DJI Phantom 4 Advanced Compromises Obstacle Avoidance for…

From Netease Drone

While the DJI Phantom 4’s production is to be dropped from the production line by the end of this month, DJI released the Phantom 4 Advanced with similar configuration but much cheaper price. Well, is the Phantom 4 Advanced an update or simplified version of Phantom 4?

Twin Brother of Phantom 4

Phantom 4 Advanced continues the appearance of Phantom 4 series. It is hard to tell the specific model when looking at it in the front. But when you look at it from the side, it is similar to Phantom 4 without the left and right infrared sensors. It is said that the remote controller of Phantom 4 Advanced only supports 2.4GHz instead of the 2.4GHz & 5.8GHz dual bands in Phantom 4 Pro. The Phantom 4 Advanced is like a “twin brother” of Phantom 4.

Similar Configuration to Phantom 4 Pro

Yet, Phantom 4 Advanced also feature similar configuration to Phantom 4 Pro: equipped with the same camera of Phantom 4 Pro, it can record professional 4K video. A mechanical shutter is used to eliminate rolling shutter distortion which can occur when taking images of fast moving subjects or when flying at high speed. And the remote controller is simplified without compromise in image transmission and control range.

Besides, Phantom 4 Advanced also feature a wide range of intelligent flight options: Draw, TapFly, ActiveTrack, Gesture Mode, etc. allowing the users more freedom in aerial photography.
 

Draw

Many customers think that the Phantom 4 Pro is remarkable but the price is too high compared to the Phantom 4. The Obstacle Avoidance can only be used in Beginner Mode and Tripod Mode. Without the right, left and rearward vision sensors, and with a simplified remote controller, the Phantom 4 Advanced is 1000 CNY cheaper than the Phantom 4 Pro. This must be DJI’s response to the market feedback. According to Mr. Paul Xu, Director of DJI Enterprise Solutions, General Manager of Unmanned Aerial System Training Center, the Phantom 4 Advanced features the best aerial camera, which indicates that DJI will focus on this function to cut down the cost. Undoubtedly, the Phantom 4 Advanced will affect the sales of Phantom 4 Pro.

 

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Drones: An Evolving New Tool for Realtors

Drones are transforming a variety of industries, from delivery services through to inspecting solar panels and everything in between. One pioneering sector that long ago embraced drone technology is real estate. Back in 2012, when drones were still in their infancy, realty commentators like Anita Cooper broadened the industry for the new breed of airborne robots by writing educational articles in trade magazines and websites. With the passage of time, drones have now become a crutial part of the realty business landscape.

Ernie Miller of Cecil County, for example, has been an avid cinematographer since childhood. He has integrated that passion into his realty day job by capturing shots of properties with a drone. To do so legally in the USA, realtors must have an appropriate exemption or pass the Part 107 exam from the FAA.

Ernie uses a Phantom 4 aircraft manufactured by the drone industry leader, DJI. The Phantom 4 has a 4K camera, can travel up to 4.3 miles from the operator and has a front-facing obstacle sensing system. The camera can capture butter-smooth, fluid shots which is a crucial feature for real estate footage.

Miller explains the virtues of using drones, particularly in rural areas, “it is ideal when you have a large property or a farm,” he explains. “It’s also great for waterfront properties. Shooting from the air gives you a good angle of the property from the water. You are able to get the dock and the home in the background. Getting a shot from a boat, you don’t get the scope of the property like you do shooting from a drone.”

Hud Benson, is another local realtor who utilizes drones. He began his drone journey using the DJI Phantom 2 Vision in 2014.

The legacy drone models used by both Miller and Benson have been superseded by far more capable aircraft, recently launched by DJI. Notably, the Phantom 4 Professional has a 1-inch 20MP CMOS sensor able to capture 4K-resolution at 60fps. The aircraft boasts a network of forward, rear, side and downward sensors for obstacle avoidance.

The brand new Phantom 4 Advanced released by DJI in April 2017 features an identical camera sensor to the Phantom 4 Professional, but does not have the rear and side obstacle avoidance sensors.

With both models you get the option to have DJI’s remote controller with an integrated high-brightness display.

The advantage of using a drone for real estate is that the full overview of a property can be captured – cheaply. The only alternative would be using an expensive helicopter or airplane. Luxury properties, in particular, benefit from the characteristic cinematic long sweeping shot that can be achieved with a drone.

