GoPro’s new Passenger app is giving non-pilots the ability to take some control of the Karma drone and experience what the drone sees through its camera. The Passenger application, which was announced last month with the reveal of the Karma drone, has been updated to both Android and iOS.
GoPro Passenger app allows you to see what the pilot sees
GoPro rolled out the Karma drone and the Passenger app to make it possible for users to do something they never did before: ride on an unmanned aerial vehicle. The Passenger app is compatible with both iOS 9 and Android 4.1 and newer versions of the operating systems.
GoPro’s Passenger app does not take over the flight path of the drone but lets the passenger control the camera. GoPro says that by enabling the photographer and the pilot to operate separately, the app lets pilots focus on just flying. Now the app will not be just an easy way to share the pilot’s view of the flights with friends but could be useful for film crews using both a drone pilot and a photographer, notes Digital Trends.
GoPro says the app lets the passenger user control the settings and tilt of the camera as long as it stays within Wi-Fi range of the controller. In addition, they can use the application to adjust the field view and frame rate of the camera, notes Digital Trends. To make sure that the connection remains reliable, Passenger app users will need to keep close to the controller. The required range for a stable connection will vary depending on the user’s phone.
How to prevent strangers from accessing camera?
To prevent a stranger from accessing the Karma’s camera feed, a few steps need to be followed. First, the pilot has to switch on the camera, and then the passenger needs to log into the Wi-Fi system of the Karma with the password.
GoPro’s Karma drone went on sale just recently. The drone, priced at $800, doubles as a grip and stabilizer as well. With the Hero 5 Session, the drone is priced at $999, whereas with the Hero 5 Black, the cost rises to $1,099. Also it gives strong competition to the DJI Mavic Pro and DJI Phantom 4.
The Karma drone, which weighs 1,006 grams, is 12 inches in length and 16.2 inches in width. It features foldable arms and landing gear; hence, it can fit easily into the Karma case that comes along with it. The drone includes the controller system with both a joystick and screen controllers.
