Drone lovers will soon be able to get their hands on a new smart quadcopter drone courtesy of 3D Robotics, the largest drone maker in North America.
The drone, called the Solo, will go on sale in late May at Best Buy stores across the U.S. for $1,000, according to Silicon Valley. Best Buy spokesman Ryan Stanzel said in an email that the Richfield, Minn.-based company plans on making the machine available in over 400 stores starting May 31.
3DR CEO Chris Anderson said in a telephone interview Monday that the Solo's controller features Linux technology in order to make flying the device easier. He added that users will able to put the drone on autopilot so it can record footage while staying in the air.
The all-black, 3.3-pound Solo will also be able to carry GoPro cameras, though this version will cost $1,400, Wired reported. The device also comes with a holder for the user's iPhone or iPad, which can be used to keep track of the drone and control the cameras.
3DR has put the Solo on an open platform so that developers can add new sensors, chips and other accessories to the drone, as well as add specific apps and different functionalities.
Users will be able to program the drone to follow them, as well as draw a line on the screen of their iPhone for the drone to follow, IGN reported.
Different modes include a Selfie mode, in which the camera records footage of the user while it flies around, and an Orbit mode, in which the drone circles around an object of the user's choosing.
Anderson said the Solo has the potential to be used for agriculture and construction, adding that hobbyists will be big fans of the machine, Silicon Valley reported. He also said 3DR will build the drone in China, which he said "gives us the ability to scale up to meet the needs of the consumer market."
