The steady march of technological innovation has made it easier for individuals to achieve professional-quality results, and almost nowhere is that more apparent than with drone tracking. It's hard to overstate how much of a difference it makes to be able to film engaging and immersive tracking shots on your own, eliminating the complexity, cost, and crew that's traditionally needed. Most drones offer this feature today, which encompasses active tracking of moving objects to intelligent flight modes that focuses on static subjects. Keep reading to learn more about this feature and what it can offer you, plus some tips you should know before you start filming.
The Fundamentals of Drone Tracking
From drone to drone, tracking features can have many different names and associated terms, such as ActiveTrack, AI Visual Tracking, Follow Me, Intelligent Flight Modes, Orbit, Helix … the list goes on and on. Before we make sense of that, let's quickly talk about what the tracking/follow feature actually is and how it works. When you boil it down, there are really only two types of tracking. For the purposes of this article, we'll call them Static and Active. Both modes will usually use a combination of the drone camera, GNSS, and internal algorithms to function.
With static tracking, subjects are stationary while the drone tracks them as it flies a pre-determined flight path, keeping them centered in frame. Active tracking is what we typically think of when we hear the word "tracking". A drone flying behind, in front, alongside, or all around a moving subject. This can be something relatively slow, like someone hiking or running on a path, or something fast, like someone cycling, skiing, or even driving a car. GNSS locks onto the wireless signal of your controller, while the camera and those sophisticated algorithms detect a specific individual or object in the environment. It sounds complicated, but using the feature is as easy as tapping a subject on your screen or drawing a box around it.
Tracking Modes
Static Tracking: These modes let you select a subject and then choose from a handful of pre-planned flight maneuvers. DJI calls these QuickShots while other brands simply refer to them as intelligent flight modes. Common modes you'll find include Rocket, Circle, Dronie, and Helix. Once activated, the subject remains centered in frame as the drone flies the flight path. For example, Rocket flies up and away from the subject, Circle flies around the subject in a complete circle at a specified height and distance, and Helix flies upwards while simultaneously spiraling around the subject. DJI-specific modes Spotlight & Point of Interest can be static, with Spotlight simply locking onto a subject as you manually fly the drone, and POI locking onto a subject and flying around it in a circle automatically.
Active Tracking: Some drones have simple follow modes that fly towards or away from a moving subject, such as the HOVERAir X1 PRO and PROMAX. Drones like the Potensic ATOM 2 offer basic follow with other modes, such as Parallel and Spotlight. Entry-level DJI drones, such as the Flip and Neo, have automatic follow modes and manual Spotlight modes, with Flip also offering ActiveTrack and DirectionTrack.
Tracking capabilities get more sophisticated as you move up in drone quality and pricing, where the GNSS and visual tracking begin to be assisted by obstacle avoidance sensors. Two examples of this are DJI's ActiveTrack 360 and FocusTrack. DJI's Mini 4 Pro utilizes ActiveTrack 360, which is regular ActiveTrack plus an Auto mode. Regular ActiveTrack has Trace and Parallel sub-modes, with Trace following a moving subject from a constant distance, and Parallel doing the same but at a constant angle as well. Auto adds full autonomy, where the drone will intelligently avoid obstacles as it follows a subject in open space. FocusTrack, which is supported by the Mavic 3 Pro, Air 3, and Air 3S, includes all of DJI's major tracking features: Spotlight, ActiveTrack, and POI.
Tracking Tips
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Plan Ahead: Plan your route and make note of any obstacles that might be in the tracking shot's path. Even with a tracking mode that uses an obstacle avoidance system, such as ActiveTrack 360, hard to see objects like power lines can be missed and cause a crash.
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Don't Blend In: Subject tracking on many drones is impressive but not perfect. Try to avoid situations where your subject and background are similar in color and contrast, as this may cause the drone to lose its tracking lock.
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Can You Track Me Now?: A lot of tracking modes require a good GNSS signal. Improve your chances of a stable and successful tracking shot by avoiding areas with poor GNSS reception.
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Shop Smarter: When looking for a drone, take a close look at the features to make sure the tracking capabilities match your needs. For example, DJI's Mini 4 Pro is one of the few DJI drones with ActiveTrack 360 and full autonomous tracking. You also have HOVERAir PRO and PROMAX that offer electronic image stabilization (EIS) and horizon/horizontal leveling to keep fast-moving tracking shots looking smooth right off the memory card.
From films to YouTube videos, drone tracking shots are a great way to establish scenes and pull audiences in with more dynamic cinematography. The best part is that almost anyone can make them with equipment that can typically fit into a backpack. Whether it's a car chase or a walk in the woods, we hope this article gave you the information you need to make the best purchase. Let us know in the comments below which level of tracking tech you want for your next project.
