Drone News & Articles

A drone has captured spectacular views of a volcanic eruption in south-western Iceland, giving incredible close-up views of the top of the volcano as it erupted.

The footage, which was posted on Instagram and Facebook by travel blogger Bjorn Steinbekk, has already been viewed over 400,000 times.

Filmed in one seamless take, the footage shows Fagradals Mountain from below before the drone flies to the top of the volcano as lava erupts.

It shows streams of red-hot lava pouring down the sides of the volcano from close range. 

Many social media users asked whether the drone had survived the encounter.

One user, related to the owner of the footage, said the drone had survived and had even been sent out for a second spin to capture even more footage. He directed them to a second video uploaded on to Instagram. 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Bjorn Steinbekk (@bsteinbekk)

The glow from the lava was reportedly seen from the outskirts of Iceland’s capital, Reykjavík, which is about 32 kilometres away.

Locals drove up as close as they could to watch the incredible view from a distance. 

Before the surprise explosion, the volcano had been dormant for 6,000 years, and the Reykjanes Peninsula hadn't seen an eruption of any volcano in 781 years.

The volcano is located in a valley about 2.5km from the nearest road, so evacuations were not necessary. 

There had been signs of a possible eruption, with daily earthquakes over the past three weeks, according to volcano experts at the Icelandic Meteorological Office (IMO). 

But they were still taken by surprise because the seismic activity had calmed down before the eruption.

It was triggered by thousands of small earthquakes which caused a large body of molten rock, known as magma, to push its way to the surface.

A picture posted on Twitter by the IMO showed smoke rising from brightly glowing lava streams.

Unlike the eruption in 2010 of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano, which halted flights and forced hundreds of Icelanders from their homes, the eruption was not expected to spew much ash or smoke into the atmosphere, IMO said.

Written By Zena Chamas | 22 Mar 2021

Key points:

• New large-scale drones and autonomous vehicles are being used to spray weeds
• It's hoped the technology will prevent the risk of chemical spray drift
• Drone operators are required to be certified and undertake training to use the machines

Giant drones and robotic sprayers might sound like something from an alien world.

But the new technology that has the ability to precisely spray weeds is being seen as the key to reducing the risk of chemical spray drifting onto neighbouring properties and paddocks full of crops.

The issue of spray drift is an ongoing issue for farmers with incidents resulting in crops being damaged and millions of dollars of potential income being lost.

"Spray drift has real impacts on the environment and there is a greater understanding on the accuracy needed when spraying chemicals onto weeds," said Australian Agricultural Centre CEO Jo Marshall.

"People want to see what drones and autonomous vehicles can do to their bottom line and productivity.

"It's about accuracy. They can map out their spray area on a tablet, the drone goes up to spray, and they can get into inaccessible hilly terrain which might normally go untouched."

Reducing the risk of spray drift

Large-scale drones and autonomous vehicles are capable of carrying a weight of 25 kilograms and contain a tank with a capacity of holding 16 litres for spraying.

Brenden McMahon of ChemCert Training Group said the ability of the drones to be targeted in what they are spraying minimises the spray drift risk.

"The nozzle is similar to boom spray and either ground-based applications, but the difference is this technology is so targeted and versatile," he said.

"The targeted area is a lot more refined than using traditional spray methods and this reduces the risk of the chemicals drifting into other areas."

Legislation to operate drones and driverless vehicles

The uptake of spray drones and autonomous vehicles required new rules to be put in place to ensure they were used safely.

Given their industrial size — and a price tag of approximately $40,000 — those who purchase or use them are required to be certified and undergo extensive training.

"Given the popularity of this new technology, organisations like ours are working with people to help them through the legislative processes to use these machines," he said.

"You're dealing with chemicals being used in a form of unmanned flight. It's a real learning pathway."

"The topography is rocky and too difficult to walk, and there are areas that have just been left unattended," he said.

"I bought a smaller personal drone recently. But with the new technology allowing much larger storage capacity and the ability to spray means we can do things we haven't been able to do before.

"The inaccessible parts of the property have been overrun by scotch thistle and it would take me four years to walk the area with a backpack to spray it."

Mr Gunthorpe has been undertaking a remote pilot licence to allow him to purchase and operate a drone which could spray the weeds from above.

"There's a fair level of requirements needed to operate them, with several commercial requirements and approval from the Environmental Protection Agency to use spray," he said.

