Are you looking for a drone to record your adventures without the need of controlling it when it does? Want to know what’s the best one to get out there?
Follow Me drones are great options if you want to record your favorite hobby whether it is running, skiing, cycling or snowboarding. These quadcopters are programmed to focus on a subject and follow it whatever it does.
Thanks to this feature it is very easy and convenient to document your activities because you don’t have to pilot and control the drone the whole time. It will just hover and follow you instantly.
In the next section, I’ll share with my top picks of Follow Me drones.
Best Follow Me Drones
The drones in this list come with intelligent flight modes that enable them to follow you, orbit you and do more. All of them are equipped with a high-quality camera and gimbal to capture stable photos and footage consistently. They are also very easy to fly, so they are highly recommended.
1. DJI Spark
Specs
Dimensions: 143 x 143 x 55mm
Flight time/battery life: 16min
Transmission distance: 1.2mi
Speed: Up to 31mph
VPS Range: 98ft
Gimbal: 2 axis
Camera resolution: 12mp
Video resolution: 1080p 30fps
Weight: .66lbs
Camera details: 1/2.3 Sensor Powerful Lens, 1080p resolution
Notable attributes: PalmLaunch, Gesture and TapFly Control, Obstacle Sensing, Subject Tracking from Various Angles
Spark is a smart, reliable and incredibly intuitive drone that is very easy to fly. It is also packed with powerful features that make it very convenient to control.
First, Spark includes ActiveTrack that automatically recognizes the objects of different shapes and sizes then tracks them according to what they are and how fast they move. This feature stays on the target and makes tracking much easier and more reliable.
It also includes QuickShot that allows professional and amazing footage with cinematic composition. Meanwhile, the TapFly mode uses vision technology and flies in the direction of your tap or exactly where you tapped while actively sensing obstacles. It captures shot after shot with just your fingertips.
This is also very easy to control because it is programmed with deep learning gesture recognition that allows you to take selfies with simple hand motions. There are particular hand movements that you can use to command the drone to take a selfie, take off, away and follow, or record.
When it comes to the quality of photos, you will surely be impressed because it comes with 2-axis mechanical gimbal and UltraSmooth technology that dramatically reduces shake and rolling shutter effect for stable and detailed shots. It comes with multiple shooting modes for versatile photography.
Overall, I’m very happy with this drone because it is very easy to fly and it is equipped with the features that both beginners and pros want to find in a drone. This is highly recommended.
PROS
- Stable
- Small and portable
- Gestures controls
- Quickshot modes
- Intuitive controls
- Smart and reliable
- Control, edit and share via DJI GO app
CONS
- No controller
- Wi-Fi range is limited
- Shorter flight time compared to other DJI mode
2. DJI Mavic Pro
Specs
Dimensions (folded): 83 x 83 x 198mm
Weight (without gimbal cover): 734g
Camera Resolution: 12mp
Video Resolution: 4K at 30fps
Max Flight Time: 27min
Max Speed: 40mph
Notable Attributes: Portability, Battery Life
Mavic Pro is the perfect combination of portability and powerful camera. This drone is small and has a foldable design which makes it ultraportable.
Mavic Pro comes with ActiveTrack mode that enables it to perform several functions that will surely amaze you. The aircraft can track the subject at a constant distance and angle. Meanwhile, its downward-facing sensor records and maintains the flight height.
Mavic Pro has a vision recognition system. It can sense and avoid obstacles both in front of and below the drone. When it senses an obstacle in intelligent flight mode, it stops, hovers briefly and ascends until it is at least 16 ft above the obstacle and continues to fly along the original path.
It also comes with a sophisticated camera, 2.4-high performance computing cores and an all-new transmission system with a 4.3mi range and 5 vision sensors. For smoother and more stable photos, this comes with 3-axis mechanical gimbal. All of these features are at your command with just a push of your thumb or a tap of your finger.
This is very powerful and easy to maneuver. It is smart enough to recognize different gestures. For instance, you can simply raise your arms or wave to it to inform it to follow you or take selfies.
This drone is one of the best quadcopters that you can find in the market in terms of design, quality and performance. Mavic Pro is my no. 1 choice when I need a camera drone on my trips because it is very portable. So if you are always on the go, this will make a great UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) for you.
PROS
- Portable
- Crash-resistant
- Obstacle avoidance
- Quieter than other drone models
- Can be controlled via hand gestures
- Has built-in Active track feature mode
- Has excellent flight time compared to other DJI models
CONS
- Expensive
- Camera doesn’t offer a wide view
- Not for beginners due to its complex models
- The bad light may have blue color interferences
3. DJI Mavic Air
Specs
Dimensions (folded): 168 x 83 x 49mm
Dimensions (unfolded): 168 x 184 x 64mm
Weight: 430g
Camera: 12mp
Video Resolution: 4K at 30fps
Max Flight Time: 21min
Max Speed: 68.4kph in Sport mode
Notable Attributes: SmartCapture, Gesture Control, Foldable and Portable, 3-axis gimbal for stability, 3-directional environment sensing, 8 GB of internal storage
DJI Mavic Air is another foldable drone with an impressive camera and ActiveTrack Follow Me technology. It is very easy to carry along with you wherever you go and most importantly, it can follow you to document your activity.
