There was a time when home robots were something you could only see in a sci-fi movie. Today, robotic gadgets fill our homes — whether they're something like the Grillbot, which helps you clean the grill, or the Litter-Robot, which picks up after your kitty. And who doesn't own – or at least want – iRobot's Roomba to clean their floor?
The same ideas can be applied to drones. People may once have been terrified at just the thought — envisioning unmanned aerial vehicles powered by the military. However, the idea of what a drone can be has expanded with the development of consumer-friendly drones — like airborne devices for taking pictures and generating great content for a YouTube video.
And while some of these drones have been catered to techies who are familiar with such gadgets, the co-founder of iRobot has created a drone that could be used by just about anyone.
iRobot's co-founder and former president Helen Greiner introduced the groundbreaking robot in a Kickstarter campaign. The CyPhy LVL 1 Drone has six motors and uses Level-Up, a revolutionary technology that prevents the drone from titling so it can take stable video and photos.
The CyPhy LVL 1 allows anyone to capture high-quality footage without professional experience. The drone is operated by the iOS or Android app on a smartphone, and a swipe of the finger is all you need to make it fly. Utilizing intuitive controls, the drone will fly in the direction the user swipes — and because the controls are on the smartphone, consumers will be able to see their shot right on their screens.
This drone is equipped with geo-fence technology, which allows users to define the drone's area of flight. Using the app, you can set up a perimeter by walking around a given area, to which the drone will then be confined. That way, beginners can practice and experts can master their skill.
The LVL 1 can also post photos and video in real-time on social media sites, allowing consumers to share their footage with others.
"So far CyPhy Works has been building drones for industrial application," said Greiner, "but we want to bring our drone inventions to everyone at consumer friendly prices."
As part of the Kickstarter campaign, the CyPhy LVL 1 retails for $495. While this may sound pricy to some, it is expected to retail for $600 once it's fully released.
As of the time of writing, the Kickstarter project has received $413,254, surpassing its goal of $250,000 — with 28 more days to go.
Check out the CyPhy LVL 1 in the video below.
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Photo: CyPhy Works | Kickstarter
