With social media being such a big part of many people’s lives, it’s no wonder the selfie stick become so popular in recent years. But, sure enough, in today’s world of evolving technology, selfie sticks are so last year. What you need now is a personal photographer in the form of a drone that follows you around, at least if you’d like to shoot some breathtaking scenery. Perhaps you’ve heard about something similar before, but the latest in semi-autonomous unmanned aerial vehicles for hobbyists is called the Staaker, and it can shoot movies while equipped with the ability to predict what you might do next.
The Staaker's artificial intelligence is combined with five different user-activated follow modes. Image source: Staaker.
Three years in the making, Staaker was created by a team of engineers (including former Google X and CERN employees) and extreme sports enthusiasts that consulted with professional production companies on building a camera drone that can shoot movies with ease. Like other auto-follow drones, the Staaker uses a GPS wristband to track the user, but that’s about the only similarity. This drone works as a personal photographer, just packed with artificial intelligence technology, allowing it to anticipate or react to your next move, and it then uses that information to set up the best shot.
The drone’s artificial intelligence is combined with five different user-activated follow modes, including circling around the user, following from behind, or turning the direction to get a scenic shot of the environment. These modes allow you to control where and how the drone shoots. For safety, the Staaker maintains a two-meter cloud around its user, while following from as far as 1,150 feet.
“We use all the data from the tracker to predict what you are going to do next,” said CEO and founder of Staaker, OJ Seeland. “It picks up subtle signs and reacts to them.” Basically, if the drone senses you might maneuver toward the right during a downhill ride, for example, it will compensate.
Check out the video below to see the Staaker in action.
Boasting a speed of 50 MPH, the Staaker’s battery has enough power for up to 30 minutes of flight time. Its interchangeable batteries also mean it can quickly be relaunched without waiting for a recharge. According to the company, the drone launches with an eight-second prep time.
As for the camera, the Staaker uses a GoPro Hero4, which isn’t included, on a three-axis gimbal to shoot stabilized 4K video and 12 megapixel stills. When it lands, the gimbal automatically retracts to prevent the camera from hitting the ground. Better yet, the water-resistant drone, along with the camera, has been tested in a range of conditions from the Arctic Circle to Hawaii, all without damage.
Weighing in at a light 3.5 pounds, the Staaker folds and is easy to transport. In fact, it’s so compact that it can fit in a large backpack. There’s no need to attach or remove its propellers, and once it’s out of its case and unfolded, it’s ready to take on the skies.
Scheduled to ship in December, the Staaker has a $1,795 price tag, which includes the drone as well as the waterproof tracker and carrying case. Pre-orders have already begun, with a $600 discount from the list price.
Source: Staaker
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