HEXO+, touted as the flying camera that allows users to capture stunning aerial imagery, is shipping now. Blending simplicity with the ability to create aerial imagery, HEXO+ flies itself.
This flight system can take off, follow and frame its user while filming with predetermined camera movements, and safely land. These processes are entirely automated and simply initiated with the HEXO+ smartphone application. This allows users to capture the moment handsfree, as no bulky remote control is needed.
HEXO+ is the dream of a group including Antoine Level, passionate about digital technology and someone that in his spare time loves running marathons, trails and extreme races, Patrick Mcilvain, a professional mountain biker back in 1989, racing the World Cup and National circuits, ranked top 5 nationally and top 20 in the world, and Xavier de La Rue, a big mountain snowboarder and adventurer, 3-time freeride world champion, and movie producer.
When the creators of HEXO+ decided to go ahead with their project, they knew their goal: create a system that would make aerial filming possible in the most remote places: on mountains, in the snow, and in all sorts of unpredictable situations that were quite a pain to deal with when trying to sync a drone pilot, a cameraman and a rider. The result is HEXO+ – an intelligent aerial follow camera: no pilot, no cameraman, no headache.
The HEXO+ drone and its companion app use fully autonomous flight to create unrivalled imagery. In 2014, its seven cofounders began leveraging their backgrounds in aeronautics, cinematography, software development and action sports to translate their vision for HEXO+ into a reality. After launching a Kickstarter campaign to fund HEXO+ in June 2014, the team reached its funding target of $50,000 in just 37 minutes. The campaign ultimately raised $1,306,921 from more than 2,000 backers.
With its crisp aerial tracking and smooth cinematography, HEXO+ enables both novice and advanced users to unleash their creative potential. To guarantee constant framing and image stability, HEXO+ combines a fast and responsive flight system with proprietary framing and tracking algorithms. The builtin library of cinematic camera movements—developed with motion picture experts—enables users of any skill level to create compelling, professionalgrade imagery using HEXO+ and a GoPro camera.
HEXO+ is also the first autonomous drone with complete certifications from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Conformité Européenne (CE) and Industry Canada (IC). “This is an entirely new way of capturing amazing aerial imagery,” says Antoine Level, cofounder and CEO of HEXO+. “We are incredibly proud to bring together our experience in aeronautics technology and software development to create a simple, easytouse product.”
As part of its appeal, HEXO+ enables users to focus on their activities while it focuses on the filming, an essential characteristic for Xavier de La Rue, the professional snowboarder and HEXO+ cofounder who wanted to capture his adventures in the most remote places. An avid user of helicopters and piloted drones, he quickly realized that the logistics behind such shoots were extremely constraining. He needed a tool that could easily be taken anywhere and act as a full film crew to capture his outdoor feats in cinematic quality. No such thing existed, so HEXO+ was born.
“HEXO+ was built with outdoor adventurers in mind, allowing them to live in the moment and not behind a lens,” says Xavier de La Rue. “It enables you to capture incredible footage of yourself—by yourself. As a snowboarder, this gives me unprecedented freedom to create and share footage without the expense and constraints of helicopters and a film crew.”
Xavier is kicking off winter 2016 with a new mission: to film his whole snowboard season by himself, using just the HEXO+ and his personal camera. That will put the system to test in extreme conditions.
 |
Key HEXO+ features include : ● No remote control needed—control HEXO+ with just your smartphone and the HEXO+ app, which is available for Apple iOS 9 and Android 4.4 and above ● Compatible with most GoPro camera models ● Predictive tracking algorithms anticipate your next move ● Operating altitude of up to 16,000 feet ● Maximum speed of 45 mph ● 6 propeller design for added stability and power ● Quick and easy battery swap ● Library of 12 preprogrammed camera movements, easily adjusted and finetuned. |
HEXO+ is currently available to purchase on www.hexoplus.com for $1,349.00.