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Red Kyte XDREI: Innovative Drone for Action Sports Filming
If you are looking for a drone that can capture stunning footage of action sports without compromising on safety, performance, or noise levels, you might want to check out the Red Kyte XDrei. This drone is the result of a creative and ingenious design by RED KYTE Drones, a cutting-edge drone manufacturer.
The Red Kyte XDrei is a lightweight and agile FPV drone that can carry a GoPro Hero 10 and a Vista for high-quality video transmission. It is designed to provide the speed and maneuverability of a five-inch drone while maintaining the safety of a ducted quadcopter like a CineWhoop.
In this article, we will take a closer look at this innovative and unique drone and see how it can potentially revolutionize the way filmmakers and hobbyists capture action sports footage.
The Red Kyte XDrei: Unique and Innovative Design
The Red Kyte XDrei is designed to provide the speed and agility of a five-inch drone while maintaining the safety of a ducted quadcopter like a CineWhoop. This drone is equipped with an all-in-one flight controller and ESC, a naked Caddx Vista for DJI V2 video transmission, and a naked GoPro Hero 9, 10, or 11 with a custom PCB for separating the lens module and mounting it on top of the quad.
The quadcopter’s weight is only 155 grams, and with an 850mAh 4S high-volt battery, it weighs around 228 grams – under the 250-gram threshold. The Red Kyte XDrei offers the flight performance of a three-inch 250-ish gram quad with a GoPro Hero 9, 10, or 11 onboard.
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According to RED KYTE Drones, the creators of the XDrei, this drone was born out of necessity, as they were dissatisfied with the noise levels and performance limitations of ducted drones for action sports filming. They wanted a drone that could capture stunning footage of action sports without compromising on safety, performance, or noise levels.
GoPro Integration
The Red Kyte XDrei’s top plate houses the GoPro, providing a compact and fully integrated solution. The GoPro mounts onto a custom PCB that includes the power supply and LED status indicator. A ribbon cable connects the GoPro mainboard to the lens and sensor element.
This ingenious solution seems more durable than traditional naked GoPros, as the GoPro is mounted inside the frame, providing better protection in case of crashes. The GoPro can be easily detached from the quadcopter by unplugging a connector, allowing users to swap between different cameras or fly without one.
The GoPro can be configured using Wi-Fi or QR codes through the GoPro Labs firmware. Users can choose between different resolutions and frame rates, up to 5.3K for the Hero 10. The GoPro also provides audio recording, which can be useful for capturing ambient sounds or commentary.
Flying the Red Kyte XDrei
When flying the Red Kyte XDrei, it offers impressive stability and smoothness, even during high-throttle maneuvers. Compared to a three-inch CineWhoop like the GapRC CineBot 30, the Red Kyte XDrei is significantly quieter and offers better agility and performance.
The drone can reach speeds of up to 100 km/h (62 mph), making it ideal for chasing fast-moving subjects like snowboarders, bikers, or cars. It can also perform sharp turns, flips, and rolls without losing stability or video quality. The drone has a flight time of about six minutes with an 850mAh battery, which can be extended by using lighter batteries or aluminum screws.
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The drone supports DJI V2 video transmission, providing crystal-clear digital feeds in the goggles. The drone also has a GPS module for return-to-home functionality and flight data logging. The drone can be controlled using any radio transmitter that supports SBUS protocol, such as the TBS Mambo or Tango 2.
See the Red Kyte in Action
Red Kyte availability and pricing
The Red Kyte XDREI is available to purchase directly form Red Kyte Drones for €116,81 EUR, however, at the time of writing, the kit is currently sold out due to popular demand. Red Kyte are working on getting more kits available to meet demands.
The Red Kyte XDrei is potentially a game-changer for action sports drone filming and cinematography. Its unique design, carrying a naked GoPro while maintaining speed, agility, and reduced noise levels, sets it apart from other drones on the market. Would you like to try it out? Let us know in the comments below.
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Ben Evans
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