With the idea that “FPV Drone Racing will become the next popular extreme sport in 2016”, ArrowDrone has launched a Kickstarter with what they believe will be the perfect method for just about anyone to get into that extreme sport. And, if the awesome footage captured by the Drone Racing League is any indication, ArrowDrone may just be set to take off.
ArrowDrone argues that creating one’s own drone is a difficult task, given the technical challenges involved. Arrow Drones, however, are meant to be customizable so that anyone can assemble them and then add their team’s own branding to the vehicle. 3D printed in white, users can paint their drones before adding 3D printable logos to the device so that they can stand out in the race. Selectable LEDs allow for further customization, as well.
At the same time, Arrow Drones claims that their vehicles are easy to use, able to take off quickly and, with the included flight school and targets, novices should be able to pick up the sport in a short amount of time. The design of the drone is said to be optimized, while the controls are modeled after video games that most flyers will be familiar with. Other features include a protected location for attaching first-person cameras, a compact frame, and the ability to reach high speeds. The Arrow 200 has a frame of 200 mm by 140 mm and can reach speeds of up to 80 km/h, but the upgraded Arrow 270 has a size of 270 mm by 165 mm and is capable of flying up to 150 km/h and also includes optional gimbal and GPS upgrades.
Arrow Drone inventor Josua Benner tells me a little bit more about the key role that 3D printing plays in the production of Arrow Drones. Benner, who is a developing engineer for BIGREP, explains that 3D printing was essential in design iteration, but will also be necessary for end production, “The complete drone frame is going to be 3D printed in series production. We thought about using plastic moulding, but we can only generate a solid and crash proof structure with 3D printing… I also used the newest printer, the BIGREP ONE to optimize the drone structure.”
He continues, “Normally, drones are made out of carbon fiber because they have to be very stiff. We managed to build a drone that can be 3d printed and has the same stiffness of a carbon fiber frame. We are using bionic structures and a special nylon material to create those properties.”
On top of that, Benner says that 3D printing offers the key element of customization, which allows new drone racers to enter tournaments with their own personalized look. “Because of 3D printing we can customize the drone and give it a very high functionality (e.g. integrated cable guides, less parts, covered electronics … We can [also] offer different colour schemes and customized icons. This is the first drone that is completely customizable. Also different colours stick very well to the surface.”
With complete packages starting at $648, Arrow Drones are comparably priced to other high-quality drones on the market, like those from Dji and Parrot. Their customizability and purported strength, however, make them more suited to the upcoming world of drone racing. So, if you’re itching to race with others, this may be up your alley. Personally, I’m still having trouble flying my $40 mini drone, so it would probably be wasted on me. Maybe all I need is a gimbal…
