Beta 4.5.0 - Mini 3 Pro - Skiing follow mode test
Hi,
finally I was able to get the beta working with video feed. Tested with the Sony Xperia 1 III (Android 13) and Samsung A52S (Android 13). Both working better than S23 Ultra.
And I took the chance to do a skiing follow me test, which is the primary reason for me (and many others) are looking into 3rd party apps for controlling your DJI drone, since DJI FLY follow mode is not working well when skiing downhill when drone will need to go below take-off height (which DJI FLY refuses often).
The test was done using the Sony Xperia 1 III (Android 13) with DJI N1 radio. Dronelink Beta 4.5.0 (242)
Video can be seen here. It is unlisted, only posting it temporarily for you to have a look at how beta app is behaving in follow mode when skiing with the Mini 3. (although I recon the stable release will behave similarly on older DJI drones)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihwF2BgenU4&ab_channel=OleC.Salomonsen
I am not very impressed with the following. I admit my skiing here was not very smooth, but I was nervous for loosing the drone, so had to keep an eye on it while skiing. Radio was in my jacket. A little wind, not too much. I hope you can see that this has HUGE potential !
My observation is that the following (of course) is doing a little better with more distance from the radio/smartphone.
Following elevation (z-axis) when descending seem to be working fairly good, but the following of movement in x and y axis, seem to be a bit too sensitive, and is lagging behind too much to get smooth video when skiing. This is resulting the drone going in the opposite direction than what I am.
Could it be possible to add functionality in the app to smoothen out how the drone turns/follows? (so that the drone does not try to adjust/turn whenever I make smaller turns on the skis?) - Like a logarithmic curve or something? Or make it possible to adjust sensitivity? (like exponential) If the drone would only turn horizontal when I make horizontal turns wider than eg 5-10 meter wide?
Maybe also adding the option to follow only/mostly in one direction(axis) + vertical-axis? This would make the drone follow a skier downhill, without affecting the footage too much when the skier are making turns.
Or add the option to adjust sensitivity in all directions (axis), so that we can adjust to our needs. Then for skiing I would for example choose to adjust direction N-S (axis X) only when turns are wider than 10m, and follow me E-W (axis Y), and of course vertical/downhill (axis Z). (of course the user will have to accept risk with loosing/crashing the drone in such mode)
I would be happy to test more if you are willing to look into this. I am very certain there are other skiers wanting their DJI drone to be able to track them stable downhill.
Otherwise, regarding the app, it froze twice during the test. Both times I was able to reconnect fairly fast. Also the drone stopped following once, you can see it in video, but was able to quickly bring it out of follow mode and bring it back. So I feel confident doing more testing. Although as it is now, I do not feel the results I am getting from following skiing is usable.
Also at the end you can see some weird behavior of the gimabl/drone, but I suspect this is the drone, not the app. Sometimes when I started follow-mode, the gimbal would point up in the sky, don't know why, I had to tilt it down manually.
Comments
5 comments
Nice video - where is that?
There is already a warning when you try to start too close, but it looks like you were already far enough away to not receive that warning.
Sure, anything is possible! There is an option in the advanced settings to choose “smooth” for framing behavior. Can you share what settings you chose for this session?
Just so you know, follow mode has currently been optimized for the two primary use cases that people use it for:
Neither of these use cases involve quick course corrections, which happen all the time in action sports like skiing, so I think in the long run there probably needs to be an option to indicate that you intend to make quick course corrections and then it uses different parameters.
Hi Jim,
thanks for your response. The video was shot in northern Norway, close to the city of Tromsø, which is a skiers / randonee paradise. In fact, currently the WC 2023 competition is being held, finals today! :) - I know MANY here who are struggling with DJI's FLY app to follow while skiing. (possible future dronelink users ;) )
https://tromsoarcticskimo.no/
Anyway, I am new to Dronelink, and I can't recall being asked about any framing behavior when I started follow me mode, so probably set to default then? Is there a way for me to check what settings were used during that session? Trying to look through menus here, but can't find any advanced settings. Also, currently at home inside, and cannot start a new follow session here. Anyway I live in an area which is not allowed to fly, but might give it another try during the weekend in a suitable area/mountain.
Yes I understand that this is not currently optimized for fast paced action, but maybe some improvements can be made still. I assume mountain-biking also would benefit from a smoother follow mode.
Best,
Ole
Hey Mats,
thanks for your effort. I already did some motion tracking on the footage using Adobe After Effects, getting similar results, maybe even smoother. But cropping was heavy due to large movement of the camera/drone, and then you loose a lot of resolution, and for skiing (and mountain biking) I would love to have also the background (mountains, fjords etc) in the framing. But yes, not bad results from Google photos, was not aware you could do video stablization there.
Anyway, I almost assume that some software stabilization will need to be applied to get video perfect, but the better the starting point we have, the better the end result.
Best,
Ole
We’ve had a pretty epic season of skiing here in Utah as well - the most snow in recorded history lol. Here is one of our videos of the DL team enjoying some fresh pow at Alta. Sadly, drones are banned in the resorts here, so this was all shot with handhelds.
There used to be, but I forgot we disabled that mode history tab some time ago. Having said that, I believe this was your session. It didn’t ask you about framing strategy because I forgot we updated the mode to automatically select smooth for less than 10mph leaders, and precise for greater than 10mph.
Agreed. Maybe we just need to pay a visit to Norway and get this all locked in… only halway joking here…
Hi Jim,
WOW that Alta pow session looked awesome!! That is a lot of fresh white beautiful snow! :)
BTW before I watched your video I was confused and believed you had been here in Norway, since one of the neighboring cities of Tromso is in fact also called Alta :) LOL!
Yes that is indeed my run, awesome! :) Anyway, I assume then that settings was mostly at "smooth" durnig my session?
- since I was running relatively slow.
For sure, let me know if want to come to Norway and go skiing and maybe improve Dronelink follow mode :)
Anyway, I am happy to test more if you have capcaity to, and want to work more with improving following skiiers :)
Winter is soon over here now, so not expecting too much more fresh pow, but expecting at least 1-2 more months with ski mountaineering ("randonee" as Norwegians still are calling it, from French).
Getting a bit of topic here, but live streams can be watched here, last final is actually downtown Tromsø tomorrow :)
https://tv.ismf-ski.org/events/20
And here is a 360 video I made a few weeks ago on the mountain they were competing on today, I was using insta360 camera, too close to airport so drones not allowed without special permission: https://www.facebook.com/reel/6141733142514302
Best,
Ole
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