DJI has launched its first consumer drone - Phantom 4 - that uses advanced computer vision and sensing technology. The Phantom 4 will be available for pre-orders from March 1 on DJI.com and Apple.com at $ 1,399 in the US. The drone can also be bought from DJI's flagship stores and Apple stores starting March 15. The Phantom 4 adds new on-board intelligence and enabling features like Obstacle Sensing System, ActiveTrack and TapFly functionality. “With the Phantom 4, we are entering an era where even beginners can fly with confidence. People have dreamed about one day having a drone collaborate creatively with them. That day has arrived,” said DJI CEO Frank Wang. Must Read: CES 2016: Drones with 4K cameras take flight The Obstacle Sensing System in Phantom 4 comes with two forward-facing optical sensors that scan for obstacles to automatically direct the aircraft around it, thereby reducing risk of collision. User can use the drone’s “Return to Home” function to automatically fly back Phantom 4 to its take off point. The Phantom 4 also comes with several other features such as the ActiveTrack, allows users to run DJI Go app on iOS as well as Android and TapFly function. According to the company, Phantom 4’s camera is the world’s best aerial-optimized 4K imaging device. The camera comes with an upgrade for improved optics, better corner sharpness and reduced chromatic aberration. The Phantom 4 also has DJI’s Lightbridge video transmission system. Read: DJI, the maker of popular Phantom drones announces world’s first handheld 4K camera The Phantom 4 has a news Sport Mode for drone racing. With the Sports Mode, Phantom 4 can fly 20 meters per second (45 miles per hour) and ascend and descend more rapidly than in other modes. Specs: Weight: 1380g Maximum flight Speed: 20m/s (Sport Mode) Max. Ascent/Descent Speed: 6m/s ascending (Sport Mode), 5m/s ascending Flight Time: 28 mins Obstacle Sensing System: Yes, Effective range is 0.7 – 15m Vision Positioning System: Yes, Effective range is 0-10m Slow Motion Video Recording: Yes, Resolution: 1920x1080@120fps Intelligent Flight Battery Capacity: 5350 mAh
