Xiaomi at an event today launched Mi Drone – the company’s very first drone that is targeted at the high-end consumer market. The Mi Drone comes in two variants — the 4K version retails at RMB 2999, while the 1080P one is priced at RMB 2499. Mi Drone (1080P) will be crowdfunded on the Mi Home app starting 26 May 2016, and Mi Drone (4K) will be available for testing via an open beta programme in late July.
Mi Drone comes with either a 1080P or 4K camera. The 1080P camera sports a 16-megapixel Sony backside illuminated CMOS sensor and has a 104- degree wide angle lens. The 12-megapixel 4K camera shoots video at a maximum resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels and supports recording still images in RAW format.
Mi Drone also has four layers of built-in security — real-time location tracking to allow users to retrieve the drone easily even if it has crashed, real-time computing power to enable it to return on low battery levels, automatic hovering at the edge of no-fly zones, and the use of a remote control with a PCB antenna array to avoid losing contact with the drone and can control up to 3km.
For safer and more stable flights, Mi Drone uses both GPS and GLONASS for accurate positioning. In the absence of satellite signals, Mi Drone uses vision positioning and can continue hovering even at low altitudes (below 2.5 metres). One can trace Mi Drone’s position via GPS and once the Mi Drone fly out of the connected range then it will automatically fly back to the original position where it took off.
Mi Drone uses a 1.2mm thin body design, and after over 100 tests on structural integrity and strength, its weight has been reduced by as much as 16%. The four propellers feature an aerodynamic design for optimal efficiency.
Mi Drone has a 15.2V battery with a capacity of 5100mAh. These factors — lightweight design, propeller efficiency and high capacity intelligent battery — allows Mi Drone to achieve a long flight time of up to 27 minutes.
Mi Drone has a modular design and foldable landing gear, enabling users to easily disassemble and carry it around in a backpack.
