DroneUp International Drone Film Festival 2016

If you’re an avid aerial film-maker, make sure you mark these dates on your calendar — August 19th and 20th. That’s when DroneUp’s inaugural International Film Festival (IFF) will be held in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.

IFF 2016 promises to feature the coolest and most amazing footage shot by drones from around the world with the idea of creating awareness of drones as film-making tools and encouraging their creative use. It will also serve as a platform where drone professionals, companies and enthusiasts can come together to exchange ideas and experiences in the art of aerial film-making.

The contest is divided into 6 categories — Nature, Urban, Culture and Sport, Travel, Extreme and Wild and Narrative and Cinematic. All entries will be judged by an Oscar-nominated jury and winners will be awarded cash prizes totaling more than 10,000 Euros.


IFF 2016 will be held at Plovdiv’s historical Roman Stadium.

So far, filmmakers from over 30 countries have confirmed their participation. Shortlisted participants will be presenting their work in front of a live audience of over 2,000 people in Plovdiv’s historical Roman Stadium as they compete for prizes in the contest.

IFF 2016 will be held over two nights of drone film screenings and award presentations in the open air environment of the stadium (let’s hope it doesn’t rain). Spectators will be given free entry.

MJX X102H (In-Depth Review)

For some time now, the Syma X8G has been a popular option for those who want to lift GoPro-size action cams without having to spend a lot of money on aerial photography drones such as the DJI Phantom 3. The X8G has a very attractive price for what it can do and it is also reasonably reliable but if you think it looks dull and boring, you might just be right.

Enter the X102H — MJX’s latest 360-size GoPro lifter that competes directly with the Syma X8HG (the latest version of the X8G). The X102H not only matches the X8HG in terms of features, it also makes the X8HG look like a trusty old Toyota.

The X102H is one of those few toy drones to feature inverted motors, like what you see on the EHang Ghost Drone 2.0. Although this setup may seem awkward to some, inverted motors actually produce more thrust than upward-facing motors. This is because, in an inverted setting, the motor arms do not get in the way of the air that’s being pushed downwards by the propellers.

Specifications

  • Dimensions: 470 x 470 x 165mm (without prop guards)
  • Platform: Quadcopter
  • Diagonal motor distance: 360mm
  • Flight features:
  • Altitude hold
  • Headless mode, One key return
  • Motor start button / Auto take-off and auto land button
  • 2 flight speeds (High and Low)
  • Propulsion: 15mm coreless (motors) / 6-inch propellers
  • Weight: 421g (with battery / without camera, prop guards and camera mount)
  • Battery: 7.4V 1200mAh 2S Li Po
  • Charging time: 120 minutes
  • Control distance: 100 to 150 meters
  • Transmitter power: 4 AA batteries (not included)

Under the X102H’s belly is attached a fixed gimbal which can mount a GoPro or any other action cam of similar size such as the SJCAM SJ4000. When not in use, the camera can be detached.

For a humble toy quadcopter that costs less than $200, the X102H actually has some very neat features in its gimbal. To be honest, I think the X102H gimbal is so well designed that it puts the Syma X8HG gimbal to shame. For one, the gimbal features four rubber dampers that greatly reduce vibration.

Since these rubber dampers are fragile and can get easily ripped off in a crash, MJX have secured the lower platform of the gimbal with two screws. These screws do not actually tighten the platform. Instead, they allow the lower platform to sway by a few millimeters in any direction to allow the rubber dampers to absorb shock and vibration while preventing the lower platform from getting ripped off.

This is a very simple yet smart design approach in securing the lower platform while allowing the dampers to work without the risk of getting them overstretched or damaged. The Syma X8HG, on the other hand, features a fixed gimbal without any rubber dampers. Third party gimbals with rubber dampers for the X8HG are available online but they are not as well designed as MJX’s.

The lower platform was also designed to double as the battery bay. The added mass of the battery on the lower platform greatly increases its inertia, making the platform even more resistant to vibration generated by the quadcopter’s motors and propellers. Attaching the battery on the gimbal as opposed to inside the fuselage also gives it plenty of ventilation and keeps it cool. This approach creates a leaner and less bloated fuselage.

The gimbal, however, does have a flaw — the release button that is used to remove the camera mount doesn’t quite work. Attaching the mount onto the gimbal is easy but removing it can be a bit tricky. This involves pressing the release lever much closer to the retaining ridge which prevents the mount from sliding off. It took me a while before I became efficient at doing this.

