It might not be top of the list of feature requirements when buying a new drone, but the Dobby has an unexpected trick up its sleeve. When flown alongside up to 35 other Dobbys, this small UAV can sense the location of its companion drones and fly in formation. The company describe this as ‘dancing’ which might be a bit of a stretch, but it’s quite extraordinary that it’s now possible to implement machine vision so cheaply it can be included as a feature in entry-level drones.
Folded up, the Dobby isn’t much bigger than a smartphone.
Selfie Drones: the new Selfie Sticks?
And the Dobby is very much aimed at first-time flyers. Take-off can be achieved via a dedicated smartphone app, by patting the drone or just chucking it into the air (probably best to double check you’ve switched it on with that last one). It features a follow mode and face recognition for selfie-friendly shooting, and captures photo and video via a 13MP / 1080p camera.
The camera isn’t gimbal mounted but does feature electronic image stabilisation.
Dobby internals
Those features are powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon chip, which also comes with an integrated fast charging system. That means after flying for up to ten minutes, you’ll have to wait around half an hour while the 970mA battery recharges. That battery is also removable so you’ll be able to buy more than one to swap them out and stay airborne for longer.
The whole unit weighs 199g and the propellors fold in flush to the drone’s body for transport. It’s a very compact package and (provided you’re going to places that will let you use it) could make a great travel companion to have in your bag ‘just in case.’ With the small size and limited control options there will be compromises in terms of the shots you’re able to get - but this could be a case of the best drone being the one you have with you.
Dobby Drone: pricing
It’s reasonably affordable as well. At $399 the Dobby isn’t quite an impulse buy, but if you’re interested in trying out a drone for the first time it’s a lot cheaper than even the least expensive offering from drone giant DJI. Availability might be more of an issue, as there’s no distributor in the UK as yet. eBay is probably your best bet if you’re keen to get your hands on one. If we’re able to take one for a test flight we’ll pst the results here…
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