Mavic Air’s ActiveTrack can sense up to 16 subjects or person, you can then select which person you want to follow in the DJI Go 4 app. This camera drone is among the latest quads in the market, so its technology is much more precise and reliable compared to the previous models from the brand.
It is also very easy to use because it comes with intelligent flight modes including QuickShots, SmartCapture, Tripod mode, Cinematic modes, TapFly and Points of Interest. TapFly is highly recommended if you want to focus on aerial filming or photography because it works in Forward, Backward, Free and Coordinate modes. It also lets you tap on your mobile device.
Just like the the first DJI drones I mentioned, this comes with face and hand recognition technology. Its FaceAware technology recognizes faces while you can use hand gestures to tell the drone what to do whether you want it to follow you or take a selfie.
Mavic Air is a high-quality and high-performance drone. It is very easy to use and fun to fly, not to mention, it is ultraportable. I highly recommend this to those who want a powerful drone to document their adventures.
PROS
- Foldable
- Portable
- Stable
- Compact and small
- Better build quality
- Won’t struggle to fly back home even with strong headwind conditions
CONS
- Video crop
- Short battery life
- Doesn’t support D-Log
- Poor range and radio signal quality
- Only slim smartphones fit in the controller
4. Parrot Bebop 2
*This line has been discontinued, but you can click here for a selection of used models*
Specs
Camera: 14MP with fish-eye lens
Video: 3-axis full HD 1080P
Stabilization: Digital stabilization (Parrot system)
Flight Time: 25 minutes
GPS: Yes
Processor: Dual core processor with quad-core GPU
Storage: 8 GB flash storage system
Parrot Bebop 2 is one of the most popular drones in this category because it’s one of the quads with the best target tracking performance! So, if you want a Follow Me drone, this is one of the options that you should seriously consider.
This drone uses a combination of the drone GPS + cell phone GPS, visual image tracking and cellphone barometric data. Thus, it can follow or track a subject in any position. It also climbs and descends in relation to the subject, so you can bank on this when it comes to its tracking system.
Bebop 2 has a simple and sleek design. It is ultra-lightweight and ultra-portable, so you can conveniently take this with you wherever you go. If you want to vlog your trips, this will be one of the best companions to bring along.
This drone comes with an impressive camera. It can record videos in 1080p full HD and shot 14mp still photos. You don’t need to worry about the image quality because this delivers amazing shots and footage.
Another thing I love about this drone is its speed. Bebop 2 can reach up to 37.28mph horizontally and 13.05mph vertically without affecting image quality.
Also, this includes a FreeFlight Pro dedicated mobile app that allows you to operate the drone and share your aerial photos and videos conveniently.
I had a fun experience flying this drone because it is very easy to maneuver. Also, it is agile and intuitive, so you should try this, too.
PROS
- Extremely lightweight
- Extended range
- Decent camera for its price
- Doesn’t need a gimbal
- Can capture 14MP shots with relatively stable movement
- Long flight time up to 25 minutes
CONS
- Image distortions
- Lack of clear instruction
- Control sticks are sometimes unresponsive
5. DJI Inspire 2
Specs
Camera Resolution: 30MP in DNG RAW mode
Video Resolution: 5.2K at 30FPS / 4K at 60FPS
Max Flight Time: 27 minutes
Max Speed: 67MPH
Notable Attributes: Dual-Operator Mode, Two Cameras, Obstacle Avoidance, Micro Four Thirds System, FlightAutonomy, ActiveTrack, Forward and Downward Vision System, DJI Lightbridge Technology
Inspire 2 is another great drone from DJI. It is expensive but worth it because it is built with quality, has powerful features and delivers an impressive performance.
Just like the other DJI drones, this comes with intelligent flight modes including ActiveTrack that follows the subject. It also has Spotlight Pro, Profile Mode, QuickSpin, and TapFly modes.
This camera drone offers a number of features that you won’t find in any other quads from the brand. This is the first filmmaking drone in the world to integrate an HD video transmission system, 360-degree rotating gimbal and a 4K camera with an app control. It also captures stunning photos and amazing footage.
Inspire 2 is the perfect drone for Hollywood quality filming. In fact, this has been used to shot the short film “The Circle” and the result is undeniably very professional.
Another thing I love about this drone is its self-heating technology that allows you to fly even in low temperatures. Not all drones have the capability to do this.
Inspire 2 is one of the most expensive drones from DJI, but as I said, it offers more. If you want a Follow Me drone for filming or documenting important affairs, I highly recommend this.
