Starting in May, our video streaming feature will be available to all our POICloud users!
Our new feature makes it easy to transfer the drone's image to the POI app. This way, everyone sees exactly what the drone sees!
Which devices are supported?
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DJI Enterprise Mavic 3(T)
Live streaming is supported on the Mavic 3 series drones insofar as the "Pilot" transmission mode can be used to transfer the drone's video feed to the POI app. In this mode, the transmission can only be started by the pilot via the drone's remote control, not via the POI app on a smartphone.
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DJI Enterprise Matrice 4(T/E/TD/D), Matrice 400
The Matrice 4 series drones offer a comparatively wider range of live streaming options. For example, in addition to Pilot mode, Operator mode can also be used. This allows the transmission to be started directly from the POIApp, and any member of an organization with administrator rights can request the drone's live feed directly from their smartphone or tablet. Furthermore, the video protocol used for the live stream can be adjusted for compatibility on the aforementioned models.
→ A detailed description of the individual modes and their properties can be found further down in the instructions.
For which use cases is our live streaming suitable?
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Fawn rescue
In fawn rescue, live streaming is particularly useful in cases where initial conditions are less than ideal. Depending on the size of the field and the type of crop, vegetation can sometimes be too high and dense to reliably spot fawns from the ground, even if their exact location is known. A classic example of this is alfalfa. Here, the advantage of streaming becomes clear, as the search team on the ground can request the live video feed from the drone if necessary and thus see directly what the drone is recording from the air. This allows the fawn's precise location to be determined directly from a smartphone, ensuring a safe rescue.
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Protection of breeding birds
Livestreaming also offers several advantages in the protection of breeding birds. Especially with small nests, there is a significant risk that they will be overlooked during a search, even when using highly accurate coordinates and RTK data. This can be largely avoided with the livestreaming function, as the drone's image can simply be accessed on a smartphone during the search, allowing the nests to be identified using thermal imaging. This eliminates the need for methods such as radio communication, and search operations proceed more smoothly and with fewer interruptions.
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BOS
For applications within public safety organizations (BOS), the POIApp's live streaming function is incredibly useful. In scenarios such as rescue missions or missing person searches, the drone image can be transmitted to all smartphones of those involved in the search. This also minimizes the need for radio communication. Furthermore, in recovery missions, hotspot detection, or surveillance operations, the drone image can be monitored on the ground at any time, ensuring everyone maintains an overview.
How does the booking of a server work?
The servers provided for live streaming offer several options regarding booking and duration:
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Community server
The community server has been available free of charge to all POICloud users since May. No dedicated booking is required. However, the limitations are that the community server only allows a limited number of simultaneous users and performs somewhat worse in terms of performance and customization options compared to a private server. The community server is particularly suitable if you simply want to test the live streaming feature and aren't yet sure whether a private server is right for you.
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Servers with limited runtime
If you'd like to use your own server, you can rent one from us for a specific period (e.g., for the duration of a season). This costs €35 per month. Booking is easy via your existing POICloud account. This account will then be linked to the server, and the server will be automatically canceled after the specified period. The advantage here is that you have a significantly more powerful, dedicated server with unlimited users. If you're interested, simply send us a short message using the link below.
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Permanent use
If you wish to use the server permanently and not just for a specific period, simply indicate this during the booking process. The cost is also €35 per month, and you have the option to cancel your server usage monthly. This gives you maximum flexibility when using the live streaming feature. You can also use the link below to book.
Note: Currently, booking a server is only possible manually after contacting us via email, contact form, or WhatsApp. In the future, booking a live streaming server will also be possible through a dedicated online portal.
In the video below, we show you how the live streaming function from drone to POIApp works in practice:
