PATREONItems tagged with drone
The upcoming first-person view (FPV) drone from DJI is not necessarily a secret after it leaked back in December, but DJI has been incredibly quiet since then. It seems the Shenzhen-based company has been plugging away at getting the drone ready, as another leaker, SpiderMonkey FPV on YouTube, got his hands on a display demo and unboxed it for the world to see. Interestingly, this could be the only glimpse of the drone that the U.S. gets to see before its launch. After the initial leak of the first-ever FPV drone from DJI, the United State Department of Commerce put DJI on a U.S. trade blacklist called the “Entity List.” The Dept. of Commerce claimed that DJI was engaged in “high-technology...
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A few months back, we took DJI's Mavic Air 2 for a test flight and came away impressed with its performance, overall photo/video capabilities, and its ability to stay aloft for a half hour or more. Today, DJI is back again with another new drone, and this one will go a lot easier on your wallet than the Mavic Air 2. We're talking of course about the Mini 2; the "Mavic" portion of its name has been dropped with this generation. The Mini 2 retains the compact, lightweight form-factor of the Mavic Mini, weighing in at just 249 grams. This allows the Mini 2 to continue to skirt Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations that require drones that are 250 grams or heavier to be registered....
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After numerous leaks, the DJI Mavic Air 2 went official today with the company saying that the drone was a reimagining of the experience of aerial creativity. DJI promises that the Mavic Air 2 is the safest and easiest-to-flying consumer drone it has produced so far. The camera sensor used is a one-half-inch unit supporting 48-megapixel still photos and 4K video recording at 60 fps and 128 Mbps. The video recording also supports HDR video and 4x slow motion in 1080p at 120 fps or 8x slow motion in 1080p at 240 fps. In addition to the 48-megapixel still images, users can also choose to record images in other resolutions. The camera is mounted on a mechanical three-axis gimbal that helps...
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DJI is working on a new drone, which has been leaked by ANATEL, the Brazilian equivalent to the FCC. The leak included multiple images and some details from the quick start manual for the drone. According to the leaked specifications, the DJI Mavic Pro 2 will be able to fly up to 43 mph with a maximum flight time of 34 minutes. Both represent healthy increases of the original Mavic Air that we reviewed back in 2018. Power comes from a 3500 mAh Lipo battery, and the camera attached to the flying drone is a 48-megapixel unit able to capture 4K video and along with still images. The Mavic Air 2 drone also features an obstacle sensor and intelligent flight modes. Those intelligent flight modes include...
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A report has surfaced that claims the United States government plans to permanently stop its civilian drone program. The reason cited by the report is that the drones used are at least partly made in China, and the United States government fears potential Chinese spying. Currently, the US Department of the Interior has about 1,000 drones that it is reportedly considering ending the use of because the risk of spying is too high. The first rumblings of the government's plan surfaced in a report by the Financial Times that cited two people briefed about the plans. The sources claim that Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt hasn't yet signed an official policy, but is planning to pull the drone...
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When you typically think of top tier consumer/prosumer aerial drones, there's typically DJI and everyone else. But we can't forget about Parrot, which also makes a line of attractive drones at reasonable price points. The latest from the company is the new Anifa FPV drone. As you might have surmised by now, the FPV stands for first-person view. Thanks to the drone's built-in 180-degree tilting camera, everything it sees is streamed back you via the Cockpitglasses headset. The headset works similarly to virtual reality counterparts that you may have seen in the past, and they allow you to slip your phone directly in front of your eyes. The view from the front-facing camera is then...
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Back in early July, we bought you the rather frightening story about someone that had attached a fully functional flamethrower to a DJI drone, turning it into a flying instrument of death. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is now once again warning U.S. residents against weaponizing drones, which seems rather obvious when you think about it. The FAA reiterates that it is "illegal to operate a drone with a dangerous weapon attached." The FAA is well aware of the videos that have been circulating around the internet promoting such dangerous activities and warns against attaching "guns, bombs, fireworks, flamethrowers, and other dangerous items". Besides the fact that such items represent...
