Drones have blown up in recent years in many different industries–mainly because they make certain jobs much easier and provide unique aerial perspectives that simply weren't possible not that long ago. Keep reading if you'd like to learn more about drones and how you can put them to good use!
What the heck is a drone anyway?
Drones come in different shapes and sizes, and not all of them are created equal. The most common drones used for aerial photography are referred to as quad-copters. This is because they use 4 motors equipped with propellers to fly. Some drones have more propellers, and some drones fly just like fixed-wing airplanes. For the sake of simplicity though, and considering that most of DJI's lineup consists of quad-copters, we're going to stick to those for now.
What can drones offer?
DJI drones are used in many different ways; for leisure, work, rescue operations, and more. Each model offers unique abilities depending on what you're looking for, but the most basic functionality is pretty consistent across the entire lineup, and that is the ability to fly and point a camera towards an object to be able to see it from a distance, or at a height that isn't practical without the need for special tools and equipment such as ladders.
Let's take the roofing industry as an example. With a quick launch of a drone with a built-in thermal camera such as the Mavic 3 Thermal, a roof inspector can quickly tell if your roof is in need of repair and if there are insulation leaks. By finding these sorts of issues and having them addressed, you will see quick savings in things like your home heating bill by ensuring no excess heat escapes through a poorly insulated roof. On top of that, drones are very quick to deploy. A roof inspector can have a drone in the air and locate a thermal leak in less time than it takes to set up a ladder for manual inspection.
What kind of drones does DJI make?
Currently, DJI has several drones in their lineup for different uses. Drones like the DJI Mini 3 Pro are perfect for individuals just starting off. Offering up to 4K/60 video recording, 12MP images, and flight times up to 47 minutes per battery, the DJI Mini 3 Pro is an all-round perfect beginner drone.
Moving up, you'll find drones like the newly-released DJI Air 3 and Mavic 3 Pro which offer omni-directional obstacle sensing for added safety, more powerful cameras to take stunning photos and videos, and added functionality such as faster flight speeds.
Beyond that, DJI also produces professional and enterprise drones. Drones like Inspire 3 offer professional-grade photo and video recording capabilities and enterprise drones like the Matrice 350 RTK offer modular cameras and sensors (often referred to as payloads) that offer unique capabilities depending on what job the drone is used for.
What you should know before buying
While drones are cool, fun, and easy to use, you must know that when operating one, you share the skies with other drones, and most importantly, manned aircraft. Depending on what drone you're interested in purchasing, you may be required to hold a pilot certificate issued by Transport Canada. To obtain one, you must pass an online exam on Transport Canada's website. We encourage you to check out Transport Canada's website regarding drone regulations here.
Any drone that you fly that has a total takeoff weight that exceeds 249g requires a pilot certificate to operate legally in Canada. Drones like the DJI Mini 3 Pro are designed specifically to be below 249g which makes them exempt from requiring a pilot certificate to operate, however, it is always highly recommended to exercise caution and not fly recklessly or put anyone in danger no matter which drone you fly.
Ready to take to the skies?
DJI Shop Canada is Canada's leading DJI authorized retail store. We've got just the product you need and the most knowledgeable staff around ready to answer your questions. See you out there!
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