“I have used my drone to shoot farms that are for sale,” Benson comments, “it is also a nice tool for doing an elevation photo of a home in a case where the neighborhood is an asset and you want to show where that home is in relationship to the other homes and the surroundings.”

Very generously, Benson also frames an aerial shot of a property and gifts that to the realty customer after they transition into their new home.

As evidenced by both Miller and Benson, realtors have much to gain from incorporating drones into their workflow. Utilizing drones in the realty sector will only become more popular as this astounding technology continues to evolve.

 

 

 

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DJI Leads the Way in New Report About Lifesaving Drones

DJI reported Lives Saved: A Survey of Drones in Action, DJI compiled a number of reported cases of lives being saved by drones. DJI, the largest consumer drone manufacturer, has maintained a consistent record of working against needless and complicated restrictions over airspace and flight regulations. Recently we’ve seen them up against a recent threat level classification by the FAA which would place many toys and consumer drones in a higher threat category than necessary. As part of the Drone Manufacturer’s Alliance, they are also up against a recent change to Canada’s drone airspace regulations that makes flying more restrictive for hobbyists.

After even a cursory glance at DJI’s report, it’s apparent that DJI aircrafts are the stars in over half of the cases (at least 10/18, though in some cases the drone used was not mentioned). So why are DJI aircrafts featured in the majority? Of course one can say DJI is keen on focusing on their own aircraft, but as described above, their motivation isn’t entirely selfish as any case where a drone was essential to someone’s safety was included in this report.

Here are a few practical reasons why DJI aircrafts across the board are used for public safety:

1) Presumably main reason of course is availability. DJI has captured so much of the market (about 70%) with their aircrafts that nearly anywhere a disaster or emergency occurs there is a DJI aircraft within a few miles.

2) DJI drones are also almost always immediately ready to fly. The batteries charge in about an hour and most pilots have charged batteries on hand. It takes most DJI aircraft less than 2 minutes to get up in the air whereas some others have significantly longer setup times.

Joshua (TX) Fire Department.

3) Range and flight time. DJI aircrafts like the Mavic Pro and Phantom 4 Pro have the longest range and flight times of any consumer or enterprise drone on the market, by far. With and off the shelf range of 5 miles and flight times pushing 30 minutes per battery, even amateur pilots can survey huge areas for maximum coverage.

4) The quality of the video feeds coming from DJI aircrafts is high enough quality for previously invisible details to be seen from afar. 1080p video is pretty much necessary when you are flying up to 400 feet in the air. The videos themselves when grabbed from the onboard SD cards are full 4k, so even tiny details can be seen.

Photo: Midway Fire Rescue

5) Thermal and zoom cameras. DJI crafts like the Matrice and Inspire lines can carry an array of cameras. The 2 most commonly featured in Search and Rescue and public safety cases are the Zenmuse XT (thermal) and Z30 (zoom). The XT offers stabilized and glitch free video whereas other aircrafts with thermal cameras send a jerky and static ridden video back to the pilot – making the already low resolution thermal image even harder to view. The Z30 is one of the only affordable high-zoom cameras available for commercial drones and can only be mounted to DJI drones.

Overall, it’s fantastic to see a company as large as DJI working for pilots. If it were left up to regulatory agencies, restrictions may be even tougher on using drones for safety. We need a major manufacturer to be a voice of reason and show how powerful a tool for public health drones can be.

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Car License for Drones?

On March 22, 2017, global leader in consumer drone manufacturing DJI published a white paper that brings innovative thought-leadership to industry regulation. With the occasional media stories of privacy intrusion or drones being used for nefarious purposes, there is an increasing call for more robust governance.

Currently the US has a registration process, so if for any reason a drone gets into the hands of authorities following an infraction, the registration number can be verified against a database and the owner identified. However, in the case of a real-time incident where the aircraft is aloft, still hovering high in the sky so no registration number or identifier is visible, it would be difficult for authorities on the ground to be able to act.  For example, if a drone flies over a National Park, which is largely prohibited in the USA, and then the aircraft disappears from sight, how is an observing Police Officer or Park Ranger able to determine the culprit?

For this reason, DJI has suggested a unique, real-time solution to identification. Every drone would transmit, by radio, its location as well as a registration or other unique code.

DJI’s idea is that each drone has an inexpensive system on board that broadcasts its location and an identification number so that a person on the ground with the correct equipment can receive the broadcast. The name and address of the owner would not be revealed at that point, hence maintaining the owner’s privacy. Only law enforcement or FAA authorities would have that capability.

