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Along with mobile internet connectivity, autonomous cars, shopping and more, 5G is set to change the way drones operate. Find out more in the video above.
This video is part of our The Future with 5G Series. A full-length documentary on 5G airs on BBC Earth Canada and MobileSyrup on August 26th.
This story is sponsored by Bell. MobileSyrup publishes sponsored posts. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content.
Photo by Burdun Iliya/Shutterstock.com
Learn all about the laws you need to follow if you own or are visiting a cottage in Canada.
Under the Ontario Occupier’s Act, cottage owners must do everything they can to ensure their guests’ safety. “For example, cottage owners need to check that their dock, waterfront access, deck, boat, and cottage interior are safe for people to use,” says Catherine Simons, a lawyer with Dietrich Law Office in Kitchener, Ont. This law also applies to cottage activities, such as boating. “Equipment must be safe and in good condition, and owners must provide safety tools, like life jackets,” Simons says.
Guests aren’t off the hook either. Visitors must take responsibility. In 2016, a man drowned at his friend’s cottage, and his family sued the owners using the Ontario Liability Act for not warning them about the lake’s conditions. The court ruled in favour of the owner because the man went out to the lake in an inner tube without knowing how to swim, explains Simons.
Tip: Catherine Simons advises that cottage owners should inform their insurance companies if they are renting their cottages short-term.
Thinking about roasting a marshmallow? First, check your municipal bylaws and provincial regulations. If you are in a fire region (designated by the yellow borders) of the Forest Fire Info Map, follow the Forest Fire Prevention Act and local rules. Outside of these parameters, follow local regulations.
In a fire region, you don’t need a permit when a campfire is smaller than 1-by-1 metre. Burn wood, brush, leaves, and grass so long as the fire is no larger than two metres in width, there are safe burning conditions, and you are not in a restricted area. For special circumstances, purchase a permit in-person at your local fire management office.
People start half of all wildfires, according to the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry. To reduce fire-related risks, visit FireSmart Canada. If there is a fire south of the Mattawa and French rivers, dial 9-1-1, otherwise call 310-FIRE.
All boaters need life jackets or PFDs when using a motorized- or human-powered craft (canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards). They are important for protecting you from drowning and cold-water shock, the first stage of sudden submersion in water. According to Transport Canada, most boaters who die on the water are not wearing life jackets at all, or they are wearing them improperly.
When choosing the best option, look for Canadian-approved flotation devices with a label that Transport Canada, the Canadian Coast Guard, and/or Fisheries and Oceans Canada have approved. When deciding, know that life jackets offer more flotation than PFDs. While PFDs are typically more comfortable, you must wear them at all times while on board.
Unless otherwise posted, there is a speed limit of 10 kph when you are boating within 30 metres of shore in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia. This speed limit does not apply to rivers less than 100 metres wide, canals, buoyed channels, and while water skiing (where the boat launches and drops off skiers by heading away from or into shore).
Check out the Vessel Operation Restriction Regulations for more information on waterway speeds.
Before you visit one of Canada’s national parks, educate yourself on the visitor guidelines set out by the Canada National Parks Act. For example, only consume alcohol at registered campsites, private residences, or on licensed premises. Only camp or have a campfire in designated areas. You may operate a drone, fish, and take commercial photography only after obtaining a permit. Skip hunting and fireworks—the act doesn’t allow these activities under any circumstances. Ride an e-bike on trails, but keep motorized vehicles in the parking lot. Lastly, your furry friends are welcome, but keep them on a leash.
Follow the Government of Canada’s privacy laws when you’re out flying your drone. To safely operate your drone, don’t go beyond reasonable privacy, engage in voyeurism or mischief, create a nuisance, or violate provincial or municipal laws.
You are accountable for your drone use and information you collect. Only collect necessary information and ask for consent to do so. The drone also needs to be stored safely and operators should be open about their drone use to anyone who is asking.
For more information, visit Transport Canada’s privacy guidelines for drone users.
DJI’s Mini 3 Pro offers several improvements over its predecessors, but the feature that impresses me the most is the fact that the drone can fly on its own.
