Is Xiaomi Mi drone a bang?

The Xiaomi Mi Drone is a new drone released by one of China’s most popular consumer electronics brands. It’s a quadcopter drone with a three-axis gimbal and a 4K camera. There’s also a remote control that uses your Mi smartphone as a viewfinder.

It wouldn’t be unfair to say that Xiaomi has officially entered the drone industry with a bang with the Mi Drone!

Camera

The Xiaomi Mi Drone is available in two variants, the 4K and the 1080p. The 4K model has a 12.4 megapixel Sony sensor, with an Ambarella image processor and can shoot 4K (3,840 x 2,160-pixel resolution) at 30fps.

Both the variants have a detachable gimbal mount and provide corrections for up to 2000 vibrations/sec, which for the lack of a better word, is insane for how much they cost!

The camera is mounted on motorized three-axis gimbals so that you get amazing images. Moreover, to make traveling easier with your quad, you can remove the cameras and fold the landing gear.

Performance

The Xiaomi Mi drone positions itself using GPS and GLONASS. It also has a visual positioning system on the bottom designed to help it fly stabely over terrain at low altitudes (where it may not be able to get a satellite signal).

There are also the drone-standard features you would expect, including takeoff, landing, return to home, waypoint navigation, and orbit functionality.

Similar to the Phantom 4, the Mi drone allows for autonomous flying. Just like TapFly, you can control where your drone goes with the tap of a finger. Open up the map and point where you want it to go. Not only that, but you also tell it what to film from your phone.

Surrounded flight is among one of its most exciting features. From your phone you can tell the aircraft to fly in a circle around a selected object. It will continuously fly in a 360 motion focusing the camera on a subject. How cool is that? Imagine balling out on a yacht while your quadcopter capture the glory. One day!

One thing we don’t see on ordinary drones, however, is the ability to create a geofence to limit the movement of your drone. If your drone strays beyond that geofence, then it will automatically return to its home base.

Battery 

The drone has a 5,100 mAh rechargeable battery that takes about three and a half hours to charge. According to Xiaomi, you can expect to get 27 minutes of flight time on a single charge. However, you can deplete battery life at a much faster rate when using features such as automatic departure and return. Just like a phone, when you push it to a certain limit, you’re going to see battery life Just like most other quads, we recommend buying a backup or two.

Xiaomi Mi drone has priced the the 4K variant at $460 and the 1080p variant at $380. These prices are less than half the prices of the majority of professional drones out there.

 

 

 

 

 

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Typhoon H RealSense not so much bang for the big bucks

Yuneec hexacopter equipped with Intel’s RealSense gets mixed reviews.

Yuneec is gaining a lot of attention from top drone pilots testing out the Typhoon H RealSense for marked quality improvements over the bulky Yuneec Q500 4K and rival DJI Phantom 4.

So far however the added cost for the Typhoon H RealSense for the Yuneec drone, running at $1,800 to $1,900 before any accessories, has called into question the bang for buck of the sensor initially designed for in-house equipment.

In particular, the advertised 3-5 meters of effective distance of the Typhoon H RealSense using structured infrared light has not proven true in higher-speed outdoor aerial photography.

Plus, in a DJI vs Yuneec comparison, the Typhoon H RealSense lacks the more numerous and stable GPS connections available to the DJI Phantom 4, calling into question the ability to dodge obstacles.

In fact, when Yuneec made a sort of debut with the Typhoon H RealSense at the Las Vegas CES show at the start of 2016, a high-tech and expensive VICON demo system was employed to avoid any slipups. That is not the case for the Typhoon H RealSense models on sale now and the comparison to the top-notch DJI Phantom 4 tracking system could prove it a poor cousin.

The idea from Yuneec R&D was to install the Intel RealSense R200 camera at the factory – current Typhoon H models can upgrade for $600 – and use an Intel Atom processor module to map the drone’s surroundings in 3D.

Getting the new parts onto the drone for the Typhoon H RealSense and in sync with other equipment could be a challenge, though Yuneec has not highlighted any particular weight issue or other issues with battery life that may result. Still, electronic equipment has a way of testing patience.

