A 360 degree FPV drone unlike anything else

If DJI is entering the 360 -degree action camera market, why shouldn’t it venture to Insta360 in drones? That was my immediate thinking when the company announced its first drone, the A1, of a spin-off brand and equipment called Antigravity.

So what is the A1? Is it an input level device? A camera for creators looking to season their videos without years of practice? A competitive Pov drone? It is a bit of the three, but the antigravity A1 is not just a drone. Eventually it will be launched in a three -part set: the flying unit, the OLED view glasses and a dedicated grip movement controller.

In its current form, the Antigravity A1 weighs around 249 grams (8.8 ounces), which helps to bend the drone license requirements in most regions. (As is a preproduction model, this could change a little before it reaches retail trade). Two ultra -cameras are placed on the roof and the bottom of the drone instead of in the front. It is as if the Chamber installs360 x5 was a kind of cocoon for antigravity A1.

With those two camera units, the A1 can capture the video in 8K resolution, stretched through a canvas similar to the sphere from the point of view of the drone. With sewing algorithms that the company has continually improved in five generations of 360 degree cameras, this should lead to a more expensive footage where A1 never interrupts the view. The drone itself will not appear in your video. It’s like the company’s “invisible” selfie, but, well, in heaven.

The A1 is different from any other drone with which I have played, something that I learned when I tried a preproduction unit on a racing track in Mercedes-Benz in Schlüsfelfeld, Germany. Naturally, this included high -speed cars, wet conditions and some almost false.

Thanks to working in Engadget, I am a Dron Dabbler, but the A1 of Antigravity is a different experience from the beginning. Controlling A1 involves binding complementary glasses and directing it from a first -person perspective, controller in your hand. However, unlike other FPV drones, you can look (and move) anywhere you want.

For approximately 15 minutes of flight time (you can see the most prominent aspects here), I discovered that it is a surprisingly intuitive experience. With other FPV drones, your view is blocked in the camera direction. Of course, you can rotate rival drones to see elsewhere, as with DJI’s avata, but it is not the same. Because the A1 transmits a 360 degree video to the glasses, turning the head will never affect the direction it faces. Instead, you will see what is around the drone while flying, so it is much more intuitive for rookie drones pilots. Better yet, you can attack and move while looking elsewhere, as video game controls for a first -person shooter.

This freedom of movement is raised by the unique A1 controller, which is best described as a mixture between a traditional drone controller and a wiimote. While some of the physical buttons and dials adjust the altitude, start/stop video recording and more, the address implies a method of aiming and clicking. When you move your hand to the right side, a grid appears on the glasses screen. When pressing the trigger, it will make the A1 shoot in that direction, an action that Antigravity calls freeemotion control.

As I mentioned, this means that I do not have to look where I am going, although it is better if I do it to avoid accidents (or collisions with an expensive Mercedes). If FPV drones have intrigued you, this is a simpler experience that also feels freer. You can look wherever you want, not in debt to where the cameras point on other drones. I also think that you could get friends and family flying A1 with a minimum training. Speaking of spectators, Insta360 included an intelligent touch for them: the glasses have an external screen so that viewers can see what is happening. There is nothing more boring than to see someone else fly a drone without being able to see their POV.

The A1 is a small Zippy drone, presumably thanks to its low weight. But even at this preproduction stage, the resulting video looks better than I thought. In addition, it offers substantial versatility if you are looking for shots full of action.

After trying the A1, Antigravity sent me my video of the drone, so I was about to rethink, cut and reposition the images. I could even use the same 10 seconds and frame (or cultivation) to three very different angles. For example, you can extract an automobile tracking, an accelerated shot of the drone pilot or only the blue skies of Germany, all of a clip. That is the exciting part here.

Insta360 built excellent editing tools (mobile and desktop) for its cameras in the past, and plans to do the same for its first drone. An early version of the software was not exempt from Hiccos, but the edition was quite easy once I discovered that the key frames would anchor the view of the drone. Then I could add several key frames, labeling objects that I would like to keep in the box or track. Edit my images began to be strangely pleasant, and I have never I enjoyed that task.

Another feature that the company emphasized is the detection of payload. While the exact weight limit is still refined through additional tests, Antigravity says that A1 will not be able to fly if drone detects that it carries something that should not, a movement for more potential license problems. The company also hinted at future accessories and peripherals to expand the A1 experience, something that has successfully done with its cameras and action gimbals.

Some specifications remain a mystery because drone is a job in progress. To that end, the company is Application opening For a co-creation project, where participants will obtain an antigravity to preproduction in exchange for offering comments. The ideas of these evaluators will be integrated into the final retail version, and the best could win a part of a $ 20,000 award.

Flying around a racing track was the funniest I have had with a drone in a long time. But, with glasses and a dedicated controller included, how much will a flight cost? That could decide whether Insta360’s anti -freeness can forge a place next to DJI’s army.