DJI Phantom 4: The Smartest Drone Yet?

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

FAA Announces Small UAS Registration Rule

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.

Owners may register through a web-based system at www.faa.gov/uas/registration

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.

The full rule can be viewed here: www.faa.gov/news/updates/media/20151213_IFR.pdf

NAB 2015: 3DR Introduces Solo, the World’s First Smart Drone

"Solo is a breakthrough in intelligent flight. It’s not just smarter so that it can do more; it’s smarter so that you have to do less. We’ve turned the Hollywood toolkit into software, and allowed everyone to experience epic video, both behind and in front of the camera.” — Chris Anderson, CEO 3D Robotics

SoloTM provides a best-of-breed flight experience and unprecedented ease of use by tapping the processing power of twin Linux® computers, technology that has enabled 3DR to make radical breakthroughs in autonomous flight and camera control. As the first drone designed with every aspect of the photographer’s experience in mind, Solo can define its own flight, freeing users to focus on getting the shot. This intelligent drone is also the first to support full control of GoPro® cameras and deliver live-streaming HD video straight to mobile devices or through the controller’s HDMI port.

Today 3DR announced Solo, an all-in-one personal drone whose ease of use and powerful new features kick off a new aerial age. With computing power unmatched in the industry—from two integrated Linux computers, one on the craft and one in the controller—Solo delivers several world-first technologies, such as unfettered in-flight access to GoPro controls, including wireless HD streaming straight to mobile devices, and effortless computer-assisted Smart Shot flight features that allow even new pilots to capture professional aerial video from day one.


“We set out a year ago with the promise of not just creating the best drone, but the best overall aerial filmmaking experience imaginable. While this meant giving Solo smooth and powerful flight dynamics, it also demanded we make a smarter drone, one that could abstract users from flying so they can focus on getting great video,” said Colin Guinn, Chief Revenue Officer of 3DR. “What our users really want is great shots. They want professional tools that enable them to get those shots easily and consistently, right out of the box. Solo delivers on this promise: You get the shot, every time.”

“Solo will expand our concept of what a drone can be and do,” said Chris Anderson, CEO of 3DR. “Solo uses advanced autonomy to make creativity easier. Rather than needing skill to capture a great

Just Announced: DJI Phantom 3 Advanced and Professional-Edition Quadcopters

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.

3DR Robotics Teases New Consumer Drone Called "The Solo"

Less than 24 hours before their competitor and arguable "Apple of Drones" DJI is set to make their own special announcement, 3DR Robotics released a Youtube video teasing their newest drone. Filled with more shots of baboons than of the actual drone itself, the video only gives us a glimpse of what is to come on April 13 when they actually announce the new drone. Nonetheless, there is still a fair amount of information which can be from the video (including the possible name of this new drone!). Here is what we know so far:

Hey there good looking...

One thing the current lineup of drones by 3DR have likely never been called is stylish, but then again, they never pretended to even care about that. 3DR entered the market by creating drones such as the Iris+ which are built using easily molded plastic parts but are well designed and have advanced features all for a fairly reasonable price. Built around their amazing open-source "Pixhawk" Autopilot System, these drones are also able to be controlled via an Android device running the app Drone Planner, allowing users access to a "Follow Me" mode and the ability to pre-plan missions. 

Horizon Hobby Blade 350 QX2 RTF First Flight with the GB200 Brushless Gimbal Upgrade (Sunset Video Test)

My road to finally getting a Blade 350 QX (and then QX2) up in the air with a GB200 Gimbal is a long one. From small delays, such as having to send back a defective gimbal, to major setbacks, like when the first 350 QX I bought glitched mid-flight and flew off over the ocean never to be seen again, I have seen and experienced almost everything that could go wrong. Along the way, Horizon Hobby customer service has been pretty amazing. In the case of the runaway drone, while they weren't able to refund me on my lost GoPro 3+ or replace my drone (which I had bought at a local hobby store and not directly from them), they were willing to give me 60% off of a new drone. For the gimbal, they sent me a new one, no questions asked, and even paid for the return shipping.

So finally, this past weekend, after nearly three months since I originally purchased my first Blade 350 QX quadcopter along with the GB200 Gimbal, I finally made my first flight. It was glorious, regardless of the long and windy road I took to get there, but the fact that the wait was so long just made it all the sweeter. The sun was setting, my quad was finally ready, my new GoPro 3+ was recording and seated in the gimbal, and with a slow and almost nervous push of the throttle stick, I lifted off into the sky.

Here's the video from that evening. Please enjoy it all the more now that you have the entire backstory.