Lily: The Autonomous Camera Drone

The consumer drone market is becoming increasingly crowded, but Lily aims to stand out from the competition given its unique ability to fly autonomously.

© Lily

There is no need to set up or control the drone. Simply throw it into the air and watch in amazement as it follows you, recording high-definition video and snapping stills. Now you may be wondering how Lily knows who should be its subject of choice, and the answer lies in a small GPS tracker which can be attached to the user’s wrist or carried in their pocket.

© Lily

The drone will follow the user as they concentrate on their activity of choice, opening up new possibilities for extreme sports fans who currently record videos from a camera attached to their helmet or equipment. Lily records 1080p HD video at 60 frames per second, and shoots 12 megapixel stills, which puts it on a par with other cameras from brands such as GoPro.

© Lily

Lily will capture your every move, flying between 15 and 1.75 meters away from your head, and the manufacturers are targeting snowboarders, mountain bikers and adventurous individuals who are looking to add an extra dimension to their video footage. The device is highly portable and designed to fit easily into a backpack; its durability is assured thanks to a sealed body which means Lily can even land on water.

The manufacturers are currently offering the chance to pre-order one of the flying cameras for $499, a price which will double to $999 when Lily goes on general release.