Lately, various improvements have occurred in the drone industry; drones were only used for flying a few years ago. Now, you can use a drone to capture images and footage, for surveillance, as well as agricultural purposes. Drones today can now work with virtual reality, which is currently the most advanced technology.
VR drones are drones designed to work with a pair of virtual reality goggles to view the live feed captured from the drone's camera. The virtual reality goggle is connected to the device, the drone streams the footage to the device, and the operator views the footage through the VR goggles.
The development of virtual reality has greatly affected the world of drones; first-person view flight has been revolutionized. Operating a VR drone is one of the best things to do; you get to experience the view as though from the drone's point of view.
What Is A VR Drone?
A VR drone is a drone that can function with virtual reality goggles, making the operator view the live feed from the drone's camera. Many people confuse VR goggles and FPV drone goggles. They do not perform the same functions, nor are they similar in any way. Also, it is possible to make an ordinary drone a VR drone, but we will look at some of the best VR drones.
What Drones Work With Virtual Reality?
Many drones work perfectly with VR, although most are high-end drones. The VR drones we will look at are some of the best worldwide, they have powerful cameras, long battery life, durable body shells, and multiple flight modes to assist the operator.
DJI Mavic 2 Pro
This is one of the best drones you can use with virtual reality; all you need is the DJI Virtual Reality Headset connected to the DJI Mavic 2 Pro, and you are good to go. The DJI Mavic 2 Pro features a low-drag aerodynamic body design that makes it reach a top speed of 44 mph.
The drone was launched and released in August 2018, and it is still one of the best professional photography drones you can purchase. The DJI Mavic 2 Pro is the first drone with an integrated Hasselblad camera. The drone has a total flight time of 31 minutes due to a 4 cell LiPo battery.
The drone is equipped with a video transmission technology, OcuSync 2.0, that allows the drone to transmit a video feed in Full HD 1080p quality to the controller from up to 5 miles away. Equipped with a 20-megapixel camera to capture still images, a video resolution of 4K 10-bit HDR Video resolution, two 24-48 mm Optical Zoom.
DJI Phantom 4 Pro
The DJI Phantom 4 Pro is the top choice drone for virtual reality; it comes with a VR viewer. You have to connect the VR headset/goggles to the smartphone you use to operate the drone. There is no need for an additional controller to operate the drone; the VR headset helps you see the drone's view clearly and in detail.
The camera of this drone is an excellent one. It has a 1-inch CMOS sensor that shoots 4K/60fps videos and 20 MP images. You must have the DJI GO 4 App on your phone to fly this drone. This drone has a 2.0 HD transmission system that ensures the drone has a stable connection and reliability.
The DJI Phantom 4 Pro has a five-directional obstacle sensor that helps ensure more safety and additional drone protection. The drone has a maximum flight time of thirty minutes and a mechanical shutter.
DJI Mavic Air 2
The DJI Mavic Air 2 is another impressive drone that can work with virtual reality; it is also the least expensive VR drone on this list. This drone is easy to fly and has many features, including some protection features that will help keep your drone from breaking or crashing after the first try at flying.
This drone has a battery life of 35 minutes and a weight of 570 grams. This is one of the DJI drones that has a foldable design. This drone has a top flight speed of 42.3 mph and a flight distance of 11.49 miles with a fully charged battery pack. The maximum hover time of the DJI Mavic Air 2 is 33 minutes when there is no wind.
The drone has an auxiliary light that helps improve visibility, especially during flights at night. This drone is also one of the quietest drones as it has low-noise propellers, which makes it ideal for flying at night.
An obstacle avoidance feature on this drone prevents it from crashing, as it will only hover when there is an obstacle. The camera of the DJI Mavic Air 2 can capture 48MP photos. This drone's features include straight to home, sport mode, tripod mode, and autopilot mode.
Autel Robotics Evo II
The Autel Robotics Evo II is an impressive photography drone, and its ability to work with virtual reality makes it a great drone. The Autel Robotics Evo II is the only drone that can compete with any DJI drone in specifications, features, performance, durability, and battery life.
Equipped with a camera that captures images of 20 megapixels and a video resolution of 6k, you are sure to enjoy this drone for photography. The drone's camera provides an ISO range of up to 6400 for video and 12,800 for images, and the 6K gimbal camera can capture a resolution of up to 5472 x 3648 for still images and 5472 x 3076 for video.
The drone has a 7100mAh battery that allows it to attain a total flight time of 40 minutes, and the total flight speed is 44.8 mph. The drone has a remote controller with an impressive 3.3 inch OLED screen. The Autel EVO II has 12 omnidirectional collision sensors that can be activated during normal flights.
Can You Fly A Drone With VR?
Of course, you can fly a drone with virtual reality. This is one of the best ways to fly a drone; you can experience the flight in a realistic first-person view. It also makes drone flight easier and more fun because you can see everything clearly and eliminate all the interferences and obstructions.
How Do You Make A Drone VR?
There are many benefits to operating a VR drone instead of an ordinary drone; the sun's rays are not a hindrance, you get a better view of the drone, there are tons of additional features you will find useful. It is cooler and closer to a first-person-view flight. If you cannot purchase a VR drone, you can make your ordinary drone a VR drone.
You must first purchase a pair of VR goggles that you will connect to your phone. Some of the best VR goggles are Utopia 360, Zeiss VR One, EACHINE VR Pro, Walkera Goggle 4, and FatShark Dominator V3. After purchasing comfortable VR goggles, the next thing is to start the drone and connect it to the phone.
You need to purchase an application known as Litchy; it is a great alternative to the DJI VR application. Connect the application to the drone and click the VR button. The screen will be split into two with an effect to make the view better. You can make adjustments to the settings to make it comfortable.
Final Thoughts
Flying a VR drone is an experience everyone must have at least once in their lifetime. There is no other thrilling, exciting, and breath-taking way to operate a drone than using a VR goggle. The good thing is that you can either purchase a VR drone or make your drone a VR drone, and it is an easy process.
Shawn Manaher loves to play with new toys and dive into new hobbies. As a serial entrepreneur, work definitely comes first but there is always room for hobbies.