Flight Performance

In the air, the X102H is as impressive as it looks thanks to its inverted motors. I definitely felt a bit more reserve power compared to the Syma X8W which has the same propulsion as the X8G and X8HG. The inverted motors certainly give it the edge and extra power it needs in windy conditions.

Being a 360-size quadcopter that can lift an action cam, the X102H flies somewhat similar to brushless quads of similar size such as the XK X380 although it is not exactly in the same ballpark. Its size means it is a lot more stable in the air compared to smaller toy quadcopters with altitude hold doing a great job in keeping things stable (in calm flying conditions).

Altitude hold is a feature that has pros and cons. If you’re not familiar with it, I suggest reading this article first if you intend to fly above 20 meters.

The X102H also features headless mode and one key return. Two flight speeds are available (high and low) for handling different flying conditions.

High speed mode unleashes the beast in the X102H and is great if you intend to use it for sport flying. All you need to do is remove the camera and it will impress. For aerial photography or videos, low speed mode is the better way to get steady shots.

Budget Aerial Photography Platform

As an aerial photography platform, the X102H is decent for a toy quadcopter. Although it is nowhere as good as drones that feature motorized gimbals, its fixed gimbal does a much better job in cancelling out jello compared to other fixed gimbals that do not have rubber dampers.

The sample X102H in this review was paired to a SJ4000 clone and a 5.8G FPV system that consisted of a 600mW video transmitter, mushroom antenna and a 7.4V 700mAh Li Po battery. Although it is possible to fly it with a Wifi-enabled camera such as the SJ4000 WiFi, I wouldn’t recommend doing so since a WiFi camera transmits on the 2.4GHz frequency which is the control frequency of the X102H.

A WiFi camera, or any WiFi router for that matter, can interfere with a drone’s 2.4GHz control signal in strange and mysterious ways that only Deepak Chopra can explain.

Technically, you can still fly the X102H without a video downlink from the attached camera but that would make framing shots very difficult. The 5.8G setup featured here doesn’t just add an extra 150 grams of weight to the X102H, it also gives me peace of mind and a much better and stable video downlink for framing shots.

Getting smooth videos on the X102H is something that requires a lot of practice and a good feel of the control sticks. It also helps if you fly in calm weather conditions as strong winds can really ruin your videos. Trying to shoot good videos with the X102H is certainly a lot more challenging compared to drones with motorized gimbals but then this is what you’d expect from a sub-$200 toy quadcopter.

Altitude Hold Issues

Although the X102H is a decent toy-grade aerial photography drone, it is only safe to fly at an altitude of less than 20 meters. If you’ve read the accompanying article mentioned above, you’ll understand why. Flying the X102H above 20 meters can be a pretty risky thing to do as any sort of wind can easily cause serious control problems which could result in a fly away or crash.

Pilots who intend to fly the X102H at altitudes of 30 to 150 meters will certainly find this weakness a big disappointment. A drone capable of lifting a GoPro is seriously handicapped if it cannot safely fly higher than 20 meters.

Conclusion

As a sub-$200 GoPro-lifter, the MJX X102H is a great alternative to the Syma X8G and X8HG. It comes with a very well-designed fixed gimbal that can mount a GoPro or any action cam with similar dimensions such as the SJ4000. The gimbal also comes with rubber dampers that do a good job in filtering out vibrations.

The X102H’s sporty looks and inverted motors gives it the edge over many of its rivals where looks are concerned. Altitude hold helps a lot when taking aerial videos and photos but this feature is only as good as the flying conditions you are flying in. With a GoPro mounted, many pilots will be tempted to fly between 30 and 100 meters or even higher. Such altitudes can be a bit tricky to handle especially when strong wind currents are present.

Since the X102H does not come with more powerful brushless motors and features altitude hold, flying high (above 20 meters) against strong winds can be very tricky and is something I don’t recommend. The X102H could have scored higher in this review if it wasn’t because of its altitude handicap.

Under the right flying conditions and with good piloting skills, the X102H can really impress as a budget aerial photography platform. Although its ability in aerial photography is limited by its fixed gimbal and altitude handicap, it is still quite capable of producing some decent footage and images if you fully understand its capabilities and know how to work efficiently within its limits.

