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How Drone Manufacturers Are Making Flights Safer

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This week DJI announced that starting in January 2020, all of the company’s new drones weighing over 250 grams will come with AirSense – a tool enabled by an ADS-B receiver – as standard.

In practice, that means that DJI pilots will be alerted to nearby manned aircraft, well ahead of time and long before they could hope to spot or hear a plane or helicopter coming.

It’s a big step and a positive commitment from DJI. The company has taken several steps to ensure safety is a priority in the drone business.

Here are a few technologies developed by manufacturers that are making the skies safer as drone technology aims for mass adoption.

AirSense

As mentioned above, AirSense is one of the solutions DJI has brought to market to prevent drones and manned aircraft from coming into contact.

There have been endless stories of ‘near-misses’ across the media. Whether they are all reliable is another matter. What we know for sure is that the concern is very real and the consequences could be severe indeed. 

Currently, AirSense is limited to a number of DJI’s enterprise drones, including the Mavic 2 Enterprise.  The latest announcement from DJI will set a new standard by putting professional-grade aviation safety technology in drones available to everyone.

AirSense can detect airplanes and helicopters while they are still miles away.  The system displays their locations on the screen of the pilot’s remote controller.

In theory, this should give drone pilots plenty of time to land their drone or adjust their position to avoid an encounter with any incoming aircraft.

Obstacle avoidance

It’s not only manned aircraft that drones could potentially crash into. Most pilots will, at one point or another, have watched in horror as a slight mistake sent their drone plowing into tree/building/insert noun here.

Fortunately, that kind of scenario is becoming increasingly rare thanks to obstacle avoidance technology.

Pioneered by the likes of DJI and Yuneec and since taken to new heights by Skydio, the ability to sense and avoid obstacles is vital – whether you are an enthusiast flying in the park or an industrial inspection crew carrying out maintenance.

This technology is rooted in computer vision.  And we are already seeing serious advances in that department, beyond the simple ability to stop a drone short of an obstacle.

Skydio’s system can actively weave around obstacles and plot a path that takes them into account, for example.

More recently, researchers have been looking at ways to use Event Cameras to enable drones to avoid moving obstacles: dynamic obstacle avoidance. The team from Zurich, Switzerland,  has developed a drone that uses a camera and an onboard Visual-Inertial Odometry system to see an incoming ball and dodge out of the way.

It’s the obvious next step from systems like those we have seen from DJI and Skydio – which are focused on avoiding collisions with static obstacles.

Geofencing

AirSense and obstacle avoidance are focused on avoiding manned aircraft and static obstacles respectively.

But what systems are in place to prevent drone pilots – accidentally or otherwise – flying where they shouldn’t?

The answer is geofencing, and most major manufacturers have it built into their drones.

Geofencing draws an invisible barrier around certain GPS coordinates, whether they refer to an airport, a prison or a sporting venue. Drones with geofencing enabled cannot fly there without gaining approval from local regulators and/or the manufacturer in question.

Geofencing is also used to enforce altitude limits, and can also be customized by the user and used as a training aid.

For example, if you’re taking a new Parrot drone out for a spin, you might want to set a custom geofence around you at an altitude of 100ft and a range of 200ft – just while you get used to the controls.

You can expand it as you grow more confident.

Return to home

One issue that plagued early adopters of drone technology was the dreaded flyaway: a loss of signal or battery would cause your drone to land in a far-flung location or simply disappear.

Now, the vast majority of drones on the market have a built-in return to home function. This usually activates at the touch of a button or in the case of a low battery warning.

Manufacturers know how infuriating it is to spend a small fortune on a drone only for it to fly away of its own accord. They also know how dangerous an out-of-control drone can be. For that reason, return to home has become a standard feature in the industry and no doubt saved many drone pilots from embarrassment.

4 Misconceptions About Drone Technology

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From the outside, the world of flying robots can seem complex, daunting and, in some cases, totally unnecessary.

But there’s more to this business than meets the eye, particularly if you’ve only previously come across drones because media outlets are blaming them for airport disruption.

Read on for our top four misconceptions about drone technology.

They are just toys

To start with, yes. Parrot’s original AR Drone was the first of its kind and was solely designed for fun.

But now, almost a decade later, things have come a long, long way.

For starters, all of the latest drones have a degree of altitude stability, intuitive controls and all sorts of safety features. These are advanced machines.

Safety features usually include return to home functions and predetermined limits on speed and altitude. Many of DJI’s drones can also sense and avoid obstacles.

If you bought a drone between 2011 and 2015, flyaways were common. Now they are an exception to the rule and a new standard for reliability has been established.

Aerial cameras have also come a long way. DJI’s acquisition of camera specialists Hasselblad was an inflexion point as drone manufacturers started incorporating supremely sophisticated (and tiny) cameras into their hardware. Once the flight was mastered, the payloads were focused on more.

Advances in digital stabilization and gimbal technology have also played a major part in moving drones on from toys to legitimate professional tools.

All sorts of organizations are now using off-the-shelf drone technology on a regular basis, from industrial inspections to agriculture to search and rescue.

In fact, drones are now helping to save lives on a daily basis and supporting first responders around the world.

They are too complicated for me to fly

Again, at one point this may well have been the case. But in recent years drones have become legitimate mass-market products as manufacturers have sought to cater to photography and adventure enthusiasts by making them as easy to fly as possible.

And make no mistake: they are easy to fly. Most drones now come with advanced autonomous flight modes that effectively remove the need for a pilot completely – depending on your location of course.

But even before those modes are engaged, all decent quadcopters on the market today will simply hover in place should you let go of the controls.

Piloting will be intuitive for anyone who has used a games console before. For those who haven’t, getting to grips with the remote control will take a bit of practice.

The bottom line is that drones are getting easier to fly and more capable of operating with autonomy with every iteration and new product release. You needn’t be daunted by the prospect of owning one of taking one for a spin!

