Hiro Action Sports Drone Is Built For Battle

Drones were originally designed for less civilian uses but have slowly become consumer products that sports action fans and hobbyists have taken a liking to. Now, however, some drones are returning to their roots. This Hiro drone does pretty much anything your regular personal drone can, but it has one very special property. It is virtually indestructible and can withstand not only the elements but also tremendous amount of force. This makes it the perfect contender BattleBots-like competition called, wait for it, Game of Drones.

The Hiro drone is pretty much your regular quadcopter. In fact, inside it uses DJI's NAZA controller. While that makes it less intelligent than those drones that boast autonomous flight and stability, it makes up for it with nimbleness, which is what you'll want in a robot war. It's winning edge, however, is its case. Its shell is made from a special military-grade polymer mix that hardens it against many forms of violence.

The Hiro Action Sports Drone is impervious to strong forces brought about by slamming into hard objects, like other drones, for example. It can also fly through fire or land on water without a hitch. It's only Achilles heel is that the motors and the propellers are naturally left uncovered, so an attack on those parts can pretty much still wreck the drone.

A ready-made drone will cost you $650 but you can also buy the frame for only $140. While it was designed with the NAZA in mind, it can also fit other drone controllers of choice. It can even accommodate fitting a camera gimbal underneath for some photo or video recording capabilities.

That last feature perhaps extends the Hiro beyond simple robot battle entertainment. The camera can be used to give users a view of the surroundings, which, when coupled with its extreme ruggedness, makes it ideal for operations such as search and rescue or flying in danger zones.

VIA: WIRED