8 Tricks for Longer Flight Times

Drone pilots generally want to fly as long as they could but the reality is, today’s drones typically have enough power to fly anywhere between 5 and 25 minutes only. Until we have batteries that can provide longer flight times, one solution would be to just bring multiple batteries along.

While this approach may work for some pilots (particularly those flying toy-grade drones that use generic batteries), some drone batteries can cost a bomb. Batteries with proprietary designs such as those used on the Phantom 4 can cost about $130 — that’s almost three times the cost of your average car battery!

Here are 8 tricks you can try to get longer flight times out of your batteries, whether you’re flying toy-grade nano quadcopters or much larger aerial photography drones such as the DJI Phantom 4. Bear in mind that getting good flight times is all about getting the best motor/propeller efficiency and reducing the overall power consumption and weight of your drone.
1. Fly Light

The heavier the drone, the shorter its flight time. Removing any unnecessary payload on your drone can certainly prolong your flights. Optional accessories such as prop guards, gimbal and camera should be removed if you don’t need them. A lighter drone is also more responsive and agile in the air.

2. Remove That Camera

A camera not only adds weight, it also draws some power from the drone’s battery. Removing the camera not only makes your drone lighter, it also reduces power consumption. Turning off your drone’s LED lights (if possible) can also help save battery power.

3. Go Easy on the Throttle

The more aggressive you are on the throttle, the faster your battery drains. It pays to go gentle on the control sticks if you want your drone to fly longer.

4. Fly in Calm Weather

This is somewhat related to Tip #3. Flying in windy conditions will force you to fly aggressively to maintain control of your drone thus increasing power consumption.

5. Pay Attention to Motors and Props

Experiment with different motors and prop sizes to get better efficiency. This can be quite tricky but there are tools such as the PropCalc propeller calculator that can help you out in getting the best combination. Be careful when selecting motors or props as the wrong combination could result in overheating motors or a drone that does not have enough thrust to fly properly. If you’re using props longer than 4 inches, balancing them using a propeller balancer can help reduce unwanted vibrations. These vibrations can cause your motors to run hotter besides making the drone unstable. This leads to higher power consumption as the drone tries to stabilize itself.

6. Keep Your Batteries Healthy

Do not overcharge your batteries or completely drain them. Ideally, lithium polymer batteries should be recharged when they are between 20 and 30% power. Batteries should be unplugged from the charger immediately after they’re fully charged. Deep discharging or over-charging can cause battery performance to deteriorate. It also helps to use a good balanced charger when charging multi-cell batteries. A healthy battery is what you need if you want longer flight times.

7. Get a Larger Battery

Drones generally come with batteries that are optimized for them but it doesn’t hurt to experiment with aftermarket batteries that offer slightly higher capacities than the original ones. These batteries could give you an extra one or two minutes of flight time. However, a significantly larger battery doesn’t always guarantee longer flight times since larger batteries are a lot heavier than your standard batteries so the best way is to experiment with a few and see which one gives you the right balance of weight and capacity.

8. Active Braking / Motor Braking

Some ESCs come with a feature called Active Braking which allows a motor to actively reduce the speed of its propeller without having to wait for it to slow down on its own. This feature allows for very precise flying but also comes with its own drawback — higher power consumption. If you don’t intend to fly like Luke Skywalker, then ditching this feature is a good idea if you want longer flight times.

Cops Find New Eyes in the Sky

If you’ve ever had a family member, friend or loved one go missing for any length of time, you’ll know just how much worry, anxiety and upheaval it can cause to those who care about them. These fears can be exacerbated when the person in question has been diagnosed with a condition such as Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or autism. They may not be aware of the potential danger they could be in or they might not be able to find their way back.

For some time now, police have provided bracelets with tracking capabilities to families whose children have a history of running away from home. Such bracelets are fitted with internal transmitters which emit radio signals that the police can trace in order to help track down the runaway child.

Such bracelets make up one half of the Care Trak system, which is being used for the first time by police and the Civil Air Patrol in Kansas City, Missouri. Police intend to make the bracelets available for high-risk wanderers, such as those with dementia. The other half of the system consists of a couple of drones, flown remotely by police officers.

The drones are fitted out with cameras which can use infrared technology to help spot people at night or in low-visibility conditions. Kansas City Police Captain Brad Deichler said that the drones were being tested out by trained officers in the hope that their capabilities could potentially make a huge difference in police searches. Each month, police are notified of anywhere between six and ten people with dementia or similar conditions, who go missing in the city. Now that the police department has received clearance from the FAA, it is hoped that the drones will save both time and manpower which might otherwise be spent combing through woodland in search and rescue missions.

