4K without the flight: This jumping robot could replace your drone

Thanks in part to affordable drones, it’s now quite easy to take impressive shots of yourself even without the help of another person and while in motion. The Beni takes a different approach: It’s a ground-based robot with two wheels that can follow the user. Compared to a camera drone, we believe this offers one major advantage in particular: The use of drones is sometimes very heavily restricted, for example near airports, helicopter landing pads (and thus many hospitals), and in nature reserves. Nevertheless, the legal situation surrounding the operation of robots such as Beni in Germany remains highly complex (PDF), to say the least. We strongly advise against using it in public traffic areas.

According to the manufacturer, the Beni can also record 4K video at 30 frames per second, not only to its 32-gigabyte internal memory but also to a microSD memory card. The system, which weighs 3.86 lbs (1.75 kg), comes with a swivel camera. This is designed to allow for side-view shots of moving people or pets. It is advertised as having a maximum speed of 17.9 mph, or 28.8 km/h. Since the device is not extremely light and therefore generates a certain amount of kinetic energy at high speeds, users should exercise caution when operating it. There is a potential risk to bystanders. The robot is designed to avoid obstacles and right itself, and it also supports control via a joystick. According to the manufacturer, the Beni can easily jump over obstacles 10 inch (25.4 centimeters) high. As part of the crowdfunding campaign—which carries a considerable financial risk—the robot is currently priced at a minimum of $549, or about 477 euros. Shipping costs are additional.