Brendan Schulman, DJI Vice President of Policy and Legal Affairs commented, “DJI understands that accountability is a key part of responsible drone use, and we have outlined a proposal that balances the privacy of drone operators with the legitimate concerns authorities have about some drone operations,” he continues, “this is another example of how the UAS industry is innovating solutions to emerging concerns, and we look forward to working with other stakeholders on how to implement the best possible system.”

The FAA was instructed by Congress to develop ways to identify pilots of drones and was given a 2-year deadline to do so. DJI’s white paper is suggesting a workable solution. The system has been likened to cars having a license plate; anyone can see the plate but only authorities can identify the name and address of the owner.

The technology that DJI is suggesting could easily be integrated into drones. For example, DJI’s most recent releases, primarily the DJI Mavic Pro, Phantom 4 Professional, M200 and Inspire 2 (with X5S camera) would all be suitable candidates as could all other aircraft in the DJI fleet.

The technical solution that has been suggested by DJI is relatively simple to implement and if widely adopted by all drone industry manufacturers, could go one step closer to making these flying miracles safer for the whole community.

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DJI Phantom 4 Pro-A Spring Trip to Dapeng (Shooting Equipment)

Did everyone watch the spring trip video? If not, click the link and watch.

This video was shot by two gadgets.

Aerial footages were captured by DJI Phantom 4 Pro, and the ground footages by SONY a7s M2.

Here we will introduce you the powerful equipment we used.

DJI Phantom 4 Pro

The camera on the Phantom 4 Pro

Sensor size comparison. A CMOS sensor is imbedded in the Phantom 4 Pro camera which is the same with the SONY RX100‘s, leaving more room for photography. It collects more lights and brings stunning images like never before.

You can find a lot of backlight footages in the video, compared to the Phantom 4, the Phantom 4 Pro preserves more details of the shades.

A Photo

The resolution of this photo is 5472 × 3078, the size is 7.5MB. You can even see the details of the remote controller when enlarging it. It’s obvious that the photo shot by Phantom 4 Pro is in high quality and ready for printing.

Maneuver / Control

I have flown Inspire 2 and Mavic Pro for a very long time, however, I was still amazed by the powerful propulsion and quick response of the Phantom 4 Pro.

In this task, we had to shoot from the west gate to the east gate, the Phantom 4 Pro was able to be in the camera set very quickly, saving us a large amount of time and work.

I have to say DJI engineers really worked hard on building the Phantom 4 Pro – it is the best out of Phantom series with abilities to response and move instantly.

Narrow streets and messy power lines make the old town a less ideal flying area. But with its ability to sense in five directions and avoid obstacles in four directions, the Phantom 4 Pro made its flight worry-free.

What’s worth mentioning here is that the video transmission didn’t get interrupted when the aircraft passing through the gate and flying over the roofs. It is a proof of the enhanced anti-interference ability of the Phantom 4 Pro.

However, I disenabled the obstacle avoidance when getting this one-take shot, it was not safe actually, please don’t try imitate my operation, or else your drone may end up with a crash.

Integrated Remote Controller

This integrated remote controller makes an awkward answering a friend’s call during flight a long gone history.

This time we’d brought five batteries.

I applaud for the flight time. Five batteries are enough for a long day shooting with a surprise of the remote controller still showing two LED lights on.

SONY a7s M2 full-frame compact camera with anti-shake functionality in five axis.

It’s capable of shooting video at 1080p, 120 fps, and it’s quite heavy when mounted with a FE24-70 2.8 GM lens. Thanks to the Phantom 4 Pro’s stable hovering capability, when capturing the drone’s flight altitude, I can just put the remote controller aside and use the Sony a7s M2 to shoot the drone. As for footages of flying drones, I can control the drone by one hand, and use the other hand to control the Sony a7s M2.

However, if you don’t have a professional camera at hand, you can also use an iPhone to shoot slow motion videos, the image quality is good as well.

Summary

To me, the greatest improvement of Phantom 4 Pro is its camera, I believe most photography enthusiasts will agree with me on this point. The image quality achieved by the Phantom 4 Pro can fulfill most people’s need, can even compete with the Inspire 2.

The CMOS sensor that also used in SONY RX100 makes the Phantom 4 Pro’s camera a top aerial camera in the market, I believe the 1 inch sensor is a perfect balance of the size and performance.