They are causing chaos at airports

There have been several incidents recently involving drone sightings and major international airports around the world.

Without a doubt, the most high-profile was at London Gatwick in the lead up to Christmas 2018.

We say these incidents have involved ‘drone sightings’ because that’s exactly what they are. We are yet to see evidence that reckless drone pilots were involved or any details that prove the presence of a drone at these recent events.

In the past, birds, helicopters, bats and plastic bags have been mistaken for a rogue drone, so you can understand our hesitation to say what happened for sure. Particularly as the officials at Gatwick still seem no closer to understanding.

Having said that, footage does exist of reckless drone flights near airports and it is a problem. We still don’t fully understand the risks that drones pose to larger passenger jets but the science on that is evolving.

One thing we do know for sure: the vast, vast majority of drone pilots would never dream of flying in such an irresponsible manner.

You can read more on this topic here: 5 Times It Wasn’t A Drone.

If you can see one, it’s spying on you

Again, it’s possible that you do have a nefarious drone pilot neighbor. But it’s very, very unlikely.

The vast majority of drone pilots are hobbyists or professionals, far more interested in capturing landscapes and inspecting infrastructure than getting a look at you or your property.

If you do see one flying near your home, the chances are the pilot is not even looking at you.

This is because of another misunderstanding behind this misconception: off-the-shelf drones are not actually useful or effective tools for spying.

Sure, a neighbor can fly over your back yard and see more than they would peeping through their window, but the majority of drone cameras are much better suited to capturing sweeping vistas at wide angles than zooming in on your secrets.

And, in case you haven’t noticed, drones aren’t the most subtle of spying tools. You can hear the high-pitched whine from a mile away.

All of this adds up to a simple and much less exciting conclusion when you next see a drone: its pilot is probably filming a sunset or inspecting a roof. 

Those are our 4 common drone misconceptions. We firmly believe that the technology has the power to do enormous good in the world, from supporting business operations to saving lives. Let us know if there are any unjust misconceptions that we’ve missed…

Why Do Drones Get Such Bad Press?

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Scroll through Google News having searched for ‘Drone’ on any given day, and you’ll be faced with a list of articles from around the world. Drones are making headlines everywhere but, more often than not, it’s for all the wrong reasons.

Whether it’s another near miss with a manned aircraft, a case of voyeurism or a foiled prison drone delivery plot, negative stories involving the technology are much more common than positive ones.

So why is it that drones get such bad press? Why are stories in the media so overwhelmingly negative when we know for a fact that drones are saving lives around the world and having a significant impact across a range of industries?

They tap into our futuristic fears

One major reason is that they tap into the public’s preconceptions. Fear sells and generates clicks, so if you can attach negative connotations like danger and ‘Big Brother’to a certain technology, any story that involves it is going to get attention.

But delving deeper, you can see why drones are an easy target for that kind of scrutiny. They don’t sound very nice. They don’t look very appealing. And worst of all, they buzz around seemingly with a mind of their own, like overgrown robotic mosquitoes.

So with that in mind you can understand the negative predisposition people feel towards the technology.

Which is where negative media becomes self-perpetuating. The more people hear about the dangers drones pose, the recklessness with which they are used and the criminal situations they are involved with, the less likely the worse the situation gets.

It’s a vicious circle.

Anonymity

One of the major issues people have with drone technology is the same fear that applies to self-driving cars and autonomous systems in general. There is a lack of trust. Without an obvious pilot in the cockpit (which would be impractical to say the least with a drone) there is a lack of accountability. Who is controlling that thing and how?

Which means many people’s first impression of a drone is seeing one flying nearby, but not having any idea who is controlling it.

With anonymity comes concern. If it doesn’t have an obvious pilot then it must be dangerous. It’s human nature to be suspicious of something when you can’t understand its motives, after all. Unless the pilot is present and close enough to let you know what’s going on, that same factor is going to apply to most drone flights.

Fear of the unknown

On the one hand, the rise of drones has given us a glimpse into a robot dystopia, where autonomous vehicles buzz around the skies, monitor us from above and generally make our lives a misery.

But for most people, the fear and suspicion of drone technology stem from something much more innate: the unknown.

The general public isn’t particularly well-informed on the benefits of drone technology, on what they are capable of and on what they definitely aren’t capable of.

Are they dangerous? Are they spying on me? How reliable are they? Are they reading my pin code from afar? Are they stalking me? These are all legitimate questions if you’re not aware of what the technology is being used for.

The solution is obviously a case of education, of highlighting the many positive use cases. The best way for this to happen is for pilots on the ground to make themselves known and be open about what they are doing. Fear and doubt will melt away as soon as the reason for flight is explained.

They put power in anybody’s hands

The final reason that drones get bad press is because they are powerful, affordable and far beyond anything that’s come before in terms of capability.

This means that, unfortunately, they can easily be harnessed for malicious purposes and criminality. Already we’ve seen contraband smuggled into prisons using drones, weaponized models used on the battlefield, and suspected deliberate interference at major airports.

This is scary. It’s also likely to get worse and more sophisticated in the future. But that doesn’t mean that the current levels of negative publicity are justified.

It’s clear that the industry as a whole needs a huge PR effort, particularly at a time when regulations are shifting and legislators risk being swayed more by public opinion than by evidence.

It’s unlikely that the PR the industry needs will come through media channels, who will always skew towards the negative. So really it’s down to the community to speak directly to people who do raise concerns.

And, of course, the many companies doing remarkable work with drones. Keep doing what you’re doing, folks.

5 Things You Can Do To Become A Better Drone Pilot

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In this industry, we all start out as beginners. Even if you’ve moved beyond hobby flights at the weekend to flying drones as part of your 9 to 5, this business doesn’t stand still for long enough for anyone to properly catch up.

So what can you do to keep improving as a drone pilot? What steps can you take to get better at flying your drone and hone all the skills you need on the side to be a success?

We’ve put together a few things that all drone pilots should consider if they want to take things to the next level.

