11 Best Follow-me Drones: 2022

Estimated reading time: 22 minutes

Drones have evolved from just flying toys to devices that can accomplish complex professional and hobbyist’s tasks. And the type of drones that’s gaining popularity are the Follow-me drones.

These drones allow you to capture the “action” without worrying about controlling the drone.

You could be running, driving, or pedaling a kayak, and the drone will capture every moment at your desired angle. But with all the hype surrounding these drones, not all of them perform as expected or advertised.

Lucky for you, I have rounded up 11 of the best follow-me drones in the market based on my experiences and expert opinions. But first, let’s see a Follow-me drone works exactly.

What Is Follow-Me Mode?

The follow-me technology allows the drone to automatically track/follow you or the object of interest.

The first drone with a follow-me feature was released in 2016, and this tech has been updated since then.

And in most cases, a drone with a follow-me mode will have other intelligent flight modes such as orbiting, rotating, or even 360 degrees turns.

Currently, there are two ways that a drone can follow you;

Through GPS Transmitters:

Some drones are designed to work with GPS-enabled devices – this could be your Ground Station Controller (GSC), your smartphone, or tablet.

In this case, the drone will follow the device’s transmitter while keeping the subject in the frame. Such drones can track a moving object or a stationary object by orbiting around it.

Recognition Technology:

Most of the latest drones track the object using sensors. They use machine learning and high-level software to track the subject without relying on GPS.

Why Is Follow-Me Mode Useful?

When coupled up with high-quality cameras, the Follow-Me mode can help take complex cinematic shots.

This is because you pre-plan the flight pattern, especially if the drone is compatible with waypoints technology.

Cyclists, mountaineers, and athletes also use the follow-me mode to film their escapades at different angles. This also helps them improve.

The Follow-Me mode is also fun.

How to Ensure Safety With the Follow-Me mode?

As fascinating as this technology is, you could easily crash your drone if you’re not careful. Below are some of the ways to avoid accidents.

• Maintain a short distance between you and the drone at first. When you’re too far, you risk losing the connection between the drone and the transmitter.
• Ensure your drone has obstacle-avoidance systems. If it doesn’t, then use the follow-me mode in open areas or program your drone to fly at higher altitudes.
• You should also activate the return-to-home function in case the drone loses the connection along the way.

Top 11 Follow-me Drones in the Market:

Now let’s look at some of the best follow-me drones. These drones also have high-quality cameras, stabilization mechanisms, and flight modes.

So, they’ll not only follow you, but they can also help accomplish other hobbyist and professional tasks.

But before we go into details, below is a summary of these drones;

Are you ready? Let’s dive in.

DJI Phantom 4 Pro:

DJI Phantom drones are some of the most popular professional drones. DJI released the latest Phantom 4 Pro V2.0 in 2018, but they later discontinued it in 2019.

However, since many people were fascinated by its features, the V2.0 was re-introduced in January 2020. So, what makes it the perfect follow-me drone?

• Besides the follow-me feature, it comes with 5-directional obstacle avoidance mechanisms. So, you can have it follow you in areas with numerous obstacles without worrying about the drone crashing into them.
• Intelligent Flight modes – TapFly, Terrain Follow Mode, ActiveTrack, Waypoints, Gesture Mode, Tripod Mode, and beginner mode.
• 4K camera for high-quality videos and state-of-the-art stabilization mechanism for flawless footage.
• OcuSync 2.0 for long-range transmission of HD videos. It also supports FPV mode.

Who is this product for?

• DJI Phantom 4 is designed for professional surveying projects and 3D imaging. It’s compatible with most 3D imaging photogrammetry software.
• This video shows an athlete tracking herself as she runs through an irregular terrain. She goes behind a boulder at one point, and we can see the drone didn’t lose sight of her throughout the run.
• And this video shows that the ActiveTrack mode can track any moving object you set it on.