"But being able to use drones and driverless vehicles mean farmers can turn more parts of their farms into productive areas."

Written by Time Fookes | 3 April 2021

What appears to be a DJI product promo for its forthcoming Air 2S has leaked on Twitter. And, unlike teasers, this highlights some features.

The leak, as many do, comes from @OsitaLV. This person clearly has an inside track with DJI specifically, and is known for somehow obtaining inside information that nearly always pans out. And now, he’s got his hands on what appears to be an authentic short promo for the DJI Air 2S.

Luckily for us, it also includes some of the product’s features.

Will the Air 2S have a 1″ sensor?

Why yes, yes it will. This should prove to be a significant upgrade from the 1/2″ CMOS sensor found in the Mavic Air 2. The promo shows some branding on the camera that also indicates this drone will shoot 20MP stills:

What else?

Well, the DJI Mavic Air 2 came with AirSense (in models sold in North America), which detects the signal from manned aircraft equipped with ADS-B, or Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast. If those aircraft are getting within range of an Airsense-equipped drone, the pilot will see a warning. This is a tremendous safety feature, and it’s appearing again in the Air 2S.

In addition, we can see that this drone has two additional sensors on top – likely for obstacle avoidance when in faster forward flight when the aircraft is more angled. It also has the rear sensor we saw on the Mavic Air 2.

When is the Air 2S release date?

Good question. Given the FCC filing and the leaks now starting to show, based on previous experience we’d guess this is going to be released sometime this month.

Stay tuned!

Written by Scott Simmie | 5 April 2021

There is no doubt the DJI Mini 2 is an impressive drone, but we thought we’d still share some awesome videos from the community. The following few are what we think are perfect for showing the Mini 2’s versatility.

While the below flights look amazing, please remember to always follow the drone laws in your area. Doing so will ensure your drone’s safety, the people below, and other aircraft that could be nearby. Please head over to this post to learn more about drone laws.

A great sunrise

The first video on the list is from Reddit user danielparkmusic. It is a simple QuickShot that captures the amazing sunrise reflecting on the water and leaving the long shadow behind the man we assume is Daniel. Sometimes complex shots aren’t always needed to create a great video.

A collection of clips

The last video on this list shows a range of clips from above a forest to the ocean. The pilot also managed to capture some pretty amazing colors created by nature. This truly shows the amazing quality the newly Mini 2 is capable of outputting and how it can be used.

DJI Mini 2

The DJI Mini 2 is the drone giant’s second attempt at a sub-250-gram drone. The whole purpose of such a drone is that it allows anyone to fly without having to register the drone with authorities, making it cheaper to fly. The Mini 2 improves over the original Mavic Mini with a new 4k 30 fps sensor and captures RAW photos. DJI has also increased the flight time by one minute from 30 to 31 minutes.

The new Mini 2 has also gained new and improved motors that allow it to fly in stronger winds and fly faster. Most impressively, though, the DJI Mini 2 can now fly up to 10 kilometers away, thanks to the inclusion of DJI’s OcuSync 2.0 transmission technology. That makes it the perfect budget drone for everyone.

Written by Josh Spires | 22 Jan 2021

The dust has not yet settled on the release of the new DJI FPV drone and some have started imagining what the company’s next foray into the FPV sector might look like. One answer? Smaller.

The DJI FPV drone reminds us a bit of a tiny bulldog. It’s squat and dense. (And, like a bulldog, some love the look of the animals while others find them a bit unusual.) It’s also, as many have pointed out, significantly heavier than a 5″ home build. So what if DJI were to make something significantly smaller?

Let’s look at that scenario.

A Mini FPV?

You know, we suggested a while back – before the DJI FPV release – that the company could probably find a market with a sub-250 FPV drone. The immense popularity of the Mavic Mini and the Mini 2 should attest to the demand from people looking for a compact solution that also happens to not be subject to some of the regulations imposed on heavier products.

Rules, rules, rules…

One of the challenges with flying drones these days is flying legally. A growing number of countries are requiring that pilots carry with them a certificate or license from a regulatory body. You must also fly in an area free from airspace restrictions and which don’t contravene any local laws, such as a ban on drones and R/C aircraft in parks. Plus, of course, you need a visual observer who can monitor the airspace and the pilot’s immediate surroundings while they’re immersed in goggle-land.

That’s a lot of stuff, and flying a drone like DJI’s new FPV – nearly three times the 250-gram limit in weight – just makes it that much harder.

Sub-250 FPV

We’ve seen some forum discussions where people seem to think that flying sub-250 gives you the right to ignore all the rules. That’s not the case; you still need to use common sense. But it does free pilots, in many jurisdictions, from the licensing requirement (though in the US a Part 107 is still required if the drone is being used for commercial activities.

But the real joy of a sub-250 is that they’re so unobtrusive. In our experience, people just aren’t bugged by them the same way some are by larger drones. Plus, presumably, a sub-250 drone by DJI would also likely be priced lower than the existing FPV.

Will it happen?

Well, given that the launch of the DJI FPV has put V2 goggles and controllers into the hands of many people new to the hobby, it’s reasonable to anticipate many of those people will embrace the past-time and be looking for other things to fly.

Our sources at DJI have, so far, not suggested that a sub-250 FPV is in the works.

But we can always hope.

Written by Scott Simmie | 19 March 2021 

A terrifying sound and sight from the Second World War returned to Exeter, England, over the weekend. A drone was there to record a Royal Navy team’s detonation of an old Nazi bomb.

Construction workers discovered the device on a building site near the University of Exeter. It’s believed to be a 1,000 kg Hermann bomb dropped from a Nazi plane during the 1940s.

About 1,400 university students and residents at 2,600 properties cleared out as the Navy team set up a 400-meter cordon.

To help control the blast, the disposal team dumped 400 tonnes of sand and built walls around the site. It wasn’t quite enough. Police say some buildings sustained structural damage, including blown-out windows and cracks in brickwork.

Detonation of an old Nazi bomb

The blast spread debris at least 250 metres and left a crater the size of a double-decker bus.

A crane removed debris from nearby roofs, some of it metal the Navy used to help mitigate the explosion.

Many residents had still not returned to their homes by Sunday.

Exeter sustained a number of raids during the war, but the worst night was May 3, 1942.

According to Devon Live, a 20-plane raid left 156 people dead and more than 583 injured. It took four days to get all the fires out.

Authorities intervened to detonate this bomb, but occasionally these things go off all by themselves. We’ve reported before on how drones can be useful in documenting the damage.

If you’re stunned by the power of an 80-year-old bomb, you might want to check Bombsight. It’s an interactive map of all the bombs that stuck London during the Blitz. Exeter’s miseries pale to what the British capital endured. It’s wonder there’s anything left to see of old London town.

Written by David MacQuarrie | 1 March 2021

A wanted Montana man was captured early last month by police with a drone’s help after the man hid from police and cut down a tree to block the road leading to him. The drone was able to take the helicopter’s place and aid in the arrest of the man.

The man was wanted by police for trafficking methamphetamine and led police on a five-hour chase until eventually being caught.

Officers from the Helena Police Department and Deputy US Marshals of the Montana Violent Offender Task Force set out to arrest the Wingate Hotel suspect. The man ended up fleeing the area, taking police down back roads and those heavily covered in snow.

Eventually the man was able to get so far ahead of the police that he managed to cut down a tree with a chainsaw, blocking the road. Luckily one of the officers involved in the chase had a fairly large pickup truck with a winch that could move the tree trunk away.

Before that was done, the police first thought it might have been an ambush point, which prompted them to send their DJI Matrice 200 into the sky to look around. The Matrice 200 is equipped with a thermal camera, which allowed the officers to look for heat signatures in the snow.

Montana Highway Patrol Sgt. Jay Nelson added:

“I can tell you in my 23 years in law enforcement, this is the first time somebody has cut down a tree in front of us. So immediately when we came to this location, we started looking 360 degrees because we don’t know if we are going to be in an ambush position. We put the drone up immediately to look for any heat signatures.”

The man was then picked up by the drone’s thermal camera and eventually surrendered. He was taken into custody and booked into Jefferson County Detention Center, where he remains. The drone flew through all three of its batteries and played a key role in locating the man, leaving officers happy with the high-tech investment.

Written by Josh Spires | 5 March 2021

It’s been one day since the release of DJI’s innovative new FPV drone, and many people have already ordered the product. We take a look at some of the main reasons why this might be the perfect fit for someone wanting to get into the world of First Person View flying – and a couple outlining why it might not be a fit for others. Let’s hop in.