However, it is not a bad plan, but as seen with the Yuneec Q500 4K – products leaving the Yuneec production line have a way of coming back for tweaks, or outright part replacements as in the case of the antenna for the patchy internal WiFi card that has caused all kinds of connection complaints. That is unlike the proprietary and superior DJI Lightbridge 2, which has drawn praise for solid connections.

However, it may be the willingness of existing Typhoon H owners to pay the $600 premium that provides the best evidence for the Typhoon H RealSense because it would have to far outshine the existing ultrasonic collision prevention already installed.

So far, several reviewers who own a Q500 4K or a Typhoon H without the Typhoon H RealSense said they would wait, especially since production glitches are apparently delaying a wider rollout and Yuneec has only vaguely promised a separate Typhoon H RealSense technology at some point in the future.

And at least one early reviewer on Amazon said replacing parts broken during flyaways and erratic crashes has bumped up the cost considerably.

“I’m a little over $2800 in on a $1800 copter,” Bifster said. “I should have waited and researched issues with this unit better, before I bought it.”

 

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Hope this helps anyone looking for Dobby samples

The compact Dobby‘s low price makes it hard to ignore, even if it is a light-duty device.

I have had this toy for a few days, I took it recently for a trip to Guatemala, what a joy it is, so small, in fits in my small camera bag, If a lens fits there, then the Dobby drone fits there also. It works quite good with my cell phone, although the range is not that good because it only uses WIFI , but so far I have really enjoyed it, easy to fly, decent quality photo, ok video.

One asked me some questions about the Dobby after I posted my images on the forums.

“Do the Android or OS WiFi apps work on a tablet as well as a phone?

Judging by the smooth waters, the sky above Atitlan must have been windless on the morning you shot the sample pictures. How would it fare in a breeze or >10mph wind?

How easy to navigate back to the dock? Had you selected “go home” would it return safely or possibly plunk into the water right next to the point of departure?  If you tell it to track you, would it follow you back to shore without getting lost?

Is the video mode impaired by motor vibrations as well as by tiny sensor?

What sort of battery life? 5 minutes?

Would you dare (or be allowed) to fly it above Tikal, Chichicastenango on market day, or Antigua? I imagine the local police, cacique, or archaeological custodian expects a fee or propina for usage.

When you try to check-in at an airport, is there any hesitation that the inspectors might seize it because it has an Li-ion battery?  This risk might also apply to high-end drones, in which case the low cost of the Dobby gives some relief, so long as one does not also lose the memory card with images too.”

Below are my answers.

“For photography is good, for video it is not.

it only works on WIFI, it does not come with a controller. I have tested with phone and tablet (both android) – works fine. However, WIFI has its limitations of distance and I do not push it… no risks for me.

It fairs okay in wind, however batteries last less. It is a very noisy drone. For photos, remember I said that for video it is no good – jello galore.

Zerotech has not perfected software, it needs 8 satellites minimum to start up, and if it looses GPS and you are high up, you are doomed.

Battery life is 5-8 minutes, depending on :

a) wind  b)If stabilizer for camera is on  c) temperature.

Would I use it in Tikal ? in a heartbeat if allowed.

Would I use it in market day ? no, for several reasons: a) put people in risk  b) I do not want to get clinched  c) I do not want my drone stolen etc etc.

In the airport they don’t even acknowledge my Dobby, it fits in my camera bag, batteries look good/small – no wires hanging.

I do not use return to home, follow me or stuff like that, I fly up take the pictures and land, its a flying camera for me.”

Hope this helps anyone looking for a Dobby or Dobby sample pictures.

 

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Follow me feature wobbly on Yuneec Typhoon Q500 4K drone as GPS flickers

Yuneec Typhoon Q500 4K drone shows wobbly response if satellite numbers drop.

More than a few drone pilots have noted the wobbles in the “Follow Me” mode as the Yuneec GPS struggles to stay connected to enough satellites. The issue centers on all Yuneec drone models, but has particularly frustrated first-time drone buyers unware of the complexities.

First off, the insert in the Yuneec Typhoon Q500 4K drone box that explains how “Follow Me” is supposed to work needs more attention to detail. But the most important aspect to note is that the Q500 must be connected to at least seven satellites. This can be a problem for any Yuneec drone, especially in some parts of the world where access to the satellite network it relies on is patchy, or non-existent.

