Information about DJI’s upcoming Air 3S recently surfaced on Twitter (the platform formerly known as X), with well-known leaker Quadro News sharing videos of the drone flying over a city and providing details about the type of camera it might have.
In his latest report, the tipster posted a close-up photo of the front of the device, revealing what could be “significant advancements” coming to the Air 3S.
The first thing you might notice is that the two camera lenses are housed inside a bulkier housing. News site DroneXL claims that the extra space suggests the drone comes “equipped with larger image sensors.” This should allow the Air 3S to take better photos in low-light environments. Above the cameras are two omnidirectional obstacle sensors, allowing the drone to be more aware of its surroundings. The DJI Air 3 has the same feature.
There is a glass panel between the sensors, and while it is not known exactly what it is, DroneXL believes it is a LiDAR sensor.
👉I'm not going to pull the wool over my eyes and compare the camera size of the new drone to the simple Air 3. Note the new sensor in the middle 😉 #dji #djiair3s pic.twitter.com/HQtF56yqS1July 24, 2024
High-tech drone
LiDAR stands for Light Detection and Ranging. This technology is typically used to create three-dimensional models of terrain. Source devices send out pulses of light and use that information to map large areas. Some smartphones, like the iPhone 13 Pro, have this capability.
DJI has already implemented this technology in commercial products. Its Zenmuse L2 camera supports LiDAR and can scan local terrain from the sky. However, it costs over $13,000, so it's simply not meant for the average person.
👉A video of the DJI Air 3S flying. The cyber goddess spoils me. #dji #djiair3s pic.twitter.com/dbiOdQOXCzJuly 25, 2024
If the company implements the LiDAR system on the Air 3S, it would be the first of its consumer drones to feature this feature. However, the technology may not be used to map local terrain. DroneXL claims that the LiDAR system could greatly improve flight performance.
According to the publication, “autonomous flight modes could become more reliable… [and the] Improved tracking capabilities would allow users to capture dynamic images in a more manageable time frame. Just a few years ago, LiDAR would have been too expensive to fit into drones, but as things have advanced, the technology has become smaller and cheaper to produce. A new era of drone photography may be just around the corner.
As always, this leak should be taken with a grain of salt. There is still no information on if or when the DJI Air 3S will be released.
Be sure to check out TechRadar's roundup of the best DJI drones for 2024.
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