Keep one hand free with the Knuckles-5 drone controller
Keep one hand free when flying your drone by using this new Knuckles-5 remote controller. As we all know most remote controllers require the use of both hands, and while that may be the best way to fly a drone, it may not always be the most convenient way. This is what Knuckles-5 founder and CEO, Kostiantyn Borysov thought as he set out to create a novel design that allows you to control your drone with only one hand.
Keep one hand free with the Knuckles-5 drone controller
The Knuckles-5 has been designed by “an international team of specialists from various fields related to the Drone Industry,” and it replaces the two sticks with two trackballs. One trackball is manipulated by your index finger and the second one is moved with your thumb.
Knuckles-5 founder and CEO, Kostiantyn Borysov explains:
“Each [trackball] controls the drone along two axes of movement. Another two axes are controlled by a thumb-activated mini-joystick, while a further two are controlled by an IMU (inertial measurement unit) that detects the direction in which the controller is being tilted. It all adds up to control over eight axes of movement. A small LCD screen on top of the device displays drone data such as battery charge level.
Four programmable buttons and three additional buttons allow you to even further customize your controller. In total, you can control the movement of your drone along 19 different axes, or access up to 40 button functions. The two trackballs function as buttons as well. It really is a smart piece of drone technology it seems.
“Having worked in this field for about seven years, I realized that numerous models of drone controllers do not fully utilize the abilities of the human hand,” says Borysov. “Our team is developing Knuckles-5 as an alternative to a classic two-handed remote controller. Its purpose is to overcome the disadvantages of a two-handed controller and to offer more possibilities and freedom to its users.”
The Knuckles-5 controller should be available as of the end of next year, priced at about US$250 to $300. Be sure to see the video below for more information. The official debut is next month at CES 2021.
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