Become your own video editor

Plenty of drone pilots and professional flyers outsource their content editing or don’t do any at all. After a long shoot, the last thing most of us want to do is painstakingly go through footage to create the final product we are looking for.

Here’s a great tutorial to show you an example of what’s available for free. 

It’s tempting to hire an editor familiar with the intricacies of the required software. But if you don’t know how already, perhaps 2019 could be the year that you learn how to edit media for yourself?

It’s not all about cutting videos down to size and organizing a montage. Depending on your camera settings and the conditions, all kinds of post-production effects might be needed to bring the best out of your shots, including color correction.

A great place to start is with Adobe Premiere Pro. The software is relatively easy to use, and there is plenty of content out there in the form of videos and guides to support your efforts. The initial trial is free, so you’ve got nothing to lose.

Of course, one of the best ways to minimize the work you have to do in post-production is to get a grip on your camera settings and set up shots perfectly before you hit record.

Which brings us to…

Get a grip on your camera settings

The cameras on many decent drones, incuding those from popular manufacturer DJI, offer solid image quality and near-instant results. Which is why it’s tempting not to worry too much about the settings, send up your drone and hit record.

But if you’re a perfectionist and want to make your media look as professional as possible, you need to get a grip on your camera settings and understand all the possibilities in detail.

This means understanding the basic elements of photography: shutter speed, aperture, ISO and the rest.

These two blogs from DJI are a great place to start:

Fly in challenging conditions

Baptism of fire, jumping in at the deep end… both idioms are all about learning from challenging experiences and improving as a result. With flying a drone it’s no different.

One way to become a better drone pilot and a more effective aerial photographer is to practice. But the conditions are important. Once you’ve mastered the basics, your skills will probably plataeu unless you push yourself and try new things.

So set yourself creative targets, fly at times when the weather isn’t perfect and you’re under pressure to complete your shots quickly. Try out new locations.

That way, when a situation arises that isn’t ideal: low battery, heavy winds, moving subjects – it won’t be the first time you’ve had to adapt on the fly.

Invest in accessories

Being a good drone pilot isn’t just about how comfortable you are behind the controls. It’s also about the quality of your results.

Just as important as perfecting your camera settings and learning the art of post-production is knowing which accessories to use and when.

Some are small but make a big difference to your final product, like Neutral Density Filters. Others are expensive but give you greater control during flight, like DJI’s CrystalSky monitor.

Both will give your footage an edge and provide you with extra creative control when you need it.

Master autonomous modes and flight apps

So much of a drone pilot’s time is spent switching attention between monitor and aircraft. That’s because while the drone and your thumbs are doing most of the hard work, accompanying applications provide technical assistance and are the link between the two.

Learning to navigate your away around flight control apps like DJI Go is an absolute must if you want to make the most of all the flight modes and creative options at your disposal.

Autonomous shots such as Active-Track and Orbit can free your hands and enable you to be a part of the action. On top of that, most drones have preset manoeuvres that capture moments with more of a professional feel than even the most skilled pilots can bring to the table.

Besides autonomous flight modes, there are a bunch of apps out there to help you expand your creative potential and get better quality shots.

These include PolarPro, the app from the popular camera accessory company. The PolarPro app helps you choose the best filter for the conditions and provides the perfect combination of shutter speed, IOS and aperture to bring your shots to life.

You can also get live weather forecasts for your location and alerts for golden hour.

Another popular app with drone pilots and photographers in general is Sun Surveyor.

interactive map screenshot

With the light conditions being so important to the composition of your aerial photos and videos, Sun Surveyor gives you GPS-specific details on the position and movement of the sun so that you can plan flights ahead and nail shots first time around.

2019 Consumer Drone Industry Predictions

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2018 was an interesting year in the consumer drone industry. DJI reinforced its domination at both ends of the market with the Mavic Air and the new Mavic 2 Pro; Parrot launched a solid contender in the shape of ANAFI, despite cutting its workforce after disappointing sales. And, of course, Skydio’s R1 finally hit the market to much acclaim.

So what could 2019 bring? Will we see more of the same? What surprises could be around the corner? Here are a few predictions for the coming year.

2019 consumer drone industry predictions

More barriers to recreational entry?

2019 is the year that regulations will begin to catch up to the advances drone technology has made in a few short years.

Registration for recreational pilots has been an ongoing issue in the US. But in the UK and Australia, registration and safety tests are set to become mandatory for hobbyists. This is part of an effort to increase accountability and improve the general awareness around what drone pilots can and cannot do.

It’s hard to say how these new laws will impact sales and the number of pilots out there. On the one hand, these new rules are another barrier to entry, particularly if they include age restrictions and tar all pilots with the same brush: that their hobby is dangerous, a nuisance and something that needs to be better regulated.

On the other, tighter rules could serve to lessen media hysteria when a drone is involved in an incident. This would put the emphasis on the pilots at fault rather than the technology as a whole, which can only be a good thing.  

However, should unfair new rules be introduced in light of the Gatwick airport fiasco, for example, it would be hard to avoid the feeling that regulators are attempting to appease the public rather than educate them.

After all, existing laws already make dangerous and disruptive behaviour behind the controls illegal. It’s a case of enforcing those measures, something that technologies such as Remote ID could help with.

Drone regulation will continue to be a delicate balancing act. Particularly as the pathway from recreational to professional pilot is so well trodden. Not to mention the money raised through consumer sales supporting the important work of DJI Enterprise, for example.

Smaller and more portable

When the original Mavic Pro entered the market, it was a sign of things to come: A shift toward smaller drones with adequate battery life, small form factors and plenty of built-in technology. Then came the Mavic Air and the Spark. And after, the new Mavic Pro 2.

DJI’s drones could continue to grow more compact as part of a wider trend in which manufacturers increasingly streamline their ranges.

