The CyPhy LVL 1 was a consumer six-rotor camera drone announced via Kickstarter in 2015, using a patented geometry to fly level without tilting and an 8 MP/1080p camera without a gimbal, controlled by a 'Swipe-to-Fly' app. The crowdfunding campaign ultimately did not deliver and backers were refunded.
| Country | USA |
|---|---|
| Subcategory | Multirotor |
| Price | USD ~600+ (planned) |
| Subtype | Consumer hexacopter camera drone |
| Role | Consumer aerial photography |
| Classification | Consumer camera hexacopter |
| Mission | Aerial photography, Recreation |
| Datalink | Wi-Fi (~200 m), mobile app |
| MTOW (kg) | 0.9 |
| Frame type | Hexacopter |
| Propulsion | Battery-electric (6 rotors) |
| Range (km) | 0.2 |
| Combat-proven | No |
| Export status | Consumer (never released) |
| Launch method | Vertical takeoff |
| Autonomy level | App-controlled with level-flight stabilization |
| Endurance (min) | 20 |
| Recovery method | Vertical landing |
| Year introduced | 2015 |
| Max speed (km/h) | 48 |
| Standard sensors | 8 MP / 1080p camera, GPS, Geofencing |
| Production status | Cancelled (Kickstarter refunded) |
| Airframe / lift type | Multirotor – hex |
| Control / autonomy level | RC line-of-sight – VLOS |
| Domain | Aerial (UAV/UAS) |
| Mission / use case – civil | Consumer / recreational, Photography / film |
| Origin / supply chain | COTS (DJI, Autel, Skydio) |
| Propulsion | Electric (LiPo / Li-ion) |
| Range / endurance | Very close range (<5 km, <1 hr) |
| Signature / detectability | RCS – nano/micro (<0.01 m²), RF-emitting |
| Speed regime | Low (<50 km/h) |
| Threat vector | Nuisance / negligent (airspace incursion) |
| Weight / class | Class I – Micro (<2 kg), FAA <25 kg (Part 107) |