MetaFly is a flying robot bug that can flit, glide, and even crash with style

If you’re fed up with hurling quadcopter-style drones into the air, MetaFly (€69) might be just the thing to bring back your passion for terrorising local airspace with a tiny gadget. Swapping rotors for wings, MetaFly looks like a freaky mash-up of robot bird and insect, and is heavily inspired by real-life equivalents. This means it can manoeuvre within claustrophobic indoor spaces, or soar and glide outdoors. MetaFly’s range is an impressive 100m, and although you only get eight minutes of flight time, it only takes 12 minutes to charge the thing for another go. And should your ten thumbs cause your winged wonder to smack into a tree – or a miffed office colleague – the elasticated components of its absurdly lightweight frame (just 10g) will ensure no damage is done.

Craig Grannell Contributor

About

I’m a regular contributor to Stuff magazine and Stuff.tv, covering apps, games, Apple kit, Android, Lego, retro gaming and other interesting oddities. I also pen opinion pieces when the editor lets me, getting all serious about accessibility and predicting when sentient AI smart cookware will take over the world, in a terrifying mix of Bake Off and Terminator.

Areas of expertise

Mobile apps and games, Macs, iOS and tvOS devices, Android, retro games, crowdfunding, design, how to fight off an enraged smart saucepan with a massive stick.