Now here’s an interesting twist on remote-controlled helicopters. With the new Xtreem QuadForce Video Drone, R/C helicopters aren’t just for entertainment anymore, but perhaps for personal security. Sans the guns, of course.
The Xtreem QuadForce Video Drone has an on-board color video camera that records 720p video from up to 330 feet above you. The QuadForce Video Drone uses 2.4GHz frequency so it can be flown indoors or outdoors, giving sleuth-minded R/C enthusiasts a clever surveillance option. It also gives peeping toms a weird new tool, but we won’t go there.
Depending on its size — we haven’t tested one yet — the Xtreem QuadForce Video Drone may be best suited for outdoor use. It certainly has the outside surveillance angle covered; it’s a product from Swann Security, a global security monitoring company.
Videos can be recorded in full color using the onboard camera and stored on a Micro SD card located in the undercarriage. The QuadForce also supports photos. All AVI (MJPEG) videos or JPEG images can then be shared on websites such as YouTube and Vimeo.
QuadForce is designed to fly in any direction with its lightweight 4-axis construction. Because it uses 2.4GHz technology, it can fly up to 330ft/100m in any direction.
Like many R/C helicopters, the flying time is limited. The Xtreem QuadForce Video Drone takes 4 AA batteries, which go in the remote control, which then charge the drone using an included USB cable. The charge time is about 50 minutes, while the flight time is closer to eight minutes. That’s pretty standard compared to what we’ve experienced with other R/C helicopters.
The QuadForce is currently available at Fry’s stores in the United States for $89.99.