Costing only $99 and with a body that is approximately the size of a smartwatch, Tello looks like a toy drone. And it is. But it aims to transform what we think of as a "toy”. Created by Chinese startup Ryze Tech, the Tello drone incorporates advanced technology from DJI & Intel, enabling it to takeoff from your palm with ease, get the shot, and land back safely and quickly. Notable features include:
5mp stills/720p video camera
360° DJI suite of sensors
Intel vision processing unit
Programmable via Scratch SDK
13 minute flight time with low battery detection
Usually it’s wise to stay away from toy drones, but with all the tech and features Tello packs for for only $99 it seems like an easy purchase for any drone enthusiast out there. It’s available for pre-order now and should start shipping after March.
The big question that is on everybody’s mind is whether DJI will announce any new drone at the CES 2018 event in Las Vegas?
In the past, DJI announced new products at the Consumer Electronics Show. For instance, in 2015, they announced the Osmo and other gimbals, in 2016, the Phantom 3 4K and the Inspire 1 Pro Black Edition, and in 2017, the Osmo Silver, a limited Phantom 4 Chinese New Year Edition and the CrystalSky Monitor.
DJI RELEASE DATES
To get a better idea of what we may expect, let’s take a look at the past release dates of DJI’s consumer drones and gimbals.
The DJI Phantom series release dates:
The Phantom 1, originally known as the Phantom, was released in January 2013.
Despite costing $450 ($400 this Black Friday), DJI’s FPV goggles have been very popular. Now, they’ve released an upgraded version which comes with a few upgrades along with a new black/red color scheme.
Redesigned facial pad & headband
Sphere photo viewing
Local video playback
Analog signal/non-DJI flight controller compatible
The DJI RE Goggles will cost $549 purchased alone or $859 when purchased in a kit with DJI’s OcuSync Air System and backpack for the goggles. They should start shipping by the end of the month.
Black Friday, the holy shrine of all consumerism, is fast approaching. If you wish to actually get a good deal on something you want rather than crazily fighting for waffle irons in a Walmart at 5am, it's best to go in with a game plan. While TVs and video game consoles are often the most heavily discounted items, drones have begun to see more sales in recent years as they become more mainstream. So, to make your job easier, we have rounded up the best deals on each of the most popular drones below:
DJI Spark
Percentage wise, the Spark is seeing the biggest discount for Black Friday of any of the DJI drones. Target, Best Buy, and several other major retailers will offering the controller-less Spark for $399, $100 off it's usual $499 price tag. DJI will also be offering the standard Spark for $399, but sweetens the deal by including a free landing pad, set of propeller holders, and hand guard — a total value of $36 purchased separately. However, the best deal on the standard Spark is surprisingly from Kohl's. Though they can't offer it for any less than the $399 price, you'll get $120 in Kohl's cash with your purchase, which can go a long ways toward anything else on your holiday shopping list. As for the Spark ultimate combo, you'll find it for $599 pretty much everywhere, though once again DJI is sweetening their deal by including the same three accessories.
DJI Mavic Pro
The DJI Mavic Pro is one of the most popular drones on the market today, and with good reason. It's extremely portable like the Spark, but also offers 4k, a 3-axis gimbal, and 28 minute flight times for less than the Phantom 4 series. Most retailers will be offering the
Crowdfunding has opened the doors for many cool non-tech and tech related products. Exploding Kittens, Oculus Rift, Lume Cube, 3Doodler 3D Pen, iLumi LED Smart Bulb, etc. The list is quite extensive, and most of the companies have been successful enough to not only continue selling that product but actually introduce new ones. Even Pebble, which recently went bankrupt and had its assets gobbled up by FitBit, completed several successful campaigns and delivered on their products to thousands of backers around the world.
The history of new companies trying to launch a drone through crowdfunding is very different. Usually the product which is finally delivered to backers is an extremely dumbed down version of what was originally promised to backers, and that’s usually the best case scenario. Take the latest crowdfunded drone to fail and the once darling of the tech world: the Lily camera drone. Backers were promised a drone which you could simply release into the air and it would accurately track you
DJI, the world leader in unmanned aerial technology, Tuesday introduced two new drones that raise the bar for professional imaging: Inspire 2, the best ready-to-fly platform for high-end film and video creators, and Phantom 4 Pro, the smartest and most creative flying camera of its size.
“Professional filmmakers and photographers always push to create images that have never been seen before, and DJI never stops trying to give them the tools to achieve their vision,” said DJI CEO and Founder Frank Wang. “Our newest flight platforms and stabilized aerial cameras are smarter, faster and more powerful than ever before. We can’t wait to see how creators use Inspire 2 and Phantom 4 Pro to capture dazzling images.”
