# GoPro Karma > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/GoPro_Karma > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/GoPro_Karma.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GoPro_Karma > Source revision: 1324694768 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{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](/source/Unmanned_aerial_vehicle) | aircraft_role = | national_origin = United States | manufacturer = [GoPro](/source/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](/source/quadcopter) [drone](/source/Unmanned_aerial_vehicle) for personal and commercial [aerial photography](/source/aerial_photography) and [videography](/source/videography) use, released in 2016 by the American technology company [GoPro](/source/GoPro). The Karma competed with the Chinese [DJI Mavic](/source/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](/source/DJI) released their GoPro-compatible [Phantom](/source/DJI_Phantom) quadcopter. DJI CEO [Frank Wang](/source/Frank_Wang) had approached GoPro CEO [Nick Woodman](/source/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.{{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}} GoPro later approached [3D Robotics](/source/3D_Robotics) to create a drone specifically designed for the [GoPro HERO](/source/GoPro) camera, which was released in 2015 as the [3D Robotics Solo](/source/3D_Robotics_Solo). Despite the partnership, GoPro proceeded to develop its own drone, which was officially announced in May 2015 as the Karma. The Karma, which was reported to have had a rushed development, was originally supposed to release in June 2016. In May 2016, GoPro pushed back the release of the Karma to late 2016. GoPro released the Karma alongside its [HERO5](/source/GoPro) camera in September 2016.{{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}} Like the competing [DJI Mavic Pro](/source/DJI_Mavic), 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.{{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}}{{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}} Unlike the Mavic, the Karma's 3-axis camera gimbal can be detached and mounted onto a handheld "Karma Grip". The gimbal is compatible with several GoPro cameras, including the [HERO4 Silver](/source/GoPro), HERO4 Black, HERO5 Black, and HERO5 Session.{{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}} 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.|name=FlightTime|group=note}} compared to the 27 minutes of the Mavic. The Karma also lacks obstacle avoidance and downward-facing sensors. However, the Karma was also noted to be easier to use than the Mavic Pro, especially for beginners. === 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](/source/Product_recall) 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.{{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}}{{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}} In January 2017, Woodman revealed that the crashes were caused by the battery becoming decoupled from the connector.{{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}} 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.{{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}} The recall led to about 15% of GoPro employees being laid off.{{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}} 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.{{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}} Shipments of the Karma resumed in February 2017 after a redesign of the faulty battery latch.{{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}}{{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}} 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.{{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}}{{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}} 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](/source/GPS_week_number_rollover) phenomenon and were working on a firmware update to fix the issue.{{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}}{{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}}{{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}} As of 2024, GoPro has not released any new drones since the discontinuation of the Karma.{{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}} == Accidents and incidents == A GoPro Karma quadcopter hit a seat at [Petco Park](/source/Petco_Park) in [San Diego](/source/San_Diego), California, narrowly missing fans during a match between the [San Diego Padres](/source/San_Diego_Padres) and the [Arizona Diamondbacks](/source/Arizona_Diamondbacks) in May 2017.{{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](/source/Gizmodo)}}{{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](/source/Mashable)}} [Major League Baseball](/source/Major_League_Baseball) subsequently stated that UAVs are not allowed at baseball grounds.{{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](/source/The_Washington_Post)}} == Specifications (Karma) == [[File:Fall Colors - Marlboro, VT.webm|thumb|Video captured by a GoPro Karma in [Marlboro, Vermont](/source/Marlboro%2C_Vermont).]] {{Aircraft specs |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}} |prime units?=imp |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= |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= |perfhide= |max speed kmh=54 |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 |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) |avionics= *'''Camera:''' [GoPro HERO5 Black](/source/GoPro) }} ==See also== {{aircontent |see also= |related= |similar aircraft= *[DJI Air](/source/DJI_Air) *[DJI Mavic](/source/DJI_Mavic) *[DJI Spark](/source/DJI_Spark) *[Parrot Bebop](/source/Parrot_Bebop) *[Skydio X2](/source/Skydio_X2) |lists= }} == Notes == == References == {{reflist}} == External links == {{Commonscat|GoPro Karma}} Category:Unmanned aerial vehicles of the United States Category:Quadcopters --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [GoPro Karma](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GoPro_Karma) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GoPro_Karma?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.