This essentially means that these UAVs can fly themselves by pushing a few buttons on the DJI smartphone app. First announced with the budget Phantom 3 Standard, these flight modes were developed to making flying even simpler, and give operators a way to follow subjects and also follow specific routes and repeat movements. The best thing about these modes is that all they require is a tiny bit of input from the operator, and the Phantom 3 and Inspire 1 can take care of the rest. 

More from DJI on today's announcement:

To take advantage of these features, visit your product’s download page at DJI.com, download and install the latest firmware, and update the DJI GO app to the latest version (iOS V2.2.0 and Android V2.1.0 ).

With this firmware update, the Phantom 3 Advanced will also be upgraded to support 2.7K (2704x1520p30) video recording.

Here's a look at these new modes, which are only available when sufficient GPS signal is available:

  • Waypoints: Record a flight path, then tell your Phantom 3 or Inspire 1 to fly along the same path repeatedly while you control the camera and orientation. Save your favorite missions, customize speed, and more. 
  • Point of Interest: Tell your Phantom 3 or Inspire 1 to automatically revolve around a designated object, person, or place in a perfect circle. Automatic and customizable, get shots that only experts could before.
  • Follow Me: (Phantom 3 series only): Tell your Phantom 3 to follow you, and it automatically flies and keeps you in the camera’s view you wherever you go.
  • Home Lock: Customize your flight controls to be relative to you at all times. Flick a switch, and forward/backward and left/right flight will be set in relation to the Home Point.
  • Course Lock: Easily fly along a set path by putting your platform into Course Lock, which sets all flight controls to directions relative to its current heading.

These are also explained about 2.5 minutes into this intro video for the Phantom 3 Standard:

A visual look at some of these new modes (specific to the Phantom 3):

DJI Intelligent Flying Modes

Hopefully these modes will also make flying a bit safer for certain situations, by removing some of the human element that can lead to crashes from simple mistakes — mistakes that could be avoided by letting the Phantom 3 or Inspire 1 do more of the work. 

Head on over to the DJI page here, or download the update for your specific model from the links below. You can learn more about Intelligent Flight Modes here.

Inspire 1 — Latest Firmware：v1.4.0.10

Phantom 3 Professional/Advanced — Latest Firmware：v1.4.0010

Phantom 3 Standard — Latest Firmware：v1.1.0030

Source: DJI

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