Feedback for Beta (Mini 3 Pro) - Performance & Stability Non-flight regime - UPDATED!!!! NOW FLOWN
Hello All:
I wanted to give some feedback as to non-flight regime software stability and performance status during my navigating of the Dronelink software while connected to my DJI Mini 3 Pro. Hardware/software listed below (as of 4-25-2023):
- DJI Mini 3 Pro with v01.00.0600
- RC-N1 Controller with v1.10.1
- Moto G Power 128GB running Android 12
- 128GB SD Card in both the Smartphone and Drone
- Dronelink DJI App (for modern DJI drones) v4.6.0 (254) Kernal 4.6.0
PLEASE NOTE: I HAVE NOT TEST FLOWN THE DRONE - THIS IS A STATIC TEST AND I'VE NOT PAID FOR HOBBYIST OR PROFESSIONAL ACCESS. I was simply trying to connect my drone to the Dronelink app to get telemetry, camera image, and play with settings.
Issues Detected:
- Once connected to the drone and loading up the telemetry/map interface, going from menu to menu (camera, gimbal, etc.) causes a crash. This seemed to happen ONLY WHEN I was connected to a wifi source other than the drone's. In other words, if I disconnect from wifi sources (say my home's wifi) and the phone is only connected to the drone's wifi, this crash does not occur. So make sure you are not connected to any other wifi source when connected to the drone via Dronelink's app. This also must be done in order to use DJI's own Quick Transfer of files from the drone to your phone.
- DJI's Fly app definitely needs to be killed before using the Dronelink app. This has been already indicated but I can confirm it as well.
- Dronelink's app needs to be killed before using the DJI Fly app. If I do not kill the Dronelink app, DJI's Fly app will load but will not connect to the drone. The introduction screen showing the Connection Guide, Album, SkyPixel, etc. will only load and the drone will not connect to the DJI Fly app.
Interestingly, Map Pilot Pro also makes an app similar to Dronelink but I cannot use it as their website indicates the following:
- DJI has limited the Enterprise version to only support Android versions 7 through 11.
I can verify this to be the case with their app because as soon as the MPP app detects my drone, a message stating that my phone isn't compatible pops up (and indeed I am running Android 12).
I find it odd that DJI would not support the latest Android versions. Had I know, I'd not have updated my phone.
This is for now. I am hoping to purchase the Hobbyist Premium plan or become a Beta tester.
Anyway, hope this helps.
Comments
260 comments
I'm with Android 10/12/13 on Huawei and Xiaomi devices. DL Beta app works as advertised on these platforms. It's really not DJI supporting or not any particular version of Android framework. Seems to be certain brands and models with odd implementation of Android. There's a vast number of software libraries making issues. If you're lucky u've got a winner 😁😂❤️
Yeah that's the issue with this industry as a whole. So many versions, so many apps, so many libraries. It's amazing anything works at all!
That said, the comment from Maps Made Easy (the makers of Map Pilot Pro [MPP]) seems to reflect an issue with their own app and software specifically. I don't know if DL has issues with Android 12 and above. I'm not sure to be honest what MPP's comment really means.
The deal w MPP as a whole, I guess their app is developed supporting DJI MSDKv4. Not compatible w DJI Mini 3 series unfortunately. You might ask them about how their roadmap for DJI MSDKv5 looks like. Again, different libs, new platform etc etc ❤️
Contrary to the naming scheme, MSDKv5 is not just the next iteration over MSDKv4. It was a complete rewrite, not backwards compatible, and also does not allow an app to include it next to MSDKv4. These facts are part of the reason why most of our competitors have not released versions that support MSDKv5, and also why we had to release a different APK to support it. We were able add support so quickly because of the open source Dronelink vendor adapter architecture (v4 adapter source, v5 adapter source), which is the same reason why we are able to support more than just DJI drones where most other apps do not.
The reason why DJI chose to not support a later version of the Android API is a mystery, but it probably has something to do with the fact that the first release of MSDKv5 was for the DJI RC Pro Enterprise and DJI RC Plus, both of which are running a custom (albeit outdated) version of Android so there was really no need. It wasn't until 5.3.0 that they allowed installing it on non DJI Remote Controllers, as this is what is required to use the Mini 3 with the N1. DJI has stated they are trying to correct this issue here:
https://sdk-forum.dji.net/hc/en-us/community/posts/17495566595609-mini3pro-with-msdk-5-3-crashes-app-from-time-to-time?page=1
Will there be a post that goes out when DJI makes fundamental changes that solve the app crashing?
Will probably just follow up right here, so make sure to subscribe to this thread.
Same issue here with app crashing. Using RC-N1 (fully up to date), mini 3 pro (fully up to date), Samsung Galaxy S22 (again fully up to date). Just downloaded the Dronelink DJI App (for modern DJI drones) v4.6.0 (254). Setup waypoint mission online and ran it. Got just over half way through when app crashed. Had worked perfectly to that point. I restarted app and aborted mission. I'm guessing I could have continued somehow but didn't want to take the risk.
