DJI Adds Collision Avoidance System to Phantom 4 Drone

DJI'southward Phantom series of consumer drones have dominated the marketplace—and our superlative drone list—for some time at present. Non content to rest on its honor after the success of last year's Phantom 3 launch, the visitor today is detailing its side by side-generation quadcopter, the Phantom 4.

Its design is a niggling sleeker than the Phantom 3, which not merely gives information technology a more futuristic await, but also improves its aerodynamics. Combined with propellers that click into place like the pro-grade Inspire 1, the Phantom 4 pushes pinnacle speed to just nether 45mph, upwardly from almost 35mph for the Phantom 3 serial. You'll need to switch the Phantom to a new Sport Mode to realize this speed—the drone tilts forward at a 45-degree angle in this mode, then take that into account if you plan on using the extra speed to give aerial video a more dynamic feel.

More than speed and longer flight times are e'er a plus—only they won't save you from slamming your new, expensive drone into a tree. DJI has added a collision-abstention arrangement—dubbed the Obstacle Sensing System—which uses two forward-facing cameras to discover obstacles as far every bit 49.v feet (xv meters) alee of the quadcopter.

If an obstacle is detected, the Phantom will immediately halt forward movement, assuasive the airplane pilot to redirect it to avoid a crash. This will work when the quadcopter is flying forward, but won't practice any good if you're moving information technology backward, sideways, or ascending. Information technology is a plus when the drone is set to return to its home bespeak, either automatically due to a loss of communication or low bombardment, or if triggered manually via the app—you don't accept to worry about the Phantom hitting something every bit it flies home.

There are besides a couple of new flight modes available, made possible by the sensors and the integrated 4K photographic camera'due south improved scene recognition. ActiveTrack allows y'all to select an object for the Phantom to track via its smartphone piloting app. Just tap on the subject, and the drone will move along with them, keeping its camera trained—a large plus for those into extreme activeness sports who want to tape their adventures.

TapFly is the 2nd new flying way. It lets y'all tap on a point on a map. The Phantom will automatically cull a flight path and wing to that point in space, fugitive obstacles along the way. If you do think the drone is going to get into trouble yous can press a defended Pause button on the remote command to immediately stop its motion and accept it hover in place.

The integrated video camera has some upgrades as well. It nevertheless records in 4K with a 94-degree (20mm full-frame equivalent) angle of view, but DJI says that information technology has improved the lens to evidence better item at the edges of the frame. The gimbal design is inverse a fleck too, to ameliorate position the lens to reduce propellers from entering the shot and to amend stabilization.

The Phantom 4 is a scrap heavier than its predecessor—information technology weighs merely over 3 pounds, versus ii.eight pounds for the Phantom 3 serial. A larger battery—the Phantom iv is rated for 28 minutes of flying time, a total 5 minutes more than than the Phantom 3—is a large reason for this. Due to its mass, you will have to register with the FAA before taking the Phantom iv into the air if you lot programme on flight within the confines of these United States.

DJI is using its Lightbridge system to stream video from the onboard photographic camera to a smartphone, via the remote control. It states that the maximum transmission range is 3.ane miles (5km), well beyond the line of sight brake imposed by the FAA. We'll do a real-globe range exam when nosotros get the Phantom 4 in for review, but one of the large advantages of such an extended operating range is the forcefulness of signal you get when flying the drone at more reasonable distances.

The DJI Phantom iv is priced at $1,399, a bit more than the Phantom iii Professional'south initial retail price of $1,259. Information technology is going to be available outset from DJI's online and flagship stores, also every bit from Apple tree.com and Apple retail stores. Pre-orders open on March i with the kickoff units aircraft to customers and hitting retail outlets by March 15.

The Phantom 4 will exist bachelor to guild from other authorized DJI resellers starting on March 29.

If yous're interested in a protection plan, DJI is pricing a 6-month parcel at $229 and a ane-twelvemonth plan at a more reasonable $299.

Look for a full review of the Phantom 4 on PCMag in the near time to come.

This commodity originally appeared on PCMag.com.