Inspire 2
Advanced Imaging for Professional Results
Inspire 2 offers powerful capabilities and is easy to operate. The nimble new magnesium-aluminum alloy body increases stiffness while lowering weight. It has a top speed of 67 mph and takes only 4 seconds to accelerate to 50 mph. With the new dual battery system, flight time is up to 27 minutes. A new forward-facing camera offers the pilot the best flight view for operating the master controller, while the camera operator receives a separate feed from the professional Zenmuse camera mounted on the main gimbal. The Inspire 2 supports the brand-new Zenmuse X4S and X5S cameras and will support additional cameras in the future.
An entirely new image processing system, called CineCore 2.0, is embedded into the airframe, which allows processing large files faster than ever before. Inspire 2 captures 5.2K video at 4.2 Gbps for Adobe CinemaDNG RAW videos and leverages a newly-designed, fast CINESSD storage for a smooth work experience. A variety of video compression formats are supported by CineCore 2.0, including Adobe CinemaDNG, Apple ProRes 422 HQ (5.2K, 4K) and ProRes 4444 XQ (4K), H.264, and H.265. When recording 4K video in H.264 and H.265, the birate is up to 100Mbps.
Inspire 2 offers professional capability and control suitable for many scenarios. With optional high-altitude propellers, Inspire 2 can reach a maximum service ceiling of 16,404 feet above sea level, and the self-heating dual battery redundancy system maintains good performance of the battery to -4 degrees Fahrenheit. Through an optimized mode, Inspire 2 streams smooth video at the widely used 1080i50/720p60 broadcast standard. Enhanced Lightbridge video transmission makes smoother HDMI video possible.
High Performance and Professional Reliability
The dual-battery system ensures that if one battery fails during a flight, the other will be able to provide power for a safe return to home. Stereo vision sensors have been included on the front and bottom of Inspire 2 for obstacle detection, and upward facing infrared sensors on top of the aircraft add protection when flying in enclosed spaces.
The redesigned propulsion system can safely carry Inspire 2 through incredible vertical camera moves, climbing at almost 20 feet/second and descending at almost 30 feet/second. Redundant systems provide reliability for the IMU, barometer, electronic speed controller communication and satellite navigation modules. The master and slave controller range now extends to 328 feet and users can switch between 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz frequencies to cut through any noise for greater signal stability.
Creative Freedom
Inspire 2’s new intelligent flight modes expand DJI’s computer vision technology to safely fly routes that give creators new ways to capture what they envision. Spotlight Pro Mode locks onto a subject during flight while the aircraft flies freely in another direction – and automatically rotates the aircraft to stay on the shot if the gimbal reaches its rotational limit. The forward-facing camera offers TapFly, which directs Inspire 2 to any point on the screen while avoiding obstacles along the way. ActiveTrack recognizes common subjects such as people, cars and animals, sending Inspire 2 to follow behind, lead in front, circle above or track alongside while always flying forward, ensuring the forward-facing obstacle sensing system keeps the aircraft safe.
New Zenmuse Cameras
DJI is enhancing the imaging potential of the Inspire 2 by expanding its line of interchangeable Zenmuse cameras, which are designed for aerial imaging and communicate directly with the aircraft’s gimbal and flight controllers. For situations that require a balance between weight and image quality, the new Zenmuse X4S has a 1-inch, 20-megapixel sensor with 11.6 stops of dynamic range and a 24 mm equivalent focal length. The Zenmuse X4S offers aperture control (f2.8-11) and a mechanical shutter that cancels rolling shutter distortion. The new Zenmuse X5S has a larger Micro Four Thirds sensor with 20.8 megapixels and an incredible 12.8 stops of dynamic range. The Zenmuse X5S camera now supports 8 lenses from wide angles to zooms. It shoots 20fps continuous burst DNG RAW (20.8 MP). In the future, a handheld mount will be available for the Zenmuse X4S and X5S cameras, bringing those cameras down to the ground for more flexible filmmaking.
Professional Accessories to Enhance Performance
A series of powerful DJI accessories will meet the needs of operators under various filming conditions. DJI Focus, a battery charging station, DJI CINESSD, CINESSD station and other optional accessories are available.