At this point, the first-time user needs to know the difference between a fix and a lock. So for example, in a lock, it means I have a solid signal from three or more satellites, while a fix means the location is established. So a drone pilot could have a lock on 10 satellites, but the Yuneec GPS receiver board may not have a fixed location.

For the Yuneec drone models, that could mean that a flashing green light doesn’t equal a good position estimate, just a good Yuneec GPS lock. Understanding this difference is crucial in “Follow Me” as you have to position a Q500 at the height and angle at which you want it and switch from Angle Mode to Smart Mode.

The Yuneec GPS is used in all of the flight modes for the Q500, but you can manually turn off the Yuneec GPS by finding an online guide. But remember, the drone defaults to “on” for the Yuneec GPS, so you will need to repeat the process each time if you want the Yuneec GPS off.

But setting the drone into Smart Mode for “Follow Me” produces a series of imprecise stop and start moves, making it impractical unless you’re in a wide open space with no other people or objects around.

On the other hand, in a Yuneec vs DJI comparison on the number of satellites available across the world, DJI has a far wider network and the GPS and GLONASS uses sonar assistance.

And that brings up whether the Yuneec Typhoon Q500 4K drone is meant to compete with the DJI Phantom, as the advertised Q500 parallels to a Phantom are obvious. It’s true the Q500 is a bulkier drone, but it does attempt to employ features such as a landing gear and the custom camera/gimbal combination found on the DJI drone.

The Yuneec drone however lags in R&D and quality in the propellers. The plastic and other features are a bit flimsy. Those design flaws coupled with the prospect of the Yuneec GPS dropping mean it’s not a good idea to attempt to fly it indoors as it lacks the more sophisticated autonomous communication features of the Phantom.

That brings us back to the Yuneec GPS green light on the Yuneec Typhoon Q500 4K drone – it produces mixed results.

Sometimes the green light for the Yuneec GPS leads to the drone working perfectly, or it shows satellites in place and the drone does not respond at all. This leads to furious efforts to recalibrate the compass, or investigate other potential problems such as those with the internal WiFi card, which has had problems with a poorly soldered antenna. So a warning of Yuneec GPS loss on the ST10 controller could be caused by several issues.

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I returned the Yuneec Breeze finally

I’ve been thinking of dipping my little toe into drone photography. I want to start out with baby steps and considering the Yuneec Breeze, mainly because it’s small and portable, reasonably priced, and unobtrusive. I don’t like calling attention to myself when out taking photos, even with a DSLR, so a big noisy drone is out.

I’m not really concerned with range, battery life, just want something simple to start with and not too expensive! I realize that quality vs. cost are generally mutually exclusive, but I don’t think I could handle crashing a $1000 drone.

I am more interested in photos that video, so I was wondering if anyone has any full-size images taken with the Yuneec Breeze.

Then someone told me that “the camera aboard the Yuneec Breeze may be like that of the Zerotech Dobby. Without a gimbal, the still photo quality of any drone shots will be compromised by rotor micro-vibrations, on the one hand, and “jello” or banding caused by the digital stabilization, on the other.”

(Via Dobby)

(Via Dobby)

I checked out the Dobby photos, it looks decent enough to maybe print as 8×10’s which would be acceptable to me. I am not looking to use this for anything more than what I would use my iPhone for.  As I said, I am mainly interested in photos and not so much on taking video.

I went ahead the pulled the trigger on getting the Yuneec Breeze, as B&H Photo has a sale going on right now. I am thinking it will be a good starter kit, then go from there. At least with the Breeze I will get my foot in the door.  I still haven’t’ decided on getting the optional remote w/goggles…they are currently on backorder anyway so there is no rush.

Well, I received my new Yuneec Breeze and had no success with connecting to my iphone 6s Plus wifi. I was able to sporadically connect with an older Apple ipad mini enough to apply the latest firmware upgrade and then test it briefly indoors. Given the wifi issues I was experiencing, I was all set to return it and had it boxed up and ready to ship.

This morning, I hesitantly decided I would give it one more try with my iphone and lo and behold, the Yuneec Breeze appeared in my wifi connections with no issues. Took it over to the local park where I thought maybe the artificial turf would protect it in the event of a crash. It flew perfectly and I was able to snap a few photos.