SONY RX100 was once selected to be the best backup camera for professional photographers, and the Phantom 4 Pro is also absolutely the best back up aerial camera for professional aerial photographers, for example, in the first phase of a big aerial photography project, you can use the Phantom 4 Pro to check around the shooting site and help with composition, make preparation for formal aerial shooting, what’s more, the footages taken by the Phantom 4 Pro can also be used as backups.

A little supplement here, for general non-professional users, the Mavic Pro is still the best choice.

Whether a new product is worth buying or not depends on your specific needs, it will be your best companion when it fulfills your needs.

Today’s drone market is a segmented market, which is good news to us.

If you are a drone beginner, and have high requirements for the portability, then you should not look for anything besides Mavic Pro.

If you have high requirements for image quality and relatively lower requirements for portability (Compared to the Inspire series), then then Phantom 4 Pro is quite a nice choice.

However, if you are a professional photographer, then don’t hesitate to get an Inspire 2 or a M600 PRO.

 

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What’s the PLUS of Phantom 4 Pro+?

Looks like the purpose of having an integrated screen on Phantom 4 Pro+ is to save users the trouble of bringing cables and connecting mobile device to RC manually. But is it convenient to use? Let’s find out.

Looks like a phone

The screen on Phantom 4 Pro+ is as large as a smart phone. It’s powered by RC, with only one button to lock/wake up the screen, or reset it by pressing and hold.

Interface

The screen turns on along with the RC by pressing the power button of the RC. The main interface comes after the DJI logo, waiting to connect with a Phantom 4 Pro.

After connecting the aircraft with RC, the screen is fully functional, whose operation interfaces are the same with DJI GO app in mobile devices.

Moreover, SkyPixel, photo album, editor, DJI Academy, flight logs and settings are also integrated on the home page.

Some of you have discovered the photo album has been separated from the editor in this integrated screen. Now you can use editor only for editing, after which the photos will be kept in album, along with original photos and screenshots.

Brightness

When conducting outdoor flight, the brightness of screen is essential.

While using smart phones as monitors has many disadvantages. Apart from being disturbed by phone calls and messages, the screen of smart phone is not bright enough to withstand strong sunlight, causing difficulty of seeing things clearly.

But all these problems are solved by the integrated screen on P4P+. With a highest brightness of 1000cd/m², you are able to see everything shot by the camera clearly. If it’s still not enough, you can go to “Settings” and enable the SRE function to increase color contrast and concentration.

There are more options included in Setting, including Wi-Fi, device, system and so on.

You can also get access to control multiple connectors directly on the screen, for example HDMI connector switch on/off, check content stored in SD card and connecting different devices though USB etc.

There is one more thing to be noticed, which is mobile network connection settings. Does that mean SIM card is available in the future?

More functions

Apart from DJI Go app, more apps are integrated in the screen, for example, Instagram, Weibo and twitter. The purpose is to enable users to share what they shoot immediately to friends.

Web browser is available too.

But the integrate screen doesn’t support third-party app download, including games. Reason could be less interference for DJI GO operation. After all, aero photography is the main purpose.

Despite a screen has been integrated into the RC, power consumption remains almost the same.

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It is GoPro Karma again?！

GoPro Karma drone has had a bit of a troubled recent history since it was first introduced last year. After being delayed throughout most of 2016, it finally went on sale in October, only to be recalled in November due to what the camera company later said was a faulty battery latch, which could cause the batteries to lose power mid-flight.

Three months off the market, the GoPro Karma went up for sale again at the beginning of February. However, it reportedly crashed into a New York City apartment window according to the New York Post at the end of February.

A GoPro Karma drone smashed though the window of a 66-year-old lady living on the 27th floor of 20 Waterside Plaza in Manhattan, New York. The woman was working on a computer when the drone smashed right though her window and fell within 4 feet of her. Currently, the Police and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the accident. They are planning to use the drone’s serial number to locate the drone owner in the FAA’s database.

Scan some comments to discover reviews like “This sounds hoax. 27th floor windows won’t break that easily, and no point in throwing shit on a brand for “being unreliable”… all drones are unreliable to a degree.”

However, the news is absolutely real. New York Post has reported this issue. The building is about 30 years old with smaller windows, not floor to ceiling commercial windows. Some pilots added, “If I was choosing a drone to fly around Manhattan illegally or not, I wouldn’t choose one prone to drift without avoidance technologies available at the same price. The GoPro Karma is a clumsy drone, whether a gust of wind took it or not, it had too many things going against it in the first place, before it took off. Now we all suffer as a result of poor drawing board choices.”

