DJI is involved in a growing robotics program for education, Robomasters allows students to build robots and compete in various obstacle courses and races. The Robomasters S1 is a machine that comes in parts, it’ll take you a few hours to build it, but you get to learn what all the bits are, how they work, and how they all work together. This becomes important when you realize that S1 may have an intended design, but it’s expandable, so you use the core of the S1 as your brain, then build nearly any robot on top. DJI has a line of camera equipment for use on the ground, this includes that Ronin full DSLR gimbal as used with the Spreading Wings above, and a series of Osmo hand-held units made to work with your smartphone. Keep a couple on hand for easily switching them out while out on location. The Mavic Pro from DJI packs features you once thought possible only on much larger platforms into a compact quadcopter that is snappy, agile, a…
The Mavic (御) series currently includes Mavic Pro, Mavic Pro Platinum, Mavic Air, Mavic Air 2, DJI Air 2S, Mavic 2 Pro, Mavic 2 Zoom, Mavic 2 Enterprise, Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced, Mavic 3, Mavic 3 Cine, Mavic Mini, DJI Mini SE, and DJI Mini 2. The release of the Mavic Air 2 was not without controversy, however, as DJI announced that a key safety feature, AirSense (ADS-B), would not be available on models outside the USA. Shortages on components and complexities of production owing to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis at the time were blamed. The Flame Wheel (风火轮) series are multirotor platforms for aerial photography. As of 2016, there is the hexacopter F550, and quadcopters F330 and F450. The company is known for having a very difficult hiring process, as well as an extremely competitive internal culture, where teams are often pitted against each other to design better products.
The Osmo Pocket series are small cameras that have 4K shooters mounted on full 3-axis stabilization. The original Osmo Pocket rocked a 1/2.3-inch sensor, the newer DJI Pocket 2 has a 1/1.7-inch sensor. Both shoot 4K video, and have fun ActiveTrack features for automated object tracking. When it comes to the consumer drone market, nothing can get more bang for the buck than DJI products. But, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has made it clear that commercial technology can have clear military applications too.
In 2009, DJI’s components allowed a team to successfully pilot a drone around the peak of Mt. Everest. Adam is our resident expert on all aspects of camera drones and drone photography, from buying guides on the best choices for aerial photographers of all ability levels to the latest rules and regulations on piloting drones. Now the Mini 2 has essentially the same fantastic new OcuSync 2.0 controller from the Mavic Air II, with automatic frequency hopping. Together with dji drones more powerful motors and improved software this drone can handle Force 5 . Photographers have been rewarded with Raw, Exposure Bracketing , and DJI’s spectacular automated panorama features, while video enthusiasts finally have 4K under 250g , topped off with digital zoom . While most of the drones in the list are smaller consumer models that are the aerial equivalents of compact mirrorless cameras or premium compacts, the Inspire 2 is a full-blown pro DSLR in the sky.
With a machine like the M600 Pro in the air, a Ronin Gimbal hexacopter with six batteries and able to carry a serious payload, some serious photography can be done. Sticking to the basics, you won’t find many of the flight assistant and ease of flight tools on this commercial drone, selling to professionals – the M600 Pro is the $5000+ drone that movie studios likely have a pilot on standby to fly. The short version of the story is that DJI launched the Phantom 1 back in January of 2013. Ten minutes of flight time with a mount for an action-type camera and the world was hooked. By my count, the Phantom 4 Pro and Pro+– as announced November of 2016, with major release to market in January 2017 – is the 11th iteration to the line.