Chinese company PowerVision has brought its robotics industry experience to the world of drones with the new PowerEgg. The goal was to create a familiar-feeling shape to invite new customers into the world of drones.
I think the company totally failed in that respect. Most drones look a little weird flying around, but this one—with its pendulous body hanging below the propeller arms—looks downright creepy. However, I don't care, because what PowerVision achieved by going for an organic feeling is a drone that is self-contained and packs up into a neat unit that I could easily see slinging into a Pelican case. Or maybe even a highly-padded backpack for run-and-gun drone work, which is something that other popular drones like the DJI Phantom and the offerings from Yuneec don't quite pull off. (Yes, they come with backpacks, but getting them in and out of the backpack always feels like more of a hassle than it should be.)
This drone design makes it easy to imagine adding it to your package, especially if you don't have a lot of storage space.
PowerVision Egg packed for travelCredit: PowerVision
One of the most important factors when considering a gear purchase is portability. Can this item be easily slung into a case, thrown in the back of a station wagon, and moved from location to location throughout the day?
While I'm willing to put up with a little bit of hassle from a primary piece of gear (the main picture camera, or a complicated drone if it's an all-drone day), with secondary equipment, a key feature for me is ease of use. It's great to add a drone to your package for a shoot, but sometimes throwing a drone in the mix along with the cameras, tripods, lights, jibs, and whatnot doesn't seem worth the hassle if it's just for a few shots that might not make or break the project.
But this drone design makes it easy to imagine adding it to your package, especially if you don't have a lot of storage space. In addition to indie film applications where you want to keep a small footprint, if you are are working as a wedding videographer and want to bring a drone along for a great establishing shot of the venue but nothing else, this addition to your package seems feasible. When time is of the essence (as it always is for any shoot), the toys that are easiest to use get played with the most.
The PowerEgg features a 4K video camera capable of full 360° rotation, a visual position system for indoor flying, and push button takeoff and landing. PowerVision also ships two different control interfaces with the PowerEgg: a traditional two button RC style controller, and a controller, the Maestro, that is closer to a Wii-style wand.
PowerVision Maestro controller.Credit: PowerVision
The PowerEgg is available now from the PowerVision website for $1,300.
Tech specs
- 3-mile control range
- Maestro gesture-based controller
- Integrated 3-axis gimbal for image stability
- Optical Positioning System for indoor flight up to 13 feet, 4 meters/second
- 13000 foot service ceiling
- 4.6lbs
- 450W max draw, 265 W hover draw
- 13 meters/second max flight speed outdoor (pro mode only)
- 23 minute flight time
- Resolutions: UHD: 3,840 x 2,160 30p; FHD: 1,920 x 1,080 30/60/120p; HD: 1,280 x 720 60/120/240p
- ISO: 100 - 3,200 (video); 100 - 1,600 (photo)
- 60mb/s max video data rate
- Micro-SD; max capacity: 64GB; class 10 or UHS-1 rating required