All drones are unreliable? I think it depends on two factors. One is what kind of drones do you choose. As the GoPro Karma lacks features such as obstacle avoidance and “Follow Me” mode, so you should find a deserted wide open field with no obstacles. If you want to fly around Manhattan, then some drones like the Phantom 4/4 Pro and Mavic Pro which have obstacle avoidance may be a better choice. The other thing is that the drone operators make safe flying their priority. Although drone manufacturers are doing everything technically possible to ensure flight safety, drone enthusiasts must also do their part.

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DJI GO vs DJI GO 4:Which one do you use with the Mavic Pro

There are now two separate DJI apps. Which one do you use with the Mavic Pro and why? What the main differences between DJI GO vs DJI GO 4 seem to be? Confusing them right? Below are some frequently asked questions about the two apps.

Why are DJI GO and DJI GO 4.0 separate apps? Why can’t there just be one unified DJI GO app?

DJI GO 4 is specifically designed to be compatible with our newer products. By separating DJI GO 4 from DJI GO, older products won’t be adversely affected by future updates to DJI GO 4, and updates to DJI GO will focus on optimizing and improving the app’s compatibility with older products.

What products are compatible with DJI GO and DJI GO 4, respectively?

Do I need to have DJI GO and DJI GO 4 installed at the same time if I have a Phantom 3 and Phantom 4 Pro?

To use both products, you need to have DJI GO and DJI GO 4 installed on your mobile device at the same time. Please make sure to use DJI GO 4 to activate your Phantom 4 Pro or Inspire 2, rather than DJI GO.

Why does my aircraft not react after I connect to my mobile device (Android) with DJI GO and DJI GO 4 running at the same time?

Due to Android operating system limitations, the aircraft will attempt to connect to the app you opened first by default. In this case, you can clear defaults and then connect the aircraft to the app again.

What are the differences between DJI GO 4 and DJI GO?

The major difference lies in the products supported by each app. Other than some minor user interface variations, DJI GO 4 is quite similar to DJI GO.

Will DJI GO 4 replace DJI GO? Will DJI GO be updated in the future?

DJI GO 4 will not replace DJI GO. Updates will be made to both DJI GO and DJI GO 4. For example, the new Editor from DJI GO 4 will also be added to DJI GO.

Next, let’s take a look at some of the new Editor’s features.

Elaborately Create Your Own Travel Diary

Every time you complete shooting, Editor will create a movie for you to record your life and share with your friends.

Free Music in Various Styles

Up to 53 background songs are available! You can also adjust the duration of the music to make it suitable for your creation.

Simple and Convenient Timeline

An intuitive timeline allows you to view, edit and share your footage in just a few seconds! Each clip’s settings can be tweaked to perfection. What’s more, you can also use videos stored in your mobile device!

Sharing with a Single Tap

After editing your footage, share it to Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram with just a single tap. Or share it on DJI Skypixel, which connects aerial photographers and filmmakers from around the world.

Capture and Save Instantly

The photos and videos you captured will be automatically cached to the Album, keeping them readily accessible for you to review and edit at any time.

Save at Any Time

You can save your editing progress whenever you want, then continue editing and publish your video later.

The new editor is currently available for DJI GO 4 and will be available for DJI GO soon. Thanks for reading! If you have any editing tips of your own or feedback about the new app, feel free to share in the thread or comments.

( Source )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Safe Choices for Smart Drone Flight

The popularity of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (sUAS), more commonly referred to as “drones,” means there are more vehicles sharing US airspace than ever before. It is of prime importance that drone operators make safe flying their priority.

Many drone manufacturers are making safety enhancements to their aircraft, but none more than the industry leader, DJI. DJI has led the charge in aircraft safety, particularly with their sophisticated obstacle avoidance systems. For example, the recently released DJI Phantom 4 Pro has a network of forward, rear, side and downward sensors to enhance safety. The aircraft rapidly calculates the relative speed and distance between the aircraft and objects which helps the operator avoid bumping into obstacles. This nimble aircraft is also able to fly in complex environments while avoiding obstacles in its path.

The Phantom 4 Pro boasts a ‘narrow sensing’ capability enabling the pilot to fly through small spaces with great confidence. Redundant IMU’s and compasses on the aircraft ensure that the data generated during flight is accurately processed. The outcome of these advanced capabilities is a reliable and safe aircraft.