Civil Air Patrol Major Austin Worcester highlighted the potential of the Care Trak system to save lives. He said that, although Civil Air Patrol Officers are already accomplished at search and rescue missions, the technology would enhance their capabilities to locate people more quickly. Time can be a decisive factor as to whether or not someone who wanders off can be found safely before it’s too late. Weather conditions can change quickly, and without water or a place to shelter, the rescue window becomes much narrower. It’s in everyone’s interests that the police and Civil Air Patrol have these resources that can go a long way towards saving lives.

As drones became commercially available, many initially wondered what their purpose was and why they were needed. After being fitted with cameras, they quickly became popular with aerial photographers, especially for realtors who wanted to get better photographs of properties from different angles. From there, they have developed into drones which the masses can use to take more interesting selfies, and now they are being put to good use by our nation’s security forces in order to save lives.

Hubsan X4 Cam Plus H107C+ (In-Depth Review)

The Hubsan X4 Cam Plus H107C+ belongs to the latest lineup of Hubsan X4 micro quadcopters and is one of three models in the range. It succeeds the earlier H107C and sits between the flagship H107D+ which features 5.8G FPV and the entry-level H107P.

Like its predecessor, the H107C+ has a camera but does not feature any sort of FPV video downlink. It also features improved camera resolution (720P video/2MP stills) compared to the H107’s 0.3MP, a completely redesigned body, a slightly bigger battery and last but not least, altitude hold.

Hubsan products are stuff you’ll either love or hate. Love — because Hubsan’s attention to detail and quality is simply unmatched by most brands in the toy drone segment. The only companies that seem to be putting in any real effort in producing that same level of quality are XK and UDI.

Hate — because Hubsans are simply a lot more expensive.

Specifications

  • Dimensions: 135 x 135 x 38mm
  • Type: Quadcopter
  • Diagonal motor distance: 110mm
  • Camera: wide angle / 2MP stills / HD 720P video
  • Motors: 8.5mm (size) paired to 55mm propellers
  • Weight: 58g (with battery)
  • Flight time: 6 to 8 minutes
  • Battery: 3.7V 520mAh Li Po
  • Charging time: about 80 minutes
  • Control distance: approximately 50m
  • Transmitter: 4 x 1.2V AAA batteries (not included)

Priced at about $65, the H107C+ costs almost double the price of other toy quadcopters of similar size and specs. So is the Hubsan really worth its hefty price tag?

For those who are tired of cheesy user manuals and the poor attention to detail evident in most toy grade drones, the H107C+ offers a well-rounded premium package that is worth considering.

Then there are those who think Hubsan toy drones are simply obscenely priced and prefer the less than perfect approach used by other manufacturers that produce more affordable toy drones.

That being said, the perceived value of any product is really a subjective matter and varies from individual to individual.

It’s All About Styling And Details

While its predecessor featured organic styling, the new H107C+ has a very tech feel when it comes to aesthetics. If Imperial Storm troopers were issued micro quadcopters for scouting purposes, they’d probably look like the H107C+.

There are many small details that make the H107C+ feel like a very well-rounded product. Front and rear LED lights are highly visible and well-positioned. Small holes underneath its fuselage make a grid-like pattern for ventilation and a mock air vent adorns the top of the fuselage.

Even the power button has a simple flap design that blends in nicely to the side of the body. The proprietary battery features a slide-in integrated design that merges nicely into the rear of the fuselage. I also love the neat idea of having a micro USB port at the side of the body that lets you charge the battery without removing it.

Overall, the H107C+ is a very good balance of form and function. This is something that many other toy drone manufacturers seem to be struggling in, preferring instead to focus on features that are just plain pretentious and gimmicky such as WiFi FPV.

If you’ve flown the H107C+ at least a few times, you’ll begin to appreciate the fact that its designers have literally left no stone unturned in their quest to design the ultimate micro quadcopter within this price range.

Flight Performance

The H107C+ feels very planted and stable in the air with altitude hold doing a decent job in helping maintain a constant altitude. However, altitude hold accuracy seems to be a bit off. Even in calm indoor flying conditions, the H107C+ would fluctuate within an altitude envelope of a few feet. Although this may not seem much, especially for larger models such as the Syma X5HW, it is substantial for a micro quadcopter. Altitude fluctuation gets worse when there are wind currents. In moderately windy conditions, this fluctuation can be anywhere between 10 to 20 feet.

