A South Florida tech startup is banking on a waterproof drone concept that may make a huge splash in the crowdfunded UAV sector.
Urban Drones of Ft. Lauderdale launched a Kickstarter campaign Wednesday for the Splash Drone. The quadcopter is designed for adventure-genre imagery flights and is capable of landing and floating on bodies of water. It will ship ready to fly with a GoPro camera, seven-inch monitor (optional) and waterproof gimbal.
The company designed the drone so that users could capture detailed footage near or on water without the fear of sending a four-figure UAV rig into an untimely, aquatic grave.
“Since 2007 when I started building and flying drones, I knew that I wanted to build a waterproof drone,” said Urban Drones founder Alex Rodriguez. An award-winning video producer, Rodriguez knows the UAV biz – he was a presenter and speaker at the 2015 Association of Unmanned Vehicles International conference.
The Splash Drone may have applications in search and rescue, boasting an emergency flare adapter capable of hovering with a flare up to 300 feet for up to 15 minutes. The drone can also release up to a two-pound payload remotely which could also come in handy during a rescue operation. Using a GoPro interface, the Splash Drone can transmit video up to a mile and adds follow-me mode (app based) and autonomous mission/”return-to-base” capability. Pilots can control the Splash Drone with an Android app.
Rodriguez points out that developing a waterproof gimbal provided the greatest design challenge. “We started with a clear dome, but quickly realized that we needed a gimbal that could touch the water, uncovered,” he said.
“We’ve tested several camera gimbal configurations and are working on testing the latest prototype in fresh and salt water. The major challenges were waterproofing the gyro stabilization board and the signal cables. We used the same concept as the GoPro dive box and are now testing it for endurance.”
Unlike many drone Kickstarter projects, Urban Drones is seeking a rather modest funding target at this point of $17,500. As of March 5, the project garnered 22 backers representing $10,000 in pledges with 33 days remaining. Pledges of $799 will guarantee an investor first crack at the Splash Drone following production – a $400 discount of the expected retail price of $1,199.
Splash Drone Specs
Frame features
ABS thermoplastic polymer
500mm size
External power switch
Landing gear
Top watertight gasket
Four screw hatch compartment
Motor / Electronics
Brushless 650kv motors (CE & RoHS)
40amp ESCs
all in one Power Distribution Board
Propellers
Carbon Fiber Construction
12 inch (1243)
Self Tightening
Video Transmitter
5.8ghz 600mw – 32 channels
Integrated Cloverleaf antenna
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Sweden gives droneflyers problem.
Below a google translation-
New Court of Appeal states that the camera-equipped drone shall be subject to surveillance law.
Earlier this year felt the Administrative Court in Linköping that a drone equipped with camera are not subject to the rules of the surveillance teams, including on the grounds that the camera can be used only for a short time in the air and therefore are not set up in the legal sense.
But the drone flight time is crucial for surveillance law (COPD) shall apply, or did not mean the Data Inspectorate and the judgment under appeal.
Now announces Appeal in Jönköping that it runs on the Data Inspection line. The Court finds both that the camera is considered to be permanently set up and the camera can not be considered to be operated in place. “Therefore meets the current camera all the conditions for a permit surveillance camera according coal”, writes the right in its judgment.
– The judgment making the rules clearer because the appeal now states that a drone with camera shall be subject to surveillance law, says Malin Ricknäs, a lawyer at the Swedish Data Inspection Board.
To shoot with drones in places to which the public has access requires a permit from the provincial government. If the provincial government authorizes it may impose conditions, for example, the place that gets filmed and at what time of day that filming may take place.
Footnote: Administrative Court (Case No. 1369-15) have not been finalized, which means it can be appealed. In that case, the Supreme Administrative Court to decide whether it will take up the case or if the Administrative Court of Appeal stands.
Looks like a terrific waterproof drone and with a GoPro camera it should take really great aerial video. I hope it makes it to the market.
Hi there, I would like to know how can I get one of the splash drones for the 799 us dollars. I am in SA, please let me know how to proceed? Thanks Ermin
check out the kickstarter!
great design, there will be many uses for this. we could have done with one for filming on kayak videos,
would have prevented an underwater fire:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIEgSpe_Q4s