After all, if you can pack a fantastic camera, leading obstacle avoidance technology and portability into the Mavic 2 Pro and Mavic 2 Zoom, why would you choose to create bulkier models for the recreational market?

This could be the reason why we won’t see the long-awaited DJI Phantom 5 in 2019 or any time soon. It’s not immediately clear who it would be for and why it would be preferable – flight time aside – versus the improved Mavic range.

Traditionally the reasons to go for a Phantom have been about power, camera quality and safety features. But the margins between the two have been shrinking as the Mavic range catches up.

The line between professional and consumer drone is going to become increasingly blurred as capabilities are shared throughout both ranges. So expect more of the same in 2019.

Weather-proof consumer drones?

It’s well known that manufacturers such as Apple like to hold back on putting developed technologies into new products and instead iterate at a deliberately steady pace. That philosophy has been a successful part of the hype cycle of smartphones and a major driver in the annual race to grab the latest model.

But drones are expensive and not yet offered as part of long-term monthly contracts. They are also not the kind of thing you want to be replacing every year or 18 months. Which is why the choice from several drone manufacturers to iterate as well as transform has been interesting to watch in recent years.

No doubt the decision is supported by the fact that drones, unlike phones, are yet to reach peak adoption. There are also technical limitations at play, so manufacturers can afford to make steady changes rather than drastic ones.

But maybe 2019 will be the year that we see major progress for recreational pilots in the realms of computer vision, battery life or, as we are predicting today, weather-proofing.

Skydio and, to a lesser extent the new Hover 2 drone, have shown that computer vision can do more than obstacle recognition. So maybe it’s time for DJI and other manufacturers to bring weather-proofing tech traditionally reserved for enterprise drones into the mainstream.

Currently, recreational pilots are grounded in wet conditions, see their battery life suffer in the cold and are restricted by heavy winds. 2018 cemented progress in portability, computer vision and camera technology. Maybe 2019 will show us how all-action and all-weather aerial photography can really be.   

DJI’s stranglehold will tighten

Watching DJI continue to innovate and push out exciting new drones – not to mention a range of other photography equipment and camera tech – is a thrill.

But there’s also a sense that it’s not ideal for the industry. DJI has already cemented its position as the go-to platform provider for recreational and professional pilots. There’s no reason to think that is going to change anytime soon.

And competitors continue to struggle by the wayside. Towards the end of 2018, Parrot announced personnel cuts amid lower sales than expected and a contraction of the consumer market. Yuneec and Autel have fallen away. GoPro is gone. Skydio is still out of the reach of your average Joe, despite recent price cuts.

All of which makes it difficult to imagine anything other than more DJI domination. Luckily the Chinese manufacturer is at the top for a reason: They produce industry-leading products for reasonable prices. But we can’t help but feel that competition would be healthy, so here’s hoping some new companies come to the fore in 2019.

Looking to buy a DJI Drone? Check out the Black Friday Deals Before You Do

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In this age of everything (or nothing) is having a sale all the time,  DJI has just announced it’s black Friday deals today.  While focused on the consumer market and maybe will not overwhelm you with the discounts,  it provides a way to feel better about pulling the trigger on that new drone.  The focus on on drones, handheld products and goggles.

Below is the press release:

 

DJI Introduces Black Friday Promotion
Special Discount Up To $100 Off DJI Drones, Handheld Products And Goggles RE 

November 5, 2018 – DJI, the world leader in civilian drones and aerial imaging technology, will offer discounted prices on several of its drones, handheld products and accessories, as part of its Black Friday promotion. Special pricing will be available on Spark, Spark Fly More Combo, Mavic Air, Mavic Air Fly More Combo, DJI Goggles RE, Osmo Mobile 2 and also the Ryze Tello toy drone and Tello Boost Combo.

For those ready to take a first step into aerial photography or thinking about purchasing their first drone, DJI encourages customers to explore this exciting Black Friday Promotion with $100 USD off on the standalone Mavic Air or the Mavic Air Fly More Combo.

DJI’s Black Friday Promotion also includes DJI Spark, an incredibly small and fun-to-fly mini drone that can be launched from the palm of your hand and controlled with hand gestures. Those looking to capture their inspirations and share their stories on-the-go can take advantage of the $40 USD discount on the Spark Controller Combo or enjoy $90 USD off the Spark Fly More Combo.

Customers looking to capture cinematic footage and videos with their smartphone can take advantage of the discounted Osmo Mobile 2 while those looking to enhance their drone flight experience with First Person View (FPV) Goggles can utilize the special discount on DJI Goggles Racing Edition (RE). DJI’s partner Ryze will also be offering the Tello Boost Combo at an exclusive promotional price of $99 USD.

DJI’s Black Friday Promotion will be available on DJI’s online store and at flagship stores starting November 18th, 12:00 AM (EST), to November 27th, 02:59 AM (EST). Customers can also get additional discounts by participating in a quiz during the Black Friday Promotional period as well as receive daily coupons during the promotion, available for download at the campaign page.

For discounted prices on select products please refer to the chart below.

Promotion Pricing Details 

Model USD
Spark Fly More Combo Original Price $549
 Promotional Price $459
Spark Controller Combo Original Price $399
 Promotional Price $359
Mavic Air Fly More Combo Original Price $999
 Promotional Price $899
Mavic Air Original Price $799
 Promotional Price $699
DJI Goggles RE (Racing Edition) Original Price $549
 Promotional Price $449
Osmo Mobile 2   Original Price $139
 Promotional Price $119
Tello Boost Combo Original Price $149
 Promotional Price $99
Tello Original Price $99
 Promotional Price $79

Check  for pricing in local currency and applicable countries. Above prices are subject to change without prior notice.

Mavic Air – A highly portable camera drone with incredible image quality
Mavic Air is a high performance portable, foldable camera drone equipped with intelligent features ideal for travelers and outdoor enthusiasts who want to capture stunning aerial images on the go. QuickShot modes, SmartCapture and 8 GB of onboard storage make flying Mavic Air fun, easy and exciting. A 1/2.3” sensor and 3-axis stabilizer captures stunning 4K video at 30 fps and 12-megapixel photographs. Mavic Air has a maximum flight time of 21 minutes and can be operated with a remote controller, mobile device or with hand gestures.