Pros:

• It offers excellent value for money.
• High-quality videos.
• Obstacle-avoidance mechanisms make it a great follow-me drone.
• Accurate GPS
• Extended flight-time.

Cons:

• The gimbal may make a screeching sound.
• It’s bulky.

DJI Mavic 2 Pro:

If you’re looking for a follow-me drone that does more than just follow you, you could never go wrong with the DJI Mavic drone series.

DJI Mavic 2 Pro features DJI’s ActiveTrack that lets you select the subject to follow from the app’s screen for starters. It’s also perfect for cars, boats, or when you’re running fast since it has a top speed of 45 mph.

DJI Mavic 2 Pro can follow the subject in three different ways;

Tracking –

This is where the drone maintains a constant distance from the subject and keeps it in the frame at all times.

Parallel –

In this mode, the drone can track you from the side or the front. It allows you to film yourself, or the moving subject, at different angles.

Spotlight –

In this mode, the drone doesn’t follow the subject. Instead, the camera will be facing the subject at all times as you control the drone.

It comes with the latest DJI’s ActiveTrack 2.0, which creates a 3D map around the object. This enables it to predict where the object will go.

Even when there’s an obstacle like a tree or a hill. Below is a video of how exactly this tech works;

Other fascinating features about this drone include;

• State of the art Hasselblad camera – it’s the first DJI drone to feature this camera.
• 1-inch sensor and 4K resolution videos at 100Mbps.
• OcuSync 2.0 for long-range transmissions (up to 6.2 miles). It also allows you to stream a 1080p video on the goggles or on your smartphone’s screen.
• Obstacle sensing and collision-avoidance mechanisms that make it one of the safest drone out there.
• 31-Minutes Battery life.
• Hyperlapse feature that allows you to autonomously create time lapses.

Who is this product for?

• DJI Mavic 2 Pro is one of the best small consumer drones that are perfect for aerial photography and filming. Its foldable design also gives it an edge over the Phantom.
• With the collision avoidance mechanism and various ActiveTrack modes, filmmakers and athletes can use it to take complex shots and film at different angles, respectively.

Pros:

• It’s easily portable thanks to the small foldable design.
• Effective follow-me mode thanks to ActiveTrack and multi-directional collision-avoidance.
• It produces high-quality images and videos.
• Extended battery life.

Cons:

• It’s expensive.
• There’s no stabilization for the Hyperlapse feature, and it only takes photos at 1080p resolution.

Skydio 2:

Third on our list is the latest Skydio 2 drone. It took the industry by a storm thanks to the integrated NVidia Jetson computer and the numerous obstacle avoidance sensors.

And like most prosumer drones, it features 4K video resolution at 60 FPS and 12 MP sensors for high-quality photography. As a matter of fact, it has 6 of these cameras, which are designed to enhance obstacle-avoidance.

Skydio 2 was released in 2019 as an upgrade to the Skydio R1. To give you even more reasons to trust this drone, it was designed by MIT graduates who also participated in launching Google’s drone project, Project Wing.

But all of that wouldn’t mean anything if it didn’t have the follow-me feature. Well, it does, and it works better than in most drones.

Skydio 2’s Follow-me Feature:

Skydio 2 utilizes both the GPS transmitters and the recognition methods I mentioned earlier.

For recognition, it utilizes the Skydio Autonomy Engine to predict and visualize the subject’s “next move.” It also uses cameras to build a 3D map around the subject, including any obstacles that are around.

For GPS, Skydio 2 comes with a beacon. As long as this beacon is in range, the drone will keep following it even though it can’t see the subject.

Besides the follow-me feature, it also has other intelligent flight modes such as the;

• Hover
• Dronie
• Orbit
• Angle track
• Cable Cam.

Who Is This Product For?

• Clearly, this drone was designed for those who love filming themselves when partaking in various activities.
• For those who are looking for a mapping drone, this drone is also compatible with DroneDeploy.

