Solo

Solo, commonly known as the 3DR Solo, was a consumer camera quadcopter made by 3D Robotics of the United States, launched in 2015 and discontinued the following year. It was designed specifically to work with a GoPro action camera rather than an integrated camera of its own.

Overview

3D Robotics announced Solo in April 2015 and began selling it in the United States that May, positioning it toward the consumer and prosumer aerial-photography market. The aircraft used two onboard computers — one in the drone and one in the controller — to handle flight control and camera functions together, an approach 3D Robotics marketed as making GoPro-based aerial filming easier for less experienced pilots.

Solo struggled against fast-moving competition from other drone makers after its release, and in March 2016 3D Robotics announced it would stop manufacturing consumer drone hardware altogether, ending Solo's production run. The company subsequently shifted its business toward enterprise drone data and mapping software.

Design and capabilities

Solo was an electrically powered quadcopter that did not include a built-in camera; it was designed around an optional companion gimbal accessory for mounting a customer-supplied GoPro camera. A review published shortly after launch reported flight times of about 16 to 20 minutes on the stock battery, depending on conditions. Solo shipped with single-button take-off, GPS position hold, a pause function to hover in place, and an automated "Cable Cam" mode for repeatable two-point camera moves controlled from a companion smartphone app.

Use cases

Solo was marketed for consumer and semi-professional aerial photography and videography, offering GoPro shutter control and flight-path automation aimed at users who wanted repeatable camera moves without manually flying every shot.

Frequently asked questions

When was the 3DR Solo released?

3D Robotics announced Solo in April 2015 and began U.S. sales the following month.

How long could the 3DR Solo fly?

An early review reported flight times of about 16 to 20 minutes on the stock battery.

Does the 3DR Solo have a built-in camera?

No — it was designed to carry a customer-supplied GoPro camera on an optional gimbal accessory.

Why was the 3DR Solo discontinued?

3D Robotics exited consumer drone-hardware manufacturing in March 2016 amid intense competition from other drone makers, ending Solo's production.

How much did the 3DR Solo cost?

It launched at 999.95 US dollars for the drone alone, later discounted to 799.95 US dollars before production ended.

Who made the 3DR Solo?

It was made by 3D Robotics, a U.S. drone manufacturer that later moved into enterprise drone software.