One thing interesting, though, is the H107C+’s ability to perform flips well despite having altitude hold. While most toy drones struggle to perform flips properly, often plunging after every flip, the H107C+ seems to handle itself very well. It is the best toy drone with altitude hold that I’ve tested so far when it comes to 3D flips.

Even more interesting is that the H107C+ seems to be quite immune to the list of issues plaguing most toy drones that feature altitude hold. Although it does fluctuate in a wide altitude envelope when hovering, the H107C+ can still fly quite well outdoors in light winds. Things get worse when wind currents get stronger although not as bad as some other toy drones that do crazy things like refusing to land or descend.

Due to its micro size, the H107C+ is best flown indoors where there are no wind currents. Two speed modes are available – Normal and Expert. Expert Mode, as the name suggests, allows the drone to fly at its fastest.

Users also have the option of fine-tuning control sensitivity in both Normal and Expert modes. For example, throttle sensitivity is set to 100% in Expert Mode and 50% in Normal Mode by default. These values can be fine tuned to your personal preference. If 50% throttle sensitivity is too low for your flying style in Normal Mode, you can adjust it to 60% or any other value. Sensitivity adjustments can also be made for rudder, elevator and aileron controls.

Camera Performance

The H107C+ has camera performance that is quite impressive by toy drone standards. While most other toy drones in the sub-$100 price range still feature 0.3MP cameras with narrow viewing angles, the H107C+ comes with a wide angle camera capable of taking real 2MP (1600 x 1200) stills and HD 720P videos.

Bear in mind that the H107C+ features a toy-grade camera so it is not comparable to proper cameras that come with better optics and sensors. Image quality is good when compared to other toy drones although purple fringing appears across the frame, even in the center. Due to its wide angle lens, distortion is clearly visible although you do get a much wider view.

Below are some unedited sample images.

Overall, the camera on the H107C+ may have a few flaws but it is still simply a class above cameras that you’d get in other sub-$100 toy drones.

Conclusion

The H107C+ is meant for the discerning drone enthusiast who has both the money and desire for the best there is in toy drones. It may cost double what other drones its size cost but the H107C+ more than makes up for it with its decent camera and rather good implementation of altitude hold.

Altitude hold in the H107C+ is simply a class above what you get in other newer toy drones. It can be flown in light winds outdoors and is more immune to the issues often associated with altitude hold. It does gradually dive when going full pitch forward and has a rather wide altitude envelope when hovering in windy conditions — both of which are not serious issues.

The H107C+ also allows users to customize control sensitivity in both Expert and Normal Modes which is great for those who like to fine-tune their drones to suit their flying style.

In short, the H107C+ is one of the best micro quadcopters around with altitude hold although it may come at a rather steep price. It offers a very competitive package for those who want excellent quality and features when shopping for a micro quadcopter.

Kimon, Let’s Take a selfie!

Keyshare Technologies has come up with its reply to the growing number of selfie drones that are lining up to hit the market – the Kimon – and it may just be the first to really deliver on the promise of selfie drones. Users want a drone which is easy to manipulate, has a good range and gives high resolution photographs. In these areas, the Kimon doesn’t disappoint.

The Kimon, as we have seen, is not the first, dedicated selfie drone to be conceived – the concept has been around for some time and has seen various incarnations, some more successful than others. We saw the Zano drone failed to get off the ground as the company ran into financial difficulties. Then there was the Lily drone, which, despite a large amount of media hype, has been held up a number of times, and isn’t expected to go on public sale until later in the year.

There are, of course, drones already available on the market, such as the Airdog and the Hexo+. Unfortunately, these drones don’t come with a camera, yet come with quite a hefty price tag. Kimon hopes to do better – it can already fly, has a camera and is currently being manufactured.

If there’s one thing we can say about the Kimon, it’s that it’s certainly not short of cool features. It has a 16 million-pixel camera, which supports 4k/25fps video, slow motion, time-lapse and burst photography. You can take your selfies in 360 degrees and 45 degrees among other more conventional angles.

 

It’s easy to control with your smartphone, too. Maneuvers such as lift off, hovering and landing are all controlled with one touch, and the G-sensor is controlled simply by the motion of your phone. If you’re planning to use the Kimon indoors, you can take advantage of its indoor positioning module, which allows you to control the movements of the drone under 10 feet without GPS.