Osmo Mobile 2 – A handheld gimbal for the storyteller in all of us  
The Osmo Mobile 2 is a smartphone camera stabilizer that easily captures smooth video with cinematic movement as well as high-definition images and panoramas. DJI’s industry-leading three-axis gimbal technology helps compensate for shake and movement so your video stays steady. A powerful built-in battery system lets you film for up to 15 hours and utilizing the DJI GO app, operators can stream to social platforms like Facebook and YouTube.

Spark – A compact and easy to fly mini drone 
The Spark is an easy-to-use, fun-to-fly mini camera drone that can lift off from the palm of your hand to capture and share special moments on the go. Available in Alpine White, Sky Blue, Meadow Green, Lava Red, and Sunrise Yellow, the Spark is equipped with intelligent features such as QuickShot and ActiveTrack. Additionally, the new ‘Sphere’ mode is capable of capturing 360° immersive photos. Spark’s camera can record up to 1080p HD videos and 12-megapixel photos with a flight time of up to 16 minutes.

The Best of the Rest: Which DJI Alternative Should You Consider?

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By Malek Murison

Depending on who you talk to, Chinese manufacturer DJI has a 60-80% share of the drone hardware market.

And they dominate for a reason: DJI’s drones set the standard in terms of price, capability and ease of use. The company’s shadow over the drone space is self-perpetuating, putting competitors from the early days out of the manufacturing business and giving DJI even more revenue to plough into R&D and marketing.

But a few companies have managed to hang in there, while others are only now coming to the fore.

Here are three worth considering in the run-up to the festive season.

Parrot Anafi

French manufacturer Parrot has been around since consumer drone industry day one. In fact, the company arguably released the first ever consumer camera drone – the AR.Drone – back in 2010.

But since then Parrot has struggled to keep pace with DJI. There’s no shame in that, of course. Nobody has managed to compete. But in the past couple of years, things have been changing. Parrot has focused its efforts on creating adaptable drones that are easy to use and ideal for aerial photography.

The results have been interesting: the Disco drone was a miraculous fixed-wing creation without an obvious purpose. The Bebop range has always appeared a little clumsy and toy-like compared to DJI’s more sophisticated models.

But the culmination of years of development came in the summer of 2018 with the Anafi, a foldable, 4k video-shooting drone packed with interesting creative features.

The Anafi’s camera has a Sony IMX230 sensor, an Ambarella video processor and can shoot 21MP photos  Shots benefit from 3-axis stabilization and the camera also offers 180 degrees of vertical tilt and up to 2.8X lossless zoom, which means you can fly directly under objects and capture them from below.

We’re not exactly sure what this is for, but it certainly expands the potential shot options for pilots.

The Anafi comes into its own with performance. The Anafi’s “bio-inspired design” includes Parrot’s smart battery technology, which somehow means the Anafi can outlast both the Mavic Air and the Spark with 25 minutes airtime from a single battery.

Parrot have more recently released a range of intelligent, updates flight modes for the Anafi, which include a tracking feature, hyperlapse capabilities and a Dolly Zoom mode. They’ve also started selling an Extended addition, with extra batteries for over an hour of flight time.

Altogether, it’s an impressive little drone. The only drawback is the lack of obstacle avoidance. But for the purists out there that shouldn’t be an issue.

So how much does all of that cost? Well, the Extended package, which includes three batteries, a shoulder bag and more, is retailing at $799.

Skydio R1

Since launching in early 2018, the Skydio R1 has captured the imagination of the drone industry. In part that’s because the company’s autonomous system and computer vision technology is way beyond anything else we have seen.

But it’s also because the R1 offers a glimpse into the future of drones: crash-free flight, totally autonomous navigation. In short, a system you can trust to be your aerial cameraman.

But the obvious drawback from all that autonomy is that you don’t get to be behind the controls in the same way. For some pilots this will be a release, meaning they can finally concentrate on the important things while the drone takes care of the flying. For others, it might be removing an enjoyable part of the drone experience.

But Skydio’s customers will obviously be in the former camp: adventure enthusiasts, outdoorsy types who want to be a part of the action, not just capture it on camera.

Speaking of which, the R1’s camera captures 4K at 30fps and 1080p at 30 or 60fps. It’s also got built-in stabilization. Battery life is just 16 minutes, but the drone comes with two batteries included. The R1 has a top speed of 25 mph, which should be enough to keep up with even the most adventurous of outdoor activities.

For that reason, Skydio’s R1 could be a great gift for the mountain-biker, runner, surfer, skier etc in your life. Basically, anyone who wants to capture awesome 4K footage without having to worry about the controls.

In fact, the R1 has a range of ‘skills’ that can be activated with a through clicks in the app. So the drone doesn’t just have to follow you, it can perform complex aerial manoeuvres that even an experienced pilot would find hard to pull off.

As you might expect, the R1 doesn’t come cheap. It’s currently retailing for $1,999.

Yuneec Mantis Q

Yuneec is something of a fading light in the drone industry. But 2018 has had some resurgent moments for DJI’s Chinese competitor.

As well as joining up with the Dronecode open-source initiative and pitching to US Government customers with 3DR, Yuneec released a new consumer drone aimed at the middle tier of the market.

That drone was the Mantis Q, a small, foldable model designed to compete with DJI’s Mavic Air and Spark.

But Yuneec know that to outsell their rivals they have to offer features that are fresh and innovative. And to be fair to them, that’s what they’ve tried to do. For example, the Mantis Q comes with Voice Control. This essentially lets the user issue commands by speaking: take a photo, begin recording, wake up, take-off, return home…that kind of thing. There are also Gesture Control features for hands-free flying.