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DJI is well known for making flying drones, but flying, camera-equipped aircraft isn't all that the company has on its plate. Last month, it unveiled the OSMO Action camera aimed directly at GoPro. DJI is back with a new educational robot that is aimed directly at teaching people to build and code called the RoboMaster S1 that will ship in June for $499. DJI says that RoboMaster S1 is intended to introduce new users to the fun and possibilities of robotic technology with powerful brushless motors, a chassis capable of moving in all directions, a high-precision gimbal, and interactive programming modes. Users will also learn to assemble designated and custom hardware, learn to maneuver the...
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DJI is a company most known for making aerial drones at multiple price points to suit a wide range of customers. Last November the company announced a new pocket camera called the Osmo Pocket. DJI has now added a new product to that Osmo line with the launch of the Osmo Action camera aimed directly at the GoPro line of action cameras. DJI says that the Osmo Action camera uses the experience it has in capturing smooth and stable videos in the most demanding environments. The compact DJI Osmo Action camera is dustproof, shockproof, waterproof and can operate in sub-freezing temperatures. The camera features front and back screens to make composing video easier. The front screen is a 1.4-inch unit,...
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Let me say right off the bat that I am not the guy you want flinging $1,200 drones through the sky, especially around cliffs, the ocean, and dense forests, all of which are common where I live. But I took one for the team and decided to check out the DJI Mavic 2 Zoom anyway. You see, I have issues with both directions and spatial relationships; I can get lost in my shower, and concepts such as "north," "south," and "up the road" are foreign to me. Thus, on the road, I simply drive where my wife points. (Also, I should mention that I'm old and cranky. Possibly because my wife is always pointing and telling me where to go.) The DJI Mavic 2 Zoom is simply too valuable a piece of equipment to entrust...
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DJI has once again stepped into the spotlight with another powerful, yet portable, 4K drone that combines the video capabilities of its highly regarded Mavic Pro, with the smaller footprint of the consumer-focused DJI Spark. DJI has gone to great lengths in recent years to appeal to consumers looking for more portable devices. As a photographer, I carry a camera bag littered with lenses and DSLR bodies; but most will agree that something like DJI's earlier Phantom drones were simply too large to consider highly portable. With DJI’s latest and greatest drone, the Mavic Air, however, photographers and videographers alike are able to carry a foldable, simple to deploy, and extremely easy to...
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DJI has created a lot of buzz in the drone and photography communities with the Mavic 2 that leaked last month. Along with a leaked image of that device came some alleged specifications. Later in the month, a catalog page for the new drone leaked that called out a Hasselblad camera for the Mavic 2 Pro with a 1-inch sensor, 31-minute flight time, and the ability to stream video and images over 5 miles. A Mavic 2 Zoom was also called out with a zoom lens. Mavic 2 Pro The drone is also tipped to be 360-degree hazard aware in the leaked catalog. One thing we didn’t know was when exactly the drone would be unveiled. We now have an answer to that and know that DJI is having an event tomorrow...
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Earlier in the month, a leak made the rounds that claimed to show the upcoming DJI Mavic 2 drone. The leak suggested that the drone might be able to detect obstacles with a 360-degree field of view. The Mavic 2 drone has since turned up in the latest Argos catalog, despite not being officially announced by DJI just yet. The catalog actually calls out two versions of the drone, one of them is the DJI Mavic 2 Pro, which packs a 1-inch sensor, and the DJI Mavic 2 Zoom with an integrated 24-48mm zoom lens and a "Dolly Zoom" effect. The description from the Argos catalog calls out some other specifications as well, including 1080p video transmission with a transmission distance of up...
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DJI is one of the top companies in the world of personal drones for shooting video and other content. DJI also has a history of having a tough time keeping its new products under wraps. The $799 Mavic Air leaked back in January and it was officially launched not long after that slip-up. Another DJI drone has leaked and this time it is said to be the upcoming Mavic 2. The Mavic 2 designation on the drone is clear in the leaked image. You can tell from the hands near the drone that while it might be larger than the Mavic Air it still appears to be compact enough to be easily transportable. The rumors circulating with the leaked photo indicate that the camera on the Mavic 2 is modular...