Pros:

• Accurate follow-me features.
• High-quality videos.
• Flawless autonomous flight modes.

Cons:

• Flying manually can be quite glitchy.
• It has a limited connection range between the drone and the controller.

Yuneec Typhoon H:

Featuring a unique hexagonal (6-rotor) design and retractable landing gears, Yuneec Typhoon H is one of the most popular commercial drones. It also features 12 MP sensors and 4K video resolution for professional imaging.

The retracting gears clear the way for the gimbal to rotate at 360 degrees. Another unique feature of this drone is the Intel RealSense Tech that enhances collision avoidance.

And what’s more, it has two follow-me modes;

GSC/GPS transmitter –

This is where the drone follows a transmitter in the controller.

Wizard control –

Like the beacon in the Skydio drone, the drone can follow the Wizard stick. The drone creates a tether to the stick, and as long it’s within the range, the drone will not lose sight of the subject.

Other flight modes include;

Point of interest –

Where the orbits around the selected subject.

Orbit –

Just like in the point of interest, the drone circles around you while adjusting the camera to focus on you at all times.

Curved cable cam –

This mode works similarly to waypoints. This is where you plan a path with specific coordinates, and the drone will follow this path while adjusting the camera autonomously.

Journey –

Here, the drone shoots to a higher altitude (up to 150 feet) and takes an “aerial selfie.”

Who is this product for?

• This is a professional drone that takes great videos and photos thanks to the 20MP sensor, 3-axis gimbal, and 4K video resolution.
• The gimbal also offers excellent stabilization for photogrammetry applications. It’s also suitable with various 3D photogrammetry software.
• You can also install a thermal camera to monitor areas affected by fires.

Pros:

• It’s easy to set up and use.
• It’s suitable for most professional applications.

Cons:

• It’s bulky and heavy.

Holy Stone HS720:

A drone that can follow you don’t have to be that expensive. I know most of the drones I have reviewed cost at least $1000.

But if you’re looking for a budget drone with advanced features, you’ll love the Holy Stone HS720. So, what does it have to offer?

For starters, it costs less than $300, which is a good price for beginners seeking to upgrade from toy drones.

Despite being a cheap drone, it still manages 4K HD videos and a 26-minute flight time.

The RTH (return-to-home) feature allows the drone to return to the station when the battery is about to die or when it loses the connection to the controller.

It also folds to a compact size that makes it easier to move around with.

And it’s capable of following you through the GPS-enabled follow-me technology.

However, unlike the other pricey drones, it has no obstacle avoidance sensors. So, you have to use it in wide-open areas.

Who is this product for?

• Vloggers and hobbyists who need to film their adventures without spending thousands of dollars on a drone.
• Beginners who want to gain more experience in flying and photography before going for a more advanced drone.

Pros:

• It’s cheap and beginner-friendly.
• High-quality videos for a cheap drone.
• Compact sized and suitable to carry around.
• It has longer battery life.

Cons:

• The battery takes too long to be fully charged – up to 8 hours.

Autel Robotics Evo and Evo II:

In 2020, Autel Robotics released a new drone, the Evo II, which came as an upgrade to the Autel Robotics Evo. Now, the Evo was not that bad.

Evo II came with a 7.2 km range, a 720p HD live feed resolution, 30 minutes flight time, and an OLED screen on the controller.

It also has 3 ways to follow you;

• Dynamic Track
• Orbit
• Viewpoint

You can also pre-plan a flight by setting up waypoints. The fascinating about this drone is obstacle detection and collision avoidance.

Autel Robotics created an algorithm that allows this drone to detect several obstacles and automatically plan the path ahead while keeping the subject in sight. It can also fly itself back home and scan the landing area to make sure it’s level.

What about the camera? It can record 4K videos at 60FPS and 12MP photos. It also has an integrated 3-axis gimbal for stabilizing the footage.

