World’s first extreme sports drone draws global attention

The world's first auto-follow action sports drone AirDog has raised more than 500,000 US dollars (367,110 euros) on the crowd-funding platform Kickstarter with up to 600 backers, Nozare.lv reports.

AirDog, which will be manufactured at the Latvian electronics manufacturing company Hanzas Elektronika, is a drone that has the capability to follow surfers, skaters or BMX'rs as they pull off tricks.

Developers have said that if the project raised more than 200,000 US dollars, it would offer extra features. If donations reached 300,000 US dollars, the company would provide optional colors for the drone, and if 500,000 US dollars - the possibility to connect a GoPro video camera to the drone's lithium polymer battery.

The project was posted on Kickstarter on June 16, with the goal to amass 200,000 US dollars in 40 days. Currently, AirDog has 589 backers, of which 371 have pre-ordered the drone, but 155 people have shown their support by donating 10 or more dollars to the project.