CES 2018 wasn’t just about autonomous prototype cars, AR/VR, new 4K cameras such as the Panasonic GH5s, and new smart phones, there were some new drones as well. At a major trade show such as CES it’s easy to get lost in the noise of new product announcements, but the announcement of the new EVO drone from quadcopter makers Autel Robotics stood out.
There’s a ton of consumer drones out there, but not many that offer compact portability, advanced features such as obstacle avoidance, a decent flight time and 4K/60p recording. Well, Autel Robotics did just announce the EVO, which seems to tick all these boxes.
The EVO is a compact, foldable drone, which shares a striking resemblance to the DJI Mavic Pro, however, unlike the Mavic Pro, the EVO is equipped with a 4K/60p stabilized camera. In addition, the EVO boasts advanced obstacle avoidance features such as rear, bottom and front sensors, multiple intelligent flight modes, and a remote controller with a 3.3-inch built-in OLED screen with live 720p HD dual band transmission and a 7km/4.3 miles range.
The EVO is also said to feature a great flight time for its size – at 30 minutes and a decent battery recharge time of 1.3 hrs.
the Autel Explorer app is compatible with both iOS and Android and it enables operators to access autonomous flight modes such as Orbit, GPS Follow, Dynamic Track, Viewpoint, and Waypoint mission planning.
Autel Robotics EVO Features
- 4K UHD at 60fps
- 3-axis gimbal stabilized camera
- Front & Downward (Computer Vision)
- Rear (IR Sensor) Obstacle Avoidance Systems
- 3.3 Inch built-in OLED screen remote controller with 720p live video
- 30-minute flight time
- Speeds up to 20 meters per second
- 4300 mAh Li-Po Battery, 1.3 hour recharge time
- 7km (4.2 mi) Range
- Autel Explorer app allowing for intelligent flight features
- Price: TBD (expected to be around $1,000)
- Release: 2018
Obstacle avoidance
3D Mapping
Dynamic Tracking – this is very impressive!
Pricing has not yet been officially confirmed, but Autel say they are aiming for a price point around $999 at launch. Availability has not been announced yet, Autel Robotics say they will be released closer to launch date sometime in 2018.
The announcement of the EVO ups the ante in the compact drone game, and I think it is inevitable that DJI will have to respond soon with a revised 4K-enabled version of their Mavic Pro, or a maybe even a Mavic Pro 2 with 4K/60p? Stay tuned.
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There is a second SKU with a better camera for $1299. It has a 1 inch sensor
Hi,
Can you point out which one you are talking about?
Yes, please. Show us the two SKU’s. There are conflicting reports. Carolinadronez reported a definite $1300 model with 1″ sensor cam. But an AR Rep was on facebook yesterday saying it’s only a prototype and no commitment on release.
Kenneth Argo, the rep you refer to has called the other 2 models (1″ sensor and 360 camera) as both ‘ingestion units’ and ‘pre-production models to fine tune a production run’. Exact quotes. I asked him to clarify the former and got no word back. I doubt either will ever see the light of day and as such I won’t be taking the plunge.
It’s still a very impressive drone for $999. Obviously real user experience will play a part in some buyers decisions to buy it. I know I’m taking that approach. But the current camera specs are as good or better than any other unit in that price range, including the current Mavics. I really do value a 20mp still over the current 12mp, but if that is something thats not going to happen for sure then I may have to settle for the 1/2.3 sensor cam version. I’ve been waiting since last September to make my first drone purchase and with whispers of a new product at CES18 I held off and am actually very excited about the EVO. I love everything about it. But the 1″ sensor rumor is killing me. I’d rather spend the extra $300 and have that. I don’t have the budget to buy drone, after drone, after drone. I’m still a Galaxy 5s guy. I dont really chase “the new toy”. I try to buy “The one” the first time.
no doubt. And if I didn’t already have the P3A I’d be interested. I was going to buy the P4P with the 1″ sensor but wanted to wait for Autel’s CES showing to see if they would come to market with an equivalent. I don’t think the pre-production models will ever see the light of day and instead I will wait to see what the P5 looks like. A portable drone would be preferred but the optics for still photography are what matter most to me.
uh, no there isn’t. Not at any site anywhere.
Does this has auto defection of individuals similar to predator missile in COD game