Not only does it have all of these features, but the actual design of the drone makes it highly portable and easy to use. The folding design makes it easy to carry, and the replaceable battery means you have the added convenience of swapping, if you need it. All of which makes for a drone which is perfectly suited to both novice and accomplished photographer and drone users.

It might be safe to assume that if you’re considering buying a selfie drone, you have at least a passing interest in taking selfies. Assuming that is indeed the case, you should ask yourself what is it exactly that you want to get from a selfie drone. Do you want high resolution photos or the option to take your selfies from a variety of angles? Perhaps you want to make more interesting videos for your vlog or personal projects? Do you need a drone which can both fly and take photos in an indoor environment? Are you looking for something that’s easy to use?

If you’ve answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, there’s good news – Kimon is probably the right selfie drone for you.

Nissan’s GT-R Drone Does 60mph in 1.3 seconds

What do you do when you’re tasked to film the 2017 Nissan GT-R on a racetrack but couldn’t find an aerial photography drone that can keep up with Godzilla? Well, the answer is pretty simple — you build one!

This is exactly what Nissan did with its GT-R Drone — named after the super car it was designed to stalk. The drone is capable of hitting 60mph in just 1.3 seconds, nearly twice as fast as the actual GT-R which does it in 2.9 seconds. It also has a top speed of 115mph which, although significantly slower than the car’s top speed of 196mph, is not a serious handicap since the GT-R rarely reaches its speed limit on racetracks anyway.

Achieving such breakneck speeds and acceleration does, however, come at a price — the drone is not capable of carrying a 3-axis gimbal and relies instead on a fixed mount for its camera.

Such a top speed is not only fast for an aerial photography drone, it’s mind-boggling especially when you consider the fact that most consumer drones such as the DJI Phantom 4 can only manage 44mph. The drone’s top speed puts it in the same ballpark as 250-size racing drones. In fact, the GT-R Drone really is a high-end racing drone under the skin and was actually designed by World Drone Prix Champions — Tornado XBlades Racing.

Nissan recently released a video showing the GT-R and its drone namesake ripping around a racetrack. Driving the GT-R was Nissan test driver Ricardo Sanchez while 2015 British National Drone Racing champion James Bowles piloted the drone.

Weighing only 700g, the GT-R Drone is based on a customized Anakin Club Racer carbon fiber frame by Sky Hero and is propelled by 2000kV XNova motors. Giving it an aerodynamic edge is the Anakin’s low profile canopy that keeps all major components covered and secure.

Toys To Wow Us All

It’s well over a decade since Robosapien exploded onto the high-tech toy market, wowing us all with its ability to walk around, pick up objects, talk to us and even throw those same objects at us. It quickly became a cult toy, undergoing open source software modifications, allowing it to perform an increasing number of tasks. In Germany, an all-robot soccer match was held between the universities of Freiburg and Osnabruck.

Fans of Robosapien will be thrilled to learn that the company behind the toy, Hong Kong-based designer and developer WowWee, is planning to release its next robotic baby into the market this coming fall. The cute little newcomer is named COJI, and he showed his face to the public at ToyFair earlier in the year. COJI has inherited some of the appearance of his celebrated ancestor, along with some newly evolved traits. He stands about the size of a human hand, his body encased in smart, black and white shelling. As you may expect, he has two arms and two legs (with tracks), and his face is a screen. As far as robots go, he’s about as endearing as they come.

COJI was brought into the world to take on the important task of encouraging youngsters to get into coding. Furthermore, he would be equipped for this undertaking with an emoji-based coding language, which kids have access to by connecting a mobile device. COJI’s task is coding with emojis, and his name reflects this.

The little robot can be commanded to perform various movements and facial expressions through the mobile app. It’s accessible to even the youngest users, as COJI will respond to actions such as shaking as tilting, too. It looks like a good bet that COJI will be many kids’ new best friend as the year comes to an end – particularly around the gift giving season, as he’s available for a mere $60.

Another welcome addition to the WowWee family is on the way, in the form of LUMI. This drone might well be the most user-friendly design to date. The family resemblance to CHiP – the WowWee dog robot (which is also due to jump into the market before too long) – is uncanny. They share the same proximity technology which enable them to execute complicated maneuvers safely and intelligently.

