Tag Archives: FPV Drone

World’s fastest FPV drone with a 350km/h Top Speed will radically change how we watch F1 Races

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The fact that the world’s fastest FPV drone looks somewhat like a missile is simultaneously incredibly cool and incredibly scary. It might change how we watch F1 races, but it has the potential to change much more than just that.

This just seems like the kind of crazy thing Red Bull would pull off. The company decided to challenge multiple-time F1 champion Max Verstappen to a race – the catch, Verstappen would be behind the wheel of a Red Bull F1 car, while his opponent would be the world’s fastest FPV drone. The project was in collaboration with Dutch Drone Gods, a group of FPV drone makers and pilots known for holding the existing title of the world’s fastest FPV filming drone with a 150km/h top speed. The only problem – Verstappen’s F1 car is more than twice as fast.

Designers: Red Bull Advanced Technologies & Dutch Drone Gods

Drones aren’t new in the F1 circuit, given that the racing organization uses a combination of aerial filming methods to get their shots. Sustained footage is taken on helicopters that hover above the track, but for up-close shots, the F1 team relies on drones… the only problem is that these drones don’t follow the car around. They simply hover in the air, taking cinematic panning/dolly shots before the camera angle changes. Understandably, creating a drone that can follow an F1 car around like a third-person camera in a video game is just a tad bit short of impossible. Drones have a notoriously low flight time, outputting probably a maximum of 15-20 minutes of flight before their batteries get drained. Moreover, F1 cars can hit speeds of almost 400km/h and are designed to be highly responsive, making razor-sharp turns on the tarmac. The Dutch Drone Gods’ FPV maxes out at 150km/h, and can’t perform sharp maneuvers in mid-air. This meant redesigning the drone to hit higher speeds while being responsive, and perhaps most importantly, not melting or exploding in the air because of all the heat generated by hitting upwards of 300km/h speeds.

Pilot and Founder of DDG Ralph Hogenbirk and F1 World Champion Max Verstappen with the Red Bull PFV Drone

The process saw multiple iterations from the Dutch Drone Gods’ team, who took up the challenge of pushing their drone to be as fast as a Formula 1 racecar. The challenge, aside from speed, was also to make the drone maneuverable, and durable. Initial tests yielded a few pitfalls, wires would melt under extreme heat, parts would wear and tear or even explode, but more interestingly, the drone’s stability would take a beating just because of the wind turbulence created by the F1 car as it zoomed across the track. Two rounds of prototypes also showed that simple off-the-shelf components and 3D-printed outer shells couldn’t handle the task, so the DDG team decided to visit the Red Bull Advanced Technologies headquarters to partner with the team there to design the drone. The new drone had machined metal structures, speed-capable inner components, and an FRP composite outer shell that was lightweight but highly resilient.

The final drone prototype got one single chance to race against Verstappen in the latest RB20 car on the Silverstone track. It fared incredibly well against Verstappen, filming the car as it blitzed through the track. The goal wasn’t to go faster than Verstappen’s car, that would be a foolish mistake, but rather, to capture the racecar from a unique following PoV, giving the audience the effect of moving at the same speed as Verstappen. F1 race broadcasts are already pretty exciting to begin with, but imagine being able to follow a car with a camera, capturing the intense speed, adrenaline, and reflexes of the race in real-time…

The engineering of Red Bull’s FPV drone could potentially revolutionize the landscape of F1 filming. Instead of static camera shots or quick drone shots that just pan across a track, Red Bull has potentially unlocked the ability to now follow cars as they race, creating an even more thrilling broadcast that could practically reinvent how people enjoy the sport. Heck, I could totally conceive the creation of a drone racing championship as a result too. The implications for Hollywood are just as exciting too, with cinematic drones getting a whole lot faster thanks to the Red Bull FPV Drone’s unique shape.

However, a drone hitting speeds of 350km/h has its own pitfalls too. Reconnaissance, surveillance, or potentially even weapon-based payload delivery could somehow become even easier and more accessible to anyone with the right tools. Sure, the Red Bull FPV drone isn’t a ballistic missile, but it’s dangerously close to being unstoppable. Try stopping a drone cutting through a military zone or an airport at 350km/h. This new world is exciting, but just as scary too.