DJI has loaded the Mini 3 Pro with its ‘Active Track’ technology. This means that all you need to do is make sure the drone is a few metres off the ground, draw a box around yourself with the touch screen on the controller and select ‘Active Track.’
Once the feature is engaged, the drone follows you around like a little flying dog out for a leisurely walk, while still recording video like a live security camera. I had the most success with what I’d call the “standard video game character angle.” Since the drone travels forward from this angle, it’s able to use its front-facing sensors to avoid most obstacles.
It’s when the DJI Pro 3 is filming sideways that issues occur. Since there are no side-mounted sensors, the drone flies blind and crashes into things more frequently. In one situation while flying in a relatively open park area, the drone hit a lamp post with a circumference of only four inches.
Overall, if you’re careful with the DJI Pro 3, it can capture amazing footage of people, cars and pets without requiring direct control over it. This is a great feature for anyone who needs to film themselves alone.
Watch my review of the DJI Pro 3 (below), or find the written version here.
Snap began selling its new automated hovering Pixy drone made for taking selfies. The drone is available in the U.S. and France currently. Even with a limited market, the demand appears to be outweighing Snap’s supply.
Reports are coming in that Snap is extending the estimate for Pixy drone shipments. Previously, customers of the $230 USD (roughly $294) Pixy drone were told that wait times were upwards of three months. Now, Snap’s website claims shipping times can be up to four months.
Additionally, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel told The Verge’s Alex Heath that “in hindsight, we probably should have made more.”
Estimated shipment in 15-16 weeks for the Pixy drone, per Snap’s website
“Honestly, in hindsight, we probably should have made more,” Evan Spiegel told me before the launch https://t.co/7ePpWWUimA https://t.co/ACON9SlJ2A
— Alex Heath (@alexeheath) May 4, 2022
It’s still difficult to say whether Snap’s Pixy drone is flying off virtual shelves or if they are merely hovering. There does seem to be demand for the product. Though, just how much demand remains to be unclear as Snap is not disclosing how many were manufactured in the first place.
The demand for the Pixy does seem warranted. It appears to be a pretty neat piece of tech. The hovering Pixy drone features a number of flight patterns including ‘Hover,’ ‘Orbit,’ ‘Reveal,’ ‘Favourite,’ and ‘Follow.’
Users are able to guide the Snap Pixy drone to a spot in the air or follow the user. The drone can then take photos or videos and send them directly to the Snapchat app on iOS and Android. Users can edit these photos and videos with various filters and Snap effects like ‘Hyperspeed,’ ‘Bounce,’ ‘Orbit 3D’ and ‘Jump Cut.’ Once complete, the image or video can be shared.
In terms of specs, the Pixy offers a 12-megapixel camera, capturing 2.7k videos. The battery lasts roughly five to eight flights on a single charge.
While on the market, it’s not yet known when the Snap’s Pixy drone will be available in Canada. Though, given the shipment times for the U.S., we shouldn’t wait with bated breath.
Image credit: Snap
Source: The Verge
Snap has revealed a tiny new drone called Pixy that follows users around and captures photos and videos.
The drone is on sale now in the U.S. and France for $230 USD (roughly $294 CAD). It’s unclear if Snap has plans to bring the drone to Canada. While the Snapchat maker’s Spectacles didn’t initially drop in Canada, they were released here several years later.
The seemingly simplistic drone is capable of following users with the press of a button, according to Snap. Pixy features several different flight paths, including ‘Hover,’ ‘Orbit,’ ‘Reveal,’ ‘Favourite,’ and likely the most useful, ‘Follow.’
With ‘Follow’, as you likely guessed, Pixy will follow as you move around and automatically snap photos and videos during its flight. Snap says that the drone can also be set to only shoot videos or photos.
Images are sent directly back to the Snapchat app on your smartphone where they can be edited with well-known Snap effects like ‘Hyperspeed,’ ‘Bounce,’ ‘Orbit 3D’ and ‘Jump Cut,’ and then shared.
“Pixy is ready to fly at a moment’s notice. There are no controllers. There’s no complex setup. Simply set a flight path and let Pixy take it from there,” said Snap CEO Evan Spiegel during the social media platform’s recent Partners Summit.
