Has a new superstar been born with the PlexiDrone? This aerial photography drone has been featured in PetaPixel, Wired and dozens of other publications.
Initial shots taken by the PlexiDrone show crisp, clear pictures and film that even movie studios are thrilled about. Can this IndieGoGo project really beat out other drones on the market? Let’s find out.
Important Characteristics
- Snaps together in just one minute.
- GPS follow app for action shots.
- Controlled straight through a smartphone app; RC controls also available.
- Live video feed.
- Camera control and rotation options.
- GPS waypoint planning with the ability to save flight data.
- Real-time voice and buzzer alerts.
- Max speeds can reach 43 MPH.
- Flight time is 10 – 35 minutes depending on flight characteristics.
PlexiDrone Features
The main characteristics are just the start of this drone’s amazing potential. Weighing just 2.2 pounds with a thrust of 7 pounds, this 15 x 15 x 5 inch drone is powerful and agile.
When flying, you’ll be happy to know that there are a variety of controls and modes that will make your drone follow your commands with the utmost precision.
Flying Modes
If you’ve ever flown before, you’ll know that manual flight is difficult. Not only does manual flight take a lot of time to learn, it provides the most potential.
When flying on your own accord, you’ll be able to take shots that are not planned; catching the real action as it happens.
Other times, such as on a movie set, you’ll want a planned route. This is where the GPS functionality of the drone comes into play.
Users will be able to plan their flight ahead of time and let the drone take care of the rest.
Built in obstacle avoidance functionality will make sure that the drone does not get stuck in the tree or hit an unforeseen object.
With just one touch, you can tell the drone to follow me. Now, you can record yourself running, skiing, snowboarding or doing anything else.
View Control and Angles
Trying to hit the precise angle with a drone is very hard. After all, you’re at the mercy of your controller and the developer’s thought of functionality.
High-end drones, such as this one, provide you with the ability to really take full control of your recording experience. How is this done? Let’s explain.
360 Degree View
Everyone wants to take the best shots. With a 3D gimbal, you’ll be able to rotate your camera a full 360 degrees.
Landing gear and other integral parts of this drone will never get in your way of the perfect picture. Awesome, right? Well, there’s even more.
Swarm Tech technology allows you to capture a scene from multiple angles. If you’re flying multiple zones, you can even coordinate with the other drones for a true, real-life panoramic that captures every moment – planned and unplanned.
A modular payload is present which allows you to add any camera, up to 1000 grams in weight, to your drone.
Other Great Features
A few features are present that really can’t be categorized. These features include the following:
- Voice communication: Your drone will alert you of the battery being low or exactly what it’s doing mid-flight.
- Battery life: Users will be able to fly for 10 – 35 minutes depending on their habits. Hovering often allows for the most battery life while constant motion will drain the battery faster.
- You’ll be able to use your table or phone to control the PlexiDrone. Simply aim your controller to your desired direction and the drone will react. You can also use an RC controller, but you’ll miss some very important features as a result.
Even during your most acrobatic, death-defying stunts, this drone will be able to keep up thanks to its top speed of 43 MPH. With a 32 feet obstacle detection, you’ll never have to worry about your drone crashing.
Community Feedback
Since opening up on IndieGoGo in October of 2014, this project has exceeded its goal by over $600,000. In total, users have pledged $700,000 to the project in just under two months.
As far as trying out the product, no one in the community besides news outlets have been able to get their hands on the product just yet.
With time, you’ll be able to purchase one of these drones; however, the release date is March of 2015, so you won’t have to wait long.
The flight quality and footage seen so far are very impressive. With the follow me feature, many users will find that this model is made for them. If you’re wondering how it works, the drone will sync up to your mobile device and use that data to follow you using GPS.
The safety features, speed and advanced camera controls will make this one of the best drones on the market in March of 2015.
Excited to see the PlexiDrone in action? View the drone’s promotional video here.