Vivo is developing a smartphone with a flying camera. That sounds futuristic with an odd undertone. In this situation, the camera will detach from the phone and float in the air, allowing users to take images from various perspectives.
According to reports, Vivo has filed a patent for a smartphone with a built-in flying camera. The camera will be able to detach from the smartphone and soar in the air, allowing users to capture artistic images. The patent, titled ‘Electronic device’ for Vivo Mobile Communication, was filed with the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) in December 2020.
What do we know ?
LetsGoDigital was the first to notice Vivo’s patent. A drawing included in the filing depicts a small compartment on the cellphone’s top edge where the detachable camera may be slid in and out. This camera includes four rotors to get it up in the air, a battery compartment for solo flying, and a dual camera system, with one sensor recording film above and the other below.
The camera system inside the smartphone, as well as the mounting bracket, can fall out fully from the housing, according to the patent.
Multiple infrared sensors are installed on the camera module’s edges to calculate the distance to other objects and avoid collisions. The flying camera can be operated using the smartphone to which it is connected, and it is likely to enable air gestures as well, according to the patent.
While the patent shows two cameras attached to the module in the sketch, it also states that a third and fourth camera can be added. Of course, this is only a patent, and there’s no guarantee that such a phone will be released in the future.
In truth, with today’s technology, the feasibility of such an idea is questionable. There are certain obvious challenges that Vivo must overcome, such as the fact that the lightweight and small flying camera may be more susceptible to wind turbulence, resulting in grainy and unstable footage. Vivo may integrate a stabilizing gimbal mechanism into the cameras to reduce shaky footage, although the effect would likely be minor.
For copyright concerns, most OEMs submit patents well ahead of their planned launch dates. Some patents are worthless, and this one may follow suit. Even if it does become a reality, be prepared to wait a long time.
We don’t know when Vivo’s patent will be turned into a product. It’s only a patent, after all. This means there’s no certainty that a device like this will be released in the future. Vivo must solve a number of challenges, including making it sufficiently lightweight and less susceptible to wind turbulence. Obtaining the patent before someone else does is always a good idea.
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