GoPro to Launch Consumer Drones in 2015?

GoPro, the company well known for its little video cameras used by filmmakers and people keen on extreme sports worldwide, has exciting plans on expanding its business.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, the company has announced its plans to launch commercial drones late in 2015.

GoPro is currently developing multirotor personal drones that will cost approximately between 500 and 1,000 dollars and that will have the potential to revolutionize the market of aerial photography. The company will equip the drones with high-definition cameras that allow for quality footage.

While the new GoPro announcement is certainly going to reshape the industry of commercial drones, the current players on the market should also be taken in consideration.

GoPro’s Competition

A few influential companies are already producing commercial unmanned vehicles and are using GoPro’s action cameras.

What makes GoPro’s cameras unmatched in the business of commercial flying vehicles is the fact that they are lightweight.

The small size and weight of the cameras allows for easy mounting on the drones.

The Chinese company DJI that currently earns the highest revenues among the drone makers, for example, already takes advantage of the GoPro’s video systems. The company manufactures quadracopters that have a mount for a GoPro camera. The firm, however, has recently started to use integrated DJI cameras.

Apart from DJI, GoPro is going to have other strong competitors as well. In 2012, Wired magazine editor-in-chief Chris Anderson wrote about the great potential of commercial drones. After he retired from the media, Anderson established his own company 3D Robotics. The firm has since then become one of the major drone makers and has also used the GoPro technology.

In addition to DJI and 3D Robotics, Parrot is also a prospering  developer that differentiates itself from other companies by producing affordable 300-dollar aerial vehicles.

The Strengths of GoPro’s Project

GoPro will undoubtedly face competition upon entering the field of drone manufacturing but the company has strengths that should not be underestimated.

It possesses a large and loyal customer base of sports fans and stunt performers that would probably be tempted to purchase their first drone from them.

The Wall Street Journal report does not specify whether GoPro is planning to develop new products specifically adjusted for drones or use its existing cameras. Introducing new cameras, especially for unmanned aircraft, might prove to be a successful move in towards GoPro’s goal of increasing customer interest.

The company has been creating a lot of buzz since the announcement of its plans to start manufacturing drones. They have also been making efforts to create a large media network by relying on its solid customer base.

The move towards drone manufacturing makes a lot of sense since many of GoPro’s cameras are already being used for aerial photography and filming.

The future will ultimately tell whether GoPro is going to succeed in its new venture but chances are high that the drone industry will soon welcome another influential player.