The Mantis Q’s camera is not to bad at all, either. It can capture still images with a resolution of 4800×2700 (16:9) or 4160×3120 (4:3) pixels and shoot 4K videos at 30fps.

Similar to the Parrot Anafi, there’s also flexibility in the camera’s operation. It can be tilted upwards by 20 degrees or downwards by 90 degrees for extra creative potential. And, just like the other two drones on this list, the Mantis Q has a range of automated, cinematic flight modes, including Journey, Point of Interest and Orbit Me.

The headlines though are arguably found in the Yuneec Mantis Q’s performance. The drone has a huge 33 minute flight time – far outstripping its tiny rivals – a top speed of 44 miles per hour and downward sonar sensors to help with smooth indoor flight.

The Mantis Q is available now for $499.

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The Best Drones of 2018, Ranked By Their Purpose

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by Malek Murison

We’re at a point in the drone hardware space where there’s plenty of choice for pilots. Although DJI have a firm hold over the market, there are loads of options for aerial photography and other niche uses.

And that’s important, because no pilot chooses a drone based on capability alone. It’s more about suitability. Even if you’ve got an unlimited budget, it’s not always the most expensive option that’s best suited to the task you have in mind.

Which is why we’ve decided to rank the best drones of 2018 based on their suitability for certain things, rather than outright capability. We’ve narrowed them down into 4 categories: Hollywood Ambitions, Professional All-Rounder, On-The-Go Aerial Photography, and Beginner Friendly.  

We’ll take into account capability and value for money in each category and suggest the best option – and a runner-up.  

Hollywood Ambitions

As this category title suggests, Hollywood Ambitions is all about which drone is your best bet for shooting cinema-grade aerial photography and creative drone videos.  

The Winner: DJI Inspire 2

 

To date, the DJI Inspire 2 is probably the best photography drone ever made. Which isn’t saying much of course – this industry is less than a decade old. Nonetheless, this is the drone you will see gliding over Hollywood movie sets, shooting adverts and capturing live sports events.

And it was always meant to be this way. DJI’s Inspire range has been created to set the industry benchmark for what drones can achieve in terms of photography and video footage.

As such the Inspire 2 is smarter, faster and more capable than DJI’s smaller, more beginner-friendly drones. Perhaps with the exception of the recently released Mavic Pro 2.

But what the Mavic Pro 2 doesn’t have is the Inspire 2’s ability to go from 0 to 50 mph (80 kph) in 5 seconds with a top speed of 58 mph. Those may sound like pointless numbers, but they translate into unmatched shot versatility and more creative options for pilots and filmmakers.

Add to that the ability to switch between different cameras – including the Zenmuse X7 and X5 – and you’ve got a powerful aerial photography package.  

Both cameras work with the Inspire 2’s CineCore2.1 image processing system. The Zenmuse X7 shoots aerial video at up to a whopping 6K in CinemaDNG/RAW at 30fps and at 5.2K in Apple ProRes. It’s got 4 stops of dynamic range and captures 24-megapixel stills.

As you might expect, Hollywood-grade aerial photography doesn’t come cheap. The Inspire 2 on its own costs $2,999. The Zenmuse X7 camera comes in at $2,700. All of that gear is protected by a range of sensors to detect and avoid obstacles in front, below and above the drone.  

Runner-up: DJI Mavic 2 Zoom

We chose the DJI Mavic 2 Zoom as the Runner-up in the Hollywood Ambitions category because it offers something a little more interesting than the Mavic 2 Pro.

Yes, both models can offer a 45mph top speed and a huge 31 minute flights time. And both Mavic 2 models feature omnidirectional collision avoidance, combined with DJI’s APAS (Advanced Pilot Assistance Systems).

Both also use DJI’s OcuSync transmission system, for 1080p live video streaming and a maximum range of five miles.

And, lastly, both Mavic 2 models come with DJI’s numerous autonomous flight modes, including Hyperlapse, ActiveTrack 2, QuickShots and more.

But the creative difference lies with the cameras. Like the Pro, the Mavic 2 Zoom captures 4K video at a maximum bitrate of 100 megabits per second.

The clue is in the name: The Zoom comes with its very own Hitchcock-style swagger.

It has the equivalent of a 24-48mm optical zoom and 2x digital zoom, giving drone pilots the effect of a 96mm telephoto lens for 4k lossless zoom at full HD video resolution. The camera itself has a 12mp 1/2.3″ CMOS sensor.

Used with DJI’s new Dolly Zoom flight mode, the camera creates an eerie, warped perspective by automatically zooming in as it flies away from its subject. The result is that the subject is kept in shot at the same size while the full background of the scene is revealed.

The retail price of a Mavic 2 Zoom, including the drone, battery, charger, remote controller and four pairs of propellers, is $1,249.

Professional All-Rounder

Looking for a solid, adaptable drone that can get in the air with minimum fuss without breaking the bank?

 

The Winner: DJI Mavic 2 Pro   

The DJI Mavic 2 Pro looks set to continue from where the original Mavic left off: as the world’s most popular drone.

We’ve been through the key stats above already, so what else do you need to know?

How about that it was co-engineered with camera specialists Hasselblad, to form the world’s first drone with an integrated Hasselblad camera.

As well as improved image quality, and superior light and color performance, the Mavic 2 Pro’s camera has been upgraded to include a 1-inch CMOS sensor with a 10-bit Dlog-M color profile.

DJI says it can capture four times as many levels of color per channel compared to the original Mavic Pro, which wasn’t so shabby.

The Mavic 2 Pro can also capture 20-megapixel aerial shots with greater color accuracy using Hasselblad’s Natural Color Solution (HNCS) technology. An adjustable aperture from f/2.8-f/11 provides more control across a wide variety of lighting conditions.

The retail price of a Mavic 2 Pro, including the drone, battery, remote controller, charger, and four pairs of propellers, starts off at $1,449.

