Whether it's the urge to prepare for an impending zombie apocalypse or just a burning desire to get a bird's eye view of your backyard, the need for a personal fleet of unmanned surveillance drones has never been clearer.
But with most of these devices focusing on patrolling the skies, what -- one might very well ask -- can be done to protect our homesteads should the threat come by sea?
Enter New England-based Aquabotix Technology Corporation and its newly released underwater mini-vessel, the HydroView.
Controlled wirelessly (well, almost) via an iOS device or laptop, the HydroView submersible can dive 150 feet underwater at speeds of up to five knots while transmitting live feedback in full 1080p HD video, according to the Aquabotix press release.
Although the company touts the bot as a "wireless iPad-controlled underwater vehicle," fact enthusiasts might be quick to point out the "wireless" connection is actually capable only between the iPad and the HydroView's "top-side box," which is then connected to the craft by a cable tether.
The vehicle comes standard with three-hour battery life and 75-foot cable, but buyers also have the option of purchasing "fully customizable cable lengths for added range."
No word from the company on what a cable upgrade may cost, but with the HydroView setup costing nearly $4,000, it's likely to be a nominal upgrade in the grand scheme of owning a personal submersible.
Of course, while an HD video feed could certainly help mariners inspect their boat hulls, search for lost objects or check out local sea life, nothing quite compares to being in the driver's seat. So for those who need a truly up-close look, Engadget notes that an upgrade to the Rinspeed sQuba submersible car might be in order.
Sadly, TG Daily reports Aquabotix doesn't have plans to produce augmented reality gaming applications for the HydroView, unlike the airborne AR Drone, which lets users blast space invaders programmed to virtually violate their living room no-fly zone.
Watch a prototype HydroView in action in the video below: