Height varying like crazy on DJI Waypoints mission
Hi! I have 4 mission each one with 2 concentric orbits in different heights/distances from the POI.
These missions have been converted from virtual stick mode to DJI Waypoints mode, to be loaded onboard my P3P and theoretically run smoother than using virtual stick (not sure if this is really happening).
DL calculated and placed all the waypoints along the orbits, and it looks nice. However, when i flew the missions yesterday, i have noticed that the drone cannot keep a steady height during the orbit, it is ALL THE TIME going up and down like crazy, making height variations of up to 5m on null wind. That doesn't seem right, i can see the drone going up and down like in a roller coaster the entire orbit, and listen the throttle going strong, weak, strong, weak... all the way. It seems like the drone goes up to the correct height of an orbit waypoint and then "relax" and start goin down, then correct the height again at the next wayopint, and relax and go down again... Something like this. Here is one example of the mission i am flying and noticed this artifact:
https://app.dronelink.com/pedro-silva/antenna/plan/2K6MDM02Yr93OCIVKTmr/ipikZuSdwWkSTLaqxbt9
Appreciate your help, being almost sure this is something about the DL mission commands sent to the drone on converted DJI Waypoint mission (thus, a bug).
Thanks!
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Just to complement, checking the flight log from yesterday i found that on the second orbit of this mission above i had height variations of up to 8.8m. Not right, for sure. When i make a virtual stick mission (not orbit) the height is pretty steady.
All the waypoints have the same altitude configured, so if there is a bug it is in the DJI firmware. Once Dronelink uploads the mission it no longer has any control over the flight performance.
Hi Jim McAndrew! I see... Well, in this case it means that if i try to go virtual stick instead, it should solve this altitude part, right? Because in this case DL will rule the drone all the way, if i am not mistaken.
I believe as the distance from the drone to the control is always 70m in all these flights(not too far), i wouldn't have problems with commands being skipped (thus bad trajectory) due to the realtime datalink, right?
Thanks!
Just following up on this post with varying heights for a DroneLink mission on my DJI Mini 3. The drone is varying significantly in height and almost crashed into the ground twice despite having a 3 metre altitude. Can someone advise of the best way to manage these missions and would it still have the same variability with a newer drone like a DJI Mini 4 pro? Hopefully at least the sensors on the DJI Mini 4 pro would stop it from crashing if there is buggy DJI firmware.
The original post here is about legacy onboard waypoints so you should probably create a new thread.
If your mission plan has the altitudes all at the same height, then this is a DJI issue and you should contact them for support as we have no control over their flight performance.
3 meters is only about 10’. Running any drone at that low in altitude is not recommended. The ground is almost never completely flat and the accuracy of these drones aren’t perfect. Even if you had a DL plan which has AGL ability you could still have issues. I have ran many AGL missions over the years at 20’ to 35’ and no issues but due to the ground vary by 10’ or more I’d say 10’ is pushing it. Any drone will run basically the same in this situation so a Mini 4 won’t help. Increase the altitude and don’t fly any with varying elevations at extremely low altitude.
Thank you for your comments Mike. You mentioned that any drone would have the same issue, would this be any mini drone or any DJI drone? Would a higher specced drone like a Mavic Pro still have the same issue?
Phil.. None of these DJI drones don’t have AGL capability so they cannot follow the terrain regardless of which model.
Since this thread as Jim mentioned is about on-board waypoints I don’t want to add more comments which aren’t related. I’d be happy to help via email if you want. Your choice Phil but I have plenty of time to assist and may be able to find a solution based on your needs. Much easier then going back and forth here with many questions. wyldwestaz@gmail.com Good luck, enjoy.
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