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Autel Robotics EVO – Could This Be The Mavic Pro Killer We’ve All Been Waiting For?!

Autel Robotics EVO – Could This Be The Mavic Pro Killer We’ve All Been Waiting For?!

Industry News January 14, 2018

Let’s make one thing clear – the best camera is the one you have on you most of the time. With that said, it comes as no surprise to see DJI Mavic Pro as the most popular aerial photography drone simply due to its portability. It’s small, it’s foldable and it easily fits into any type of backpack. And don’t even get me started on the photo quality it can achieve. So, needless to say, DJI Mavic Pro is on top of the food chain…

Autel Robotics EVO Announced

And there aren’t that many competitors out there besides GoPro Karma and AirDog ADII. And let’s face it – Karma cannot even be compared to Mavic Pro. AirDog too – it’s made for a completely different type of users so it’s not that surprising either…

Autel Robotics realized this lack of competition and created a drone that could very well be DJI Mavic Pro killer. It has just been unveiled and announced on CES 2018 so there’s not that much information surrounding it. Still, there’s just enough to spark your imagination… So, with that being said, let’s take a closer look at this beauty and see what’s it all about!

What’s so special about Autel Robotics EVO?

First and foremost – we are talking about a foldable drone that won’t take a lot of space in your backpack allowing you to carry it with you anywhere you go. Furthermore, similarly to DJI Mavic Pro, Autel Robotics EVO is also a high-end drone which means it’s going to put to shame a good portion of full-sized premium models.

 

Autel Robotics EVO specifications

The specifications of Autel Robotics EVO are simply fucking amazing! Pardon me for the language but it’s just the way it is – EVO sports some rock hard specifications that will leave you speechless. More or less, you can expect roughly the same performance as DJI Mavic Pro. Yup, you read that correct – we finally have a foldable drone worthy of the Mavic!

That means up to 7 kilometers of range (yup, 7 kilometers is becoming a standard not just for DJI but for other manufacturers too) and roughly 25 to 27 minutes of flight time. And the latter was measured with heavy use of features and sensors described below. Best of all, it only takes an hour to charge it which means you’ll be back and running in no time after depleting a battery.

 

Features

Let’s take a quick look at the most notable features of Autel Robotics EVO:

  • Computer vision
    AR EVO can effectively learn its position in the space surrounding it so it doesn’t have to directly rely on its sensors and cameras. This is basically an advanced version of the conventional obstacle avoidance feature. EVO won’t just stop after noticing an obstacle but will actually go around it if possible.
  • Dynamic Tracking
    Thanks to the abundance of available sensors, Autel Robotics EVO has access to Dynamic Tracking. Whether you’re just looking to awe your friends or shoot amazing aerial footage, there is no doubt Autel Robotics EVO has you covered!
  • 3D Mapping
    With provided smart software, EVO can do an amazing job when it comes to environmental 3D mapping. This, obviously, opens the doors for many industrial uses for this advanced drone. So, it’s pretty clear EVO won’t just be a good aerial photography drone but a great industrial one as well.
  • US-based customer support
    Instead of China-based CS, Autel Robotics features a team of highly trained employees based in the United States. They all love drones and will help you with any issue you stumble upon.

 

I’d also like to mention the sheer number of sensors and cameras present on Autel Robotics EVO. Starting from the front you will see 2 cameras above the main one. These are used for Computer Vision which was described above. On the backside, you will see 2 infrared blasters which are used for backward obstacle avoidance during selfie shots. And lastly, the downside. There are 2 sonar sensors for positioning but also 2 cameras that will allow EVO precise and autonomous landing.Autel Robotics Sensors

One thing is for sure guys – as far as reliability is concerned there are only a few models out there that can be put in the same basket as Autel Robotics EVO!

 

Camera

When it comes to the camera, there is no doubt the folk over at Autel Robotics did a good job. Believe it or not, this foldable drone can record smooth aerial footage in 4K resolution. By smooth I mean fluid 60 frames per second. Combine that with a miniature 3-axis gimbal and you got yourself a proper competitor to DJI Mavic Pro, in every sense of that phrase!

Autel Robotics EVO Computer Vision

The live stream video feature is here as well, but I guess everyone expected that in the first place. You can see it through the dedicated app or via the built-in 3.3-inch OLED display located on the controller. While we are talking about the controller, it’s noteworthy to add the fact that it looks really stylish. That goes not only for the controler but the drone itself. They’re both gorgeous and made out of high quality materials. Sturdy and stylish – just how I like it!

 

 

Autel Robotics EVO price tag and release date

This is going to be an expensive little fella, but I don’t have to be the one to tell you that. A huge price tag was to be expected after seeing those brilliant features and specifications. But how high will it be?

Well, considering the fact this little bugger is going to pose as DJI Mavic Pro killer, it is not surprising to hear it’s going to go for less than $1,000. $999.99 seems like the right answer, don’t you agree?

In terms of release date, there still isn’t any concrete news to be told. There are still several tweaks left to be done on EVO. As soon as they’re done and dealt with, we can expect the official production start. So, if you ask me, I’d say Autel Robotics EVO will see the light sometime in early summer.

One thing is for sure though – this thing is definitely worth the wait!

Zoran Valentak
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