Do We Need A 70 mph Drone?
Drones, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), have been growing in popularity by leaps and bounds over the past few years. Once the domain of hardcore tech enthusiasts, drones have become increasingly popular with hobbyists. The technology was first developed by the military for use in surveillance and combat operations, but civilian versions of drones now vastly outnumber military drones. In fact, it is estimated that more than one million civilian drones were purchased in 2015 alone. As drones continue to increase in popularity, performance, and features, it is now time to ask if we need a 70 mph drone.
Drones actually have a number of useful applications, besides being just a fun hobby. These unmanned aircraft are used for surveying, agriculture, photography, and law enforcement. There is also a growing number of users who use their drones for racing. It is these drone racers who may be most excited about a 70 mph drone. The question will be how long it takes for someone to try racing an aircraft with a high-speed drone.
George Matus, Jr., the 18-year-old founder and CEO of Teal Drones, has developed what the company claims is the fastest production drone in the world. The Teal drone, which should be available to the general public early in 2017, reportedly flies at speeds of 70 mph consistently and can hit speeds of 85 mph when weather conditions are ideal. It is also capable of going from zero to 60 mph in 1.1 seconds which is guaranteed to be faster than your favorite sports car. The drone, which is weatherproof, is reportedly stable in winds up to 40 mph which is good because you don’t want to crash a $1,300 drone.
As if the speed of the Teal drone was not enough of an attraction for drone lovers, the 70 mph drone can be controlled by a hobby controller, tablet, or smartphone. It is also designed to run apps to expand its capabilities. The drone is controlled with a custom operating system known as Teal OS.
A lot of people like to use their drones for photography. The Teal drone includes a built-in camera that can record 13 MP still photos or 4K video.
The first 500 people to purchase a Teal drone will receive a Signature Series drone that features an extended flight time. The price is currently set at $1,300.
In case you are wondering whether a new drone company that was founded by an 18-year-old can actually be serious, Teal has already raised $2.8 million in venture capital. Apparently at least a few investors think the company has a marketable product.
What do you think about a 70+ mph drone? Do we really need something like this, or will this be a toy that does more harm than good?
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