PowerVision Stuffs a Drone into an Egg

PowerVision PowerEgg 4k Drone
The PowerVision PowerEgg 4k droneCredit: PowerVision
This 4.6 lb Egg cracks open to reveal a 4K camera in a great example of design inspired by nature.

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
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
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

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Your Comment

7 Comments

I actually love the weird design of this one. It looks so simple!

August 24, 2016 at 3:21PM

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Egg drone? no need to check the specs. I'll take it!!!!!

August 24, 2016 at 7:06PM

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If its for sale already wheres the footage of even a prototype flying?

To me some 3D renders are not enough to be asking for sales or even seed funding. At the very least have a rough mockup that can fly.

August 24, 2016 at 11:04PM

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Simon, if you had taken five seconds to click on the link in the article, you would have found footage of it flying. Not difficult.

August 24, 2016 at 11:58PM

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Samuel Neff
DP / Editor
981

Im shooting in Malaysia with limited internet otherwise I would have. I'll look forward to see it when I get back to Australia.

August 25, 2016 at 12:32AM

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Ok I got it to load.

Thats not footage of it flying.

Thats animation also. A physical model comes out of the bag but the flying looks completely CGI to me.

August 25, 2016 at 12:58AM

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Finally found one of a real one flying: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WangXCaJObw

It seems like the flying footage is actually form the drone, but they decided to put the cgi model in that footage of it flying.

August 25, 2016 at 7:55AM, Edited August 25, 7:55AM

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Dan Hoene
269