That doesn’t take away from how incredibly impressive Red Bull and Dutch Drone Gods’ demonstration was. The Red Bull FPV Drone currently holds the record for defeating its predecessor by a factor of nearly 200km/h. The new FPV drone also gets the bragging rights of being able to keep up with Verstappen, a feat that not even other F1 racers can hold claim to!

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The DJI FPV2 ‘hybrid’ drone can race as well as take aerial photos with its Hasselblad camera system

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After years of developing some of the world’s leading aerial drones, DJI debuted the Avata last year, their first-ever ‘FPV’ racing drone… and that got designer Kim Seung-cheol asking – Why must there be separate drones for aerial photography and first-person racing? Why can’t one drone successfully do both? To that end, the DJI FPV2 does the unthinkable by being the world’s first ‘hybrid’ drone capable of FPV racing as well as stabilized aerial photo and videography, thanks to its clever design that borrows the best from both worlds.

Designer: Kim Seung-cheol

The FPV2 drone doesn’t have a radically different design, but rather relies on a few tweaks to its appearance and control system to give it the power of rapid directional flight as well as controlled hovering for stable videography. It relies on a leaning propeller format that’s ideal for FPV-style racing drones. The propellers are located at a slant and positioned diagonally, making the drone look like it’s bending forward. This is perfect for allowing the drone to lunge ahead as it takes off, giving it a significant advantage when racing with other drones or when trying to reach high speeds. However, for aerial photography and videography, the drone simply leans backwards, allowing the propellers to now be parallel to the ground. The gimbal-mounted camera makes up for this while in aerial photography mode.

As an obvious upgrade to its Avata and Mini lines, the FPV2 has a new dual-lens camera system powered by Hasselblad (a partnership continuing from their collaboration on the Mavic 3). Quite similar to the Air 3 drone, the FPV2 has a dual-lens gimbal-mounted camera that can look in all directions for filming sceneries, focusing on subjects, and racing. This doesn’t include the multiple cameras located around its periphery for tracking its environment, avoiding objects, and navigating routes.

A large, easily replaceable battery powers the FPV2, allowing you to quickly hot-swap modules to keep your FPV2 running without downtime for charging. The battery’s mass and its rear location help it counterbalance the drone’s forward-leaning stance, or rather the inverse. The drone races forward with a raised back, preventing the battery pack from dragging it down or influencing its course.

To accompany the drone, Kim Seung Cheol also designed a new set of MR goggles and a controller handle. The compact goggles come with their own pass-through cameras, and sport flip-out antennas for better signal during flight (especially FPV racing). A cushioned headrest with a built-in battery keeps the equilibrium of the headset while also ensuring you can wear it for longer hours without feeling any strain.

Given the immersive nature of the MR headset, the FPV2 also comes with its own RC Motion 2-inspired handheld control that you can intuitively use to maneuver your drone while in flight. The single handheld controller has a gyroscope that detects when it’s being tilted forward or backward, translating that into instructions for the drone to follow. A trigger lets you accelerate, while a joystick gives you more precise control. A large button on the front marked M lets you alternate between racing and aerial modes.

What really gives the FPV2 its edge is the case it comes in, which doubles as a massive battery pack for the drone, controller, and MR headset. Think TWS earbud charging case but bigger and better. Designed to hold your gear when not in use, the carrying case also juices your device batteries while giving you a battery status indicator in the bottom right corner, so you know which particular gizmo needs a recharge.

What the DJI FPV2 proposes isn’t too radical. Some drones are built for racing, others for stabilized content creation… so why not build a drone that can do both? It’s not like the hardware is massively different between the two drone types, and as far as the overall design goes, I’m sure both functions can be achieved within a specially tuned form factor. Maybe DJI is working on something like this, it’s difficult to tell. The company hasn’t debuted a Gen-2 of its Avata FPV drone, so we’re due for an updated racing drone from the consumer/professional-grade UAV manufacturer.

