Mini 3 Pro - More skiing - using waypoints
Hi,
decided (for now) to forget about follow mode, since not working good enough for skiing, so decided to try waypoints/routes.
Using Dronelink 4.5.1, DJI RC-N1, Xperia 1 III
I discovered a few things:
- Using Waypoints with max speed (16m/s) ; Mini 3 is not flying fast enough sideways to keep up with moderate skiing, should be able to do 10m/s
- Using wapoints, Mini 3 Pro was stopping before missing was complete, inbetween two wapyoints, could it be because I was descending? Really frustrating when up in the mountains.
- When I set the drone to fly "backwards" between two waypoints, to do a reveal shot, it actually did the opposite and flew with the camera first. Had to try 3 times, then I tried "forward" and the drone flew backwards.. Weird..
Here are a few clips: https://youtu.be/QTEuam3vxlI
And here are the clips used in final video on instagram : https://www.instagram.com/reel/CrwOcX7oQgL/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Using waypoints could be the way to go to make a cinematic follow shot.
But finding the exact correct speed to get you in the frame is hard.
I am not even capable of getting the Mini 3 to move fast enough, what could be the reason? Had no wind during this shoot.
Using DJI's controller with the Mavic 3 you can set the drone to point towards a POI while doing a waypoint route.
Could it be possible for Dronelink to make an even better approach and have the drone (Mini 3) point towards the controller/radio/smartphone, while flying between waypoints? That would be fantastic, and would open a new creative world! :D
Best,
Ole
Comments
7 comments
I’ve been reading your post about using the Mini 3 while skiing. I suggest changing the settings for Vertical and Horizontal acceleration and see if that helps. Whenever flying any mission the steeper the incline or decline while ascending or descending may cause it to stop. The drone must be able to keep up on the path and be where it should be based on the way the plan is set up. So it may not be descending fast enough which could be why it’s stopping. Try adjusting those settings. Just some thoughts. Can you share the plan ? Maybe someone can take a look and suggest some other settings which may help.
Hi Mike,
Thanks for your reply and input.
I will have to look through the missions, I made many..
How do I adjust vertical/horizontal acceleration settings on the drone in Dronelink? Or is this something I have to set in DJI Fly app?
My settings in DJI app was/is at max speed in normal mode, 10m/s horizontal and 3m/s in both vertical {ascend/descend)
Best
Ole
Open the plan in Web app and click on the three dots at top. Then select settings. Id try smaller changes at first on Vert and Horiz Decel/ Accel and maybe the descent/Ascent rate. Don’t jack all of them all the way up as it may possibly cause more issues. Overall those default values have been tested and work for majority of missions and drones without issues so they don’t need changing. More for advanced users who understand what the changes will do and how it will effect the drones flight. So just be careful as to not overdue it. Good luck with your adventure.
Hi Mike,
thank you again for your help.
I do realize many of the dronelink users use it for mapping, hence do their planning at home/work on a pc/mac using web app. However, I need to setup the waypoints/routs on the go on the phone/controller while out in the field. I realize I need to test more, however can you tell me if these advanced options such as speeds, dynamic homepoint etc are adjustable also on the go on the android phone/RC while out in the field, before starting the mission?
I also realize, I am sorry to say, that I seem to have misread the max speed in the route planner to be 16m/s, while it is 16km/s (which is of course much slower, and too slow for most skiing). To my excuse it is hard to read everything on a small screen while out in bright sunlight, and you are stressed because battery is running out in the cold etc..
Best,
Ole
Did another test, without climbing the mountains, and indeed I was able to achieve higher speeds.
I set the max speed to 35-40Km/h (I think the max of the Mini 3 Pro is about 36-37km/h, in normal mode).
In reality I was getting about 30km/h, which could be acceptable for some skiing.
I did 3-4 tests, and in the final test I had the speed set to 40km/h, to be sure I got max speed, and starting at a relatively high altitude and flying towards me (between 2 waypoints). However I got a message saying something like drone had driftet of course, and mission was interupted, was recommended to lower speed, and is started RTH. This could be what happend whille skiing up in the mountains?
From a mapping point of view, I can understand that you would need to be spot on the course, for my purpose just making a slide move, following a skier or whatever, a slight drift of this straight lint path would have had no impact on the video. Please add the option to accept some drifting of the course without stopping the mission. If this is caused by vertical speed settings, then I would need to be able to set and alter these in mobile app, not just web app.
I noticed that the only thing I can input in the mobile app is max speed, I can not change RTH behaviour/location or change vertical speeds, which is sad. I cannot sit at home and plan where the drone is gonna fly before I go out in nature skiing or biking..
Also, while out skiing, I would need to have the drone return down to where I am / controller is (dynamic home point), when route is finished, or hover at end, rather than going back up in the mountains where I started the mission. Really stressfull having to pull out the controller from the backpack as fast as you can before drone starts flying back up the mountains. Same goes when out of battery, I would hate needing to climb back up in the mountains to fetch the drone.
I suppose I could exit the app after having set up the waypoints/route, and enter web-app on my phone, to alter/check these settings, but will these then be updated before I start the mission in the app? I did not test this.
I wish we were able to change these settings also on the fly, in the mobile app, while out.
Another thing, I have attached the last test, link from web-app, and here I see that the max speed is the default 16.1km/h, but that is not correct, I did specifically set the max speed to 40km/h. Why are not speed settings stored correctly?
https://app.dronelink.com/ole-salomonsen/mission/AAWCwS4KgEaNx542wxoo
Best,
Ole
Editing in mobile device with your web browser instead of the app would sure allow full access to all values interchangeable IMO ❤️
There is a speed limit at the plan level, and another speed limit for each component. If the speed limit is not set at the component level, then the plan level speed limit is used. Having said that, just because the mission planner lets you set a higher speed limit, it doesn’t mean the drone will actually be able to achieve that speed in real life. In this case, when you see drone too far of course happening, this is indicative of the drone not being able to achieve the programmed speed. I hate to say it, but given your use case and requirements, I don’t really think you are going to be successful with this approach. Honestly I think it would take imrpovements to follow mode to really make this happen. Having said that…I could see and field trip in our future to dial this in with you in Norway next ski season :) - unless you want to go to the southern hemisphere somewhere…
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