What looks like a playful little robot is actually a high-tech roving camera designed to follow your adventures, pets, and everyday moments with remarkable agility and vibrant 4K footage.
- Captures 4K HDR video at 30fps with obstacle avoidance
- Can jump 10 inches, climb stairs, and run up to 18 mph
- Remote control via app and wrist-worn joystick
What happened
Mondo Robotics, with a team experienced from DJI, has created Beni, a compact wheeled robot that doubles as an action camera. Designed to film your movements and surroundings with ease, Beni can follow a person or pet, controlled remotely either through a mobile app or a wearable joystick. It features a swappable battery that provides up to an hour and a half of continuous recording and stores footage on a 32 GB memory card.
Beyond just mobility, Beni impresses with its ability to leap up to 10 inches in the air, climb stairs, and reach speeds close to 18 mph. It uses dual wide-angle obstacle-avoidance cameras to navigate autonomously and can recover itself after minor collisions or falls. These unique capabilities offer fresh vantage points for capturing everyday action.
Why it feels good
There's something delightful about a small robot companion that not only keeps up with your activities but does so with expressive personality—Beni's eyes light up with emotion and it even has its own voice. This adds a warm, playful dimension to what might otherwise be a purely functional gadget, making filming a more engaging experience.
Moreover, Beni allows users to capture perspectives that traditional handheld cameras or drones can't easily replicate, introducing new creative possibilities. Its clever design and multi-terrain agility bring a touch of innovation to personal videography, making it exciting for tech enthusiasts and casual users alike.
What to enjoy or watch next
Beni is currently crowdfunding on Kickstarter for $549, a discount from its expected retail price of $799. Early supporters have propelled the campaign to nearly $1.5 million with over 2,200 backers. Planned shipping is in October, with initial deliveries to countries including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and parts of Europe, subject to a $10 delivery fee.
Future developments promise even more features, such as accessory support, SIM card-based remote control, and gamepad operation with first-person view glasses. If you enjoy capturing dynamic footage in a novel way, keeping an eye on Beni's journey and eventual release could add a fun new dimension to your creative toolkit.