Here’s sample taken this morning. I edited it slightly using Photoshop CC with mainly some minor smart sharpening and a graduated filter to bring back some of the color in the sky.

(Via Yuneec Breeze)

I must admit there’re lots of jpeg blurring. I think it might be okay for smaller prints. I’m guessing the “fuzziness” of the artificial turf might exacerbate the problem, but I see it clearly in other images as well. The Breeze was really designed and marketed for the selfie crowd, used to using smartphones and tablets. I think it would probably also work well for simple shots for as well.

I plan to continue testing for a few days and if the wifi connection remains stable and reliable, then I think it might work out for my purposes after all.

Now I’m returning the Yuneec Breeze after all for other issues. Think I might relinquish myself to shooting from terra firma, at least for the time being. Besides there’s a Nikon 70-200 f4 out there somewhere with my name on it!

 

 

 

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Xiaomi drone vs Phantom 3 standard

Surely you already know the DJI and Xiaomi? Xiaomi is a famous smart phone brand , while the DJI is an old player that focuses on the drones (unmanned aircraft) for commercial and personal activities of aerial photography and videography.

Xiaomi Drone was introduced on May 25, 2016. Today we will compare the Xiaomi drone with Phantom 3 Standard to help those who are confused in choosing the drone.

Design

The drones belong to the category of quadcopter, which means that this drone has four motors and four propellers. Xiaomi drone has a simpler design than its rivals, but DJI Phantom 3 standard looks slimmer. But Xiaomi mi drone had a stent design and camera gimbal that can be folded while the DJI Phantom 3 standard stents fixed type. Given its portability, it looks like Xiaomi drone is superior to Panthon 3 Standard.

Specification

Secondly, we will compare its specs. Xiaomi provides two options for the quality of the camera. Namely, 1080p quality and 4K quality camera. The drone is priced at $460 USD for the 4K version reaching a distance of 2 km and $380 for the 1080P version reaching distance of 1 km.While the Phantom 3 Standard is price at $499 with 1km.

Phantom 3 Professional: EXMOR 1/2.3” Effective pixels: 12 M, 720P at 30 fps.

Xiao mi drone:The Mi Drone has two variants, the 4k and the 1080p variant.

• 4k: 12.4 megapixel Sony sensor, with an Ambarella image processor and can shoot 4k (3,840×2,160-pixel resolution) at 30fps.
• 1080p: 16.4 megapixel Sony sensor and an Ambarella image processor and can shoot 1080p video at 60 fps.

Both of them come with 3 axis gimbal mounts and provide excellent stutter correction.

Xiaomi drone 1080P also has its own advantages in video shooting. Lens with field of view of 104 ° will shoot more content than Phantom 3’s 94-degree. Xiaomi drone is more transparent than P3S in the screen resolution of the image. So it would be better to take a static photograph. The 4K version has a maximum video resolution of 3840 × 2160 which is the same as DJI Phantom 3 standards. But we should note that Xiaomi drone only have two functions with a single photo and video catching, slightly worse than the Phantom 3 Standard with the shooting mode.

Phantom 3 Standard is not equipped with an ultrasonic sensor that allows it to fly low over the floor in the room, while Xiaomi drone has an ultrasonic positioning module, although it was not open to the indoor function. Both of them are equipped with a GPS system that is useful to know the position when operated drone in the air, but the GPS function of mi more is more sophisticated than Phantom 3 Standard’s. Xiaomi drone can fly 27 minutes, which is two minutes longer than the Phantom 3.

Remote Control

In terms of function remote control, Xiaomi drone have some innate features such as Automatic Take Off / Landing, one key to return, holding altitude, guidance flying, airline planing, hovering automatic, real-time power monitoring, electricity shortage reminds return. DJI Phantom 3 Standard also has the same features as above, but DJI Phantom 3 Standard has the advantage that features a “Follow Me” which will follow wherever its controller holder.

Conclusion

According to the comparison above, both of them have advantages and disadvantages. DJI is the old brand and professional, but Xiaomi drone is one of the new players in the drone industry. So consider well before buying.

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