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The AirDog drone is the perfect companion for action sports. You do not need a remote control for this model, the main task of the copter is to follow you wherever you go, no matter what you do.
This quadrocopter was developed in Lithuania in Riga by a small StartUp.
At first sight the AirDog reminded us a bit of Lego. The design is quite extraordinary but also the technical equipment and functionality is quite weird compared to other drones. The AirDog is a completely autonomous flying robot.
Here is a software installed, which knows many different sports and is perfectly designed to follow you when you do them. At the beginning you just have to choose your activity and you are ready to go, the drone starts and will follow you.
Unfortunately the AirDog Quadrocopter does not have a fixed camera, but the system is designed so that you can install a GoPro Cam. That is quite practical. The model can also be folded, similar to the Mavic 2 Pro from DJI. So you can easily put the copter in your backpack.
Technical data
When folded, the drone measures 21.5 x 38 cm. When fully unfolded it appears quite large and measures 51.6 x 35 cm.
Actually, we think it’s quite cool that the GoPro drone is recording cameras using a gimbal system. The pictures are not extremely blurred and therefore the AirDog drone is one of the few models with a GoPro mount.
These models are compatible with the AirDog
- GoPro Hero3
- 3+ Black
- Silver
- White (in narrow housing)
- Hero4 Silver
- GoPro Black (in standard housing)
There is also an adapter for the GoPro Hero5 camera available as an accessory.
The arrangement of the propellers is quite unusual, in most models the propellers are above and in rare cases they are pointing downwards.
The AirDog has one pair above and the other pair below, as you can see on the pictures. That looks pretty cool. This has no negative effect on the flight stability.
To prevent the propellers from coming into contact with the ground, the drone has 3 feet, the middle “frame” or landing gear has to be folded out beforehand for a firm stand so that the AirDog has a safe stand.
The power of the drone is also impressive, with this model achieving a total of 64 kilometres per hour maximum speed and holding its own against wind speeds of up to 50 kilometres per hour. Thus the AirDog can be used on windy waters without any problems.
Unfortunately the battery only lasts for 15 minutes, after that the flying fun is over and the drone can’t follow you anymore. It can now be landed at the push of a button or return to the starting point on its own (automatic Return To Home function).
Functionality
Interesting is the included control unit. The AirDog copter is not operated by an app or a standard RC remote control, but by the small handy device, which you can strap around your arm during the exercise.
So you can film yourself the whole time and at the same time you have the possibility to concentrate completely on your activities.
Other drone models also have autonomous tracking modes, but these are not nearly as reliable as the AirDog.
This quadrocopter always aligns itself to the control unit, even if there are objects between the unit you are carrying and the drone.
Sounds simple at first and it is somewhere, because the AirDog simply follows the transmitter of the small controller and the probability of losing this signal is quite low.
On the other hand, the usual visual tracking methods very often lead to a visual break. Therefore the autonomous tracking system of the AirDog is much more reliable!
Overall, the technical tracking method of this drone is very mature. The system constantly determines where you are, how fast you are and tries to calculate future movements in advance. The drone is then automatically repositioned and aligned with you.
There is even something like a Return To Home mode. Assuming you go surfing, the AirDog follows you and suddenly the battery is empty, you have the possibility to set a landing point on the beach where the drone should land when the battery is running low. The system is so smart and knows how much battery capacity is still needed for the return flight.
While the drone is following you, you can use the control buttons to select at what altitude it should fly and at what angle.
You can also set different flight patterns that the AirDog should fly while filming, for example if the drone should fly around you in a circular motion or if it should statically follow you at a certain distance on a fixed point.
It can also be adjusted in 45 degree steps, even while you are exercising. So you can always change any positioning and film angle quite flexibly.
At the same time the system always keeps enough distance to avoid injuring people. It takes off and lands automatically at the push of a button. Pretty cool actually, we haven’t seen anything like this anywhere else.
The operation itself is actually so simple that really everyone can adjust the drone according to their wishes.
The control unit is also waterproof and can be attached so that it fits comfortably on the arm or wrist. The display of the control unit also shows various data from the measuring instruments.
Advantages and disadvantages
It is clear that this drone will not inspire everyone, we have therefore once again compared for you the most important facts that we have felt positive or negative. So you can decide even better whether the AirDog fits you or not.
Advantages:
- Unique model with unique selling proposition
- Flies and films you completely autonomous during your sports activities
- Has a waterproof control unit
- Can be changed in its angle and flight pattern quickly and easily
- Has a gimbal system
- Maximum speed is 64 kilometers per hour
- Withstands wind speeds of up to 50 km/h
- Extremely reliable tracking method without interruption
- Return To Home function (automatically initiated)
- Compatible with many GoPro camera models
- The drone is foldable and can be easily transported anywhere
Disadvantages:
- The battery only lasts for a maximum flight time of 15 minutes
- No external remote control for normal drone flights possible – the quadrocopter can only be flown autonomously
Scope of delivery
The package contains the most important things you need to start the drone:
- 1x Airdog Auto-Follow Drone (AD10)
- 1x AirLeash control unit
- 1x wrist loop
- 1x Gyro Gimbal for camera stabilization
- 1x Lithium-Polymer battery
- 4x propeller
- 1x battery charger
- 1x power cable
- 1x USB charger
- 1x USB cable
- Operating instructions
Conclusion
The AirDog is not a drone with which you can play and have fun a lot, but it is a flying robot for athletes who want to film themselves during their activities.
You might wonder what happens if you are in a forest, for example, where the drone will surely fly into a tree.
But also for this the developers from Lithuania have come up with something clever. The AirDog has a very exact Follow Me function, where it follows you exactly. That means it flies exactly the way you are going for example with your bike.
So far 10 different sports have been added to the model, in which the drone immediately knows how to behave. The manufacturer announced that in the future it will add even more such sport profiles.
Unfortunately the AirDog Quadrocopter has a proud price. In any case, you will make four figures. But in return you get a decent drone robot. The entry price was about 1700 Euro for the release at the beginning of 2016, but in the meantime the price has already fallen significantly and is only about 1000 € on Amazon.
Here you can buy the fully autonomous AirDog drone on Amazon!
