As far as drones go, none are as popular as the Micro Drone series. With the Micro Drone 2.0 having gained plenty of traction in the media, the Micro Drone 3.0 has raised an incredible amount on IndieGoGo over the past month, raking in $1,657,369 with there still being 17 days of its crowdfunding campaign to go.
Considering the goal to get the Micro Drone 3.0 off the ground (pun absolutely intended) was $75,000, the little gadget has proven to be far more popular than even its designers Extreme Fliers likely anticipated.
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But it’s not difficult to see why the Micro Drone 3.0 is proving to be such a hit. While the concept of drones put many people off (myself included) due to their frequently bulky design and large expense, the Micro Drone 3.0 offers a portable, budget solution that allows user to capture HD footage, streaming it directly to their smartphone. It’s the kind of fun little toy that is worthy of its $150 asking price, and allows those who would like to try out a drone but cannot justify the hundred of dollars they typically cost to fly around with one for a fraction of the cost.
The Micro Drone 3.0 will stream footage directly to the Meerkat streaming platform in 720p, with its on-board camera being a high-definition upgrade over its 2.0 predecessor. An extra $50 gimbal – which Extreme Fliers claims is the world’s smallest – allows for extra video stabilization.
It’s also easier to fly this time around, too, with the quadcopter making use of a six-axis gyro, accelerometer and an electric compass allowing for a smoother ride. It’s also designed in such a way that further parts can be snapped right onto it, meaning that extra features can be introduced by Extreme Fliers or by other developers. Speaking to TechCrunch, the company’s founder Vernon Kerswell said: “Already, at some of the events we’ve been to, we’ve found developers who want to make things like laser pens, Gatling guns, fish eye lenses, really sophisticated modules that just snap onto the drone. Also building a community that helps make an ecosystem — I think that’s one of the fastest ways to get this into the hands of people.”
The Micro Drone 3.0 has now gone into production, though no launch day for the gadget has been given.
