Just like the first drone in our line up, the ThorRobotics underwater drone is on Amazon. Unlike the first one, however, this one is designed to be controlled via a hardwired connection rather than wirelessly. While this does decrease the convenience and ease of use factor, it substantially improves the stability and bandwidth of the connection between user and drone. This enables real-time video and precise control no matter how deep you go.
This drone comes with a 30-meter cable to match its maximum depth, which is about 100 feet. The cable allows the user to have precise control over the unit as it dives, and continue to maintain a camera feed even when under the water, something the BIKI couldn’t do with its wireless connection. The cable runs from the drone to the included control center that comes in a durable case and boasts both a built-in monitor and controls.
This submarine features four propellers allowing it to chug along at about 1.8 miles per hour with a battery life of about 2 hours. There is no built-in camera, however, and a GoPro must be mounted inside the unit in order to record videos. This means that the specs of the camera depend on what kind of GoPro you end up buying.
The ThorRobotics underwater drone is especially sturdy and comes in at a somewhat bulky 9 1/2 pounds. The chassis also sports a pair of powerful 300-lumen headlights to illuminate the underwater scenery.
Pros
- Very sturdy steel construction
- Reasonably maneuverable with 4 strong propellers
Cons
- Camera not included
- Pretty heavy to lug around with lots of side equipment needed
- Cable restricts range
