Picture yourself up in the air with DJI’s new FPV drone

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dji fpv 3

NEWS – DJI, the leading civilian drone manufacturer, is back at it, releasing their newest pricey toy for gadget-lovers, the DJI FPV.  FPV is an abbreviation for “first-person view”.  Unlike most consumer drones where the pilot watches the drone’s view on a screen, the FPV puts the pilot right on the drone thanks to an included headset. Think of it as virtual reality, except that there is some real reality since it is a real drone.

dji fpv 8

The drone itself is a bit of a departure from DJI’s current designs.  It is modular, meaning when you eventually crash it, you can swap out the shell, gimbal, arms, etcetera, on your own.

It is available in gray or green.

dji fpv 1

It comes with a controller – it looks pretty similar to other DJI controllers.

dji fpv 6

Here’s the new part – the goggles.

dji fpv 7

These low-latency goggles give you a first-person view, just like you’re sitting in the cockpit of the drone. In addition, you’ll look really stylish!

dji fpv 5

Notice the controller in the photo above.  This is another new item in DJI’s bag of tricks. It is called the DJI Motion Controller and it adds a totally new dimension to drone flying.  Along with some standard controls, the controller responds to motion, meaning that you can turn the drone simply by turning your hand.  It is an extra-cost item but I think that it will be popular.

dji fpv 9

Another cool feature is called “Audience Mode”.  By pairing an additional set of goggles, you can virtually bring a passenger along on your flight.

dji fpv 2

There are now three flight modes, N, S, and M.  New is for newbies, and speeds in all directions are limited. S – I assume for sport or standard – ramps up the speeds.  M – I’ll guess for maniacs – essentially takes all the limits off.  What does that mean?  Max acceleration in M-mode is claimed to be 0 – 100KPH in two seconds.  That’s accelerating from a standstill to 62+MPH faster than a Tesla Model X Performance.  That’s crazy!  In M-mode, the top speed is 140KPH / 87MPH.  Yes, this is a consumer drone capable of flying nearly 90 miles per hour! What could possibly go wrong?

It is designed to handle winds in excess of 30MPH and fly for about 20 minutes on a charge.  Of course, that all depends on how fast you’re flying and how much wind you’re fighting.

One question I have is how this will work with the FAA’s requirement that the operating pilot retail visual contact with the drone at all times.  If your face is in the goggles, you sure aren’t keeping your peepers on the bird.  We shall see how the regulations handle this wrinkle.

DJI just opened up a comprehensive website with all the specs and features spelled out. Pricing starts at $1,299 for the drone, goggles, and controller – everything you need to fly.

dji fpv 10

Extra batteries are $159, or $299 for a pair plus charging hub. The Motion Controller adds another $199 to your credit card balance.

With 4K video at 60fps, the video should be stunning.  In a change, they went with a single-axis (tilt) stabilized gimbal and handle the additional stabilization with their RockSteady electronic stabilization.  I can tell you that it works really well in the DJI Osmo Action camera.

All-in-all, it looks like this will be an interesting addition to DJI’s line of consumer drones. I can’t wait to see one take off in M-mode. Head over to Amazon to order one for $1299.99

5 thoughts on “Picture yourself up in the air with DJI’s new FPV drone”




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  2. AMA (Academy of Model Aeronautics) guidelines require a spotter to maintain visual line-of-sight (VLOS) when piloting using FPV flight modes. That is, if you want to be covered by the AMA’s group liability policy.

    FAA “drone” rules also require a spotter:
    “Keep your drone within your visual line of sight, or within the visual line-of-sight of a visual observer who is co-located (physically next to) and in direct communication with you.” (https://www.faa.gov/uas/recreational_fliers/)

    Readers should remember that the FAA requires “drone” operators to obtain either a hobby registration($5/operator) with an optional commercial license (Part 107 license which requires a certification test) and to prominently display your registration number on your drone. See https://www.faa.gov/uas/ for more details.

    Lots of violations of the FPV+spotter rule around, include some prominent advertisements for FPV “drones.”

      1. It depends on the video transmitter / goggles setup. Some of them use HAM Radio frequencies, others use 2.4 / 5.8 GHz WiFi frequencies.
        Those that operate in the HAM Radio frequencies do require a license (in the USA).

        1. I have my Extra so I am good to go either way, but I do wonder what this DJI uses. Also I believe it has to do with power output as well. 73 de AC3GI

          1. The tech specs for the combo kit say that DJI V2 Goggles and the FPV uses either 2.4 / 5.8 GHz (switchable)

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