If you already know what FPV is, jump to the next paragraph. That’s because we had a comment yesterday from someone who bailed on our main overview because they didn’t understand the term. And that’s a legit point. We assume that most of our readers are already familiar with the acronym-laden world of drones. But for those who are new and testing the waters, FPV stands for “First Person View.” It means the drone has a camera that sees where it’s going, and transmits that view back to a pair of goggles the pilot is wearing (or, sometimes, a monitor he or she is watching). Based on that First Person View of the camera, the pilot flies the drone. It’s both a feedback systems for piloting, and an amazing sensory experience that puts you in the cockpit. It really does “feel” like you’re flying.

With that out of the way, let’s get rolling.

Why this thing is great for some people

1. Great for beginners

If you’re looking for an introduction to First Person View flight, you really can’t beat this all-in-one system. That’s because in N mode (which stands for normal), you get the predictable, rock-stable kind of flying that DJI is known for. With a visual observer nearby, you’ll be able to fly with super-clear video transmission. Seriously, a total beginner would be able to take basic flights the first day. And as long as they show common sense, they have minimal risk of anything going wrong. Getting nervous? Take your hands off the sticks and it just hovers.

2. You don’t need to learn how to build

Traditionally, if you wanted into the FPV world, there’s been a pretty significant barrier to entry. You’ve needed to learn how to build and repair your own drone. Learn how to use Betaflight Configurator, OpenTX Companion, battery maintenance, and a myriad of other things. For some, that’s a huge part of the appeal of FPV, leaning how to build something. But for many, learning all this stuff seems insurmountable.

The DJI FPV will likely encourage some people to learn about building their own. But many people are after a no-muss, no fuss experience. This is the most tightly integrated Ready-to-Fly package you can buy for First Person View.

3. The goggles are amazing

No one can dispute that. When DJI originally released its FPV System (goggles, camera, transmitter) it took the existing FPV community by storm. The digital transmission produced a level of clarity and detail that just didn’t exist before in the analogue world.

Now, the new Goggles V2 are even better. They provide 810p of resolution at 120 FPS. They have nearly unshakeable reception. The 150-degree FOV they provide is clean and crisp. Plus – and this is fairly huge – the new V2 goggles allow you to share the pilot’s view with someone else. Connect a phone via USB-C, launch the DJI Fly app, and you’ll see what the pilot sees. The Goggles also work with DJI’s latest video transmission protocol: OcuSync 3.0.

4. There’s a simulator

And a good thing there is. DJI has a new app, DJI Virtual Flight, that takes you through the basics to familiarize yourself with the controls and then start teaching you the elementals of FPV flight. We’ve noodled around it a bit, and it’s okay. Not as good as a third-party sim like Velocidrone, but it’s tightly integrated in with the goggles and will help prepare those who want to fly fully in Manual mode.

5. There’s an “Emergency Brake”

Whether you’re totally new to FPV or experienced, this is a smart feature. The DJI FPV controller (both the standard remote and the Motion Controller device) have the equivalent of a panic button. If things start to go hairy, one flick of the switch will cause the drone to stop and hover. This will save some pilots from pricey repairs.

The challenge will be incorporating this into muscle memory, rather than just trying to recover with sticks. But it’s a smart feature.

6. The Motion Controller

The jury hasn’t even had time to start deliberating yet on whether the new $199 Motion Controller will be a game-changer. We’ve tried it and think it really has great potential, but need to spend more time with it. Essentially, it provides a beginner (or an experienced pilot who likes it) with a very intuitive way to fly. Squeeze the trigger for throttle, point where you want to go. Yaw, pitch, roll, ascent, descent speed – you can do it all with one hand.

And yes, like the standard remote that ships with the drone, you have a panic button, which some are referring to as “Emergency Brake.”

7. The camera

This combo is more expensive than if you were to build everything yourself. But it’s also superbly integrated and there’s a pretty big bonus here: It has a 4K, 60FPS camera already. With traditional First Person View builds, people have had to use two cameras: One for the pilot’s view, and a second camera for recording decent footage. Usually these have been GoPros, which can set you back several hundred (or more) on top of the cost of your drone build. The DJI camera is built in, and it’s good. Take a look at the footage in the DJI promo:

You won’t need to buy an extra camera, which should be factored in when comparing costs

8. ADS-B

Most manned aircraft in the US (and, pretty soon, all of them) must transmit information from their aircraft using a transponder called Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast, or ADS-B. That information includes the location of the craft in space and its heading.