Autel Robotics improved on this in their latest release whereby, Evo II came with a 40 minutes flight-time, omnidirectional collision avoidance, Dynamic track 2.0, orbit, Parallel Track, ViewPoint, and several other flight modes.

Who is this product for?

Considering the price and advanced tracking and camera features, Autel Evo drones are best suited for professional photography.

Evo II also achieves 8K resolution and 4X zooming capabilities, which would be unnecessary for hobbyist photographers who don’t need such a high resolution.

Pros:

• Advanced follow-me technology.
• High-quality videos and photos.
• It gives you more control over the camera features compared to other drones.

Cons:

• Evo II can be quite aggressive when following a subject. This makes the footage shaky and less suitable for professional applications.

Potensic D88:

Potensic is another reputable drone manufacturing company. They are famous for some advanced drones such as the T25.

The D88 was built with the beginner in mind. But it still has the 4K resolution, which is a bonus for hobbyists. There’s also a 1-axis gimbal to stabilize the images.

Potensic D88 drones have a gorgeous aluminum look, and the manufacturer offers an aluminum case where you can place the drone and other accessories. And since it’s light and foldable, it can easily fit in your backpack among other tools.

Potensic D88 follows you by establishing a connection with your mobile device’s GPS. You can also make it Orbit around you or make it follow pre-determined waypoints.

Other features include;

Headless mode –

This is the mode that allows the drone to maintain the orientation it took off with. This mode is suitable for beginners.

Dual GPS –

This allows it to connect to various GLONASS and GPS drones.

Ultrasonic and optical sensors –

These sensors stabilize the drone and allow it to fly indoors or when it can’t connect to any satellites.

Who is this product for?

• A beginner who wants to join in on the drone-flying and photography hobby.
• The camera and gimbal aren’t suitable for professional photography.

Pros:

• The sensors and dual GPS ensure a stable flight.
• Excellent value for money.
• It also comes with 2 batteries that offer up to 40 minutes of flight time.
• Some users complain that it only comes with one battery and extra batteries weren’t easy to find.

DJI Mavic 3:

DJI Mavic 3 is the most amazing device among the many DJI’s models. One of the fascinating things is its “Follow-Me-Mode.” With Mavic 3, adventurers ceases to worry about complicated maneuvers. Why? The device, which combines GPS, Galileo, and Beidou navigation capabilities, trails you wherever you go!

DJI Mavic 3 has the ultimate 3D depth sensors. These camera sensors direct the drone away from obstacles and make it the best pick for complicated terrain.

What about the connectivity antennas? They don’t protrude. They’re fitted somewhere on the surface. With a reduction in drag when flying, the Mavic 3 is among the best drones in its range for smoothness in motion! Additionally, this device has a robust 5000mAh battery, giving a flight time of a little less than an hour.

Ultimately, the impressive Mavic 3 doesn’t lose signal even when it’s 10 km away. That means the drone can send Ultra-HD videos when flying far away.

Who Is This Product For?

Being the smallest yet the smartest and easy to transport, it works well for beginner pilots flying for fun.

Furthermore, DJI Mavic 3 is useful for holidaymakers—it’s amazingly compact and can fit inside a bag if you dismantle the propellers. Therefore, if you want to board a plane, you can bring it with you!

Mavic 3 has a strong signal. That, coupled with its top-of-the-range photo capabilities, makes it the perfect choice for lovers of aerial photography.

Pros:

• Easy and accurate navigation
• Flying time of almost 1 hour
• Long flight range
• High-quality camera

Cons:

• It’s a costly device
• Difficult to use for beginners

Yuneec Breeze Smart Drone:

One of the fascinating features of the Yuneec Breeze is the convenience of its app.

The Breeze Cam app available for Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android comes in handy in the five automated flight modes: Follow Me, Orbit, Journey, Pilot, and Selfie.

Yuneec Breeze drone is not hard to operate. It works quite fine under limited experience for beginners and doesn’t flop when used by seasoned pilots.

