DJI has released the Phantom 4 advanced quadcopter, which boasts automatic obstacle avoidance and improved camera optics.
Catering to serious aerial shooters, the Phantom 4 has a 12-megapixel sensor and f/2.8 lens and is capable of RAW stills shooting and 4K/UHD video at 30fps.
The new quadcopter features advanced vision technology adding subject tracking and object avoidance. In other advancements over previous models, flight time has now increased to 28 minutes, while new on-board intelligence is designed to make piloting and photography easier via features such as Obstacle Sensing System, ActiveTrack and TapFly functionality.
The Phantom 4’s Obstacle Sensing System features two forward-facing optical sensors that scan for obstacles and automatically redirect the aircraft, while ensuring flight direction remains constant. If the system determines the craft cannot go around the obstacle, it will slow to a stop and hover until redirected by the user.
With ActiveTrack, the Phantom 4 allows users running the DJI Go app on iOS and Android devices to follow and keep the camera centered on a subject as it moves.
The makers say the Phantom 4 recognises three-dimensional images and uses machine learning to keep the object in the shot.
Users have full control over camera movement while in ActiveTrack mode and can move the camera around the object while it is in motion as the Phantom 4 keeps the subject framed in the center of the shot autonomously. A “pause” button on the Phantom 4’s remote controller allows the user to halt an autonomous flight at any time, leaving the drone to hover.
By using the TapFly function in the DJI Go app, users can double-tap a destination for their Phantom 4 on the screen, and the Phantom 4 calculates an optimal flight route to reach the destination, avoiding any obstructions on the way.
The Phantom 4’s camera has undergone an upgrade that includes improved optics for better corner sharpness and reduced chromatic aberration. The Phantom 4 also has DJI’s signature Lightbridge video transmission system onboard, allowing users to see what their camera sees in HD and in real-time on their smart devices at a distance up to five kilometres (3.1 miles).
The Phantom 4 will be available from March 15 at DJI flagship outlets, Apple stores and direct online from the manufacturer for $2399.
Video: See the Phantom 4 in action as it follows mountain bikers around the trails of Queenstown, New Zealand.