The DJI system contains an ADS-B receiver. If a manned aircraft starts to approach where you’re flying, you’ll get a warning. It will pop up first on the goggles as a visual warning, followed by an audible warning. Given that not everyone will have a Visual Observer with them during their FPV flight (and something required by law), this is a great failsafe to have built-in.

9. RockSteady EIS

In addition to physical vibration isolation of the camera, the system features Electronic Image Stabilization. This will save you a step that pilots often have to go through when flying other action cameras. You’ll be able to drop the 4k footage straight into your editing software.

10. It just works

There are actually other features we could put in here, such as the extensive sub-menus within the goggles, allowing for tweaking the drone’s performance or optimizing the camera. We could talk about the batteries which, though pricier than FPV LiPo packs, offer extended flight time in a no-fuss package. Or maybe the “Find My Drone” function for one of those inevitable crashes in a massive field (this can save you a ton of frustration). Or the forward obstacle detection and downward sensors. The GPS and Return-to-Home features.

And so on.

But the real bonus here, for someone new to the field, is that everything seems to work pretty seamlessly out of the box. You will be able to fly with this on your very first day, even if you don’t have any previous drone experience. (However, as we’ve warned, do not attempt M mode until you’ve got some simulator time, are fully comfortable with all RC controls, and have a Visual Observer on site.)

And now the downside

1. It’s not a Racer

We’ve said this before. The DJI FPV drone is not for everyone. And it’s certainly not for the experienced FPV racer looking for the latest competitive edge. It will not be as responsive as a tightly built, fully tweaked quad. It’s fast, but not as fast or agile as you can build. But then, you’re probably not the target buyer for this product.

2. It will crash, things will break

Even with all of the fail-safe mechanisms DJI has thoughtfully baked in, the odds are almost certain you will crash in M mode unless you’re already an experienced FPV pilot. And on some of those crashes, things will break. Propellers, and maybe even arms.

In the traditional world of FPV, you’d pick up your pieces and head home and repair it yourself. With the DJI machine, you’ll be ordering parts from DJI and waiting. That will keep you from flying, and will likely be a pricier fix than doing it yourself with what you have available.

3. It’s not customizable

Yes, you can tweak the performance via an internal goggles menu. But it seems unlikely you’ll be able to customize this machine with different motors, Electronic Speed Controllers, etc. The machine is a good one, but you’re stuck with it. If the customizing bug bites you (and it certainly will for some), you’ll have to learn how to do a home-build.

4. Extra batteries are pricey

Relative to standard 6s LiPo packs, these batteries aren’t cheap. There’s a slight deal if you buy the add-on Fly More kit, but they’re vastly more expensive than a standard pack. They do give you up to 20 minutes of flight time, so take that into account.

In truth, we could have come up with more than four reasons against, but most of these would be coming from people in the existing FPV community. Many of the criticisms these guys (and some gals) have about this drone are perfectly valid from their perspective.

But this piece is more for people new to FPV and considering taking the plunge. If you’re a maker or would like to become one, by all means start learning from YouTube, then buy and build yourself a kit. For those who don’t mind paying the premium for everything this package offers, it’s a solution that can get you flying now.

Written by Scott Simmie | 4 March 2021

DJI’s new FPV drone combo has some amazing technology baked in. It’s also not inexpensive. So this post is for people who are not experienced pilots.

This drone, we believe, is going to introduce a lot of people who have never before experienced First Person View to this style of flying. It’s also, quite likely, going to attract some people who have never before flown a drone. In either case, attempting to fly manual FPV is not an easy task. And so we’re going to take this opportunity to provide some advice.

Follow it, and you might just save some money.

Manual FPV is not easy

Even if you are an experienced pilot of a stable, DJI-like product, there’s a big learning curve in going to manual flight. You need to keep your sticks constantly in motion for stability, making minute corrections as you fly. It’s a very different experience from flying a standard drone.

And for some people, that’s going to pose a problem.

There’s a big difference between “S” and “M”

On the DJI FPV drone, there are three modes: N, S and M.

N is normal mode and makes for an easy flying experience that’s pretty similar to any standard DJI product. The only difference you’ll notice with the goggles on is the single-axis gimbal, which means you’ll notice the aircraft banking even at lower speeds. Most DJI products (and most other non-FPV drones) have three-axis gimbals, which correct the camera view so that it’s always level with the horizon. It’s an easy mode for a beginner to get their feet wet, since the response is highly predictable and you can take your fingers off the sticks at any point and the drone will simply stop and hover.