Yuneec Breeze is the top-notch selfie-taker (of course without the traditional selfie stick), not only takes incredible photos but also has the capacity of saving them in full High Definition 4K video quality.

Furthermore, the Breeze drone is excellent in image stabilization. With a 1-axis gimbal, the camera is super stable for the clarity of photos and videos. Without a mechanical shutter, though, capturing objects in fast motion is a problem.

Yuneec Breeze is a dwarf when it comes to flight time. Unless, of course, you’re just having fun. It can only stay in the air for 12 minutes. For professional pilots, this may be a challenge, but the time is just enough for short aerial footage. Luckily, it comes with an extra battery. You can thus fly two trips without a recharge!

The signal is robust up to a range of 80 meters. Sometimes it can go up to 100 meters. Therefore, you shouldn’t worry about losing control of the drone during its flight. For most users, this range is more than enough.

Yuneec Breeze meets the need of perfectionists who worry about noisy and blurry images. With a 13 MP and 1/3.06 CMOS sensor camera, it captures stunning photos and videos out in the sun and during the night.

Ultimately, with a top speed of 11.2 mph—faster than average drones—the drone adds more fun to flying. However, you should exercise caution when flying them near obstacles since their reaction speed is below average.

Who Is This Product For?

The Yuneec Breeze is ideal for the “lazy pilots” who just want a camera drone for aerial videos and photos.

The 4K HD resolution makes the capture and sharing of aerial photos so effortless. However, a pilot who is out for extra fun will have to contend with its short battery life.

Pros:

• Has internal storage of images and videos
• Quality camera
• Easy to navigate
• The Breeze Cam app, programmed for both iOS and Android, brings convenience to flying the app
• Compact and lightweight design
• Readily available spare parts
• The app has clear instructions for the automated flight modes

Cons:

• Short battery life of around 12 minutes
• Relatively heavy
• Poor in capturing moving objects

DJI Mavic Air 2:

There’s no better drone to buy for under $1000 than DJI Mavic Air 2. It’s easy to fly yet packed with enough technology to take compelling photos and videos.

The drone has a very appealing design. The antennas are hidden, and the phone holder is conveniently put at the top. Interestingly, Mavic Air 2’s sensor—a 1/2 inch CMOS sensor—is an upgrade to its predecessor, the Mavic Air.

The sensor has the capacity to shoot 4K HD videos as well as 48 MP images. However, it still dwarfs the standard image sensors though the image quality is just slightly affected.

The flight time of 34 minutes is a big win for the Mavic Air 2. The long flight time gives you the grand opportunity of pulling off epic shots and videos.

Further, three-dimensional obstacle sensing comes in handy for beginners. It keeps the quite costly device from crashing down or causing injuries to pets or children.

Although the longer battery life is a big win, the 2 hours charge time is where Mavic Air 2 loses it. However, I’d recommend the drone to a user working on a budget of less than $1000 but wants controls, videos, and photos slightly above the entry-level drones.

Who Is This Product For?

It’s ideal for travelers and holidaymakers—it fits into any backpack or even your camera bag.

Pros:

• Pure image quality
• Strong connectivity to the drone
• Amazing photo modes

Cons:

• Image quality is less than perfect compared to high-end drones
• Relatively heavy

DJI Mini 2:

The DJI Mini 2 is one of the best beginner drones. For starters, it weighs less than 250g, which means you don’t have to register it. Secondly, it costs less than $500, which is a pretty good price for a drone with a 4K camera, 30-minute flight time, and OcuSync. 

If you’ve never heard of it, OcuSync is DJI’s state-of-the-art transmission system that extends the operating range to more than 4 miles.

Now, initially, the DJI Mini 2 didn’t come with the Follow-Me feature. DJI omitted this feature and the obstacle-avoidance feature to make it a sub-250-gram drone. 

