On the other hand, last year Edmonton International Airport began using drones to combat the problem posed by birds, using “Robirds” developed by Clear Flight Solutions to scare birds away from runways.
D
rones have swarmed the market in recent
years, and there’s now a drone to suit every type of consumer: would-be filmmakers can capture stunning panoramic videos, making them excellent hiking and adventure companions; sports enthusiasts are tracked by slimmed-down machines designed for speed and agility; while drone racing has become so popular that in 2016 Dubai hosted the World Drone Prix with a prize pool of US$1 million.
In the world of aviation, however, the emergence of drones has been a little less welcome. Numerous airports, from Gatwick to Dubai International, have encountered disruptions from flyers operating drones within restricted airspace, and last year the British pilots association BALPA, citing safety concerns from potential collisions, called on the UK government to crack down on the use of drones near airports. Other European nations, including France and the Netherlands, have taken to training eagles to hunt and bring down drones that stray too close to airfields.
While drones were once a relatively niche sector, they have now become one of the technology world’s most competitive, with the pack leaders almost all based in China. (From our list, Parrot is the only non- Chinese brand to feature). Intense market competitiveness has even seen high-profile companies such as GoPro, renowned for its durable action cameras, being forced to announce the closure of its entire Karma drone division aſter struggling to gain a foothold…
With so many options available these days, knowing which drone to buy can be a daunting task. We’ve selected six of the top performers to help you with your decision.
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DJI MAVIC PRO
PRICE: US$999 SIZE: 8.3CM X 19.8CM WEIGHT: 734G MAX SPEED: 65KM/H MAX FLIGHT TIME: 27 MINUTES CAMERA: 4K AT 30FPS (VIDEO)/12MP (PHOTO) Shenzhen-based DJI is one of the leading names in consumer drones. The DJI Mavic Pro (see picture above) is one of the top drones currently available on the market. The ability to fold its arms in to decrease its size to just 8.3cm x 19.8cm makes it highly portable whilst maintaining the quality of a larger drone. It’s also especially good for users looking to film high-quality video – the camera can capture 4K video at up to 30fps. At US$999 it is a notably more expensive than other models
on the market, though, making it more of an investment than a frivolous buy. Some upgraded iterations have recently been unveiled: the Mavic Pro Platinum has an improved 30-minute flight time while also supposedly generating 60 per cent less noise, and rumours abound about a newer Mavic Pro 2 hitting the market in the foreseeable future.
dji.com
bus ine s s tr a v el ler .c om
DJI SPARK
PRICE: US$399 SIZE: 14.3CM X 14.3CM WEIGHT: 300G MAX SPEED: 50KM/H MAX FLIGHT TIME: 16 MINUTES CAMERA: 1080P (VIDEO)/12MP (PHOTO) The smaller and lighter DJI Spark has been designed for new drone users, with advanced gesture controls that make flying the drone relatively straightforward. But the coolest features? It activates itself using facial recognition scanning and can even be controlled using hand gestures alone – and if the idea of controlling a flying robot by waving your hands around like a wizard doesn’t excite you, we don’t know what will.
dji.com
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