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It appears that the naysayers have won out this time at Google with regards to its involvement in Project Maven, a Department of Defense program involving aerial drones used in military operations. Google has reportedly decided against renewing its contract with the Pentagon after facing immense backlash both inside and outside of the company. At a meeting with employees on Friday dubbed the "Weather Report", Google Cloud CEO Diane Greene broke the news saying that Google will not renew its contract once it expires in 2019. The meeting, which were first reported by Gizmodo, made it clear that Google had actively been trying to secure military contract, which can often be quite...
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When it comes to consumer drones, many people look to DJI for products like the Spark and the Mavic Pro. However, GoPro, which made a name for itself with action cameras, though that it could encroach into DJI's territory with its swanky Karma drone. Well, things haven't exactly been going well for the company on the drone front. A fresh report from TechCrunch says that GoPro will lay off between 200 to 300 employees this week, with most of those dismissals coming from its aerial drone division. According to a letter that the publication was able to obtain, GoPro says that its it taking this drastic movie to "better align our resources with business requirements". Although the layoffs will take...
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DJI has announced that it has a new firmware for the Spark drone coming this week, and it will be mandatory for everyone. The update brings with it enhancements for flight safety and performance, and owners who don't install the new firmware update by September 1 won't be able to fly their Spark drone. DJI says that the new firmware enhances the battery management system to optimize power supply during flight. The update also brings support for the DJI Goggles to the Spark drone's repertoire. Other tweaks included in the firmware are optimization for the PalmLaunch function that makes the drone more stable after takeoff. QuickShot Dronie mode has more accurate controls and the compatibility...
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Most pet owners will agree that there are some days when walking the dog is the last thing you want to do. A drone retailer in the UK called Dronesdirect has a customized version of the Proflight drone that is specifically designed to take Fido for a walk when you just don't feel like it. This sounds like a great idea, as long as your dog is good on a leash and you don't mind those nearby assuming you to be the laziest dog owner ever. The drone is called the Proflight Walkies Dog Drone and it has a retractable lead to keep the dog safe and under control. Like the Proflight drone that it is based on, you don't have to actively pilot the drone so you can sit back and marvel at your own tech...
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US Army recently banned the use of all drones built by drone maker DJI. The military warned that the drones might have unspecified "cyber vulnerabilities." The Army memo was published on August 2nd and read in part, "due to increased awareness of cyber vulnerabilities associated with DJI products, it is directed that the U.S. Army halt use of all DJI products." DJI is a Chinese company and the US government has long had fears of Chinese manufacturers installing spyware or backdoors into products, giving them access to classified and sensitive data. DJI for its part has announced that it is working on something it calls "local data mode" for the apps needed to operate the drones it makes....
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DJI already blew us (and the GoPro Karma competition) away with the release of the Mavic Pro last year, and now the company is going even smaller with the release of the Spark. With the Spark, DJI has managed to cram in a ton of functionality into a device that is roughly the same size as a 12-ounce Coke can and weighs just 10.6 ounces. DJI is really pushing further into the mainstream market with an easy-to-fly drone that can be controlled with hands gestures. Although using hand gestures likely isn’t optimum for all situations, the Spark does have the ability to automatically enter Gesture Mode as soon as it leaves your hand. From there, you can wave your hands around to make the drone take...
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Shippers like UPS and FedEx are looking for new ways to make the package delivery process more efficient as volume and costs increase across the board. For its part, UPS just showed off a new drone delivery system in Tampa, Florida that will allow the company to potentially reap millions of dollars in savings The HorseFly UAV Delivery drone, which was developed by Workhorse, resides in a compartment within the roof of UPS’ iconic brown delivery vehicle. A trap door within the ceiling allows the UPS driver to access the drone’s bottom-mounted delivery cage, into which they can place a small package. So, while the driver is off on foot making delivers, the drone can fly a few blocks...
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At a time when most of the world is still debating on how to best regulate drone use for both consumer and commercial purposes (not to mention the use of autonomous vehicles on American roads), Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority has gone ahead and given the approval for the use of aerial drones to transport people. The impressiveness of this move can't be understated. Over the past few years, some major companies have been trying hard to make drone-use in business viable, especially Amazon. Only recently was the etail giant able to give "Prime Air" a test run, and that was in the UK. But here we have Dubai kicking things up a few notches by offering flying taxis. These aircraft are not just...
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