In a market long ruled by one brand, a bold new player lands with a twist: a 360-degree drone that you steer with your eyes and hands. The Antigravity A1, unveiled as DJI faces regulatory pressure in the United States, is not just another quad. It rethinks control and camera engineering in ways that could recalibrate how creatives and professionals approach aerial storytelling.

The A1 pairs a 360-degree camera array with headset-based viewing. Operators wear Vision Goggles that stream the drone’s point of view and track head movements, so you look the way you want the camera to point. To translate those looks into motion, you perform hand gestures via the Antigravity Grip Controller. It’s a radical departure from sticks and joysticks, aimed at filmmakers and mission specialists who value rapid framing over traditional control precision.

Antigravity is not a stand-alone startup in the usual sense. Vice notes that Insta360 incubated the project, bringing its expertise in 360-degree capture to shape the drone’s niche. The result is a drone that promises immersive framing and a learning curve that will challenge seasoned pilots who are used to conventional controls. The A1 is positioned as a platform for bold visuals, not just a consumer flyer, with prices starting at $1,599 for the standard bundle that includes a carry case and spare props.

Given such a disruptive approach, DJI is not standing still. The company plans a competing 360-degree release next January called the Avata 360, signaling a possible price and feature race in the near term. The broader context is sharpened by regulatory headwinds in the U.S. The Department of Commerce and other agencies are weighing new restrictions that could affect DJI’s ability to sell drones later this year. If the decision on Dec 23, 2025 goes against the Chinese manufacturer, the field could tilt toward a more diversified, multi-provider market—at least temporarily.

Why this matters goes beyond novelty. A 360-degree capture workflow, paired with a headset-driven viewing experience, lowers the barrier to capturing dynamic, eye-level scenes that were previously hard to frame in real time. For journalists, documentary crews, and inspection teams, the A1 offers a new power set: immersive perspective, rapid target framing, and a different kind of workflow where the operator’s vision guides the camera rather than fixed controls. But it also raises practical questions about flight stability, safety protocols, and how training programs will adapt to gesture-based flight. In the right hands, it could unlock creative shots, but it could also create new risks if operators over-trust the headset and gestures in complex environments. The market will have to balance the spectacle with reliable, repeatable performance, especially on real-world shoots and inspection jobs.

According to Vice News, the Antigravity setup hinges on a compact control ecosystem: Vision Goggles for the view, the Grip Controller for gestures, and a compact drone platform designed to keep the hardware nimble while delivering a wide field of view. For the broader industry, the A1 signals a shift toward specialized form factors—devices that trade ultimate stick-based precision for faster framing and more expressive storytelling. In a crowded field, the A1’s potential lies in companion workflows: when paired with high-end cameras, it could become a key tool for cinematic captures and crisis reporting alike.

What this means for buyers and pilots

For professionals, the A1 offers a new flavor of aerial storytelling: first-person framing without the usual controller overhead. For hobbyists, the experience may feel novel but require patience to master; the move away from familiar control inputs means a learning curve. The pricing is accessible enough to invite experimentation, yet competitive enough to invite a wider crowd to test non-traditional flight modes. The market is watching how the A1 performs in real-world tests, how it handles wind and obstacle avoidance, and how durable the gesture interface proves over time.

Industry context and outlook

Key players are racing to secure the next wave of creative aerial capture. If Antigravity’s experiment proves durable, expect earlier adoption curves in film production, live event coverage, and industrial inspection. Regulators will likely demand robust failsafes and clear pilot training requirements for gesture-driven flight. For drones, the story is not just about specs but about how users want to capture reality—faster, more immersive, and less encumbered by traditional controllers. In the year ahead, a tug-of-war between headset-driven workflows and traditional control schemes will define who leads the next phase of the market.

Conclusion

Antigravity A1 represents a bold experiment that could reshape control schemes in the drone market. For buyers, expect a learning curve; for DJI, the challenge is clear: adapt quickly or risk losing share to new control paradigms. The next year will reveal whether gesture-based capture can scale from novelty to essential workflow.