If you have been following the forums, you know that the drone pilots are practically divided in the new DJI FPV drone. Some people – especially those who are new to FPV or who have flown with DJI products in the past – seem to really like it. What about experienced FPV pilots? Meh. They say it is not as agile as a residential building, it is fragile, etc. And it made us think …
DJI products will always have enemies. And often, those with the highest reviews are those in the racing community and first-person view buildings. And we understand: these people take the time to learn about all the components. They learn to build and fly. Then they fall, fix and keep flying. Many of these people compare DJI’s new FPV drone to an SUV that is easy to damage and expensive to repair.
We keep saying: they are not the target market. But it doesn’t really matter here …
Forum Posts
Visit the forums and various Facebook groups if you want proof. You won’t find a shortage of people criticizing the product … and people defending it. Those who like it appreciate the strong integration of the technology and the fact that you can fly this drone on the first day in N and S modes (although you really should have a visual observer with you). Like any other DJI product, it does what it should.
But the DJI drone is not as robust as the carbon frame constructions that experienced FPV pilots prefer. It also has a heavier frame and is not as nimble as a well-adjusted 5-inch quad. And that explains a post we saw the other day.
Facebook Post
Someone (and let’s not look now) was asking if anyone with a destroyed DJI FPV drone wanted to sell it for parts. They said they have a project in mind. And based on other rumors, we are almost sure that we know what this project is: Take the electronics and stack them in a carbon frame.
In fact, it is a very smart idea. You would get the weight reduction and strength that comes with carbon, along with probably a more responsive drone. You will also have the technological integration that comes with this system, which includes a warning when a manned aircraft equipped with ADS-B comes too close. In fact, we’ve already seen people posting that the warning went off before they could hear the aircraft approaching and could safely bring down their drone. that is a immense safety feature, and that should undoubtedly be on all FPV drones. In addition, having the camera in a single-axis gimbal gives the pilot more options during the flight – even if you decide to add a GoPro or another camera to your cinematic footage.
We add that last point because some people have been making fun of the camera. Today, however, we had a great view of what quality footage really looks like. And it looks good:
And then…
Trust us on this. In a few weeks, someone will be joining YouTube with a video of a quad that they built using DJI electronics. They may be thinking, too, that they can put it in a LiPo 6s pack at a significantly reduced cost with DJI’s admittedly expensive $ 149 battery. (Yes, this battery seems to provide very long flights, but – wow – expensive compared to buying LiPo packages.)
While all of this is a very good idea for a builder, we also anticipate that you will be stuck with factory batteries. Why? Well, see these three little extra connection points?
We are assuming that they are not just for balanced charging, but also have something to do with your smart battery system. In fact, the connector at the end of the drone (not just the charger) has pairs for these three tiny connectors. Therefore, we are betting “no dice” for a standard LiPo 6s.
There is a precedent
But DJI does not make separate FPV components, you can tell. Well, in addition to its FPV Air unit, the company has already produced and sold separate engines and ESCs for FPV racing. There is the Takyon ESC series and the Snail propulsion system:
Is this going to happen?
We would love to see it, but somehow we doubt it. But, after the waiting period and pending customer feedback, it would be cool for DJI to sell these electronics mounted on a super rigid carbon frame. This would help to calm the voices of those who don’t like this drone, give buyers another option … and ensure that most repairs can be done at home.
Think about it, DJI.
FTC: We use affiliate links for automobiles that generate revenue. Most.
Subscribe to DroneDJ on YouTube for exclusive videos