The most important challenge for the new generation of virtual reality is content development, meaning everything that lies beyond games. Both 4K resolution and 360-degree capture are essential tools for creating high-quality material, but the Exo360 takes it a step further by combining them in a sleek, sturdy, and easy-to-carry drone.
Virtual reality is here to stay (or so it seems for now), just like drones and 4K video. With 4K cameras rapidly shrinking in size and price, and drones showing up just about everywhere, combining these three elements feels inevitable. Any good idea from a filmmaker, photographer, or writer needs the right tools. Mounting a camera on a drone is easy, but getting footage good enough for a VR headset without overloading the drone or draining its battery requires a well-balanced design. That brings us to the Exo360.
A Quadcopter With Five 4K Cameras
The Exo360 is technically a quadcopter packing five 4K cameras: four cover the sides and one points downward. Video is captured at up to 4K at 30 FPS, while stills reach 16 megapixels. The drone has 256 GB of internal storage; after extracting footage, you can process and view it on devices like the Oculus Rift or Samsung Gear VR. Its maximum range is three kilometers, and its batteries keep it airborne for a respectable 18 minutes. If you prefer using the companion mobile app instead of a dedicated controller, you get access to several autonomous flight parameters, including programmed approaches and automatic return home.
Crowdfunding and Pricing
The team behind the Exo360 turned to crowdfunding to gain consumer support, and their Indiegogo campaign has already exceeded the $25,000 minimum needed to move to the next phase. Needless to say, the Exo360 is not an affordable option: you'll pay $1,399 for the 4K edition or $1,099 for the 1080p model, both without shipping. The first deliveries are expected in December.
