DJI’s Mavic Pro Gets Rave Reviews, Wobbly First Flight
- Joel Hans
- Oct 31, 2016
- 2 min read
Image: DJI
Back in September, DJI announced the Mavic Pro drone for personal use, with a foldable package that made it small enough to easily carry in a backpack, or even a purse. Because the propellers are always attached to the drone, even in the folded position, it promises to save users the hassle of attaching propellers every time they want to fly.
On top of that, the Mavic Pro contains some sophisticated technology beneath the chassis. An autonomous flight mode means it will avoid most obstacles up to 22 mph, with a maximum speed of 40 mph. A geofencing system, built on top of the network of sensors—including five cameras, GPS, ultrasonic range finders, redundant sensors, and more—keeps the Mavic Pro out of unwanted areas.
In a press release, Frank Wang, DJI’s founder and CEO, said, “DJI has spent a decade making it easier for anyone to fly, and by rethinking everything about how a drones look [sic], we have created an entirely new type of aerial platform for anyone to explore their creativity.”
4K video is all the rage these days, and the Mavic Pro doesn’t disappoint. The drone can film in 4K at 30fps and 1080p at 96fps. A tiny three-axis gimbal helps make sure that images won’t be shaky.
And for those who want a more comprehensive experience, the Mavic Pro can be paired with DJI’s Goggles platform, which allows pilots to see the aerial first-person view (FPV) and get a bird’s-eye view of the landscape around them.
Unlike the drone’s easy launch features, DJI’s own product launch hasn’t been completely smooth. The company has come under some scrutiny as of late over shipping delays and severe backorder issues. On October 25, the company released a short press release assuring customers that some orders were being shipped out.
Adam Najberd, the global director of communication, said, “We know you're eager to get your Mavic Pros into the air. We are moving as rapidly as possible to make that happen.”
Gizmodo dug a little deeper and found an email, supposedly sent from DJI to one of its distributors. In the email, the DJI employee said they shipped a “very small quantity” of the Mavic Pro to “comfort the market.”
Annoyed customers who pre-ordered a Mavic Pro have been using a Google Spreadsheet to track which orders have been processed and put into the mail. So far, it isn’t looking great for the company—many retail stores have pushed back shipment dates from November 2 to mid-December.
SOURCES: DJI, Gizmodo, DJI Newsroom