The Pixy drone flies autonomously for easy pictures.
Yesterday, during its annual partners summit, Snap Inc. announced the release of its very own portable drone camera, the Pixy. Unlike most commercial drones, the Pixy doesn’t come with a controller or a companion app. Rather, with a few taps, it begins hovering in one of several pre-programmed flight paths in front of or around the user.
Pixy is meant to be used as a companion to Snap’s Snapchat app as a sort of autonomous photographer. The drone can store up to 100 videos or 1,000 photos, then send them directly to the user’s Snapchat Memories where they can be edited and shared. Once it’s done taking pictures, the Pixy will land safely on the user’s palm.
The basic Pixy pack, which is now available at most major retailers, costs $229.99. This pack includes the Pixy itself, as well as a bumper, a carrying strap, a rechargeable battery, and a charging cable. One full battery charge is estimated to be good for five to eight photo or video sessions, depending on how long they are and how much the Pixy is moving. Extra batteries can be purchased for $19.99 each, and a special dual battery charger is available for $49.99.
