Analysts from our Emerging Devices Strategies / Wireless Smartphone Strategies / Handset Country Share Tracker / Smartphone Model Tracker services are attending CES 2017, one of the biggest and hottest mobile and electronic trade shows, in Las Vegas, US, this week, from Thursday 5th to Sunday 8th January, 2017.

Our earlier CES 2017 Day One blog can be viewed here.
Our earlier CES 2017 Day Two blog about robots at CES can be viewed here.

Drones in The Air and Under Water

Drones are one of the main themes/trends of CES 2017. Total global drone shipments will increase by 248% annually in 2016 and will continue to rapidly rise through 2022. Several companies are introducing drones and supporting devices at CES. These are the most interesting devices identified from the exhibition.

1. Powervision PowerRay is one of the first leisure underwater fishing drones. PowewrVision is the company behind PowerEgg drone and they have now expanded the capabilities of drones to leisure fishing. To find fish the drone features proprietary system called Fishfinder, which uses a sonar system to detect fish with precision and sends images of fish and underwater landscape, temperature data, as well as alerts to users through internal Wi-Fi. The Fishfinder sonar system can detect fish up to 40 meters below and with PowerRay can dive to depth of 30 meters giving fishermen ability to detect fish up to 70 meters deep.

   PowerRay has 12Mpix 4K camera for imaging and it is controlled via a mobile app. Operation time is said to be up to 4 hours underwater. PowerRay will be available for global pre-order starting on February 27, 2017.  Pricing has not yet been released.

   The device has a built in uplink for controlling it via VR headset and it can connect multiple headsets simultaneously. That is definitely a unique way to explore underwater world.

   

2. Epson announced the availability of Moverio BT-300 Augmented Reality headset that can be used to provide UAV pilots transparent first person views (FPV) from the drone camera. The FAA regulation for UAVs dictates that pilot must at all times have visual line of sight to the drone and with the help of Moverio BT-300 pilot can also do that and still enjoy the view from the drones camera. What makes the glasses special is that those are relatively light set of glasses that can project drone's eye view and all necessary flight information onto the lenses of the glasses. The heads up display clearly overlays the information pilot needs, while allowing pilot to view the real world around as well. Pilot is able to manage the flight without looking down at a controller mounted display, allowing pilot to maintain constant view to the drone while simultaneously seeing all data and seeing what the drone sees.
   The glasses are especially designed to work with DJI drones and they come equipped with DJI GO app out of the box.

   

   

3. XDynamics Evolve is world’s first consumer grade drone with dual display controller. Evolve is designed to aerial photography and the patented dual screen remote controller brings industry best control to the drone. The drone itself has a carbon fiber monocoque chassis and powerful 4K camera. The camera is mounted to a 3-axis gimbal for extra stability. The controller has a 7 inch display and 5 inch display that provide pilot the visibility from drone camera and simultaneously plotting drone to a map with GPS. Remote controller runs on Android with engine as powerful as in mid-range tablets. Evolve will launch in Q1 217 at an undisclosed price.