Runner-up: The Original Mavic Pro

Yes, even though DJI has released a bunch of new drones since the original Mavic Pro, its combination of portability, value for money, camera quality, and safety features make it a great all-rounder that you really can’t go wrong with.

See the original Mavic Pro as a budget version of the new model. It only has obstacle avoidance in front and below, its 4K shots are great but not quite as crisp, and its battery life is a few minutes below the huge 31minute ark hit by the Mavic 2.

However, sometimes the classics are worth keeping around. And not just for nostalgic reasons. The Mavic Pro has already dipped in price to $999. And it’s still more than able to complete the majority of professional drone flights to a very high standard indeed.

You could do a lot worse than waiting for the price drops to continue before grabbing yourself a bargain.

On-The-Go Aerial Photography

This category is all about portability, ease of use and autonomous flight

 

Winner: The Skydio R1

What can we say about the Skydio R1 that hasn’t been said already?

 

The R1 is a class act, with almost certainly the most sophisticated sense and avoid system on the consumer market today. In part that’s because California startup Skydio set off from a different starting point to the likes of DJI.

Instead of attempting to create a flying camera anyone could get to grips with, they wanted to build a flying camera capable of flying itself no matter what the context.

That’s why it’s perfect for on-the-go aerial photography. While it isn’t as portable as some of DJI’s smaller models, it makes up for that with the fact that you don’t have to worry about it once it’s up in the air. It’s smart enough to follow you or your chosen subject, dodging and weaving past obstacles until you tell it to come home.

The R1 also shoots in stabilized 4K, so you can bet that your footage isn’t going to be too shabby either.

The only drawback is the price, which dropped down to $2,000 in September.

Skydio has also recently released a range of new skills – autonomous flight modes at the touch of a button – to open up more creative possibilities when using the R1.

That’s right: The autonomous aerial cameraman is getting smarter.

Runner-up: DJI Mavic Air

As we mentioned above, a great on-the-go option also depends on portability, ease of use, and price. Which is why the DJI Mavic Air gets the Runner-up spot in this category.

No, it can’t navigate around obstacles with the same effortlessness and reliability of the R1. But it can sense obstacles in 3 directions: to the front, to the back and below. It also comes with other benefits…

For example, the Air is an ideal travel companion. It weighs just 430 grams and folds up to just 168x83x49mm.

The flight time isn’t the best: just 20 minutes. But as long as you’ve got spare batteries you can land, swap them in and be on your way in no time at all.

As with all of DJI’s drones, the Mavic Air can perform pre-programmed flight modes. There’s also a gesture mode if you want to fly like a Jedi.

As for the camera, the Mavic Air can shoot crisp 4K video at 30fps and full HD at 120fps. It also has improved HDR algorithms to preserve more highlight and low light details.

Oe final thing: it’s available in several colors! You can get it at the moment for under $800.

Beginner Friendly

Looking for the perfect drone to start your aerial photography journey?

Drones are becoming easier to fly – there’s no doubt about that. But that doesn’t mean an Inspire 2 or a Mavic 2 Pro is ideal for beginners.

Despite being expensive investments, it can be tough to make the most of your cutting edge drone if you haven’t had much experience behind the controls before.

That’s why it’s a good idea to start small with something better suited to beginners. That way you won’t have wasted a bunch of money if you decide aerial photography isn’t for you after all.

Winner: DJI Spark

There’s no better place to start than what we think is the perfect drone for newbies, the tiny DJI Spark.

 

As well as shooting full-HD video, the Spark comes in a range of colors, is relatively inexpensive and comes with forward-facing obstacle detection.

 

Starting with the camera, the Spark’s has a 1/2.3” CMOS sensor that captures 12-megapixel photos and shoots stabilized HD 1080p videos. A 2-axis gimbal and the stabilization technology reduces shake and rolling shutter effect to capture shots that are much more cinematic than you’d expect from a drone of this size.

 

It’s also got a range of intelligent flight modes – including ActiveTrack – and an easy-to-use controller, meaning you don’t have to worry too much about mastering the controls to get great shots.

 

The DJI Spark is available in several colors for just $399.

Runner-up: DJI Mavic Air

We’ve already included the Mavic Air as a great drone for travelers and on-the-go aerial photography. So you can read about it in more detail above.

But it’s also made the beginner drone top 2 because of its size, portability, and price. On top of that, it arguably has the most sophisticated safety features of any drone under $1,000.

All of those factors should provide the reassurance new pilots need to explore the hobby for the first time, without breaking the bank.   

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First Look: DJI Mavic 2 comes out

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The following is a guest post from Ben Duke, training expert at UK-based commercial drone specialists Coptrz.

 

DJI have finally confirmed what we all already knew thanks to the months of leaks. During their “See the Bigger Picture” event in New York they confirmed the release of the brand new Mavic 2 range of drones. This is the long awaited successor to the Mavic Pro and Mavic Air, and see’s DJI take a serious step forward in the drone market, providing consumer drones with fantastic image capturing capabilities.

DJI has taken everything that was good with the original Mavic Pro, and created 2 new UAV’s: the DJI Mavic 2 Pro and the DJI Mavic 2 Zoom. We are going to take you through the specs and all the good stuff below:

DJI Mavic 2 Pro

The integrated Hasselblad camera is one of the features that is likely to excite people the most. DJI has capitalised on the recent Hasselblad investment and will provide an integrated camera that both hobbyists and commercial operators alike will benefit from massively.

The integrated Hasselblad CMOS camera supports a 10-bit colour profile, providing four times the amount of colour levels per channel than that of the Pro. It’s clearly a massive upgrade in image quality and will provide maximum flexibility for photo and video editing. DJI has also work on minimising noise pollution with the addition of ‘quiet propellers’.

OcuSync2.0 provides a 1080p video stream for the Mavic 2 Pro. Those who are new to flying drones will be pleased to know that the Mavic 2 Pro features “omnidirectional obstacle sensing”, this is otherwise known as “360-degree obstacle avoidance”.

