high great reveals world's first visual inertial odometry positioning drone

shenzhen-based innovative company high great, specialized in R&D and manufacturing, proposes a way to replace a not very reliable or precise GPS technology — the firm’s new AI drone ‘mark’ is fitted with visual inertial odometry system (VIO). with help of VIO, mark locates itself based on position relative to its surroundings rather than satellites, realizing true autonomous flying.

allowing the high great’s drone to fly right out of the box with no need for calibration, the true autonomous flying feature is obtained through the use of a fisheye camera — which lets mark be aware of the surrounding situation — and a GPU-based mapping module. apart from complete accuracy, the innovation pleases the users with handy folding shape and voice-controlled launch option.

the VIO technology ensures seamless flying from indoors to outdoors: the built-in memory cruise feature can be operated either by hand or via the mobile app, mapping the exact return path for mark. its ability to track subjects automatically, gesture-triggered photo taking, and an impeccable 4k recording quality, all make this drone a powerful and smart flying experience.

video by mark drone

designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: maria erman | designboom