An optional DJI Crystalsky high-brightness IPS monitor features an ultra-bright screen that is clearly visible in direct sunlight and ideal for outdoor shooting. It comes in 5.5-inch and 7.85-inch sizes, with the highest brightness up to 1000 cd/m2 and 2000 cd/m2 respectively, and its dedicated system reduces video transmission latency. Dual Micro-SD Card slots within the screen make it easy to back up footage and can also be used to transfer and play back files. It operates in extreme temperature conditions from -4 degrees to 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
Phantom 4 Pro
Professional Imaging
Phantom 4 Pro offers a powerful imaging system for professional photo and video creators as well as non-professionals who demand excellence from the camera and platform they use to pursue their creative visions. The camera now packs a 1-inch 20-megapixel sensor, and almost 12 stops of dynamic range bring out levels of detail and low-light performance unprecedented in a flying camera of this size. Its mechanical shutter eliminates rolling shutter distortion in fast-moving scenes. Phantom 4 Pro can capture slow-motion 4K video up to 60 fps at a maximum bitrate of 100 mbps. In addition, the Phantom 4 Pro offers H.265 video compression, which substantially improves video quality at the same bitrate.
Reliable with Enhanced FlightAutonomy System
Phantom 4 Pro builds on DJI’s original obstacle avoidance system with FlightAutonomy – three sets of visual systems that build a 3D map of obstacles in front, behind and below the aircraft, as well as infrared sensing systems on both sides. FlightAutonomy can position, navigate and plan routes for Phantom 4 Pro, enabling it to avoid obstacles in a sensing range up to 98 feet at front and rear, even in complex 3D environments. When returning to home and tapping to initiate auto takeoff or landing, the Landing Protection function is able to detect and help avoid landing on uneven ground or water. Phantom 4 Pro has high-performance battery technology that provides up to 30 minutes of flight time. The Phantom 4 Pro flies at 31 mph in P mode with obstacle avoidance in effect, and has a 45 mph top speed in sport mode.
Professional Control with New Remote Controller
Phantom 4 Pro’s revolutionary new compact remote controller comes with an optional high luminance display, providing a clear and vivid live HD view from the main camera as well as essential telemetry data, even in direct sunlight. The aircraft will automatically choose between 2.4GHz and 5.8GHz once powering on to gain a clear signal in areas with high radio interference. The new controller has a built-in GPS, compass, Micro-SD card slot and HDMI port.
Intelligent Flight
New intelligent flight modes make Phantom 4 Pro the smartest flying camera of its size, opening new vistas for creators, such as the new Draw Mode that allows operators to draw lines on the controller display and direct the Phantom 4 Pro to fly that route.
ActiveTrack recognizes common subjects such as people and bikes, then follows them from any angle while maintaining camera focus, and includes three new modes – New Circle, Profile and Spotlight.
Narrow sensing enhances obstacle avoidance sensitivity so the aircraft can fly through complex environments like narrow doorways. TapFly now works backwards and comes with a new Free mode that allows a pilot to set the direction of flight, turn the Phantom 4 Pro or tilt the gimbal without changing the direction of flight. With the new AR Route feature, operators will be able to tell the flight route on the screen.
As an additional safety feature, within a minute of losing GPS signal, the aircraft will automatically return to the last connected position and hover there precisely to wait for the pilot’s command. With the enhanced return to home function, the aircraft knows where it should be going from up to 984 feet away and avoids obstacles along the route.
Price and Availability
Phantom 4 Pro’s U.S. retail price is $1,499 with a standard controller. The Phantom 4 Pro+, which includes a Phantom 4 Pro aircraft, and a high luminance display remote controller, will be available at $1,799. Phantom 4 Pro and Phantom 4 Pro+ are immediately available for pre-order online and DJI flagship stores in Shenzhen, Seoul and Hong Kong. These products will begin shipping one week after launch.
The U.S. retail price of the Inspire 2 aircraft is $2,999. The Inspire 2 Combo, which includes one Inspire 2 aircraft, one Zenmuse X5S, CinemaDNG and Apple ProRes License Key, is available for $6,198. Customers who order the Inspire 2 Combo before January 1, 2017 can enjoy a special price of $5,999. Inspire 2 and its accessories will be immediately available for pre-order online and also in the three DJI flagship stores. Inspire 2 Combo will start shipping in early December 2016 while customers who purchase the aircraft and camera separately can expect their orders to start shipping in early January 2017.