Although DJI is doing everything technically possible to ensure flight safety, drone enthusiasts must also do their part. As Michael Huerta, Administrator of the FAA, previously cautioned at CES, “…safely integrating these new pilots into the national airspace system is one of the FAA’s top priorities in order to protect manned aircraft, to protect people on the ground and of course to protect innovation…”

The ‘Know Before You Fly’ education campaign founded by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) and the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) in partnership with the FAA, has recommendations for the safe and responsible operation of drones. The recommendations include advising enthusiasts to join a community-oriented flying club such as the AMA. Such organizations offer an opportunity to fly with more experienced pilots in a safe and friendly learning environment. Although there is a fee to join, the benefits far outweigh the cost. Further advice from the safety campaign includes advising drone pilots not to fly higher than 400ft (121.92m) to avoid presenting a hazard to manned aircraft.

In addition, pilots are advised to keep their aircraft in line of sight so that the drone is always visible. The campaign discourages flying the aircraft so far away that the pilot needs to rely on a smartphone or tablet for orientation. A final piece of sage advice is to avoid flying over unprotected people and to remain at least 25ft (7.62m) away from individuals and vulnerable property.

As Huerta explained at CES concerning new drone enthusiasts, “…there are rules and regulations they need to follow and it will also help them to become part of the safety culture that has been deeply embedded in traditional aviation for more than a century…”

Observing the rules from the FAA and ‘Know Before You Fly’ campaign together with using proven, safe aircraft will keep the skies a secure environment for all.

 

 

 

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Will DJI Phantom 5 be your drone?

What are the typical time frames for versions with DJI? What are the rumors concerning Phantom 5?

We scoured the internet to find all of the rumors, leaks, and allegations that are surrounding the drone that has everybody at the edge of their seats.

Design

The shell of the DJI Phantom 5 will be available in two colors (white and black) this will give it a sporty look and a glossy finish to it. The motors are firmly attached and stand tall while the top of the drone is mounted by a quick release propeller. These are raised in particular, so that the stators can allow the props to get out of the way and so that the brakes can be applied at high speeds.

Another upgrade that you will immediately notice is that to the Gimbal as well as the camera that has been fitted. Why don’t the legs retract? With the legs out of the way you could have a gimbal that rotates 360 degrees, you could put on shorter focal length lenses or you could swap out that lens for one-half of a 360° camera. Maybe the other side of the 360° could snap onto the top of the drone? Anything can happen.

Camera 

The Phantom 5 will have a better camera. The Inspire 2 has a 5K capable camera. We would be surprised if the Phantom 5 doesn’t follow suit with upgraded video processing.

It is capable of taking high-quality images which can also be streamed to the controller live. It is ideal for those who want to use it for surveillance purposes or just for appreciating mother nature and clicking still images of birds, sunsets, etc. The high resolution of the camera ensures that the pictures do not get pixelated, thus allowing you to enjoy them full later on.

It’s also rumored that, the Phantom 5 comes with a removable camera which allows you to replace it, upgrade it or even swap it out with a 360 degree or thermal camera.

The Flight Time

The Phantom 5 will have a longer flight time. The Phantom 4 Pro can fly up to 30 minutes.

The Phantom 5 has been rumored to have a flight time that is up to 30 minutes long on a single charge, but some are saying it can even go up to 33 minutes. Others are claiming that it could even be 40 minutes on a single charge, which makes sense if the rumors of a never before seen battery are actually true.

Others are also saying that when the Phantom 5 is in Sports Mode you can get more than the average 30-minute claim, which doesn’t seem all that true considering Sports Mode usually drains the battery faster. However, these are all rumors, so there isn’t anything too solid yet.

Range

The Phantom 5 will have a longer range. The Phantom 4 Pro has a range of 7000 m. We expect the Phantom 5 to have a range of at least 8000 m, but potentially even up to 10,000 m.

The Features

The Phantom 5 will have front, rear and side cameras to help it avoid obstacles. The side cameras will give the Phantom 5 full 360-degree obstacle avoidance.Top and bottom obstacle avoidance.

It’s rumored to feature a second FPV camera. A second stationary lag-free camera could allow the pilot to fly the drone with an FPV headset while a second cameraman operates the camera and gimbal. The Inspire 2 has this feature so the Phantom could follow suit, but only if they also add retractable legs.

We may even be getting a waterproof drone. How awesome would it be to fly your Phantom at the beach and not have to worry about getting it wet? They might not make all Phantom 5s waterproof, but maybe we can hope for a dual release with a Phantom 5W model that can handle the elements and take off out of the water.

