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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Does the Yuneec Intel partnership make the Typhoon H a safer drone?

DJI Phantom 4 comes with front facing cameras able ‘see’ and ‘sense’ any obstacle, from tress to birds to walls to flying objects, that may come its way. It was against this world-class Obstacle Avoidance System (OAS) that the Typhoon H Realsense was meant to compete against.

Many a DJI Phantom 4 review has termed its OAS truly a thing of the future.

Yuneec’s Typhoon H Realsense boasts a collision avoidance feature based on the Intel Realsense module. The Typhoon H Realsense uses ‘sonar’ technology instead of actual physical detection or visual tracking to avoid obstacles. The results have received mixed reviews – some experts pointing out to the fact the Typhoon H Realsense waits until very late before detecting an oncoming or imminent object.

Compared to the Typhoon H Realsense, the DJI Vision Positioning System – available as an extension – makes flying it an ever safer and easier experience.

Pilots can afford to sip their cup of coffee or check mails on their mobile phones when the drone was left to fend for itself, giving them a short respite while controlling their RC quadcopter. With the OAS supported by the DJI features like TapFly and ActiveTrack features, Phantom 4 is literally a breeze to operate. Even the most inexperienced beginner can fly the DJI RC quadcopter, safely and comfortably.

These features are not available with the Typhoon H Realsense. Dependent solely on GPS, tracking the Typhoon H Realsense is no joy either.

Typhoon H Realsense does have specs and credentials that are pretty impressive at least on paper. With the Typhoon H Realsense, Yuneec would have expected to have real potential that can challenge the safety credentials of the Phantom 4. Unfortunately, the Typhoon H Realsense collision avoidance feature is limited to detecting incoming or forthcoming articles when they are a mere five feet away.

Almost every Typhoon H review discusses how DJI is still ahead of the game in terms of R&D for better control and stability. The DJI vs Yuneec contest was expected to heat up with the release of the Typhoon H Realsense.

However, for the Typhoon H Realsense, a very common headache is the loss of connection during flight. This can be attributed to the unfortunate fact that Typhoon H has a much shorter operating range compared to the Phantom 4. In addition, a more stable GPS tracking means incidents of the DJI Phantom 4 signal loss extremely rare.

It has taken Yuneec around six months to bring the Intel-powered Typhoon H Realsense to market, but at long last, booking and sales have begun. Unfortunately, initial reviews of the Typhoon H Realsense are not really looking positive with pilots and drone enthusiasts are asking – is the expensively priced Typhoon H Realsense really worth that much money?

 

 

 

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Whether the Typhoon H Realsense worths the price?

The Typhoon H Realsense was launched at CES 2016 and one of Yuneec’s key selling points was the Intel Realsense module that the latest – and most expensive so far – Yuneec Typhoon was supposed to carry.

Yuneec China launched the Typhoon H and retailed it – after months of delay –for about US$1,299, about twice as much as the Typhoon Q500 4K. Is the Typhoon H Realsense worth this price? Many experts and pilots don’t think so.

Typhoon H Realsense uses a similar Intel Realsense module to those used in bikers’ helmets, simulated computer gaming and a range of other fields. How effective it’d be on an aerial drone that’s following subjects to capture QHD footage?While the expectations were high, the Typhoon H Realsense has so far not been met with similar level of praise as that displayed in almost every DJI Phantom 4 review. Rather, the DJI RC quadcopter has a market-leading Obstacle Avoidance System (OAS).

A Typhoon H Realsense, against DJI Phantom 4 comparison, demonstrates a couple of major difference, the key being that the DJI system is more stable in varied conditions.

Quite naturally, the comparisons with the DJI Phantom 4 flooded on-line forums like DroneCompares or myfirstdrone.com. Compared to Typhoon H Realsense, Phantom 4 reviews have been largely positive, with its multi-camera-based OAS is known to avoid obstacles without failing from a longer distance.

One important thing to remember is that the Typhoon H Realsense does not include the collision avoidance feature that was on display when the drone was launched at the CES 2016. For starters, the drone in the demonstration was aided by a Vicon infrared system that is far from standard.

DJI Phantom 4 vs Yuneec Typhoon H reviews have been overwhelmingly sided in favour of DJI.

Pilots are calling Typhoon H Realsense drone’s safety mechanism, at its best, ‘basic’.

While the Typhoon H Realsense does work better at low-light conditions, a lot of people have complained about problems encountered when the sunlight is too bright or the breeze is too strong. Experts agree that the likelihood of flying a UAV during daytime is much higher than flying it at night.  On the contrary, the DJI drones is equipped with its own obstacle avoidance system that can sense objects from a much longer distance, and take evasive action without failing.

Under standard flying conditions, the Typhoon H Realsense and the Phantom 4 from DJI report an operating time of 22 minutes and 28 minutes respectively. However, the heavier bodyweight of the Typhoon H Realsense, due to its almost inconvenient size thanks to the six rotors, almost always contributes to the faster drain-out of the battery, and its inability to fly longer or higher.

 

 

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