Graeme Thickins on Tech

Reflections & analysis about innovation, technology, startups, investing, healthcare, and more .... with a focus on Minnesota, Land of 10,000 Lakes. Blogging continuously since 2005.

Category: Drones

Wait, Was That My iPhone That Just Flew Over Your Head?

November 4, 2015 / / 3 Comments

It could have been if I had a “PhoneDrone Ethos” prototype — I could be buzzing you! But, sigh, I don’t have one … and none of us mere mortals will until they ship in September 2016. That’s as soon as the Kickstarter page promises. Nonetheless, as I write this, the product boasts some $238,000 pledged (well exceeding the $100,000 goal), and more than 900 backers — who apparently have no problem waiting for 11 months.

xCraft, the designer and manufacturer, is a drone company that scored a record-breaking $1.5 million investment on Shark Tank recently.  Continue reading

My Snippets from Another CES — the 2014 Edition

January 26, 2014 / / 0 Comments

Following on from my previous post earlier today, here are some other cool things I saw of interest during  VegasMorning the latest CES show in Las Vegas — when I wasn't working, that is (which was 90% of the time):

• Phantom 2 Vision: Your Flying (drone) Camera.

DJI_Phantom_II_Vision

 

 

 

 

 

• An American auto entrepreneur’s vision comes to life

Elio_Motors

 

 

 

 

 

• A BitCoin ATM

BitCoin_ATM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• AirHDTV … up to 186 channels (press release)

AirHDTV

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But the big Chinese company DJI, whose product is shown above, wasn't the only drone company at CES.  Minnesota-based QFO Labs (a client of mine) also was also there, though with a much smaller presence.

QFO-QuadFighter

The company showed its "Quad Fighter" product at the Nordic Semiconductor booth (one of its suppliers) in South Hall, and was a big hit there.  But the real excitement for QFO happened soon after it arrived back home, when it got a big surprise with its product being shown on national TV: Local toy-drone maker gets plug from U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (by Julio Ojeda-Zapata/St. Paul Pioneer Press).

Were you at CES 2014?  What was the coolest thing you saw?

 

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