{{Short description|American camera drone}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox aircraft | name = Karma | image = File:Gopro 5 Karma Drohne (29798464706) (cropped).jpg | alt = a GoPro Karma on display | image_caption = GoPro Karma | other_names = | aircraft_type = Unmanned aerial vehicle | aircraft_role = | national_origin = United States | manufacturer = GoPro | status = Discontinued | owners = | primary_user = | more_users = | service = | major_applications = | number_built = | construction_date = 2016–2018 | introduction = September 2016 | first_flight = | developed_from = | developed_into = | variants = }} The '''GoPro Karma''' is a compact quadcopter drone for personal and commercial aerial photography and videography use, released in 2016 by the American technology company GoPro. The Karma competed with the Chinese DJI Mavic series, but suffered from multiple issues and was discontinued less than two years after its initial launch due to poor sales.
== Design and development == thumb|Folded GoPro Karma in a carrying backpack GoPro first attempted to enter the drone market in February 2013 after Chinese drone manufacturer DJI released their GoPro-compatible Phantom quadcopter. DJI CEO Frank Wang had approached GoPro CEO Nick Woodman about partnering to create a new drone, but talks fell through when Woodman wanted the new drone to be branded as a GoPro product.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2016-10-24 |title=GoPro Karma Drone - Instant Karma, Bad Karma or Good Karma? |url=https://www.droneflyers.com/gopro-karma-drone-instant-karma-bad-karma-or-good-karma/ |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=Droneflyers.com |language=en-US}}</ref> GoPro later approached 3D Robotics to create a drone specifically designed for the GoPro HERO camera, which was released in 2015 as the 3D Robotics Solo.<ref name=":3" /> Despite the partnership, GoPro proceeded to develop its own drone, which was officially announced in May 2015 as the Karma.<ref name=":3" /> The Karma, which was reported to have had a rushed development, was originally supposed to release in June 2016.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /> In May 2016, GoPro pushed back the release of the Karma to late 2016.<ref name=":3" />
GoPro released the Karma alongside its HERO5 camera in September 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Launch: GoPro Unveils HERO5 and Karma |url=https://gopro.com/en/us/news/The-Launch-GoPro-Unveils-HERO5-and-Karma |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=gopro.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Like the competing DJI Mavic Pro, which was released a week later, the Karma is a quadcopter with folding arms for increased portability, though when unfolded it is about twice the size and weight of its competitor.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Rose |first=Brent |title=A Pair of New Folding Drones, the DJI Mavic Pro and the GoPro Karma, Go Head-to-Head |url=https://www.wired.com/2016/11/gopro-karma-vs-dji-mavic-pro/ |access-date=2025-06-05 |work=Wired |language=en-US |issn=1059-1028}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Popper |first=Ben |date=2017-03-15 |title=Bad Karma: GoPro’s first drone does not impress |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/3/15/14922328/gopro-karma-drone-review |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref> Unlike the Mavic, the Karma's 3-axis camera gimbal can be detached and mounted onto a handheld "Karma Grip".<ref name=":0" /> The gimbal is compatible with several GoPro cameras, including the HERO4 Silver, HERO4 Black, HERO5 Black, and HERO5 Session.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Eadicicco |first=Lisa |date=2016-09-19 |title=Meet GoPro's First Drone, the Karma |url=https://time.com/4500065/gopro-karma-drone-price-release-date/ |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=TIME |language=en}}</ref> The Karma was noted to have inferior flight performance compared to the Mavic Pro, being {{cvt|5|mph|km/h}} slower and having half the range of its competitor in addition to its shorter flight time of 18 minutes{{refn|Although GoPro advertised the Karma as having a flight time of 20 minutes, flight testing showed a maximum flight time of about 18 or 19 minutes. Flight time was also noted to decrease by about 6–7 minutes when recording a 3–4 minute video.<ref name=":1" />|name=FlightTime|group=note}} compared to the 27 minutes of the Mavic.<ref name=":0" /> The Karma also lacks obstacle avoidance and downward-facing sensors.<ref name=":1" /> However, the Karma was also noted to be easier to use than the Mavic Pro, especially for beginners.<ref name=":0" />