Sports mode (S), by contrast, is faster. It’s also what DJI describes as a hybrid mode, bringing the feeling with the controls closer to the fully manual FPV experience.

But – trust us on this – taking that extra step to manual flight is a big one.

M mode is not easy for a beginner

Ask any FPV pilot, and they’ll tell you: They either spent a lot of time with a simulator, a small Tiny Whoop-style drone, or they crashed repeatedly and fixed their drone. Even with sim practice, most FPV pilots will crash from time to time. It happen, especially when you’re flying at speed and near obstacles. It takes time to get that muscle memory to a stage where a nano-second correction is second nature. And if you don’t correct in time? Well, you’ll likely be seeing a blur in the goggles and hear a distant crunch.

At $1,299 for the combo, you really don’t want that. And we don’t want to see that, either.

How to avoid crashes?

Well, the odds are pretty good you’ll still have a crash at some point. But the point here is to minimize the chances of that occurring. DJI is also aware of this and has put in some steps that will help you out. But they will only help out if a pilot uses them.

First off, there’s a new DJI simulator, now available on the App Store and coming very soon for Android. It takes you through familiarizing yourself with the controller features, including how to immediately take the drone out of M mode and into kind of an emergency brake, where the drone will stop and hover. This is great if you have time and the muscle memory kicks in. But for someone new to the drone, even that safety feature – and it’s a smart one – might not save you.

The best advice here is for you to use the simulator and fly in M mode only virtually. DJI has gamified the sim, so it feels very much like you’re playing a video game. Plus, you can do this simply with your phone and either the remote controller or the motion controller. But you need to put in the time. Once around the track is not enough.

I’ve spent a lot of time flying a Tiny Whoop around the house, but over the past couple of months, I have really hit the Velocidrone simulator hard. But since DJI’s simulator has been created specifically for use with its goggles and controller, that’s going to be a better bet for someone who purchases this combo. 

We’ll say it again here: Work the simulator until you are flying naturally and the sticks start feeling more like an extension of yourself. If you’re not crashing and are feeling comfortable, that’s the time to go forth into the world with the drone and switch to N mode. Not before.

Visual Observer/Spotter

Here’s the other thing. When you have FPV goggles on, you are shut off from the world. You won’t know if a person is walking up behind you or a giant condor is circling above you, unless the camera happens to be pointed in that direction. Your world is what you’re seeing through those goggles.

That’s why regulators in the US, Canada, and elsewhere require that you have a second person with you on these flights. Their role is to be your eyes and ears while you focus on flying. If they see something, they can alert you quickly. This is a regulation. Sure, the odds are you’ll be fine on most outings. But you could easily be fined for flying solo.

In fact, while testing this drone with David Klein of Rotorgeeks, I acted as his visual observer. And that was a very good thing.

A strange Return to Home

While piloting with the goggles on, the battery got lower enough that the DJI FPV drone initiated an auto Return to Home sequence. That’s where the drone comes back and lands very close to the spot where it took off – usually within a few feet and, often, quite precisely. Before the flight, we had set the drone down at least four to five metres away (roughly 12-15 feet) away from where David was sitting. The familiar voice said: “The home point has been updated” before he took off.

Great, right? Let the technology do its thing.

You don’t want this landing on your head – or anyone else’s…

Well, in this case, the drone went to our preset altitude for the trek back (a user preset that’s helpful if you want to ensure you fly above trees etc.). As it flew back towards us, I noticed that it didn’t line up with its earlier home point before commencing descent. In fact, it appeared to be pretty much above David’s head. As it started to come down, I warned David it appeared to be too close. Then I said: “Think you’d better take those goggles off and get out of the chair.” He did.

If we’d had the gimbal pointing directly downward, he probably would have seen more clearly. But it was a new-to-us controller, and the gimbal positioning switch was not yet second-nature. David is a highly experienced drone pilot. So if this could have happened to him…well, it could certainly happen to someone who’s brand new to the hobby.

Fly Visual Line of Sight with your spotter

The other thing to note here is that regulations also state that, unless you have received special permission in advance (something not easy to get), your drone must be flown within Visual Line of Sight, or VLOS. That means either the pilot or the spotter must be able to see the drone in the air at all times, and with the naked eye (or glasses). But your spotter can’t be looking through binoculars or a telescope.

We’re not the drone police. But we do believe it’s in everyone’s interest – both for safety and for the reputation of the industry at large – that people obey the rules.

