Special drones for outdoor sports videography usually have
been equipped with waterproof and dustproof capabilities, or they are able to
work even though flying in bad weather. But so far, the extensive water surface
such as ocean or lake still becomes biggest obstacle for their cruising range.
Therefore the Splash Drone is made in order to overcome these limitations.
A designer and developer named Alex Rodriguez has an
interesting idea. Not only increasing the level of water resistance, but the
drone is also designed to be able to take off from the water. Carrying the
idea, he creates the Splash Drone, a multi-function drone with live video
feature and gimbal to stabilize the recording process.
Splash Drone carries quadcopter system. A propeller motor is
placed at the edge of each arm, and there is also a pair of legs for landing.
It's designed to be compatible with GoPro action camera, positioned at the
bottom using a special gimbal. It will fly just like other drones in general,
but you are allowed to land the drone anywhere, including on the water surface.
By doing so, the Splash Drone can be used to record the
combination video of underwater and air images. Interestingly, Splash Drone is
not only able to record video; Rodriquez also provides the payload release
mechanism so the drone is capable of carrying an object and releases it in a
certain position, for example drinking water to safety equipment. And to
complement the emergency features, Splash Drone also has flare system that can
last up to 15 minutes.
Splash Drone is presented in two control options: based on conventional
remote control or mobile app for utilizing automatic features. The remote
version allows you to fly the drone while guided by GPS, control the altitude,
and use the hover mode. When finished, Splash Drone will return to the launch
site and landing automatically.
But practical automated capabilities can be accessed via
mobile application. There, you can adjust the flight mission, navigate the track,
or simply order the Splash Drone to follow the operator while keeping the
camera still locked to the target. To function optimally, the drone is assisted
with height stabilizer technology, gyroscope and three-axis accelerometer, and
also barometer - to make sure it's windproof up to 32 kilometers per hour. Splash
Drone can be ordered through the crowdfunding site, Kickstarter, the version of
'ready to fly early bird' is offered at US$799.