PhoneDrone allows your smart phone to fly

by XcraftUAV | November 10, 2015 | (0) Posted in Projects

Hi everyone -

We wanted to share our project with this community and see what you guys think. It's a small quadcopter called the PhoneDrone and we have it on Kickstarter right now. The concept is to give your smart phone the ability to fly and follow you around while taking video and pictures. The PhoneDrone can be controlled with your Apple Watch or another phone or tablet. Your phone will be very well protected in the body of the copter.

The main Specifications

  • Weight: 350g (12.3 oz)
  • Dimensions: 267 x 231 x 56 mm (10.5 x 9.1 x 2.2 in)
  • Compatibility: iOS, Android, and Apple Watch - See compatible models below 
  • Wireless Pairing: Wi-Fi 
  • Flight Time: 15-20 minutes 
  • Speed: 0-35 MPH 
  • Payload: 200g (7.0 oz)
  • Patent-pending smartphone core design                       
  • Device Compatibility
  • iPhone: 4S, 5, 5C, 5S, 6, 6 Plus, 6S, 6S Plus
  • Apple Watch
  • Android: Designed to operate on Samsung Galaxy S II and newer. Will operate on most similar-generation Android smartphones.

API Release

Our team will be releasing the PhoneDrone Controller API to the market, allowing developers to build drone capability into their existing apps, and even create completely new apps around this technology - imagine the innovation.

Main Features

  • Easy to use - No drone experience necessary. 
  • Affordable - Your smartphone already has a powerful processor and multiple sensors. Why pay for all those things again when buying a drone?
  • Familiar - Our companion app is simple and intuitive.
  • Packable - Pack PhoneDrone Ethos for next adventure. It will be ready at a moment's notice.
  • Compatible with all your devices - iOS, Android, and even Apple Watch!
  • Control and video streaming - Easily tether to another mobile device for control and video streaming. 
  • Built-in charger - Charge from any USB source - or swap batteries for extended flight times. 
  • A camera mirror - Shoot straight down, forward, or to the side

We would love to hear your thoughts. You can contact us here on the forum, xcraftdrones@gmail.com or our Kickstarter page.

 

COMMENTS

Tinfoil_Haberdashery on November 18, 2015
When I'm hooked up to my multirotor via Droidplanner on my phone, the program crashes once every 5 flights or so. No big deal; I've got telemetry in my goggles and the copter is independently controlled. But if the phone was currently 50m up over pavement and the only thing keeping the aircraft aloft...

Excluding the phone from the price of the aircraft seems awfully generous, given that it too stands to be destroyed in a crash--and given that an entirely workable flight controller costs $15 these days, saying it saves a bunch of money is also pretty disingenuous.

I don't see this as a good idea. I mean, selling it is a fantastic idea, because tons of people who don't realize how risky it is will buy it--I just feel sorry for anyone who buys one and smashes a phone.

Actually, I think a vastly better system would be to use the phone for its auxiliary sensors--camera and maybe GPS--and leave the flight stabilization and other critical processes to a dedicated chip. That way it could at least maintain stable flight or descend in a controlled fashion if the phone decided that that was the moment to restart randomly (as they do).
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mavrik12 on November 18, 2015
Not to sound negative but I don't want my phone to fly. If it get damaged or lost than I'm out a quad-copter, music player, and phone.

And you said that it's cheaper than other quad-copters? is that just the price of the quad or the quad + phone? because modern phones can cost $400 low end to $700 + for the latest and greatest phones.

I think it's a cool thing and a great looking design but I would hesitate about putting my every day phone in it.
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Nathan_116 on November 18, 2015
1st - Weren't you on Shark Tank because I think I remember seeing something like this on that show.

2nd - In response to mavrik12, the "lower cost" of the copter is dependent on the fact of you having a smart phone, which I'd say 90% of people in the hobby most likely already do, so you wouldn't put that in the price.

The big thing that I agree with is the fact of someone potentially losing their phone while flying, but I see this as more of a consumer product, not necessarily something someone in the hobby would fly, but that's just me opinion.

I think it's a genius idea and often wondered why it hasn't been made yet.

Good Luck!!!!
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mavrik12 on November 18, 2015
I agree that it's a consumer product.
And using the phone as the flight computer and sensors is a great thing. I've see rockets guided with phones as there computer, and some satellites. The phone is a great and powerful little computer right now now.
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thomasbaxter5 on November 23, 2015
Unfortunately I have to agree with a number of posters here. I have seen many Quadcopter Kickstarters fall by the wayside and many people losing their money. I do not see this product making it the market as there are actual real alternatives that DO work and don't risk you losing your money via Kickstarter or potentially losing you phone. I would also never trust a Quadcopter without some kind of direct control over it. You mention using a iWatch, but lets be real, this too is never going to be a reality. Sorry, but I just feel that people should be warned before handing over their hard earned cash for a product they are unlikely to ever see.
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PhoneDrone allows your smart phone to fly