=== Issues and discontinuation === As early as six days after its initial launch, users reported that the Karma's motors were cutting off mid-flight, causing the drones to fall from the sky. As a result, GoPro recalled all 2,500 sold Karma drones and temporarily ceased shipments of further drones in November 2016, only a few weeks after the first crash reports.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murison |first=Malek |date=2016-11-09 |title=GoPro Recalls Karma Drones After Power Failure |url=https://dronelife.com/2016/11/09/gopro-recalls-karma-drones/ |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=DRONELIFE |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dave |first=Paresh |date=2016-11-09 |title=GoPro Karma drones lose power in midair; videos show crazy crashes |url=https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-gopro-karma-20161108-story.html |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> In January 2017, Woodman revealed that the crashes were caused by the battery becoming decoupled from the connector.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Mac |first=Ryan |title=The Sky Is Falling For GoPro |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/ryanmac/2017/02/02/behind-recall-gopro-karma-drone/ |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> The front-heavy placement of the Karma's camera gimbal was speculated to have contributed to the crashes, as the imbalanced design caused vibrations during flight which could have shaken the battery loose.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Popper |first=Ben |date=2016-11-11 |title=Why GoPro’s Karma drone came crashing down |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/11/11/13597902/gopro-karma-drone-recall-crash-battery-fail |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref> The recall led to about 15% of GoPro employees being laid off.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=O'Kane |first=Sean |date=2017-02-01 |title=GoPro’s Karma drone is back on sale, three months after recall |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/1/14458974/gopro-karma-sale-relaunch-recall-crash |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref> In addition to the battery issue, the Karma was also found to suffer from poor stabilization, in-flight drift, camera horizon tilt, and high battery drain.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cade |first=D. L. |date=2016-11-01 |title=DJI Mavic Vs GoPro Karma Review Says the Karma is 'Unquestionably' Terrible |url=https://petapixel.com/2016/11/01/dji-mavic-vs-gopro-karma-review-says-karma-unquestionably-terrible/ |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=PetaPixel |language=en}}</ref>
Shipments of the Karma resumed in February 2017 after a redesign of the faulty battery latch.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=GoPro's Karma Returns |url=https://investor.gopro.com/press-releases/press-release-details/2017/GoPros-Karma-Returns/default.aspx |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=investor.gopro.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Murison |first=Malek |date=2017-02-02 |title=GoPro Karma Hits the Market...Again |url=https://dronelife.com/2017/02/01/gopro-karma-hits-market-again/ |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=DRONELIFE |language=en-US}}</ref> However, GoPro struggled to make a profit on the drone, and in January 2018 the company announced that it would discontinue the Karma and leave the drone market after its final inventory was sold.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rose |first=Brent |date=2018-01-09 |title=Is This the Beginning of the End for GoPro? |url=https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-gear/tools/gopros-karma-drone-officially-dead/ |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=Outside Online |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Vincent |first=James |date=2018-01-08 |title=GoPro quits the drone business |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/8/16862680/gopro-drones-business-stopped-layoffs-exit |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref> In January 2020, two years after its discontinuation, remaining Karma drones were temporarily grounded by a GPS-related glitch which prevented the drone from starting. GoPro subsequently revealed that they had identified the cause to be the GPS week number rollover phenomenon and were working on a firmware update to fix the issue.