Coolest gadget ever, or waste of money?

deadhead1971
deadhead1971 Posts: 338
edited May 2015 in Road general
If you've ever used a GoPro or other bike camera (or thought about it), this will appeal to you.

Basically it's a drone quadcopter that follows you around - you don't need to fly it manually. There's a little tracker device that you'd pop in your jersey pocket and away you go, with the drone buzzing away filming everything. The flight time is only 20 minutes though...

I posted some thoughts here, and there's a fantastic promo video of it...

http://www.scarletfire.co.uk/ultimate-c ... ly-camera/
Alan
http://www.scarletfire.co.uk

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Comments

  • cyclingsheep
    cyclingsheep Posts: 640
    Oh now that is cool. I've never wanted a go pro as I'm not a huge fan of the POV videos but this is a cool looking gadget.
  • tlw1
    tlw1 Posts: 21,873
    Great at making you look like a pro... until you go through the low trees
  • deadhead1971
    deadhead1971 Posts: 338
    matthew h wrote:
    Great at making you look like a pro... until you go through the low trees

    yes indeed, you'd have to be very selective about where to fly it.
    Their website does hint that future versions may have additional sensors and software for collision avoidance, but I can't imagine that coping too well through a woodland environment, for example.

    I'm already imagining taking one down the Llanberis pass in Snowdonia...
    Alan
    http://www.scarletfire.co.uk

    The Ultimate List of Strava Add On Sites!
    http://www.scarletfire.co.uk/strava-sites
  • Rigga
    Rigga Posts: 939
    Hmm, wonder if it could keep up with me on my motorbike down the m1 :D
  • BrandonA
    BrandonA Posts: 553
    Most Of my rides are over 20 minutes long so the battery on this devise is useless. I imagine it would be fun to use once but after that it would be based into storage.
  • diy
    diy Posts: 6,473
    Definitely ticks the cool box, but no UK distributor means another 3.7% and VAT to pay on top of the £340 promotional purchase price. Still I reckon you'd get your money back on youtube with it.

    I stuck a £20 spy cam on one of these which cost £40 and it managed to fly fairly well for about 7 or 8 minutes.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EE0iSPk7OPI

    If you are in to action clips, there has to be a limit to how much Arial footage you need. Particularly since you can get drones with cameras built in for £50-100 that just need a pilot.
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  • craker
    craker Posts: 1,739
    There are others on the market with other pros and cons (not that I've tried any)

    https://www.airdog.com/products

    airdog_small_1366_2.png
  • southdownswolf
    southdownswolf Posts: 1,525
    craker wrote:
    There are others on the market with other pros and cons (not that I've tried any)

    https://www.airdog.com/products

    airdog_small_1366_2.png


    That's a lot more money for the same flight time, although you can swap the batteries on the Airdog.
    http://www.stuartmole.co.uk/
  • diy
    diy Posts: 6,473
    and you have to provide your own gopro. Interesting law suit waiting to happen with these things, given the obvious risk of it crashing in to someone, while following you.

    The lily cam also claims to use digital gimble tech to crop and stabalise the shot, which is going to make a difference is it works as claimed.
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  • crankycrank
    crankycrank Posts: 1,830
    Is there no end to how far people will go to video themselves doing every mundane thing? Yawn. Got to go, someone just posted a pic of their morning coffee on Facebook.
  • neeb
    neeb Posts: 4,467
    I'd wondered myself when someone was going to invent/market something like this. Iain M. Banks knife missile, Mk. 1.0... ;-)

    Maybe future versions could automatically dock on a special pad on the bike when the battery is low and recharge from a larger battery or hub dynamo.

    With increasingly clever software, sensors and equipment a lot of interesting things could become possible. Flying ahead of you down an alpine pass and beaming live video of bends and oncoming traffic to a screen in your sunglasses, intercepting and warning cars that are about to endanger you, etc..

    How does it cope with wind and rain...?
  • southdownswolf
    southdownswolf Posts: 1,525
    neeb wrote:

    How does it cope with wind and rain...?

    Better than many forumites :-)
    http://www.stuartmole.co.uk/
  • clickrumble
    clickrumble Posts: 304
    Sorry to be a bore but-http://www.theukrules.co.uk/rules/legal/flying/drones.html
  • bernithebiker
    bernithebiker Posts: 4,148
    Bear in mind that by stumping up $500 in advance you are essentially investing in the company as they need your money to start building the things.

    Delivery is in Feb 2016 I believe. So there is a risk that you may either a) never see your cash again (or a drone) or it may be late.

    Very cool though, I'd like one, but think I'll wait.
  • neeb
    neeb Posts: 4,467
    Clickrumble wrote:
    Sorry to be a bore but-http://www.theukrules.co.uk/rules/legal/flying/drones.html
    It'll be interesting to see how the laws develop in the future, when 1) there will be far more drones doing far more things, and 2) the drones will be far smarter. I guess they will be strictly governed by obligatory software and all linked into a universal network to avoid conflicts with the environment, other people and each other.You wouldn't even need to have your own one, your phone/glasses/embedded neural contacts would just link up with the nearest conveniently situated one(s) provided and maintained by a provider you subscribed to. Sounds like SF but it's already feasible.
  • diy
    diy Posts: 6,473
    Clickrumble wrote:
    Sorry to be a bore but-http://www.theukrules.co.uk/rules/legal/flying/drones.html

    I find it really annoying when someone writes an article claiming the rules say this, the law says that, and then provides no reference to the law they are referring to. I know nothing about aviation law, but I found that article useless given not a single proper reference was included.

    anyway the governing law appears to be in the Air Navigation Order 2009 sec 166 & 167
    http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2009 ... tents/made

    Seems possible that it can comply.
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  • Garry H
    Garry H Posts: 6,639
    Just tie a normal go pro to a kite and then tie the kite string to a seat post and hey presto...
  • clickrumble
    clickrumble Posts: 304
    diy wrote:
    Clickrumble wrote:
    Sorry to be a bore but-http://www.theukrules.co.uk/rules/legal/flying/drones.html

    I find it really annoying when someone writes an article claiming the rules say this, the law says that, and then provides no reference to the law they are referring to. I know nothing about aviation law, but I found that article useless given not a single proper reference was included.

    anyway the governing law appears to be in the Air Navigation Order 2009 sec 166 & 167
    http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2009 ... tents/made

    Seems possible that it can comply.

    Yes you're right, I should have checked the link. It seems that the legislation is still in development though there are guidelines for model aircraft which could apply to drones on the CAA website. Notwithstanding the law (or lack of) there would seem to be safety considerations if one was using a drone controlled in this manner and near or on a public road, people etc.
  • bernithebiker
    bernithebiker Posts: 4,148
    Garry H wrote:
    Just tie a normal go pro to a kite and then tie the kite string to a seat post and hey presto...

    You should put that on Kickstarter or whatever it is, you'll have 10 grand in no time.....!

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