LANCE ULANOFF
Drones have always been flying robots, but all those smarts haven't stopped them from flying backwards into trees, walls and people.
The new DJI Phantom 4 Pro won't do that. This is DJI's first drone with 360-degree awareness thanks to six collision-avoidance systems arrayed around its body. With them, the quadcopter builds a 3D map of obstacles behind, in front and below.
The company unveiled the new Phantom drone aimed at prosumers as well as a new pro-level drone, the Inspire 2, on Tuesday at an event in Los Angeles.
An update to the Phantom 4, the Pro 4 version features a better camera with 20-megapixel resolution, aperture control and longer flight times (30 minutes). There's also a super-charged "Flight Autonomy" system and several "Smart Flight" modes.
The former employs sensors on the back and sides. Back sensors can detect objects up to 100 feet (30 meters) away, and the infrared lateral cameras can detect obstacles up to 23 feet (7 meters) away.
The Phantom 4 Pro, which costs $1,499, engages those sensors in some of its new flight modes, including Backwards and "Narrow Sensing," which will let pilots flight through smaller spaces — like a window.
DJI is also unveiling a brand new, high-luminance display remote control, pre-loaded with DJI Go software. The remote will have built-in GPS and microSD card slot. The Phantom 4 Pro and upgraded controller combo package costs $1,700.
The company is also upgrading its pro-level Inspire drone.
November 16, 2016
Drones have always been flying robots, but all those smarts haven't stopped them from flying backwards into trees, walls and people.
The new DJI Phantom 4 Pro won't do that. This is DJI's first drone with 360-degree awareness thanks to six collision-avoidance systems arrayed around its body. With them, the quadcopter builds a 3D map of obstacles behind, in front and below.
The company unveiled the new Phantom drone aimed at prosumers as well as a new pro-level drone, the Inspire 2, on Tuesday at an event in Los Angeles.
An update to the Phantom 4, the Pro 4 version features a better camera with 20-megapixel resolution, aperture control and longer flight times (30 minutes). There's also a super-charged "Flight Autonomy" system and several "Smart Flight" modes.
The former employs sensors on the back and sides. Back sensors can detect objects up to 100 feet (30 meters) away, and the infrared lateral cameras can detect obstacles up to 23 feet (7 meters) away.
The Phantom 4 Pro, which costs $1,499, engages those sensors in some of its new flight modes, including Backwards and "Narrow Sensing," which will let pilots flight through smaller spaces — like a window.
DJI's new Phantom 4 Pro remote
IMAGE: DJI
Rear view of the new remote with integrated screen.
IMAGE: DJI
DJI is also unveiling a brand new, high-luminance display remote control, pre-loaded with DJI Go software. The remote will have built-in GPS and microSD card slot. The Phantom 4 Pro and upgraded controller combo package costs $1,700.
The company is also upgrading its pro-level Inspire drone.
Making movies
The Inspire 2, which is designed to appeal to videographers and cinematographers, gets, among other things, a second camera.
Both of the 20MP cameras can be controlled independently — one with the included remote and the other via a smartphone or tablet running the DJI app. The idea is one camera is for the drone pilot and the other — a micro-four-thirds camera that accepts 10 different lenses, including zoom lenses — for the videographer.
The new Inspire could be a game-changer for drone-based cinematography. A drone videographer's shots would no longer be dictated by the pilot; instead, they'd work in tandem. The pilot worries about obstacle avoidance and staying on the shot path, while the videographer moves the camera to get the best shot. Other feature highlights include the ability to shoot 5.2K video (yes, that's better than 4K), and a new interface for the built-in storage disk that uses a PCIe connection for faster offloading of raw footage.
DJI has also enhanced the overall performance of the Inspire 2. It will fly at up to 67 mph, and can climb at a zippy 7 meters per second (16 mph) for a max altitude of 5,000 meters (3.1 miles) above sea level. It also comes with built-in obstacle detection and avoidance and can stay airborne for 25 minutes.
The Inspire 2 will list for $2,999. But to get the second camera, the Zenmuse X5S (along with CinemaDNG and an Apple ProRes license), the Inspire 2 Combo Pack, it'll cost you $6,198 (orders received before January 1, 2017 will cost $5,999).
Both the Phantom Pro 4 and Inspire 2 will be available in black or white. The Phantom Pro 4 ships later this month and the Inspire 2 Combo ships in December.
In a meeting prior to Tuesday's unveiling, DJI executives also shared with Mashable its perspective on the growing drone regulatory environment.
They worry, for example, about the increased tendency of local government to try and legislate drone flight rules
"Air space is controlled by the federal government," said DJI Corporate Communications Director Adam Lisberg, adding that it's not appropriate for local governments to set those rules.
DJI, Lisberg noted, works closely with regulatory agencies to "take a realistic approach to these regulations," said Lisberg.
The company is satisfied with the current FAA requirements to register drones that weight between 0.55 and 55 pounds.
The Inspire 2, which is designed to appeal to videographers and cinematographers, gets, among other things, a second camera.
Both of the 20MP cameras can be controlled independently — one with the included remote and the other via a smartphone or tablet running the DJI app. The idea is one camera is for the drone pilot and the other — a micro-four-thirds camera that accepts 10 different lenses, including zoom lenses — for the videographer.
The DJI Inspire 2's Zenmuse X4S camera for Drone flight control.
IMAGE: DJI
The DJI X5S camera for shooting footage.
IMAGE: DJI
The new Inspire could be a game-changer for drone-based cinematography. A drone videographer's shots would no longer be dictated by the pilot; instead, they'd work in tandem. The pilot worries about obstacle avoidance and staying on the shot path, while the videographer moves the camera to get the best shot. Other feature highlights include the ability to shoot 5.2K video (yes, that's better than 4K), and a new interface for the built-in storage disk that uses a PCIe connection for faster offloading of raw footage.
DJI has also enhanced the overall performance of the Inspire 2. It will fly at up to 67 mph, and can climb at a zippy 7 meters per second (16 mph) for a max altitude of 5,000 meters (3.1 miles) above sea level. It also comes with built-in obstacle detection and avoidance and can stay airborne for 25 minutes.
The Inspire 2 will list for $2,999. But to get the second camera, the Zenmuse X5S (along with CinemaDNG and an Apple ProRes license), the Inspire 2 Combo Pack, it'll cost you $6,198 (orders received before January 1, 2017 will cost $5,999).
Both the Phantom Pro 4 and Inspire 2 will be available in black or white. The Phantom Pro 4 ships later this month and the Inspire 2 Combo ships in December.
In a meeting prior to Tuesday's unveiling, DJI executives also shared with Mashable its perspective on the growing drone regulatory environment.
They worry, for example, about the increased tendency of local government to try and legislate drone flight rules
"Air space is controlled by the federal government," said DJI Corporate Communications Director Adam Lisberg, adding that it's not appropriate for local governments to set those rules.
DJI, Lisberg noted, works closely with regulatory agencies to "take a realistic approach to these regulations," said Lisberg.
The company is satisfied with the current FAA requirements to register drones that weight between 0.55 and 55 pounds.
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