In addition to the “emergency brake” feature on both the remote control and the single-handed Motion Controller, DJI has put in an ADS-B receiver in the drone. That stands for Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast. It picks up signals from transponder-equipped manned aircraft. If a helicopter or a low-flying Cessna approaches, you’ll get a popup in the goggles and an audible warning. That means you should bring the craft back to home and land, then remove the goggles so you can see when the aircraft has passed your area.

It’s a feature DJI’s Brendan Schulman is particularly proud of:

You get the idea

Yes, there are a few things to remember. But they’ll help reduce the risk you might crash your drone, ensure the airspace is kept safe – and that you don’t get into any trouble. To recap:

• Fly the simulator until you are really comfortable with M mode
• Register your drone with the FAA, Transport Canada or other airspace regulator that requires it
• Take a course and obtain a certificate, if required in your jurisdiction
• Have a person with you and always fly within Visual Line of Sight of your spotter
• Learn about the safety features the drone comes with, including the emergency brake, ADS-B etc.

We know. You want to get out flying. But with these simple steps, you’re likely to have a better experience and stay within the law. Go fly. But fly safely.

Written by Scott Simmie | 2 March 2021

senseFly, the global leader in fixed-wing mapping drones, today announces the launch of eBee Ag, the latest addition to the eBee X series of drone solutions. User-friendly and affordable, eBee Ag helps farmers, agronomists and service providers efficiently capture aerial data and plant health insights for faster agronomic decision-making that can improve crop yields and profit potential.

“The agriculture industry has been lacking a viable mapping solution that offers professional results at a more accessible price,” explains Michael O’Sullivan, senseFly Head of Marketing. “The launch of the eBee Ag introduces an affordable fixed-wing solution that delivers the long flight times, range and efficiency—as well as the data quality, accuracy and resolution—that agriculture mapping projects require.”

Based on senseFly’s flagship eBee X fixed-wing drone, eBee Ag helps agriculture professionals overcome the many challenges they face in the field related to planning, plant health and crop monitoring. eBee Ag makes it easier than ever to field scout, ground-truth potential problem areas and gain critical crop health and field information.

eBee Ag is suited for intensive and repeated crop mapping missions. Equipped with its standard battery, it is capable of up to 45-minutes of flight. An endurance battery increases flight times to up to 55 minutes—allowing eBee Ag to cover more than 160 hectares (395 acres) in a single flight and saving precious time and money when compared with conventional scouting.

eBee Ag features senseFly’s new, lightweight Duet M dual-sensor fixed payload, which comprises the senseFly S.O.D.A. RGB and Parrot Sequoia+ multispectral cameras. With its dual-purpose camera, eBee Ag captures accurate RGB and multispectral data from the sky to help make better decisions on the ground. Regularly collecting multispectral data is critical to effectively assess crop health, optimize inputs and catch early indicators of pests, diseases and weed infestations that threaten crop yields. Highly-accurate index maps allow agriculture professionals to understand each acre while managing problematic areas field-wide – before they impact profits.

eBee Ag also features available Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) functionality for greater mapping precision. With its available RTK, eBee Ag can achieve absolute accuracy down to 2.5 cm (1 in) with RGB. This position data can then integrate seamlessly into existing GPS-enabled machinery and/or Farm Management Systems.

eBee Ag also comes with senseFly’s new eBee X series backpack, which is a smart and durable way to carry everything needed to transport the drone into and out of the field.

The eBee Ag shares its DNA with senseFly’s flagship eBee X fixed-wing mapping drone, which revolutionized the unmanned aerial vehicle sector with its ease-of-use and multiple, state-of-the-art sensors. With a unique Endurance Extension option enabling a flight time of up to 90 minutes and single-flight coverage of up to 500 ha at 122m (1,236 ac at 400 ft.), the eBee X is a premium solution that offers users the high-precision of on-demand RTK/PPK for achieving absolute accuracy of down to 1.5 cm (0.6 in)—without ground control points.

Farmers, agronomists and other agriculture professionals—including enterprise organizations, who purchase eBee Ag or any drone from the eBee X line—get access to senseFly’s intuitive eMotion flight planning software, technical support and resource offerings, including its in-house team of experts, global distribution network and the newly launched senseFly Academy e-Learning Training Platform and Certified Operator Program.

For more information on the new eBee Ag fixed-wing solution and the rest of the eBee X series, please visit senseFly.com

Written by UASweekly | 17 Feb 2021