---
title: "This $350 Leashed Drone Might Be the Most Portable Quadcopter Yet"
description: "Fotokite's Phi is a leashed drone that pairs with a GoPro, and can record whatever you're doing from between 1 ft and 26 feet away."
date: "2015-08-18"
modified: "2015-08-18"
authors:
  - name: "Ethan Fox"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/foxman"
url: "https://futurism.com/this-350-leashed-drone-might-be-the-most-portable-quadcopter-yet"
categories:
  - "Drones"
  - "Future Society"
  - "Robotics"
  - "Robots and Machines"
---

# This $350 Leashed Drone Might Be the Most Portable Quadcopter Yet

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/fotokite-phi.gif?quality=85>)

- The drone is currently available for pre-order on Indiegogo for $349. It's meant to be used at low-altitudes in crowded areas for applications like citizen journalism. Unfortunately, it's only got a 15 minute battery life so far.
- One of its coolest features is the entire drone folds up into a tube that is a lot easier to carry than a quadcopter -- no padded briefcase needed here. That's what you're seeing in the GIF up top. However, the Phi doesn't have a camera. You'll need to bring your own GoPro.
- The Fotokite doesn't need a pilot -- it automatically hovers near its user, who is holding its leash. The leash handle has a few controls, which can send the Phi higher or lower, or turn it around, although you do have less control than you would with a two-joystick controller. The leash can also be used as a power and data cord.