We may also have newer flight modes that are going to be paired with older ones, too. For example, Auto Takeoff and Auto Return, similar to Return to Home, may be coming into play here. We may also see GPS, which has supposedly improved drastically, reliant features, such as TapFly, ActiveTracking, and features that do not need GPS while in Sports Mode. In fact, Sports Mode is rumored to have replaced Flight Mode completely for the purpose of providing 10 additional minutes to flight time, but we can’t be too sure yet.

One of the more popular rumors is when the release date is. Some say that it will be in April, while others are thinking it’s going to be much closer to the holidays. We expect the Phantom 5 will not be around until the second half of the year as there is no need for improvement because the previous newly Phantom 4 Pro are awesome, so why keep going soon?

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DJI PHANTOM 4: IN AUTOMATIC PILOT MODE

They begin with the introduction of a stereoscopic detection system: based on the presence of 4 sensors in front and below the drone, it provides recognition of obstacles. The range of this system is 15 m at the front and 10 m below. Used in automatic mode, it allows the Phantom 4 to brake automatically in front of an obstacle until it stops to avoid the collision and, in the “Return to Home” mode, it allows to automatically return to its original position more efficient thanks to an optimization of its trajectory.

The intelligent functions of the Phantom 4 are operated in the “TapFly” autonomous flight mode. Simply specify the destination by clicking on the touch screen of the control box so that the drone goes there by adapting to its Environment and bypassing obstacles.

More interestingly, the DJI engineers worked on a tracking method called “Active Track”. The Phantom 4 will automatically follow a moving subject while leaving the user with control over camera movements as well as the ability to rotate around the subject that will always remain in the center of the frame. At any time, the user retains the possibility of pressing the “pause” button of the drone control to place it in the stationary position and resume control of the flight conditions.

Other features include “Sport” mode, which allows faster acceleration and deceleration of the Phantom 4 and a top speed of 20 m / s in flight. This speed can be reached thanks to the redesigned engines.

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Top 4 Ways to Fly Your Drone Safely

Whether it’s for filmmaking, hobby use, industrial use, or public safety, drone usage continues to grow in many industries. However, publicity hasn’t been very kind to the tech. New pilots and people who are unfamiliar with the technology may be overly alarmed about safe flying procedures and restrictions. So how can an average consumer make sure they are flying legally and safely? Here are the top 4 ways to ensure your flying in the safest manner possible.

1) Use Geofencing. Consider getting a drone with built-in geofencing. Geofencing systems are designed to allow the pilot to make sure they are only flying in legal and safe areas. Airports, government facilities, prisons, stadiums, and more are restricted airspace. Invisible to the naked eye, these airspace restrictions can be found on government and drone websites and are often built in to the apps you use to control your drone. A wonderfully implemented example is DJI’s GEO Within the map in their DJI GO app, there are visual indicators of where the “no fly zones” (or NFZs) are. The aircraft itself will either give you warnings or actually stop you from flying in them. You can visit DJI.com for a map with colored NFZs for more info.

2) Join a local drone club. If you are new to drones and like a personal learning experience, a model aircraft club may be a good option for you. The Academy of Model Aeronautics, or AMA, has a tool on their site that gives you a list of clubs and allows you to find the most convenient one for you. These clubs will give you access to other more experienced members with a wide knowledgebase to help you ease into the industry. Most clubs meet at a local public space designated for model aircraft flight. One major benefit comes automatically with membership to the AMA – drone insurance.

3) Get your official drone certification. Last year the FAA developed a certification process (CFR 14 part 107, or just 107 for short) that rapidly sped up the ability for drone pilots to earn money with their aircraft. Even if you aren’t looking to make money, the whole process is a fantastic way of learning about airspace, weather patterns, drone maintenance and more. Visit gov for more info on how to get started. Speaking of the FAA, they also have a great website and app resource called Know Before You Fly.

4) Fly a drone with safety features built in and be sure to learn them. As drones get more and more powerful, with better cameras and longer lasting batteries, so too are the safety features being improved. For example, the DJI Mavic and Phantom 4 Pro both come with stereoscopic obstacle avoidance cameras (the Phantom with 5-way sensors), automatic return-to-home, ground detecting cameras so they don’t land on water accidentally, and more. You can physically make the drones safer with things like propeller guards which DJI just developed for the Mavic as well.

Once these few basics are out of the way, the only thing left to do is get flying practice. The great thing is, unlike years ago where drones needed a ton of manual input to remain stable, today’s drone like the aforementioned DJI Mavic and Phantom 4 Pro practically fly themselves. Anyone can fly safely if they follow recommended procedures and use drones with well known reputations of safety and reliability.