The Pixy captures 2.7k videos and features a 12-megapixel camera. The drone weighs 101g, offers a replaceable battery and can last roughly five to eight flights on one charge.
Though undeniably cool, one of Spectacles most significant limitations is the fact that they only worked well within the Snap app. Though it hasn’t been confirmed yet, it appears that Pixy will likely be locked-down in a very similar way.
Image credit: Snap
Source: Snap
DJI’s most consumer-friendly drone might be getting an even more consumer-friendly refresh sometime in 2022. This update could include longer flight times, better obstacle avoidance and an improved camera.
The new drone is rumoured to be called the DJI Mini 3 Pro, which might suggest that there will be a ‘Pro’ and a ‘Standard’ version of the next Mini. I’d expect the Pro to offer more features, but they may be software-only like DJI did with the Mavic 3 and Mavic 3 Pro. In that case, the Pro version featured more storage and access to additional file codecs.
In the new leaks, the Mini 3 Pro appears to weigh 249-grams, making it suitable for flying without a license in Canada. If you want to fly a drone that weighs more than 250g, you’re legally required to complete an online course.
As a DJI Mini 2 owner, I’m the most excited to see what kinds of other camera improvements the company puts in the drone this time. According to a tweet from known DJI leaker Jasper Ellens, the new DJI Mini 3 Pro will feature an improved gimbal and a larger f/1.7 aperture instead of f/2.8, which should allow for more light to reach the camera.
This is the new #DJI #Mini3Pro. It has a bigger 2453 mAh battery. Improved 3-axis gimbal and camera E24 F1.7. Huge front and ground sensors and … new backwards sensors. Weight: 249g. Time to sell your Mini 2. I expect a announcement in a few weeks. pic.twitter.com/CvW9YfmkRg
— Jasper Ellens – 27 Leaks (@JasperEllens) April 2, 2022
The lens is also more recessed, suggesting that it might catch less glare and that the revamped gimbal position will be able to rotate the camera in new ways.
Other changes spotted in this leak suggest that there will be more obstacle avoidance sensors on the front and rear of the drone to help prevent it from crashing into things. These sensors could also help the drone automatically track and follow you. This feature has been exclusive to DJI’s premium drones for the past few years, but it would make sense for it to come to the Mini given it’s become popular with content creators.
Apart from the tweaked design, the final change is that the battery — at least in the 3 Pro — is reportedly 2,453 mAh, instead of the 2,250 mAh that the DJI Mini 2 features.
Ellens predicts that DJI Mini 3 Pro will be announced at some point over the next two weeks.
Source: Jasper Ellens Via: The Verge
The latest and greatest commercial drones in the DJI Matrice lineup aren’t for hobbyists, but they represent all the cool tech that might make it to the Mavic line over the next few years.
These new drones are waterproof and in some regions can even be bought with a space-age docking station that looks like a Star Wars prop. However, the use cases that require a dock are illegal for most drone pilots in Canada.
The dock can act as a weather station, surveillance camera, fast charger and more. It looks like a large crate, but the top part automatically opens to allow drones to take off and land. You’ll need dedicated power and internet access to run the dock since it doesn’t have a battery or connection of its own. The Verge notes that you can attach a 4G dongle to the box and there is a backup battery in case of emergencies.
When we move over to look at DJI’s new drones, there are a few cool new high-end specs, but the most appealing feature is the cameras. The M30 and M30T feature 1/2-inch CMOS sensors with a 16x optical zoom apparatus. There is also a 120-megapixel wide-angle lens and a laser range finder. The M30T offers a radiometric thermal camera as well.
The larger Matrice 300 RTK it meant to carry things, or cameras, but doesn’t include one.
All the new drones also feature advanced obstacle avoidance cameras placed around the body and a new remote called the RC Plus Controller. This new model has a seven-inch screen and an IP54 rating so it should be usable in the rain. These models also feature hot-swappable batteries.’