But thanks to a recent SDK update, the DJI Mini 2 is now compatible with third-party apps like Litchi, which have the Follow-Me feature. Remember, it still won’t have obstacle avoidance, so make sure you only fly it in open spaces.

Who Is This Drone For?

Beginners who’d like a taste of advanced features in drones, or anyone who can’t afford the more expensive drones.

Pros:

·         Very affordable.

·         Extended flight time.

·         Excellent camera and gimbal.

Cons:

·         Lacks obstacle avoidance.

• Setting up the third-party app is sometimes complicated and may not work.

Things to Consider While Buying Follow-Me Drones In 2022:

Before you start shopping for a Follow-Me drone in 2022, consider the following:

1. Ground Positioning System (GPS)

If there’s a crucial aspect of a Follow-Me drone, then it’s GPS. It keeps the device on the right path, helps it focus on the target, and keeps it from veering off. Without GPS, drones would just fly off and get lost.

2. Maximum Range

The range of a drone is the longest distance it can cover before it loses the signal. If you prefer a drone that can travel a long distance, then be keen on its range.

Though average drones have a range of around 100 meters, high-end drones can maintain a signal up to 500 meters.

3. Quality of the Camera

You should choose a camera that can take clear photos and videos. One important aspect of a drone camera is a good shutter. With a mechanical shutter, a drone camera can clearly capture images of objects in a swift motion. 

Furthermore, go for that camera with 4K HD video capture resolution to be sure of quality videos. Ultimately, be keen on the Megapixels. They determine the quality of the photographs.

4. Stability

The stabilization technology is so crucial in the function of drones. Since the drones are in perpetual motion, it would be impossible to take perfect photos without a function to ensure stable shots. 

With a decent gimbal, a drone takes images that are not blurred.

5. Size of the Drone

If you’re shopping for a drone that is easy to maneuver and control, then you should go for a small drone.

6. Maximum Flight Time

Most drones have a maximum flight time of 20-30 minutes. The determinant factor in the flight time is the battery capacity. A robust battery can keep the drone in the air for an hour or even more.

If your preference is a drone that can fly for a long time, then go for drones with a battery capacity of over 5000mAh.

7. Maximum Speed

A drone with a low top speed is hard to keep up with during the flight. If you want to avoid such problems, then consider getting one with a top speed capability.

8. Weight of the Drone

The most optimal weight of a Follow-Me drone is around 250-300 grams. You can control a lighter drone easily. 

It’s important to consider the weight of a Follow-Me drone because too much of it can actually slow it down.

FAQ’s–

Some of the most common questions people ask about drones are:

How Long Can A Drone Remain In The Air?

30 minutes is actually the best flight time to expect from consumer drones. However, commercial drones can take up to 1 hour in the air.

What Is the Average Battery Life of Drones

The average battery life of most high-quality consumer drones is about 20-30 minutes. Nonetheless, the battery life of the low-quality ones is somewhere between 5 and 10 minutes. Any drone with a battery life of 15 to 20 minutes is considered mid-range. 

Furthermore, the battery life determines the maximum flight time.

Conclusion:

Don’t let that cool adventure or that move you learned in your sport go to waste. Get yourself a Follow-me drone and capture the moment in different ways.

And as you may have observed, Follow-me is just one of the features these drones have to offer. So, consider other extra functionalities you may require when getting one of these drones.

In my opinion, the Skydio 2 is a winner if you’re looking for an all-around drone with advanced follow-me features. It offers two ways to track you – a beacon and recognition software. And it also achieves 4K resolution, has a 12Mp camera, and has several other smart features.

HAPPY FLYING!

Summary

Article Name

11 Best Follow Me Drones: 2022

Description

Follow me mode is a really cool feature in a drone. Here we explain the follow me mode briefly and pick the top 11 drones with follow me mode.

Author

Nick Cast

Publisher Name

Remoteflyer Private Limited

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