Support road.cc

Like this site? Help us to make it better.

TECH NEWS

GoPro takes to the skies (+ video)

Video camera brand develops its own drones, coming soon to a sportive/commute near you

GoPro is developing its own drones to work with its popular video cameras, according to reports, increasing the opportunities for you to take cycling footage from the air.

Many drones are already capable of carrying a GoPro Camera but The Wall Street Journal says it has learned, “The company intends to start selling multirotor helicopters equipped with high-definition cameras late next year, aiming for a price tag between $500 and $1,000.”

A direct conversion would put those figures at £318 to £636, although it's unlikely that these drones, if they do materialise, will sell for that in the UK.

You can’t fail to have noticed that GoPro cameras have become big in cycling over the past few years, many commuters recording their urban exploits and others capturing notable rides in stunning scenery. GoPros are also popular in mountain biking and other action sports like surfing and snowboarding.

There’s lots of GoPro footage out there shot from third party drones, but this move is apprently aimed at bringing a big chunk of the drone market directly to the California-based company.

There are, of course, restrictions on the use of drones. One of the most relevant to anyone hoping to capture road cycling footage is that in the UK the drone must not be flown within 50 metres of any vessel, vehicle or structure which is not under the control of the person in charge of the craft.

GoPro haven’t released any details about these drone development plans but for more on the existing range go to their website.

Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. We send him off around the world to get all the news from launches and shows too. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.

Add new comment

5 comments

Avatar
tommydam | 8 years ago
0 likes

I wonder if it will be better than DJI Phantom Drones.
gopro fanatics

Avatar
dafyddp | 9 years ago
0 likes

There's a few rumours going round that Google may buy GoPro in 2015. Most GP users just sling their footage onto YouTube anyway, so it would be an excellent match. And if anyone's got the cash to fund to drone research, its Google

Avatar
mike the bike | 9 years ago
0 likes

Just as we have all suffered the excesses of nincompoops with mobile phones, Strava, GPS, electric gear changing, base layers, hydraulic brakes and waterproof socks, soon, it appears, we shall be under attack from the air.
Whatever happened to the fun you could have on a push-bike?

Avatar
joemmo replied to mike the bike | 9 years ago
0 likes
mike the bike wrote:

Just as we have all suffered the excesses of nincompoops with mobile phones, Strava, GPS, electric gear changing, base layers, hydraulic brakes and waterproof socks, soon, it appears, we shall be under attack from the air.
Whatever happened to the fun you could have on a push-bike?

It is literally political madness gone correct. Bring back the national birch service and send them back where they came from!

Avatar
Rupert | 9 years ago
0 likes

"Yes you can set up your drone to follow 20 or so meters above you, while you cycle around your route and have it download to the internet live from your mobile phone. "

There are laws about flying drones that everybody should be aware of before this idea becomes popular.  36

Latest Comments