial drones in U.S. airspace.

The use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) for personal use, however (much like the use of model aircraft), is not limited by the same restrictions.

Privacy and pervasive surveillance concerns do worry the skeptics, and the potential for overcrowded airspace is an issue. But advocates argue that a safe, regulated market can offer unprecedented opportunities for photography, disaster relief, weather monitoring, reporting and e-commerce deliveries.

So The Blaze wants to know: What would you do with a drone? If the sky is the limit, where would you take your unmanned aerial system?

Re-blogged from The Blaze

Is This the Personal Drone of the Future?
Elizabeth Kreft
Tue, 21 Jan 2014 20:41:42 GMT