The DJI Air 3S tracks people, cars and boats with ActiveTrack, part of DJI's FocusTrack suite. Tap the FocusTrack icon on the left of DJI Fly (or select a subject on screen), choose ActiveTrack, pick Auto or Manual, and the drone follows at up to 15 m/s (about 34 mph) while steering around obstacles. Make sure you are recording before the action starts.
FocusTrack modes on the Air 3S
| Mode | What it does | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Spotlight | Keeps the camera on the subject while you fly | Stationary subjects, people, vehicles, boats |
| Point of Interest | Flies around the subject | Same as Spotlight |
| ActiveTrack | Follows the subject | Moving people, vehicles, boats |
DJI redesigned FocusTrack on the Air 3S in its October 2024 firmware and raised the maximum following and obstacle avoidance speed to 15 m/s.
ActiveTrack sub-modes
- Auto: the drone plans its own path and camera moves around the subject. Auto supports people and vehicles.
- Manual: you set the trajectory, and the drone follows along it.
Use the sticks during tracking to adjust distance and height.
How to start ActiveTrack
- Take off in an open area with good light.
- Tap the FocusTrack icon on the left side of the screen, or drag a box around your subject.
- Choose ActiveTrack and a sub-mode, then start.
- Press record.
- Tap the FocusTrack icon again, or press Flight Pause, to stop.
Follow limits
From DJI's Air 3S manual:
| Subject | Max horizontal distance | Max height |
|---|---|---|
| People | 20 m | 20 m |
| Vehicles and boats | 100 m | 100 m |
The drone tracks at up to 15 m/s. DJI recommends subjects move slower than 12 m/s (about 27 mph). Faster than that, the drone may lose them. ActiveTrack works within 3x zoom.
ActiveTrack not working? Check these
- Light. ActiveTrack needs the vision sensors, so it's unavailable in poor light. DJI warns about scenes darker than 300 lux or brighter than 10,000 lux. The forward LiDAR helps obstacle sensing at night, not tracking.
- Photo mode. In Photo mode, FocusTrack only works in Single shot.
- On the ground. The drone must be in the air.
- Zoom. Stay at 3x or less.
- Subject type. People, cars and small to medium boats only. No pets, RC cars or subjects that blend into the background.
- Too fast. Over 12 m/s, the subject can outrun the drone, especially uphill or into wind.
- Near limits. Tracking can misbehave near altitude or distance limits and in GEO zones.
- Lost subject. If the subject is hidden, the drone keeps going briefly, then hovers and exits ActiveTrack.
- Firmware. Update aircraft, controller and DJI Fly.
Safety while tracking
The drone can't avoid moving people, animals or vehicles, and it can miss thin branches and wires. DJI also advises against tracking children. Keep your thumb near the Flight Pause button, keep the drone in sight, and don't fly over moving traffic or crowds. See flying over people.
For tracking tips across DJI drones, read our ActiveTrack guide. To compare tracking with the older model, see Air 3 ActiveTrack. Ready to fly? See the DJI Air 3S.
Related guides
- DJI Air 3 ActiveTrack and follow-me modes explained
- DJI Flip ActiveTrack and follow-me modes explained
- DJI Mavic 3 Classic ActiveTrack and follow-me modes explained
- DJI Mavic 3 Pro ActiveTrack and follow-me modes explained
- DJI Mavic 4 Pro ActiveTrack and follow-me modes explained
- DJI Mini 4 Pro ActiveTrack and follow-me modes explained
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