While there has been no shortage of available drones on the market that can be used for aerial photography, most of the choices require users to be at a certain level of tech savviness. Perspective Robotics AG's Fotokite Phi, however, looks to reduce the learning curve by essentially functioning as a flying selfie stick.
The Fotokite Phi now has an Indiegogo crowdfunding page where it is described as a flying camera on a leash.
Compared to the professional version of the drone, which is being used by news outlets such as the BBC, the Fotokite Phi replaces the mobile app or remote control with a simple retractable leash. In addition, the drone does not feature a built-in camera but is rather designed to work with a Hero 3 or Hero 4 camera by GoPro.
The Fotokite Phi was also designed to be ultraportable since the drone can fold down to fit inside a tube about the size of a thermos. With the camera, the drone also weighs around 350 grams or a little over 12 ounces.
Setting up the done is also easy: upon taking it out from its container, users simply have to fold down its arms and twist the lock on the drone's top. After attaching the GoPro camera to the housing at the front of the drone, users press a button at the back of the Fotokite Phi that turns on the drone and the camera.
The housing of the GoPro can be adjusted to have the camera point straight down for overhead shots or tilted to focus on what is behind or in front of the user. To begin flight, the user simply has to point toward the direction of what the drone should record, along with a quick turn of the wrist.
The leash of the Fotokite Phi, named the Smart Leash, can extend up to 8 meters or 26 feet long. Because the drone remains tethered, there is no need for it to have GPS features since it will always remain in place. The leash is not a mere rope. It contains sensors and a processor to let users control the flight of the drone.
The current working prototypes of the Fotokite Phi can stay in flight for about 8 minutes to 10 minutes, depending on the wind conditions. The team behind the drone said that the goal is to have it up in the air for 15 minutes straight. The removable battery of the drone, once its power runs out, can be recharged through USB even while it is in the drone.
The Indiegogo crowdfunding goal for the Fotokite Phi is $300,000, and at the time of writing, the campaign has already amassed over $131,000 from 433 backers in only three days since the launch of the campaign. Early bird backers can be among the first people to own a Fotokite Phi, with a donation of as low as $279, compared to the planned retail price of $500 for the drone.
The estimated delivery for Fotokite Phi backers is by March of next year.