The DJI M30 series starts at 10,000 USD (roughly $12,500 CAD) and the larger Matrice 300 RTK line starts at $12,000 USD (roughly $15,111 CAD).
Drone Delivery Canada (DDC) is partnering with DSV Canada to establish a route to transport ‘dangerous goods’ within the DSV Air & Sea intra-site space in Milton, Ontario.
Dangerous goods are products that pose a safety risk and are considered potentially hazardous while transporting, including items that contain flammable liquids, lithium-ion batteries, infectious substances and more.
Drone Delivery Canada Launches Dangerous Goods Transportation at DSV Canada. Visit our website to read full release: https://t.co/9JfstvL5fb#DroneDeliveryCanada #DDC #DroneCargoLogistics #DroneDelivery #PressRelease #DSVCanada #DangerousGoods pic.twitter.com/faeZGCvtRm
— DroneDeliveryCanada (@DroneDeliveryCa) March 15, 2022
“This is another milestone for DDC in terms of it being the first DG transport by drone in Canada; as part of our efforts to continue moving the drone industry forward, DDC has been working with Canadian regulatory staff to permit the transportation of dangerous goods by remotely piloted aircraft (drone),” says Steve Magirias, CEO of DDC in its news release. “We are excited to continue to be leaders in the industry and provide innovative solutions for our customers to transport any types of goods, including DG now.”
DDC recently also partnered with LifeLabs to test deliveries of medicine and essential supplies to remote regions. This project marks the first of its kind with trials only having just begun amongst Stellat’en First Nations and Fraser Lake in British Columbia.
Source: Drone Delivery Canada
DJI — which also just released a new action camera and a 4D cinema camera — is back again with a new flagship Mavic 3 drone that’s just as impressive as the other devices the company launched this year.
While I’ve only taken the Mavic 3 out for a quick flight twice so far, the excellent pictures and videos it’s capable of shooting have me excited. I’ll also mention that the drone is very fast once it’s up in the sky, and of course, you’ll need a basic drone license to fly this drone legally in Canada.
Before getting too deep into the Mavic 3’s specs, I’ll mention that there are two versions of the drone and three buying options. The top of the line Cini version that comes with a better controller, 15km range, compatibility with Apple’s ProRes 422 HQ codec and features 1TB of internal storage. The regular Mavic 3 offers 8GB of internal storage, a more standard controller and can only shoot D-Log.
I’ve been testing the ‘Fly More’ bundle, which includes the basic Mavic 3 + controller but also features a surprisingly custom carrying bag, four ND filters for flying during the day, two extra batteries and a battery charging station. If you plan to fly for more than the 46 minutes, I’d recommend stepping up to this bundle since the extras are pretty useful.
The main draw with the Mavic 3 is its new 4/3 CMOS camera sensor. In my brief tests so far, the drone is capable of capturing amazing images and video. That said, I’m coming from the Mavic Mini 2, so if you already own a Mavic 2 or an Air 2S, you might not need to upgrade it as much. The main lens is the equivalent to a 24mm full-frame lens on a camera and can shoot in full 12-bit RAW to capture the maximum amount of colours. It can also record in 5.7k at 50fps or 4k at 120fps. That said, all of the test footage (seen) is shot at regular speed 30fps.
This image has been cropped in 2x.
Similar to OnePlus, DJI has partnered with Hasselblad to bring the legacy camera maker’s famous colour science to the drone. This means that if you’re just shooting with the standard picture profile, the colours will still look punchy and accurate. This is how the demo video above was filmed.
To make the drone easier to fly, DJI has loaded it with sensors that provide better obstacle avoidance and object tracking. However, the tracking feature isn’t available yet and will release in January. This version will be able to track the user on more x/y/z planes and can use obstacle avoidance sensors to track the object when it moves out of the main camera’s frame. This could be the real draw of this drone if it allows one-man-band style filmmakers to video themselves with more ease.
All of the other DJI tricks and modes from previous drones are packed in here as well. The standard bundle costs $2,049 USD (roughly $2, 551 CAD). The Fly More combo is $2,799 USD (about $3,484 CAD) and the Cine package rings in at $4,649 USD ( approximately $5,788 CAD).