LUMI, a small and self-contained drone unit, is also controlled via a mobile app. Users can exploit the little drone’s maneuverability to the fullest by programming sequences of complex aerobatics. There is even a facility for choreographing movements to music, allowing users to be entertained by LUMIs own synchronized flying skills. The main drawback with LUMI at the moment is her limited battery life – it will need to be charged or swapped after 10 minutes. Like COJI, we should expect to be seeing a large number of LUMIs arrive in homes this fall (especially those with kids), as she retails for a very reasonable $80. For those have grown up and look back to Robosapien with nostalgia, this could turn out to be a great year.

Dubai 210mm ARF Kit Now on Sale at GearBest

GearBest is now offering the Dubai 210mm ARF (Almost Ready to Fly) kit at a discounted price of $159.99. Now that’s a very attractive price for a mini racing drone kit that has lots to offer despite looking quite unassuming.

As many would have guessed by now, the Dubai 210mm kit got its name from the city of Dubai which was the venue for the final leg of the 2016 World Drone Prix. In fact, the Dubai 210mm kit has a striking resemblance to the drones used by participants at the Dubai finals although I’m not too sure if the company that sells the kit also supplied the World Drone Prix with drones.

Photos of the recently concluded race show a number of participants like Chad Nowak and reigning champion Luke Bannister with drones that look very similar to the Dubai 210mm. This is particularly true if you look at the EMAX RS2205 motors which have a red-colored lower base.

Regardless of whether it is indeed a replica of the drones that were raced in the World Drone Prix, the Dubai 210mm has some really decent specs. Below is a list of items in the kit as sold at GearBest:

  • EMAX RS2205 2300kv Motors
  • SPRacing F3 Deluxe Flight Controller
  • OCDay BLheli 20amp ESCs
  • 3K Carbon Fiber 210mm Frame (1.5mm sheet thickness)
  • Power Distribution Board (5V/12V BEC’s)
  • 5045BN Propellers
  • Net weight: 91g

Recommended battery type is 3S 8.4V – 12.6V with a capacity of 1300 to 1500mAh and discharge rate of 30C. 4 cell batteries are not recommended as they’re not compatible with the 20A ESCs.

The most impressive component of the kit is probably the EMAX RS2205 motor. These high performance motors are said to be very well balanced and are key to the Dubai’s smoothness and stability in the air.

5 New Quadcopters to Get Excited About This Summer

Summer is coming soon and along with it, perfect conditions for outdoor flying and a whole new range of drones for sale with some really exciting features.

In this article, we’ve compiled a list of newly released models that fly great in outdoor environments. Of course, there are more than five new models that were released recently but we picked the ones that excited us the most. All these amazing drones can already be found in the market, all of them represent a good value for your money, they top among the best within their price range!

Let us move on to review these amazing products which will surely provide your hours of fun during this summer of 2016!

UPDATED according to new models for Summer 2016!

JJRC H28C

JJRC has been one of the most active drone manufacturers in the market recently. They have released great and affordable products. One of these amazing quadcopters is JJRC H28C, one of the very few low-cost Toy grade quadcopters to feature a modular design. Meaning you can fold H28C arms and easily fit it into a backpack. Thus making it the perfect toy quadcopter for a holiday, a day out in the park or even a road trip! JJRC H28C comes with a 2MP camera (in fact its image quality is more of a 0.3MP) and its own 1 Axis gimbal which allows it to tilt upward and downward.

As expected from all JJRC products, it has an amazing control distance of 200 meters! Above the average range of toy drones. Powered by a 7.4V 1200mAh Lipo battery JJRC H28C has a flight time between 8 to 10 minutes! On top of all this goodness, H28C also features Headless Mode (for easier control and orientation) and One-Key Return 8drone returns back to pilot).

Without a doubt JJRC H28C is one of the easiest to carry affordable quadcopters for this Summer of 2016! Get yours, fold it, put it on your backpack and you are set for your adventure! You will be able to record and take photographs while flying the quadcopter as far as 200 meters!

JJRC H26W

Another great product by JJRC, H26W is one of the most affordable FPV (real time video transmission) quadcopters currently in the market. Therefore, for all our readers looking for a First Person View experience for this Summer 2016, than I’m happy to introduce you JJRC H26W! This quadcopter includes its own 2MP camera and 2 Axis Gimbal (tilt upward, downward, right or left), allowing you to have different recording angles! FPV (real time video) transmission is done directly to your smartphone via WiFi through a free application available for both Android and iOS.

