Los Angeles, CA—DJI introduced the DJI Avata, a new drone that offers an enhanced experience of immersive flight. The Avata was developed to create a new paradigm for first-person view (FPV) drone flight.
Thus, it allows pilots to race through the skies benefitting from its advanced performance, agility and ease of control. The FPV drone is coupled with the new DJI Goggles 2 and the DJI Motion controller.
“DJI Avata was built to awaken a desire to fly in everyone, with immersive flight technology that allows anyone to explore the almost out-of-body experience of FPV flight,” said Ferdinand Wolf, creative director, DJI.
“DJI Avata is breathtaking to fly for even a novice pilot. It includes enhanced safety features that give anyone the freedom to try creative aerial moves. Paired with the DJI Goggles 2 and the DJI Motion Controller, the Avata seems to ride with the wind. Whether you fly for the fun of it to make great clips for social media or to dazzle viewers in the production studio, DJI Avata will show you why its engrossing flight experience pulls you into a new world of soaring possibilities.”
The company says that pilots need to pair the Avata with the DJI Goggles 2—DJI’s newest flight control technology—as well as the DJI Motion controller. The controller steers the drone according to the movement of the pilot’s hand. Users can also control the drone with the existing DJI FPV Remote Controller 2 and the DJI FPV Goggles V2.
DJI Avata Main Features
The drone was developed to offer new creative directions for beginners and professionals alike. Its compact design strips down the chassis of a traditional drone into a body built for speed and agility. It weighs only 410 grams (14.5 ounces) while still integrating aerodynamic propeller guards for added safety.
Moreover, its stabilized camera employs a 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor with 48 million effective pixels to deliver 4K/60–frames–per–sec and 2.7K/50/60/100/120–fps video. The sensor also has an f/2.8 aperture and an ultrawide-angle lens with a viewing angle of up to 155°.
The wider field of view enables immersive aerial photography and videography at up to 4K/60 fps, as well as slow-motion footage at 2.7K/100 fps. What’s more, with D-Cinelike color mode, the Avata allows a broad color palette that enables detailed chromatic adjustments.
With a flight time of up to 18 minutes, the Avata hovers like a traditional drone; accelerates like a racer; zooms in and out of tight spaces; as well as stops in a fraction of a second. Furthermore, if the drone is pushed beyond its limits and lands upside down, a new turtle mode enables it to flip back up and take off again.
The drone also uses two flagship imaging stabilization technologies. DJI RockSteady eliminates overall picture shake; DJI HorizonSteady keeps the picture oriented toward true level. And data flows to 20GB of internal storage space.
Safe Flight Features
In addition, the drone’s built-in propeller guards make the fuselage more durable and reduce the probability of risk. When the drone is in the air, pilots can rely on a suite of safety features.
A dedicated emergency brake and hover feature is available in all flying modes; it stops the drone and makes it hover in place at any time during flight. Failsafe return to home brings the drone back to its home point automatically with a press of a button. It will also perform in the event that transmission is lost or the battery reaches a critically low level.
Further, DJI’s GEO 2.0 geofencing system advises pilots of airspace restrictions and potential hazards. It automatically prevents drones from flying near certain high-risk locations, such as airports.
The drone also uses DJI’s AirSense ADS-B receiver system to warn drone pilots when airplanes or helicopters are nearby. Plus, it broadcasts DJI’s AeroScope signal to help authorities monitor airborne drones in sensitive locations.
However, drone pilots flying with FPV goggles should pair with a visual observer to act as a spotter. Many jurisdictions also require a visual observer to watch for airspace hazards.
The Avata also employs both an infrared sensing system and a two-camera downward vision system. They help the aircraft maintain its current position; hover more precisely; fly indoors or in environments where satellite navigation is unavailable; as well as identify areas such as bodies of water that are not suitable for landing.
To remain oriented during flight while wearing goggles, the Avata and DJI Goggles 2 also display the home point where the drone took off. This augmented reality (AR) perspective gives an extra sense of orientation to help pilots locate the immediate environment.
Flight Modes
Finally, the DJI Avata allows pilots from beginners to professionals to choose from multiple flight modes to match their skill level:
- Normal (N) mode: During N mode operation, the drone operates similarly to other DJI drones; it hovers in place with the use of satellite navigation and/or visual positioning systems on the bottom of the drone
- Manual (M) mode (with the DJI FPV Remote Controller 2): This mode offers limitless control and the full FPV immersive flight experience. Experienced users can customize parameters.
- Sport (S) mode: A new hybrid blend of M and N modes, S mode offers some of the dynamic movement capabilities that come with M mode along with some of the key safety features of N mode. S mode is the middle step between the three modes and gives pilots room to explore their skills as they get accustomed to the drone.
DJI Goggles 2
The DJI Goggles 2 is a next-generation video headset that offers a smaller, lighter and more comfortable fit. It also provides a crystal-clear FPV image comparable to those from other DJI drones, the company states. The goggles feature a clearer Micro-OLED screen with adjustable diopters, so people who normally wear glasses don’t need to use them with the goggles.
In addition, when used with the DJI Motion controller, users can control the aircraft and the gimbal camera to meet the shooting needs of various scenarios. A touch panel on the side of the goggles also permits users to control settings with one hand.
The DJI Avata and DJI Goggles 2 connect using DJI O3+ transmission. It is the company’s most powerful, reliable technology for control, ultra-low latency and detailed video at 1080p/100 fps with the H.265 decoding.
It also offers a low transmission delay of 30 milliseconds and a long transmission distance of 6.2 miles. Also provided are auto-switching dual frequencies; a 50Mbps bit rate; and anti-interference methods to ensure a reliable feed. Plus, a wireless streaming function lets users view the live feed from a mobile phone or computer on the goggles screen.
DJI Motion Controller
The DJI Motion controller is a completely reinvented flight control device. It allows pilots to fly complex maneuvers based on the natural motions of one hand. DJI states that complete beginners can get started quickly and learn to fly in continuous fluid motions, even when swooping close to the ground, whizzing past obstacles and gliding through tight enclosures.
DJI Virtual Flight App
The Avata is controlled with the DJI Fly app, which includes tutorials on how to operate the drone. It is a free simulator app that familiarizes new pilots with drone flying movements in a risk-free environment. The simulator also allows pilots to fly the Avata in various settings using the dedicated controller. 
A stand–alone version of the DJI Avata retails for $629 without a remote controller, motion controller or goggles. This version is for those who already have a compatible model to control and view from the drone.
The DJI Avata Pro-View combo retails for $1,388. It includes the Avata, DJI Goggles 2 and the DJI Motion controller. In addition, the DJI Avata Fly Smart combo retails for $1,168 and includes the drone, the DJI FPV Goggles V2 and the DJI Motion controller.