The post The DJI FPV2 ‘hybrid’ drone can race as well as take aerial photos with its Hasselblad camera system first appeared on Yanko Design.

This DJI x GoPro FPV drone concept is a dream collab that NEEDS to happen

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DJI is an undisputed champion in the drone market. GoPro remains at the top in the action camera market. Both companies have tried entering each other’s industry but with little success. This dream mashup by Cédric Rouvroy combines DJI’s unmanned-flying skills with GoPro’s videography chops. The result? An action FPV drone that has the best of both worlds. With a carbon-fiber body that’s lightweight and nimble, and an action camera on the front that captures high-octane flight in GoPro’s signature style, Rouvroy’s “FPV CNCPT” drone is a dream collaboration that we really wish would happen!

Designer: Cédric Rouvroy

The drone is built in the FPV style, which prioritizes agility more than cinematic drones that focus on stability and range. To achieve this, the FPV CNCPT has a bare-basics body made entirely from carbon fiber. Thin arms prop up the four motor-powered propellers, which don’t include any protective outer bumpers in a bid to stay lightweight and efficient.

The main body features a skeletal design too. You’ve got a camera on the front, and an antenna on the back. In the middle sits the drone’s guts, which draw power from a replaceable battery pack that mounts onto the top of the drone.

A view of the battery module that sits on top of the drone.

The FPV CNCPT’s pièce de résistance, however, is that GoPro camera that sits right on the front. It isn’t your conventional GoPro Hero, but instead seems to be a bespoke action cam designed specifically for the drone. It features a multi-lens setup, which would probably mean a main camera for video capture, and a slew of sensors to help the drone avoid obstacles whenever possible. The camera is ‘bracketed’ by two light modules that form a rectangular outline around it, acting as a set of headlights that allow the drone to see where it’s going even in low-light conditions.

Given its conceptual nature, there’s not much clarity on what the rest of the drone setup looks like. What the controller’s design will be is something that’s yet to be determined, as is the VR headset that usually pairs with FPV drones, giving the person piloting the drone a first-person view of the drone’s flight (hence the name). That being said, a potential collaboration between DJI and GoPro would overwhelmingly dominate the FPV drone world… and I can’t help but hope someone’s hearing my prayers!

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The DJI Avata is a $629 FPV drone that’s designed to be flown even by beginners

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While FPV drone operation remains an incredible skill that requires reflexes, patience, and a lot of money for expensive drone gear, the DJI Avata is making the elusive art of FPV drone flying a little more accessible to the masses.

DJI is on top of the world, metaphorically as well as literally. Not only is the company absolutely dominating the drone market (despite tariffs and restrictions caused by geopolitics), but it’s also been pretty successful in filling every void in the drone category from the needs of beginners to seasoned FPV racers and even filmmaking professionals. Moreover, the company’s latest drone, Avata, is quite literally a high-flyer for a pretty affordable budget of $629.

Designer: DJI

FPV Drones are just built differently from cinematic ones. They’re made for speed, split-second reflexes, and are much more powerful than the average drone. This makes them much more expensive too (DJI’s FPV drone from last year started at $1,299), but DJI is determined to democratize them. The Avata is the company’s flagship ‘consumer-grade’ FPV drone that’s designed for amateurs as well as seasoned flyers. It’s fast, capable, and has an incredible camera, but it’s also heavy, rugged, and built to take a few bruises.

Unlike cinematic drones, FPV drones are designed using a separate template. Given that they focus more on flying forwards rather than upwards, the drones are designed considering the fact that they’re perpetually leaning forward. To this end, the Avata comes (like most FPV drones) with a camera mounted on the front, rather than the underside. The camera sits on a stabilizer, and the drone itself is modeled on the popular quadcopter format, although the Avata’s propellers come with rather sizeable propeller guards to prevent any permanent damage to the drone’s wings. This robust construction adds to the Avata’s weight, bringing it up to 410 grams (which means it’ll need to be registered with the FAA before you fly it around the place).