Image quality does have a slight ‘jello-effect’ but nothing to worry about, and considering its price cost, it’s a good value for the money. Once again, and since it’s a JJRC product, one of its best specifications is the control range, an astonishing 300 meters!

Way above the average control distance of quadcopters within its price range. Like H28C it also features Headless Mode for easier control and One-Key Return (returns to pilot). Powered by a 7.4 V 1.200 mAh 30C LiPo battery it has a flight time between 6 to 8 minutes.

If you are a fan of real time video transmission, JJRC H26W will be a great choice toy FPV quadcopter this summer!

Kaideng K70C Sky Warrior

Are you a fan of action sport cameras such as the widely famous GoPro? Do you own one of these cameras but are not willing to spend much money on a drone to place it on? Don’t worry! We have found an amazing solution for your GoPro. Kaideng K70C is an amazingly affordable quadcopter which includes its own camera mount (anti-vibration) designed for GoPro style cameras (GoPro Hero4, Xiaomi Yi, SJCam, among others).

It’s the perfect camera quadcopter, the gimbal is remotely controlled, allowing pilot to acquire different angles of view without having to land the quadcopter. But if you don’t own a GoPro camera or similar, don’t worry!

Kaideng K70C comes with its own 2MP Hawkeye 720p resolution with wide angled lens camera, good image quality camera which will satisfy casual flyers. Kaideng K70C has a lifting power of up to 500g! The coreless and direct-drive motors are very durable and will ensure a nice steep pitch enabling fast high rates.

Yaw rates can be adjusted according to pilot’s skills, therefore it is a great drone for both beginners and experts. K70C has a control distance of 150 to 200 meters and a flight time of 10 minutes! Its features include Headless Mode, One-Key Return and LED arms (very cool lights) for night flights!

If you are looking for a large drone with plenty of lifting power, than Kaideng K70C SkyWarrior will be your best choice to fit your action sport camera this Summer 2016, the best bang for your buck!

JXD 509W

This Summer 2016, if you are looking for a feature-rich quadcopter for a very affordable price, you will love JXD 509W! This FPV quadcopter features one of the latest functions to be added on low-cost quadcopters.

We are talking about the Altitude Holder, a feature which looks your quadcopter at a desired height and allows it to hover autonomously while you control the right throttle and focus on recording video or taking photographs.

The 509W transmitter has dedicated buttons for “headless” mode and “one key return”.

Other awesome features are the Automatic Landing (drone will land itself) and also the already common Headless Mode and One-Key Return. If you love messing around with new features but you don’t have much money to spend this Summer, JXD 509W from Pioneer is your best choice.

On top of all the great features, it includes its own 0.3MP FPV camera which will transmit live video directly to your smartphone via Wifi. If you wish to learn more about this rich-feature but affordable quadcopter please check our in-depth review.

DJI Phantom 4

If you have a bit more money to spend this Summer 2016 you will be happy to know that DJI has already released the upgraded version of their most famous model the Phantom.

Introducing the DJI Phantom 4, a fully autonomous quadcopter featuring: Obstacle sensors (to automatically avoid obstacles during flight thus preventing crashes and hits); TapFly (with a motion of your finger on your tablet Phantom 4 will fly on that direction); Visual Tracking (lock a moving object and drone will follow it) Smart Return Home, Dual Satellite Positioning System, Vision Positioning System and of course Auto-Pilot. DJI Phantom 4 is one of the best quadcopters currently in the market, capable of pretty much anything, extremely easy to fly.

DJI phantom 4 includes its own 4K camera (manufactured by DJi itself)! Its arms are easily folded thus reducing the size of the quadcopter enabling it to easily fit a backpack (a new feature of this model). Phantom 4 features all the best and latest drone technology. It has an astonishing and unseen control range of 3.5 to 5km and an amazing flight time of 28 minutes!

If you have the money, DJI Phantom 4 is definitely your best choice, you won’t regret owning one of these powerful sky beasts. With a DJI Phantom 4 you will get the most of your Summer 2016 and you will have the best quality videos and photos to remember it!

Five amazing quadcopters for this upcoming Summer! Capture all your best moments in video and photos, create memories, and own the sky! All of these products represent the best value for your money among their price ranges. Tell us what you think on the comment section below and don’t forget to bookmark our page for more amazing guides such as this!