Just two months after announcing the Airpeak in a vague press release and equally mysterious video, Sony has shown off its new drone in a virtual CES 2021 presentation. The Airpeak supports Sony's Alpha series of mirrorless cameras and uses AI to keep images steady as it flies through the sky. Sony's drone is designed for "adventurous creators," according to company president and CEO Kenichiro Yoshida. It has four rotors, two landing arms that lift with takeoff, and it all looks mighty sleek in action. The Airpeak will launch in the spring at an undisclosed price point.

Sony's latest division, Airpeak, is described as being "in the field of AI robotics" and will focus on next-generation drones. Despite incidents of reckless flying, drones unlock huge opportunities. We regularly see beautiful photography and videography shot using drones--but, of course, they can do so much more. Sony has built a stellar reputation in media capture. The company builds great cameras – both for itself and sensors it supplies to other manufacturers (like its new IMX686) – and its software like Vegas Pro is the defacto choice for many creative professionals.

Sony wants a bigger piece of the drone market. Today, the Japanese giant unveiled a project called Airpeak, which will "support the creativity of video creators to the fullest extent possible," according to a cryptic press release. That makes it sound like Sony wants to take on consumer-focused drone makers such as DJI, Parrot and Skydio. Which makes a lot of sense, given Sony's expertise in the compact and full-frame mirrorless camera markets. If you're a vlogger or independent filmmaker that already uses Sony gear, you might be tempted by a drone with similar technology.