The DJI Avata comes equipped with a  48-megapixel Type 1/1.7 sensor that’s capable of delivering 4K shots at 60fps, or shooting even at 120fps but at a reduced resolution. The lens on the front features  wide 155-degree FoV that captures more than the human eye can see, sending all that footage at a mere 30ms lag to the drone’s headset so that the ‘pilot’ can instantly react as the drone traverses its path. The Avata comes with 18 minutes of flight time, which may not seem like a lot, but at those speeds, 18 minutes can get you to cover quite a distance. In fact, the Avata drone can transmit video to the goggles up to distances of 10 kilometers.

The drone, aside from the build and the camera, is quite an impressive little beast too. It comes with two sensors on its underside that can help detect obstacles, enabling low-altitude flight and also allowing it to sense when it’s above water (so as to not accidentally land on it). The drone also comes with a halt-and-hover feature that allows it to instantly brake in the air to avoid any chances of head-on collisions.

While capturing footage, the Avata’s RockSteady 2.0 and HorizonSteady abilities help stabilize the footage and keep your horizon relatively, well, horizontal (avoiding having the video tilting dramatically while the drone tilts). Like its predecessor (the more expensive DJI FPV), the Avata offers 3 modes of flying – Normal, Manual, and Sport. It’s compatible with DJI’s Goggles 2 headset, and can even be controlled using the intuitive Motion Controller from the previous FPV drone. Just the drone itself starts at $629, although you won’t get a remote controller, goggles, or the proprietary motion controller at that price. For the full trimmings, be prepared to shell out as much as $1388 which includes all the bells and whistles. It’s still relatively cheaper than the DJI FPV, and much more capable than anything you can build in your own workshop…

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Save 21% on the Axis VIDIUS FPV-Camera Drone

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Axis VIDIUS FPV-Camera Drone 01

Several quadcopters have claimed over the past few months the title of “the world’s smallest camera drone,” but the Axis VIDIUS took things even further by adding FPV capabilities to the UAV.

Whereas in the case of most small-factor drones you can only record the action and watch the entire footage later, VIDIUS by Axis Drones takes an entirely different approach, and enables you to watch in real-time whatever it is that you’re filming. This might sound like a great premise for a spy movie, but I’d urge you not to use the drone for such things, as it’s not only unethical, but also illegal. That being said, Walyou Deals has the Axis VIDIUS on sale for a few more days, so read on to find out what makes this drone so special, and how you can buy it.

Axis VIDIUS is all about exploring, so it would make a great companion for hiking. Since it does away with the anxiety caused by drones that only record video without streaming it directly to your smartphone or tablet, the VIDIUS quadcopter allows you to always capture the action from the perfect angle. Without live streaming, you sometimes get the impression that it all could’ve turned out better, but VIDIUS really makes this a thing of the past.

With Axis VIDIUS you also get a lot of freedom, as the distance limitations are quite lax. The drone has a 100-foot range, which is more than enough for exploring your immediate vicinity without lifting a foot. There’s a lot of flexibility in terms of control, as you can use the included 2.4Ghz controller, a smartphone or a tablet. VIDIUS is able to stream both photos and videos from that distance in 420p. Both flight sensitivity and speed can be adjusted to your liking.

The battery life of the Axis VIDIUS FPV-camera drone is decent, as you’ll get 5 to 7 minutes of flight per 20-minute charge. That’s enough for capturing the surroundings, if you’re in the great outdoors, and considering the short time it needs for a full charge, you can pack a power bank with you to keep going.

One of the best things about the Axis VIDIUS quadcopter is that you don’t have to worry about registering it with the

Check out the following video to get a better idea of how Axis VIDIUS looks and works in real life.

To buy the Axis VIDIUS FPV-camera drone, head over to Walyou Deals, where it’s on sale for four more days at the discounted price of $74.99 (originally $95). The item is shipped for free to continental US addresses, and deliveries are expected to take place between February 19 and 22. Chances are you won’t be able to find this drone discounted after this offer expires, so act fast if you want to live stream the video feed of a quadcopter more easily than ever before!

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