The 3D Robotics Drone Shoots Better Aerial Video Automatically
A new drone tries to lessen the learning curve with shooting aerial footage
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Just last week, we got to see the latest new drone from DJI. Now, a company called 3D Robotics has created the 3DR Solo drone, which is designed to be extremely easy to fly.
Unlike the DJI, which has its own camera, the 3DR Solo uses a GoPro camera that sits firmly in an integrated gimbal for image stabilization. The controller has a mount for a screen and is styled after a video game controller to make the experience of flying it feel more familiar.
In terms of photography and videography, the 3DR Solo offers some advanced and rather unique features. For instance, you can have a drone follow a certain object or even circle an object for for an “orbiting” shot. There’s also a mode that stays trained on an object, then does a very dramatic fly away while keeping the camera trained in the same spot. It looks, as they say, pretty epic.
The 3DR also lets you control your GoPro camera settings while you’re flying it, so you don’t have to land to adjust things.
Interestingly enough, the 3DR platform is also going to be open, so people will be able to tweak and develop for the platform, which could mean interesting stuff is coming down the road in the future.
Ultimately, it looks like a really promising drone option, especially if you’re only going to be using it casually and don’t want to deal with much of the learning curve as a pilot.
It will be available in May of 2015 for $1,000 without a camera or $1,400 with the GoPro camera included.
