POD: A Smartphone That Flies

TL;DR

POD is a novel flying smartphone prototype that enables hands-free, eyes-up mobile computing, combining smartphone capabilities with flight to improve user interaction.

Contribution

This paper introduces the design and development of POD, a flying smartphone, highlighting its technical challenges and early solutions for integrating mobile computing with flight.

Findings

Prototype successfully demonstrates flight capabilities.

Addresses key technical challenges in integrating smartphone tech with flight.

Early results show potential for hands-free mobile interaction.

Abstract

We present POD, a smartphone that flies, as a new way to achieve hands-free, eyes-up mobile computing. Unlike existing drone-carried user interfaces, POD features a smartphone-sized display and the computing and sensing power of a modern smartphone. We share our experience in building a prototype of POD, discuss the technical challenges facing it, and describe early results toward addressing them.