While the DJI Mavic Pro and GoPro Karma might be the only two drones getting any press these days, there still are a lot of good drones out there for people looking to get started in aerial photography, and at a fraction of the price. Drones, such as the DJI Phantom 4, which are barely half a year old routinely have the prices slashed in order to stay competitive in a market which is innovating at the speed of light. Because of this, you can easily buy a drone for under $1000 and often even under $500. Here are the current best deals on drones you can find online:
Despite 3D Robotics discontinuing the Solo and pivoting to focus on commercial drone uses, I still believe that the software for this drone is one of the best on the market. I purchased the Solo when it first came out for $1400 with the gimbal, but you can get it for $1000 less through B&H. True, you still have to get a GoPro 3+ or GoPro 4, but those have dropped in price since the release of the HERO5. Below is a video I filmed using the 3DR Solo and GoPro 4 Black.
The DJI Phantom 3 was and still is one of the most popular drones of all time. While this particular discount through Best Buy is only on the introductory model, its 12MP sensor, 2.7k video, and 1km
DJI, the world’s leading maker of unmanned aerial vehicles, on Tuesday launched the Phantom 4, the first consumer quadcopter camera (or “drone”) to use highly advanced computer vision and sensing technology to make professional aerial imaging easier for everyone.
The Phantom 4 expands on previous generations of DJI’s iconic Phantom line by adding new on-board intelligence that make piloting and shooting great shots simple through features like its Obstacle Sensing System, ActiveTrack and TapFly functionality.
TapFly in action.
“With the Phantom 4, we are entering an era where even beginners can fly with confidence,” said DJI CEO Frank Wang. “People have dreamed about one day having a drone collaborate creatively with them. That day has arrived.”
The Phantom 4’s Obstacle Sensing System features two forward-facing optical sensors that scan for obstacles and automatically direct the aircraft around the impediment when possible, reducing risk of collision, while ensuring flight direction remains constant. If the system determines the craft cannot go around the obstacle, it will slow to a stop and hover until the user redirects it. Obstacle avoidance also engages if the user triggers the drone’s “Return to Home” function to reduce the risk of collision when automatically flying back to its take off point.
With ActiveTrack, the Phantom 4 breaks new ground, allowing users running the DJI Go app on iOS and Android devices to follow and keep the camera centered on the subject as it moves simply by
The biggest name in the consumer drone market, DJI Global, is currently celebrating their 10th anniversary. It's amazing to think about how far they came, starting by offering flight controllers and progressing to amazing all in one aerial photography/cinematography platforms.
DJI is offering a limited time discount on their three entry level Phantom 3 drones. These are:
Registration Begins on December 21, 2015, First 30 Days are Free
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced a streamlined and user-friendly web-based aircraft registration process for owners of small unmanned aircraft (UAS) weighing more than 0.55 pounds (250 grams) and less than 55 pounds (approx. 25 kilograms) including payloads such as on-board cameras.
The Registration Task Force delivered recommendations to FAA Administrator Michael Huerta and Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx on November 21. The rule incorporates many of the task force recommendations.
“Make no mistake: unmanned aircraft enthusiast are aviators, and with that title comes a great deal of responsibility,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. “Registration gives us an opportunity to work with these users to operate their unmanned aircraft safely. I’m excited to welcome these new aviators into the culture of safety and responsibility that defines American innovation.”
Registration is a statutory requirement that applies to all aircraft. Under this rule, any owner of a small UAS who has previously operated an unmanned aircraft exclusively as a model aircraft prior to December 21, 2015, must register no later than February 19, 2016. Owners of any other UAS purchased for use as a model aircraft after December 21, 2015 must register before the first flight outdoors. Owners may use either the paper-based process or the new streamlined, web-based system. Owners using the new streamlined web-based system must be at least 13 years old to register.
Registrants will need to provide their name, home address and e-mail address. Upon completion of the registration process, the web application will generate a Certificate of Aircraft Registration/Proof of Ownership that will include a unique identification number for the UAS owner, which must be marked on the aircraft.
Owners using the model aircraft for hobby or recreation will only have to register once and may use the same identification number for all of their model UAS. The registration is valid for three years.
The normal registration fee is $5, but in an effort to encourage as many people as possible to register quickly, the FAA is waiving this fee for the first 30 days (from Dec. 21, 2015 to Jan 20, 2016).
“We expect hundreds of thousands of model unmanned aircraft will be purchased this holiday season,” said FAA Administrator Huerta. “Registration gives us the opportunity to educate these new airspace users before they fly so they know the airspace rules and understand they are accountable to the public for flying responsibly.”
The online registration system does not yet support registration of small UAS used for any purpose other than hobby or recreation – for example, using an unmanned aircraft in connection with a business. The FAA is developing enhancements that will allow such online registrations by spring of 2016.