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Drone to the Rescue, the platform of choice is…

Locating lost or injured people in hazardous and threatening environments continues to be a challenge for emergency services around the world. Earthquakes, wildfires, landslides, and similar environmental disasters are difficult for ‘on-foot’ personnel to navigate. Deploying helicopters and airplanes in these circumstances can prove costly and dangerous.

A variety of initiatives are taking place worldwide using drone technology to assist in search and rescue efforts. The platform of choice, most often, hails from drone specialists DJI.

For example, the European Emergency Number Association (EENA) has undertaken a year long project using DJI aircraft with the disaster response community, focusing on how drones can be effectively deployed to save lives in emergencies.

Initial data from the project found that the work of a traditional 5-man crew on foot that took 2 hours to complete could be achieved by a drone crew within 20 minutes.

“The project has been a real window into how remotely piloted aircraft systems are being used and may be used during emergency responses,” said Tony O’Brien, of the EENA.

In a separate initiative in the United Kingdom, the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) is using the DJI Inspire 1 to support operations.

“For us, this technology is a game-changer,” said Group Manager Steve McLinden.  The MAWWFRS is a trailblazer in Wales regarding the utilization of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV’s). They are one of only a few fire services in the UK to be licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority to operate drones professionally.

When the team first received their Inspire 1, Chief Fire Officer Chris Davies remarked, “the additional reconnaissance during search and rescue operations that the UAV provides could also be invaluable in being able to quickly locate any individuals or animals that may be trapped, and subsequently allow us to direct resources to them quickly.”

Although the complete range of DJI aircraft including the Mavic and Phantom 4 Pro can be useful in supporting search and rescue missions, the Inspire 1 including the X3 camera is a particularly popular option. The Inspire 1 is also compatible with the Zenmuse XT thermal camera developed by FLIR.

The XT camera provides high-sensitivity (50mK) thermal imaging at 640/30 fps or 336/30 fps depending on the camera model. This sensitivity provides accurate temperature measurements with clear imagery and 360 degrees of rotational movement. The XT can be controlled completely through the DJI GO app, providing a real-time view of what the camera is capturing and can be put into the air with the Inspire 1 in seconds.

DJI is making exceptional advances in the arena of aerial platforms and the Inspire 1 with Zenmuse XT may soon become the de facto standard for search and rescue missions across the globe as more begin to use the technology.

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What Can I Do with A Phantom 4 Pro Remote Controller

DJI released Phantom 4 Pro and Phantom 4 Pro Plus. Many asked me what’s the difference and which to buy. Here is our review:

P4P Plus is actually P4P with a screen, which costs $290 more that the latter.

But this screen is of super highlight display.

Specs from DJI website:

5.5 inch/ 1080P / 1000nit / 5-hour battery life

1.If Your phone screen is not so clear in outdoor environment:

▼  Phantom 4 Pro Plus screen VS iPhone 7 Plus ▼

▼P4P Plus screen VS Xiaomi Note 2 ▼

▼ P4P Plus screen VS Xiaomi Note 2 ▼(detail)

▼ P4P Plus screen VS iPad mini 4 ▼

iPhone 7 Plus / Xiaomi Note 2 / iPad mini 4 is really dim when compared with a screen of 1000nit

In the detail picture of Xiaomi vs Phantom 4 Pro Plus, P4P+ has got brighter colors and clearer words.

2.If you often forget power cable

Well, you often forget to bring the power cable like me, Phantom 4 Pro Plus is a perfect choice.

3.If you are an iPhone user

iPhone battery runs out really fast when you connect it to Remote Controller. P4P+ can solve this easily. This thing can work for 5 hours!

Beside the screen, Phantom 4 Pro Plus has added a micro-SD port and a HDMI port.

Power Button and microphone are added to the screen, convenient to turn on/off the screen and record sounds.

As well as cooling design at the bottom of P4P+

But its built-in DJI GO is just the same. You can find DJI GO on P4P+ starts faster

You can use landscape mode to edit footage with P4P+, which is not possible on smartphone screen.

4.When you get a phone call during flight

If you are using your smartphone,

▼you will be like▼

In summary,

If you are considering to get a Phantom 4 Pro, or you’re really serious about getting good pictures, you should get one.

If you’re a heavy iPhone user, you’d better get one as iPhone battery slumps really fast, while Phantom 4 Pro Plus can last 5 hours.

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