The Lily camera drone is designed to fly through the air and take pictures. But, how does it work so far?
Digital Trends is reporting that the new Lily camera drone is able to take 12 megapixel pictures and 1080p quality videos at 60 frames per second. Many consider it a drone, or a quadcopter. The creator, Antoine, Balaresque, sees it differently.
“We designed it as a camera, and never thought of it as a drone or quadcopter,” Balaresque says. “Think of it as your own personal cameraman.”
Balaresque’s impetus for this was after returning home from a family vacation, and noticed his mother was missing from almost every photograph. That was because she was taking the pictures. So, he set to work on a device that would work autonomously.
His efforts led him to co-founder Henry Bradlow. The two put together a five-person team, based in Menlo Park, California. Using their collective knowledge from the University of California, Berkeley, and working in that university’s robotics lab, let to the Lily Camera, a quadcopter with a camera to take pictures, and uses GPS and computer vision technology to track the picture’s subject.
The unit is waterproof, and built to withstand rugged conditions. It incorporates Sony’s IMX117 1/2.3-inch image sensor, like their nearest competitor, the GoPro Hero 3=Black. It’s a bit heavy at nearly three pounds, but that’s because of the rugged design, plus the equipment needed to run the Lily Camera. The Lily Camera includes an accelerometer, three-axis gyro, barometer, GPS, and front- and bottom-facing cameras.
The intent is good, but, according to Gizmodo , there is some work that needs to be done. Gizmodo witnessed two trial flights, and Lily camera has had issues showing a product that lives up to the hype. The two biggest issues with the Lily camera is quality of picture and maneuverability. Though the camera is one of the better cameras on the market, it does take some time to focus. The response time needs to be quickened for the unit to be fully autonomous.
As far as maneuverability, the Lily camera does indeed follow the potential subject of the picture. However, it has issues compensating for flying into possible obstructions, like trees, buildings, et cetera. The sensors need to be able to adapt to the environment around it to be fully autonomous. The sensors also need to keep the camera locked on the subject. With computer vision technology still fairly new, the unreliability of WiFi, and the inaccuracy of pinpoint GPS technology, Lily camera has much work to do.
They do have time, however. Presales for the Lily camera are now being taken, and you can reserve one for yourself for $499 plus applicable taxes and fees. The official release is set for February of 2016, when the price will go up to $999 plus applicable fees and taxes.
[Image courtesy of YouTube]
