Drone News Roundup: DJI Avata 2 Packaging Leaked Ahead of April 11 Launch, Journey to Iceland with the Mavic 3, and More!
BY Zacc Dukowitz
4 April 2024This week we’re covering a new leak showing the packaging for the DJI Avata 2.
We’re also covering a video shot by Denis Barbas in Iceland on the Mavic 3, advice on getting the best drone shots during the upcoming solar eclipse, findings from DJI that 67% of small American drone businesses may close if the company is banned, and a new co-located event for Commercial UAV Expo focused on hydrogen technology in aviation.
Now let’s get to those links!
DJI Avata 2 Packaging Leaked Ahead of April 11 Launch
👉Well! Here is the actual packaging of the DJI Avata 2 drone#dji #djiavata2 pic.twitter.com/QbruxTqZpe
— Igor Bogdanov (@Quadro_News) March 26, 2024
DJI is going to release the Avata 2 next Thursday, April 11. Rumors about an Avata 2 have been flying around for the last year. But we only got confirmation that DJI will in fact release a sequel to its popular cinewhoop a few weeks back, when several leaks revealed the Avata 2’s design and main specs. Those leaks were accompanied by an FCC filing for the Avata 2, further confirming its imminent launch. Now we have a leak of the packaging for the Avata 2 from drone industry insider @Quadro_News. The pictures they shared on Twitter (or X) seem to be of an actual Avata 2 box. Click the tweet above to see two more shots of the packaging, and follow the link below to find out what we learned from the first round of leaks.
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Mavic 3 Journey to Iceland Shot
Denis Barbas is a creator who partners with big names like DJI and Sony to make incredible cinematic videos in far flung locales. For this inspiring video about the process of shooting and making visual art Barbas teamed up with Sony and PolarPro, as well as a host of local outfits in Iceland. The footage was captured primarily on the Sony FX3 and the DJI Mavic 3, but he also used a DJI Mini 3 Pro and a handheld Sony a7 III for some of the shots. About the importance of embracing discomfort—a key focus of the video, and its title—Barbas said: “I had to work hard for everything I have, taking some of the biggest risks of my life, not listening to what everyone else was saying, having the courage to dream big and step outside my comfort zone and pursue what truly made me happy.”
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How to Get Drone Shots of the April 8 Solar Eclipse
An eclipse is coming! It will be next Monday, April 8 and it’s going to be a total solar eclipse, in which the moon completely blocks the sun for a moment. (The time when the sun is blotted out and the sky turns black as night is called the totality, which is pretty cool.) Want to shoot the solar eclipse with your drone? Of course you do—and we have some tips to help you get the best shots. The main tips are:
- Make sure you never look directly at the sun unless you’re wearing eclipse glasses, even when you’re trying to set up your shot.
- It’s worth investing in a good solar filter.
- Make sure to get the right camera settings in place ahead of time.
Watch the video for more information on these tips, plus information on phases of the eclipse and where and when you can view it.
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DJI Statement: Banning DJI Will Cause 67% of Small American Drones Businesses to Close
Credit: DJI
Congress is considering a bill that would ban DJI drones completely from the U.S. That’s right—if the bill passes, no one will be able to fly DJI drones, regardless of who they work for or how they plan to use them. Called the Countering CCP Drones Act, the bill would add DJI to the FCC’s Covered List, thus barring the company from operating on U.S. communications infrastructure—and making it so almost no one could use DJI drones in the U.S. DJI has been fighting back, pointing out that the legislators proposing the bill “continue to reference inaccurate and unsubstantiated allegations.”
A new statement goes further, highlighting the harm that could come to the U.S. if DJI is completely banned. One of the biggest points is that a huge swath of small drone businesses would potentially be wiped out if they couldn’t use DJI products—67%, according to DJI. Another major harm that could arise from a DJI ban is that lives could potentially be put at risk, since first responders who use drones in their work may have to ground their fleets.
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Commercial UAV Expo to Host Co-Located Hydrogen Event
Commercial UAV Expo has announced a new co-located event for its annual conference in September focused on hydrogen aviation education. The event will be put on by HYSKY Society, the producer of the world’s largest hydrogen aviation event focused on zero-emission aviation. The event will take place over two days, featuring both a full-day Hydrogen Aviation Course and the FLYING HY Conference, which is the world’s largest hydrogen aviation event. Attendees will learn how to source hydrogen, fly safely with hydrogen, benefit from tax credits, and build and position their businesses as leaders in the hydrogen market.
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