As the public's preference for consumer drones increases, drone technology continues to innovate and evolve to meet market needs. The Follow-me function has become a hot topic among drone players. How to make the drone follow me? Does Autel Nano+ have a follow me function?
What Is Follow Me Mode On a Drone?
The Follow Me feature on many consumer drone models allows the drone to follow you or any other object and shoot a continuous video of the tracked object without the need for you to control the drone manually the entire time. This works by making use of object detection , controller follow, or GPS or GLONASS.
Follow Me Technology: GPS Tracking or ActiveTrack
The follow feature of a drone relies on advanced tracking technology. Of these, GPS tracking and ActiveTrack are the most prominent types.
GPS tracking uses satellite positioning to track and follow the GPS coordinates of a target. This technology is more accurate and reliable, and is ideal for areas with open skies and good satellite reception. Drones using GPS tracking are ideal for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and skiing.
ActiveTrack technology uses computer vision algorithms to detect and track targets in real time. This technology is ideal for situations where GPS signals may be weak or obstructed, such as indoor events or dense urban environments. Drones with ActiveTrack technology are ideal for capturing fast-paced action sports or filming in crowded areas.
How Many Drones Does Autel Drone Have With Follow?
Autel consumer drones have Autel EVO Nano series, Autel EVO Lite series and Autel EVO II Pro, EVO II series has follow me function, EVO Lite+ has launched person tracking function, EVO Nano series is still waiting for the next firmware update, Although many drone players are desperately eager for the follow me feature of the Autel EVO Nano+ to go live. That aside, the Autel EVO Nano+ is still the best 4k mini camera drone under $1000.
What Are You Looking For In a Follow-Me Drone?
What are the most important factors for a Follow-Me drone? Please refer to this article.
Global Positioning System
GPS is the most important part of following the drone. The GPS function plays an important role in the positioning and returning of the drone. After the follow-me drone uses the visual sensor to determine the tracking object, the GPS system will track the subject object and complete the follow-up shooting or hovering shooting.
Obstacle avoidance sensing
Obstacle avoidance sensing is important when a drone is actively following an object. When the drone is actively following a target, the drone joystick is not sensitive, and the drone pilot's line of sight will be blocked and disturbed by the environment. At this time, the drone's automatic obstacle avoidance sensing will help the drone detect and avoid obstacles in its path to prevent collisions and accidents.
Most consumer drones have obstacle avoidance sensors set on the front, sides, and bottom. High-end consumer drones have comprehensive obstacle avoidance sensing, also known as 360° obstacle avoidance, which will set up multiple sets of obstacle avoidance sensors on the front, back, sides, and bottom of the drone to provide maximum obstacle protection.
Scope
The range of the drone that follows me is also important. While toy drones may only have a range of around 100 meters, consumer drones are often several kilometers away, and high-quality long-range drones can be found for under $1,000.
Camera
The camera is another important feature of the follower drone. The follow me drone is equipped with a high-definition camera (usually a 4k camera) to capture photos and videos, allowing you to take selfies or photograph others. The Follow Me drone is also a more adventurous experience with a first-person view (FPV) camera, which allows us to see what the drone sees as it flies.
Picture Stabilization
When we freeze-frame a perfect moment in the air, the stability of the drone is a must. Most camera drones use a three-axis gimbal or electronic stabilizer to stabilize the frame. A three-axis gimbal will be better than an electronic stabilizer. Of course, a drone equipped with a three-axis gimbal has a higher investment value.
Drone Size
The "Follow Me" function is available on almost all kinds of drones. If you are a drone beginner or a casual drone pilot, I recommend you to buy a small-sized drone. These drones are often foldable and portable for the convenience of drone users. Among the foldable mini drones, my first recommendation is the Autel EVO Nano+, which is currently only $799.
Flight Duration
Another thing to consider when looking for a follower drone is flight time. How long does the drone last in the air? Most consumer drones can last around half an hour, which is enough for most drone users. If you are pursuing additional long-term outdoor flights, it is recommended to purchase additional drone accessories as spares.
Top Speed
When buying a follow-me drone to shoot some sports scenes, you need to consider the maximum speed of the Follow-me drone. The maximum speed of the Follow-me drone determines whether you can use the drone in some extreme sports challenges. , including parkour, mountain biking, surfing, rock climbing and more.
Quadcopter Weight
The weight of the Follow-me drone is also a factor to consider. The speed of a quadcopter is closely related to weight, and lighter drones are easier to control and keep up with while flying. Autel EVO Nano+ weighs 249g and has a maximum flight speed of 15m/s. In the United States, the drone's flight weight is exempt from registration restrictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a drone follow me?
Drones can accurately follow the same target for a long time by using GPS signals from smartphones or dedicated tracking devices. Through the application connected to the drone, the aircraft can receive real-time information about your location to ensure accurate tracking.
Advanced consumer drones use object recognition and computer vision algorithms to accurately track targets, which can achieve tracking photography even in complex and challenging environments.
How long can a drone follow you?
The time a drone follows you depends on the model of drone and battery life. Drones can hover in the air to shoot objects or actively track and shoot. Drone tracking shooting in a dynamic state can usually last about 20-30 minutes.
Do I need a license to use a follow-me drone?
Most consumer drones have a follow-me function, and drone licenses are to ensure that commercial drone pilots' drone commercial activities are compliant and valid. The connection between the two is whether you need to follow the drone for commercial activities.
By the way, drone licenses only need to be studied and passed by taking the online Part 107 course.
Can follow-me drones track animals?
The identification and tracking function of follow-me drones requires detection and analysis of the characteristics of the target. At present, most consumer drones can only track people, and high-end consumer drones can identify objects such as people, cars, and ships. Although using drones to track animals has certain benefits, there is no guarantee that automatic following will always be useful.
What is the best follow-me drone for mountain biking?
One of the benefits of a follow-me drone is to follow some adventurous and exciting sports. Tracking mountain biking can bring more exciting video photography. When following mountain biking, the drone must have good remote control and image transmission stability, and the GPS signal must always be good. Check out my guide to the best follow me drones for mountain biking.
What’s the difference between Follow Me and Dynamic Track?
Dynamic Track is actually a more advanced version of a standard follow me drone. ActiveTrack lets you tag and track multiple moving objects on the screen of your control device. All without the need for an external tracking device. Autel’s Dynamic Track system relies on GPS, visual recognition, and multiple sets of sensors.
