AV News: A Drone Recap of CES

CES has come and gone with smart technology taking center stage. Big-brand companies like Samsung, Sony, and Toyota debuted their exciting new products, but it was also a place for lesser known brands to show off their high-tech ideas including a variety of drones.
One such UAV was the Draco Drone, UVify's answer to complicated FPV flying. The Draco can be used for both freestyle and racing, and the company boasts that it can fly at speeds up to 100mph. However, we think the most impressive aspect is its design. The Draco is meant to be crashed...it has a carbon fiber body, modular arms, and switchable propellers. The idea is to get you back to flying in little to no time. No soldering needed here, meaning it’s ideal for those looking to get into FPV without needing a mechanical background.
Another modular drone surfaced at CES...the GDU Byrd Premium 2.0. What makes this drone so special is its modular gimbal system which lets the pilot pick the best stabilizer and camera for their flight. Right now, GDU is offering four different camera and gimbal combinations, ranging from a 4K zoom lens to an infrared camera that can measure heat with little to no light.
Yuneec announced a new drone to its lineup, the H520.This six-rotor drone is decked out for high-end commercial use with longer flight times, retractable landing gear, and higher payload capacities. The drone can be fitted with three different cameras, all with different commercial applications in mind. This bright-orange drone is suitable to work with law enforcement and search-and-rescue efforts, but experts are anticipating a hefty price tag to come along with it.
Perhaps one of the wackiest drones we saw at CES was the PowerRay submersible drone. Complete with a 4K camera, this underwater drone is capable of diving to depths up to 100ft while attracting fish to its luring light. That’s right, a fisherman’s drone. The folks at PowerRay say they want to bring your fishing experience to the next level by integrating the camera, lure, and the Fishfinder app. It can sense fish from 40 meters away and will alert the operators phone when something is nearby.
High-end drones weren’t the only quadcopters to make an appearance at CES.

One drone that grabbed a lot of attention was the AirBlock: a modular and programmable starter drone from Makeblock. The drone responds to an App where you can program maneuvers and stunts ahead of time, giving the pilot full control. Perhaps the coolest part of the Airblock is its modular makeup. There are multiple modes that can be built from the blocks, and all the pieces stay together through magnetic connections. If it crashes and falls a part...just stick it back together! The Airblock is expected to retail around $100.
CES had a lot of new drone technology all in one place. We can’t wait to see what other drone tech will surface throughout 2017. Check our description below for links to see some of these new products from CES.
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