The paper drone is taking flight.
A tech company is taking the classic gliding classroom distraction and upgrading it for 2015, with smartphone controls, a camera and propellers. The accessory clips onto paper planes and helps them take flights for up to 10 minutes. The Guinness record for longest paper plane flight was only 29.2 seconds long.
The small attachment lets users control their paper planes from their smartphones, and stream the soaring sights over WiFi, with speeds up to 20 mph, the company said.
With a virtual reality headset, the app also lets fliers go from pilot’s eye view to bird’s eye view through the camera. Users can control the paper plane with just head movements with this feature, using the add-on’s accelerometer, gyroscope and compass sensors.
“Now we are taking paper airplanes to new heights, and with the help of Parrot, are giving consumers the ability to see and feel the excitement of flying,” said Shai Goitein, the CEO of PowerUp Toys.
The frame is made from carbon-fiber and nylon, for increased durability, and has a range of up to 300 feet.
The paper drone is expected to reach Kickstarter on Nov. 9, and hit stores next summer at $199 per set.
