Happy Monday, dronies. There’s a lot going out there in the world right now, but here’s a heartwarming story about yet another #DronesForGood use case that I had to share. It’s all about FPV drone therapy.
This therapeutic tech use case relies on Antigravity’s A1 360° FPV drone. When the unconventional drone launched last year, I wondered what the use case was for its integrated goggles that let you relive flights, as captured through the drone’s 360° cameras.
But David Parker, founder of WishPlay — a humanitarian organization using VR for therapeutic purposes— found one great answer. WishPlay launched in 2017 with early explorations using mobile phones and niche tech like Google Cardboard, and has grown to use untethered headsets including Google Daydream and Samsung Gear. Given his roughly decade of experience working with hospitalized children who can’t leave their beds, he knew all too well of their wish to fly, escape and feel free. Enter FPV drone therapy.
Since the A1’s launch, Parker has been using his Antigravity A1 drone for FPV drone therapy, bringing immersive “flight” experiences to hospital patients, including children at Emily’s House (a hospice and respite center for kids in Toronto) and adults with limited mobility.
- Buy the Antigravity A1 drone now directly from Antigravity.
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How Parker uses drones for good
Parker brings his A1 drone to patients and lets them experience flying from that exact spot.
“Previously, I relied on existing 360 YouTube videos of skydiving or wingsuit flying,” Parker said. “Now I can go directly to where the patient is and let them experience flying from their own location and perspective.”
The A1’s unique point and shoot controller is intuitive enough that patients with sufficient dexterity can fly the drone themselves, making the experience far more immersive than passively watching pre-recorded footage.
And here’s how A1’s other unique features become particularly valuable for this application:
For people who can’t operate the controller: Parker uses the A1’s Sky Path feature to pre-fly a safe route, then simply places the goggles on the patient and presses play. The drone autonomously follows the exact same path, removing any risk of collision while still delivering the full flight experience.
For people who can’t wear goggles: Parker records a 360° video from their location that they can watch on a tablet held in front of them, still providing an immersive perspective even without the full VR setup.
For people wanting to rewatch and reflect: This is where the A1’s design really shines for therapeutic use. The drone captures full 360° footage that can be replayed through the goggles, allowing patients to relive the flight from any angle and at any time.
What’s next for this #DronesForGood use case
Parker said he is in discussions with Emily’s House to start a formal pilot program, with plans to expand into other hospitals where he’s volunteered or worked, including SickKids, Mount Sinai Health, and Ottawa Hospice in Canada.
His long-term goal is ambitious but achievable: develop a set of self-guided tutorials so any hospital or healthcare facility could implement this program on their own, without needing specialized VR expertise.
He’s also working on a more expansive experience model: using the drone flight as the opening of a curated playlist of 360° videos, so patients and their caregivers feel like they’re in another destination.
I’ve covered drone technology for over a decade, and I’ve seen FPV drones used for everything from cinematic productions to racing to military applications. This #DronesForGood use case around FPV drone therapy warms my heart.
This collaboration between Antigravity, Insta360, and WishPlay represents exactly the kind of creative application of drone technology that doesn’t make headlines in major news outlets, but it genuinely matters.
At a time where lawmakers want to ban drones made in China, it’s important to remember what the recreational drone industry really is all about. And if you work in healthcare, VR therapy, or pediatric care and want to learn more about WishPlay’s program or FPV drone therapy in general, reach out to David Parker through WishPlay’s website.
- Buy the Antigravity A1 drone now directly from Antigravity.
- Buy the Antigravity A1 drone now from Amazon.
- Buy the Antigravity A1 drone now from B&H Photo.
- Buy the Antigravity A1 drone now from Drone Nerds.
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