PHANTOM DJI Phantom 4 Pro Quadcopter

Computerized flight control is nothing new, but the Phantom 4 is the first Phantom to be given a pair of eyes. Among other features, these front-facing visual sensors enable obstacle avoidance during automatic return home and allow it to track a subject. It also features Vision Position, a carryover from the Phantom 3 Professional and Advanced, which provides navigation for times when GPS is unavailable and the quadcopter is close to the ground.

One area where fixed-wing planes have traditionally held an advantage over multi-rotors is performance. The Phantom 4 aims to shake off this stigma. With its Sport Mode, the quadcopter can achieve a top speed of 44.7mph. That’s enough speed to take to the races or follow fast-moving subjects, such as a vehicle or skier hurling down the slopes. Since you may need to slow down in a hurry, Active Braking brings to the quadcopter to a halt much faster than drag alone otherwise would.

Flight Control System

GPS NavigationBecause of the complexity associated with multi-rotor aircraft, the Phantom 4 relies on a GPS-based navigation system, drawing upon up to 24 satellites to maintain flight stability and provide other features. While fully manual operation is possible, most users, especially videographers hoping to get the smoothest possible shoots, will opt for one of the GPS-assisted modesVision Positioning System for Indoor NavigationVision Positioning System uses dual downward-facing cameras and dual ultrasonic sensors to provide comparable stability function indoors or relatively close to the ground (up to 32.8′) as GPS does outdoors. This technology allows the Phantom 4 to hold its location, stop when the controls are released, and quickly respond to pilot commands, even when GPS is unavailableSense and AvoidA small camera above each leg allows the aircraft to detect an obstacle in the flight path, coming to a stop to try to avoid it. By turning on Active Obstacle Avoidance, the aircraft will attempt to fly around or over the obstacle, rather than braking. The pilot will also receive audible and visual warnings to alert you of when an obstacle is detected. This feature will also be active when you trigger Return to Home, providing for a safer flight back to the pilot