Key Features

  • 360-degree obstacle avoidance
  • 4K video at 30fps with the new Hasselblad CMOS camera
  • 31 minutes flight time
  • Foldable design
  • Intelligent flight modes

Tech Specs

  • Weight: 907g
  • Camera: Hasselblad
  • Sensor: 1 inch CMOS Sensor
  • Resolution: 5472 x 3648 (20MP)
  • Lens: 28mm wide angle
  • ISO: Ranges from 100-6400 and 100-12800 in HLG
  • Shutter Speed: Max 1/8000
  • Video: 4KUHD @ 30FPS, 2.7K @ 60FPS, FHD @ 120FPS
  • Max Flight Length: 31 minutes
  • Obstacle Avoidance System: OcuSync 2.0 (8KM, 1080p)

What’s in the box?

  • 1 x Mavic 2 Pro Edition
  • 1 x Remote Controller
  • 1 x Intelligent Flight Battery
  • 2 x Propellers Set
  • 1 x Charger

DJI Mavic 2 Zoom

The Mavic 2 Zoom provides a brand new feature for the Mavic range, and as the name suggests it has added a 2x optical zoom (24mm-48mm). This is a feature that will hugely excite the Mavic fans due to the lack of zoom on the original Mavic. It will provide you with the ability to capture harder to reach shots without having to compromise the safety of your drone.

Similar to the Mavic 2 you will benefit from an easy-to-fly platform that features an identical “omnidirectional obstacle sensing”, otherwise known as “360-degree obstacle avoidance”.

Key Features

  • 360-degree obstacle avoidance
  • 4KUHD video at 30fps
  • 2x optical zoom (24mm-48mm)
  • 31 minutes flight time
  • Foldable design
  • Intelligent flight modes

Tech Specs

  • Weight: 905g
  • Sensor: 1/2.3 inch CMOS Sensor
  • Resolution: 4000 x 3000 (20MP)
  • Lens: 24-48mm optical zoom
  • ISO: 100-3200 (no HLG)
  • Shutter Speed: Max 1/8000
  • Video: 4KUHD @ 30FPS, 2.7K @ 60FPS, FHD @ 120FPS
  • Max Flight Length: 31 minutes
  • Obstacle Avoidance System: OcuSync 2.0 (8KM, 1080p)

What’s in the box?

  • 1 x Mavic 2 Zoom Edition
  • 1 x Remote Controller
  • 1 x Intelligent Flight Battery
  • 2 x Propellers Set
  • 1 x Charger

Mavic 2 for Commercial Operations

Similarly to the original Mavic Series, the Mavic 2 is likely to be a huge hit with the commercial drone market, in particular those looking to start up a commercial drone business. Whilst maintaining the easy-to-fly platform, DJI has also enhanced the data capture capabilities with new cameras that will provide a higher quality of footage for your clients.

Summary

It’s quite clear that DJI has taken all the right steps to make the DJI Mavic 2 series as popular, if not more popular than the DJI Mavic Pro. Both drones will be a major hit with both the hobbyist and commercial operator market, and are likely to be an ideal start up drone, taking the mantle from the Mavic Pro.

The original Mavic has proved to be a huge success worldwide in the commercial industry, in particular amongst new operators and people training to become commercial drone pilots.

DJI has clearly taken all that has been right with the ever-popular DJI Mavic Pro and built two worthy successors. Both drones are sure to be a hit with both hobbyists and commercial operators alike. DJI have taken what was an exceptional flying platform and enhanced its data capturing capabilities with Hasselblad and Zoom cameras. It’s going to be interesting to see how the Mavic 2 takes off, but it’s safe to say that these are exciting times for drone operators.

Interested in finding out more? UK drone specialists COPTRZ are running an online webinar showing you “How to Become a Commercial Drone Pilot”: https://go.coptrz.com/becomeadronepilot.

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Mid-2018 State of the Drone Market – Predictions and more…

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Mid-2018 State of the Drone Market – Predictions and more….

or, 2018 Drone Report…

As of mid-2018 there are a number of factors affecting the current Consumer and “Consumer Enterprise” drone market – some of which we will explore in this article.

Consumer Enterprise – what’s that?

Oh, it’s just a term I made up on the fly. Traditionally, the civilian drone (UAV) market has consisted of a few segments:

1. Toys – generally semi-disposal models to learn on. Some things have changed in this market as the higher ($100-$300) end of this range now features programmable models as well as some equipped with GPS.

2. Consumer Camera Drones – this has been the real driver of sales and profits over the past 4 years and consists of GPS drones with app control and stabilized cameras. Current prices run from $400-$1500, although there are some “prosumer” models at the higher end with better cameras (Phantom 4 Pro).

3. Enterprise Drones – Starting at about 3K (DJI Inspire) and headed up to many 10’s of thousands of dollars, these are typically used for professional videography such as the drone shots you might see on network and streaming hollywood productions. Smaller agricultural and security drones as well as surveying models (with software designed for such) are also part of this group.

My new category, Consumer Enterprise, covers the segment which would appeal to contractors, inspectors and many others who use their drones for various tasks that either make…or save…them money and time. An example would be roofing or landscape development companies, land trusts, solar PV installers and various other construction trades. Up until now, this segment has settled for the consumer models, however their tool budgets allow them to easily step up to better models. These firms, usually relatively small businesses, are accustomed to spending money on better tools even though the consumer grade might do the job in many cases.

Two examples of such products are either available now…or will be very soon. The Phantom 4 Pro with the CrystalSky display offers features which are very important to the contractor – from the better picture and video capabilities to the vastly superior display. The upgraded Obstacle Avoidance system is also a big plus for this group of users, as their pilots may not be as experienced or well trained as those of us who have spent years navigating through trees and wires and other barriers. Another upcoming unit from DJI, the Mavic Pro 2 series, will feature more portability, a zoom lens and even better obstacle avoidance. [Read more…]