Kickstarter Funding More Than Half Way To It's $200,00 Goal

A new type of UAV is under development, targeted to hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts with its unusual design and portability. Photographers and other professionals are also potential customers, according to developer Ascent AeroSystems.

The Sprite UAV is a cylindrical aircraft with two counter-rotating props at the top of the aircraft, and an integrated camera at its base. It's normal attitude in flight is vertical, with the camera pointed at the ground.

The Sprite is designed to be portable, with the props folding next to the aircraft's body, which the company says makes it easy to transport in a backpack. It is controlled via a tablet device or smartphone, and flight plans can be pre-programmed, or it can be flown by hand. It is advertised as being "FPV Ready."

The aircraft is said to be waterproof. It can orbit objects while keeping the camera on a two-axis gimbal trained on an object. There is a "follow me" mode as well.

Ascent AeroSystems is raising money for development for the aircraft on Kickstarter. To date, they have raised over $112,000 of their $200,000 goal.

(Images from Ascent AeroSystems' Kickstarter campaign)

FMI:  www.kickstarter.com/projects/ascentaerosystems/sprite-the-portable-rugged-totally-different-small