PROS
- Shoots in RAW
- Interchangeable lens system
- Solid build quality and backup systems
- Capable of live 1080i
- Two camera options
- Offers PCIe SSD storage
- Has intelligent flight modes
- Has retractable landing gear
- Supports 360-degree camera rotation
- Dual operator control using FPV pilot camera
- Obstacle avoidance and detection system
CONS
- Expensive
- Dual battery makes getting spares expensive
- Props need to be locked into place
- Requires high-performance CPU for post-processing (for videos with 5.2K resolution)
- Micro Four Thirds camera unit is costly
6. 3DR Solo
Specs
Dimensions: 9.23 x 16.52 x 16.42in
Flight time: 20-25min
Range: 5mi
Weight: 3.3 lbs
Payload capacity: 420g
Max speed: 55 mph
3DR Solo is a popular drone for GoPro. But aside from allowing you to use your favorite action camera, this drone is marketed as the world’s first smart drone. It’s dubbed as the “first drone with a brain.”
This quad is powered by twin computers and features incredibly intuitive controls. Beginners will love this because it is very easy to use making it’s perfect for novices who want a Follow Me drone.
Solo’s intelligent control modes include Follow Me mode, Orbit, Cable Cam and Selfie. Its smart system allows for angle, distance and perspective changes while the drone is in flight for smooth transitions and movements when you are filming. It also comes with computer-assisted Smart Shots to help you achieve professional aerial photos and videos.
You will surely be impressed with its strong and stable build that enable it to withstand strong gusts of wind. That’s not all, this can last up to 22 minutes and 550 meters control range which is already good enough for beginners.
I’m very happy with 3DR Solo because, with this quadcopter, I was able to use my favorite GoPro and experience aerial photography. Also, this is very affordable compared to camera drones because this doesn’t include a camera. I highly recommend this quadcopter to GoPro owners who want to start with aerial photography and videography.
PROS
- 20-minute flight
- Smart drone for GoPro
- Easy to maneuver
- Lots of pre-installed flight modes
- Robust and has stable flight dynamics
CONS
- Takes time to hit GPS on initial start
- No collision detection
7. Yuneec Breeze
Specs
Dimensions: 7.72 x 7.72 x 2.56in
Weight: 13.58oz
Flight time: 12min
Horizontal speed: 11.19mph
Climbing speed: 2.24mph
Camera resolution: 13mp
Video resolution: 4K at 30fps
Yuneec Breeze is a compact smart drone with ultra HD 4K video. This is one of the best drones under $500 that you will find in the market.
For its prices, this camera drone already offers a 4K-capable camera for stills and videos. In addition, it comes with advanced features that you will likely find in expensive markets like Follow Me, Journey and Orbit modes.
The Follow Me mode uses GPS and the user’s phone to track and follow the object.
Meanwhile, the Journey mode is best if you want an effect on your video because when it is in this mode, the drone starts with a flyaway shot and comes back zooming in on the subject. Meanwhile, Orbit lets the drone circle the subject for a dramatic effect.
I really had a great time with Unique Breeze. If you want a good drone that’s a good value for money, this camera drone will surely impress you. You can also check on Yuneec Typhoon H if you want another model from the brand.
PROS
- Foldable and portable
- Easy and fun to fly
- Great camera quality
- Can survive crashes
CONS
- Short flight time
- Short range
- No gimbal
What’s a Follow Me Drone?
Follow Me is an intelligent flight mode that allows a drone to be a hands-free aerial camera crew. Basically, Follow Me drones use sensors and recognition technology that gives UAVs the ability to recognize and follow a person or object in motion.
Follow Me technology creates a virtual tether between the drone and a GPS-equipped mobile device, which allows the drone to track you or another subject in motion. The majority of the Follow Me drones can remain stationary and track the subject by rotating or it can move along with the subject.
Follow Me drones are particularly helpful in any of the following activities:
- Trekking
- Cycling
- Running
- Skiing
- Surfing
- Snowboarding
How Follow Me Drone Works?
Follow Me drones have one objective and that is to follow the subject no matter what. They usually use two types of flight tracking to this, which I will discuss below.
1. GPS Transmitter/GSC. Some drones use a GPS device to follow the subject. Once the drone is paired with the subject, the fun begins. The drone will latch onto the transmitter and follow it.
2. Follow Me Recognition Technology. This is the latest tracking technology that Follow Me drones use. This approach works by using special sensors and software algorithms. It follows the subject without having to rely on GPS trackers.
For this technique, the drone has to fly around you a couple of times to collect data. Once the data is stored, it latches on to you and follows as per your instructions.
This technology is more advanced than GPS and very easy to work with. This is superior to GPS because it makes sure that you are in the frame the whole time. So, if you want a reliable Follow Me drone, you can bank on this.
Conclusion
Follow Me quadcopters are the perfect camera drones to accompany you when you want to document your favorite activity whether it’s running, cycling or snowboarding. These UAVs are programmed to follow the subject whatever it does, so you can concentrate on what you do and have fun while the drone records your every move.
Have you tried any of the drones we recommend above? What’s best for you? Do you have any other recommendations? Feel free to share your ideas and experiences with us and help other readers decide the best Follow Me drone for them.