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-01-06 |title='GPS glitch' grounds GoPro Karma drones |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-51007414 |access-date=2025-06-05 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mogg |first=Trevor |date=2020-01-06 |title=GoPro’s defunct Karma drone has suddenly stopped working, owners claim |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/owners-of-gopros-defunct-karma-drone-say-its-suddenly-stopped-flying/ |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=Digital Trends |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Kane |first=Sean |date=2020-01-05 |title=GoPro Karma drones grounded worldwide, thanks to possible GPS glitch |url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/5/21050653/gopro-karma-drone-not-flying-gps-compass-problem-glitch-grounded |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref>
As of 2024, GoPro has not released any new drones since the discontinuation of the Karma.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kurkowski |first=Seth |date=2024-07-03 |title=Should GoPro and Skydio return to making consumer drones? |url=https://dronedj.com/2024/07/03/should-gopro-and-skydio-return-to-making-consumer-drones/ |access-date=2025-06-05 |website=DroneDJ |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Accidents and incidents == A GoPro Karma quadcopter hit a seat at Petco Park in San Diego, California, narrowly missing fans during a match between the San Diego Padres and the Arizona Diamondbacks in May 2017.<ref name="gizmodo-petco-park">{{cite news |last=Estes |first=Adam Clark |date=23 May 2017 |title=Watch a Rogue Drone Crash Into the Crowd at an MLB Game |url=https://gizmodo.com/watch-a-rogue-drone-crash-into-an-mlb-crowd-1795473669 |accessdate=12 June 2017 |publisher=Gizmodo}}</ref><ref name="mashable-petco-park">{{cite news |last=Daileda |first=Colin |date=23 May 2017 |title=Watch this drone nearly crash into fans at a baseball game |url=http://mashable.com/2017/05/23/drone-baseball-game-crash/#7N5L75F1.sqK |accessdate=12 June 2017 |publisher=Mashable}}</ref> Major League Baseball subsequently stated that UAVs are not allowed at baseball grounds.<ref>{{cite news |last=Payne |first=Marissa |date=23 May 2017 |title=MLB will 'monitor the situation' after drone nearly takes out fans at Padres game |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/05/23/mlb-bans-drones-in-ballparks-after-one-nearly-takes-out-fans-at-padres-game/ |accessdate=12 June 2017 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>
== Specifications (Karma) == [[File:Fall Colors - Marlboro, VT.webm|thumb|Video captured by a GoPro Karma in Marlboro, Vermont.]] {{Aircraft specs |ref=<ref>{{Cite web |last=Monlux |first=Chris |date=2019-08-27 |title=GoPro Karma Drone Review |url=https://www.videomaker.com/article/r07/19017-after-a-shaky-start-we-did-eventually-get-to-review-the-gopro-karma-quadcopter/ |access-date=2025-06-04 |website=Videomaker |language=en-US}}</ref> |prime units?=imp <!-- General characteristics --> |genhide=
|capacity= |length m= |length ft= |length in= |length note= |width m= |width ft= |width in= |width note= |height m= |height ft= |height in= |height note= |empty weight kg=0.625 |empty weight lb=22 |empty weight note= |gross weight kg= |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight kg= |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |more general= <!-- Powerplant --> |eng1 number= |eng1 name= |eng1 type= |eng1 kw= |eng1 hp= |eng1 shp= |eng1 note= |power original=
|prop blade number= |prop name= |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop dia note= <!-- Performance --> |perfhide=
|max speed kmh=54<!-- Converted from 16 m/s --> |max speed mph=35 |max speed kts= |max speed note= |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |minimum control speed kmh= |minimum control speed mph= |minimum control speed kts= |minimum control speed note= |range km=1 |range miles=0.621<!-- Converted from 3280 ft --> |range nmi= |range note= |endurance=18–20 minutes{{refn|name=FlightTime|group=note}} |ceiling m=4500 |ceiling ft=14500 |ceiling note=above sea level |climb rate ms= |climb rate ftmin= |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |lift to drag= |disk loading kg/m2= |disk loading lb/sqft= |disk loading note= |power/mass= |more performance= *'''Maximum wind resistance:''' 22 mph (36 km/h)<!-- Converted from 10 m/s -->
|avionics= *'''Camera:''' GoPro HERO5 Black }}
==See also== {{aircontent |see also= |related= |similar aircraft= *DJI Air *DJI Mavic *DJI Spark *Parrot Bebop *Skydio X2 |lists= }}
== Notes == <references group="note" responsive="1"></references>
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == {{Commonscat|GoPro Karma}}
Category:Unmanned aerial vehicles of the United States Category:Quadcopters