Drone company Antigravity has launched new wrist- and finger-mounted remote controls for the Antigravity A1, allowing users to fly the 360-degree video drone without a headset. These more subtle control options mean users can now capture some very impressive selfie footage without goggles getting in the way.
Introduced in December last year, the Antigravity A1 aims to offer high-quality 360-degree video while still being easy for amateurs to pilot. At the time, the A1 could only be flown using Antigravity's Vision goggles and Grip controller, both of which came bundled with the drone.
However, while this control scheme offered an immersive and intuitive experience, the Vision goggles prevented drone pilots from seeing what was around them. This limited A1 users' situational awareness, meaning they needed a spotter to watch both the drone and its pilot when flying. The FAA requires recreational pilots to maintain visual line of sight with their drone, or else have an observer watching who is in direct communication with them.
The Antigravity A1 Follow Me Bundle has now addressed such limitations with its Watch and Ring Remotes, new control options that allow users to use their drone without the Vision goggles. This means Antigravity A1 users can film themselves without their faces obscured as well as fly it solo, making the drone much more versatile.
The Watch is the undisputed star of the Antigravity A1 Follow Me Bundle. Drone pilots can use the Watch's 1.72-inch touchscreen to manually control the A1, or capture quick cinematic shots by selecting from preset movements such as Arc Out and Spiral Ascent. They can also use it to circle a subject on the move with Orbit Follow, choosing between clockwise and counterclockwise.
In addition to this, the Watch Remote's arguably most useful function is its ability to easily set up the Antigravity A1's Deep Track feature, including to track the drone pilot themselves. Simply select a subject, and the A1 drone will automatically follow and film them as they move at a maximum pace of around 22.4 mph (11 m/s). Users can choose where the drone is in relation to their subject (behind, ahead, or to the sides), as well as its elevation, and adjust these settings during flight.
As such, the Watch is a great accessory if you want to capture hikes, cycling, skiing, or other adventures where you're on the move. All you need to do is set up tracking and let the Antigravity A1 take care of the filming while you monitor its flight. The 360-degree footage means you'll have plenty of framing options afterward as well.
Though the Watch can be used to operate the A1 on its own, the Ring must be used in conjunction with the Watch. After using the Watch to select a tracking subject, users can press and hold the Ring's single button to control the A1 drone with hand gestures. This new Drag-To-Fly feature allows you to move your arm up and down or left to right to move the drone in that direction, as well as rotate your arm toward or away from you to change its distance (though you can only move it along one plane at a time unless in Orbit Follow mode).
Mashable's first impressions found that the Ring Remote doesn't feel as easy or precise as the Watch's manual touchscreen sliders, and can get uncomfortable if you're constantly changing your drone's position. Still, users may find it handy for quick adjustments, and the Watch Remote alone makes the Follow Me Bundle an incredibly handy investment for Antigravity A1 owners.
Alongside the Watch and Ring remotes, the Follow Me Bundle also introduces new Full-Coverage Propeller Guards that can be snapped onto the A1's arms, fully encasing its four propellers in lightweight plastic cages. While the A1's obstacle avoidance system is intended to prevent any collisions, it's still reassuring to have that extra security for peace of mind.
The Propeller Guards do need to be detached and reattached every time you want to fly, and add some extra bulk you need to consider when carrying your A1 to your launch site. Fortunately, the Follow Me Bundle comes with a crossbody bag to help you keep things organized.
The Antigravity A1 Follow Me Bundle includes the A1 drone, and is available now for $799 through the Antigravity website and Best Buy. The Follow Me Accessory Kit without the A1 drone is $339.99, while the Full-Coverage Propeller Guards are $39.99. However, existing A1 owners can get a 20 percent discount on the Accessory Kit and Guards, bringing them down to $271.99 and $31.99, respectively.