While I patiently (or somewhat impatiently) wait for 3D Robotics to ship the SOLO drone I ordered from them, I have begun looking around at other quadcopters on the market. I stumbled across a new one by Blade which looks like it could almost rival the Phantom 3 by DJI. Called the Chroma, it comes in 4 distinct flavors, mainly determined by which camera setup you wish to use. As I mentioned before, you can get it with the new 4K capable CGO3 (which is the most expensive at $1300), and even though this costs more than the DJI equivalent (the Phantom 3 Professional) by $50, it might be worth it because of the 1080p/120fps recording mode which the DJI lacks. If you don't need 4K video, you can save $200 dollars and get the version which comes with the CGO2+ camera. I don't think this version compete well with the its Phantom 3 equivalent because it is $100 more expensive than it and doesn't really offer much extra. That said, Horizon Hobby (owner of Blade) has much better customer service than DJI, and their quadcopters have far more accurate GPS systems (due mostly to their GPS mast) which don't require you to do the compass calibration dance.
Another thing which is nice about the Chroma is that you can still purchase a "GoPro Ready" version which comes with a gimbal for the GoPro (no downlink though) and even a BNF version with a fixed GoPro mount. These two versions are a great deal cheaper costing $1000 and $600 respectively.
Below are the specs for the quadcopter itself which remain unchanged regardless of the version you buy.
DJI has just announced the latest update to its Phantom line, which looks set to be a direct replacement of the Phantom 2—the Phantom 3. Initially, two versions will be available, the Advanced Edition, identified by silver stripes on the prop arms, and the Professional Edition, likewise distinguished by gold stripes. The most notable feature of these new quadcopters, at least as far as the aerial market is concerned, is the incorporation of a purpose-built, three-axis, gimbal-stabilized camera system similar to the one currently found on the Phantom 2 Vision+. Differentiating the Advanced and Professional models is the video resolution of the camera. The Advanced tops out at 1080p, while the Professional bumps recording capability I suspect, up to 4K-UHD (3840 x 2160) but have not yet confirmed. On the photos side, both cameras are equally blessed, able to capture 12MP stills in either JPG or DNG RAW format.
The flight control system carries over the same GPS-assisted features to which we've become accustomed with other DJI Phantoms. These included IOC (Intelligent Orientation Control) to keep stick orientation on the transmitter relative to the pilot regardless of which way the aircraft is pointing, automatic Return Home if contact with the transmitter is lost or at the press of a "panic" button, plus the ability to hold in a fixed hover, the latter a crucial feature for aerial filmmaking. On top of GPS, the Phantom 3 introduces to the Phantom line the optical flow sensor that originated on the Inspire 1. This technology combines a ground-facing camera taking rapid-fire photos with sonar to enable reasonably precise positioning where GPS is unavailable—especially close to the ground or indoors.
Along with the radio control system, the camera-equipped Phantom 3 aircraft also feature a digital downlink, which can beam a live video feed to a mobile device on the ground end at up to 720p resolution (most likely the device will need to be USB-tethered to the transmitter, as with the Inspire 1, but this is unconfirmed). The app used to access this feature is an update of the previous Pilot app.
DJI’s most advanced technology comes together in the Inspire 1, an easy to use, all-in-one flying platform that empowers you to create the unforgettable. Never before has such power been put into a ready-to-fly system that anyone can fly.
Main Features:
4K Camera: Shoot up to 4K video and capture 12 megapixel photos with the built-in Inspire 1 camera.
Live HD View: See what your camera sees in real-time 720 HD, perfect the framing, and never miss a shot.
New Remote Controller: Rebuilt with dedicated controls for the shutter, camera settings, and more. Optional dual-controller support allows you to fly with a friend and share your vision.
Transforming Design:The strong carbon fiber arms lift out of sight, giving you a full, unrestricted 360⁰ view of the world below.
New camera and gimbal system: Get crystal clear images with DJI’s most advanced camera to date. The gimbal holding your camera is the result of DJI’s years of expertise in camera stabilization, giving you smooth, stable footage in any flight conditions.
Optional dual-operator control: Fly with a friend and share your vision. Achieve shots that never would have been possible alone by using two remote controllers. One person flies, while the other controls the camera.
Vision positioning system: Flying indoors is easier than ever with Optical Flow technology that provides accurate position holding even when GPS is unavailable. The sensors determine your Inspire 1’s location and altitude and lower the legs automatically when landing.
Modular, upgradeable system: Inspire 1’s gimbal and camera system can be removed from the aircraft for safe transport and future upgrades.
Full-Featured App: Take complete control of your camera and flight system with a comprehensive mobile app.
Intelligent power management system: A fully integrated intelligent battery powers your Inspire 1 and virtually manages itself.
