Take to the skies with this tiny flier
2016 is certainly shaping up as the year of the drone. The market has expanded considerably in recent months, with each newly released model offering more and more functionality.
Extreme Fliers, a UK-based company, has recently launched its newest palm-sized model, the Micro Drone 3.0, designed for both novices and more experienced pilots.
The Micro Drone 3.0 is an interesting bit of kit. While measuring just 50 x 145mm and with a rotor diameter of 55mm, this tiny flier manages to pack in some decent features. It’s a quadcopter that houses an accelerometer, six-axis MEMS gyroscope and contra-rotational motors so you can fly the drone upside down.
Flight time off a full charge is rated at eight minutes, but we managed to get just over ten minutes off the 550mAh lithium battery. Its top speed is 45mph, and when using the 2.4GHz handset, it has a range of up to 500ft.
The icing on the cake here, though, is the magnetic attachment of a HD camera on the underside of the Micro Drone. The camera is stabilised by an incredibly small gimbal (the world’s smallest, no less), and it can capture the video on an SD card, if one is inserted in the camera module, or it can be streamed directly to a phone.
This is where things start to get interesting with the Micro Drone. The live streamed video can be set to a virtual/firstperson view, with the aid of the included VR cardboard heatset, with a resolution of 720p at 30fps. That way, you can effectively get some amazing HD footage from well above the ground, while controlling it as if you were personally flying in the drone.
A lot of drones offer this, but to see it from something that’s small enough to fit in the palm of your hand is really quite amazing. Furthermore, with the Micro Drone app, you’re able to ditch the bulky handset and control the drone via your phone or tablet by connecting to the drone’s wi-fi signal.
Finally, if you fancy improving the looks of the Micro Drone 3.0, the company is launching a set of 3D printable designs that can easily be snapped in to replace the standard body. So instead of controlling a drone, you could instead be flying a remote controlled dragon. It’s a clever concept, and one that’ll surely appeal to the user base.
Actually flying the Micro Drone 3.0 is relatively easy. There are three speed settings on the handset that can help you break into the flying experience: Slow for beginners, Fast for those who want a highly responsive drone, and Insane for expert flyers. The handset can also be configured with a Home Point, whereby the drone will return to a preset position.
There are also countless other flying features incorporated into the handset and the drone. The usual casual and stunt modes are there, along with adjusting the trim settings, and there are different modes that will allow you to roll the drone as opposed to simply turning left or right.
The Micro Drone 3.0 is a fantastic little device that's ideal for beginners and more experienced users. There’s plenty to keep you hooked, even without the camera module, and there’s room for the product to grow and improve over time.
If you’re looking for a great starter drone, then this is one to consider. David Hayward
A great little drone, that’s tons of fun and easy to fly.