Not sure if anything changed or if I was just lucky, but stability was much improved for me today, build 257 on Pixel 7 Pro. Did a long waypoint mission from takeoff to landing with no app quits. Followed by a longish mapping mission that almost made it to the end but quit with about a minute left to go. Successfully completed that mission after resuming.
Mini 3pro still crashes randomly on samsung s22 Ultra. I've noticed a possible relation between these crashes- it never crashed while in direct sight with remote and almost always crashes when either range increases or signal gets blocked by trees, houses etc. Mission complexity is not related as far as I've noticed. How does drone act when app crashes? Does it always hover in place as far as I've noticed? Does it return home when battery drain? Asking as it gets my heart to stop especially when area is hard to access and app is not very fast to reconnect.
Off topic: how do I get back to mission after manual flight? So far I've managed to get back this option after landing (not in the mid flight).
I am beginning to think that areas of high signal interference cause massive issues with this drone. For example, if I am at home and connected to the drone AND my home wifi, Dronelink crashes. If I disconnect from all wifi services but leave wifi on, it only connects to my drone and Dronlink is stable.
I have yet to fly the drone under Dronelink's control. I plan to this weekend and test it out on a large parking area. As far as I understand and have read on the community boards, the drone behavior after an app crash should be what you set it to in the menu...i.e. hover, RT, etc. Reloading the app should allow you to continue where it left off? Assuming the app caches your location?
My mini 3 pro has always hovered after app crash. Can restart the app, reload the mission and press play to resume. The risk to the drone seems small, if all else fails you can RTH with the button on the remote, no phone required.
I work on a large industrial site with extremely good sight lines to the drone. App crashes to me are random and not related to signal strength which for me is almost always full bars.
Matt is correct. The interference won’t make app crash and I doubt the Wi-Fi is the issue. The issues have been explained in several other threads specifically regarding the Mini 3. As far as all the settings, they are stored in the drones firmware so everything is set to whatever was last used whether it was the DL or DJI App. When resuming a mission from where it paused it will try to continue with the plan and complete it unless there is some issue which will not allow it to resume. You can RTH back and exit the plan. Then any partially flown/ incomplete mission can be retried at a later time even next day or so by going into your flown missions and selecting to resume it. It will start and go to the last point it paused and try to resume and finish. Hopefully that helps.
So I just returned from a test flight and these are the results...please see the images as well for referencing the plan.
AREA FLOWN AND SETTINGS
Drone Menu Screen Shots (just showing settings, not the connection to the drone:
WHAT HAPPENED
So I tried this mission precisely eight times. It failed every single time. The best it could do was go to the start point, point the camera down, and fly the first leg.
Reasons for failure (in no particular order):
HARDWARE RECAP
Hardware/software listed below (as of 4-25-2023):
TAKE AWAY
Hope my feedback helps
https://support.dronelink.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/16409496589331/comments/16410305783571
Do you have an alternate device you can try?
I do not at the moment. I'd need to purchase a new device which would be running a V5 not V4 (as mentioned in your link) most likely
UPDATE - 5/14/2023
My brother was nice enough to lend me his Galaxy S9. The specs are as follows:
I installed the following:
Even though this phone is almost 5 years old, it is known as a flagship for a reason...it's STILL fast and runs both the DJI and Dronelink apps better than the Moto G Power I was using earlier.
I -re-ran the same mission I posted above with a slightly modified area...smaller area to make sure if the drone wanders it won't wander off too far....and to my delight it did it. See below:
The results are as follows:
For anyone interested in downloading the images, you can find them here:
Anything else I should mention or important to share here?
I'm fearful that DJI will take their dear sweet time addressing this. For those who've seen this in the past, how diligent do you find DJI's response to SDK issues? I'd assume low priority as they want you buying the more expensive enterprise drones.
Version 4.60 (259) Kernel 4.6.0
Mini 3 pro fully up to date with RC-N1 RC.
Samsung Galaxy S22 fully up to date.
Ran a waypoint mission perfectly earlier. No issues, smooth video, returned to home perfectly at the end but did not go to the RTH altitude that was set. Instead it finished at 30 m and just came back to the home point to land at that altitude.
Then ran a mapping mission. The plan was about 7 minutes with 61 photos at an altitude of 80 m. It worked perfectly until the last photo was taken then the app crashed. Drone stayed in place. Restarted app and tied to launch mission but it was going to abort and restart so I just aborted it completely and returned to home myself.
I'd call that slight progress.
I think it's just a matter of luck. The kernel hasn't been changing between the last few builds. I had a whole bunch of waypoint missions complete and most recently had the app randomly crash (when the drone was far over water, I was getting too complacent!). Maybe I'm wrong, but seems like DJI needs to make some structural changes to their SDK, and until then the stability between the builds is going to be similar.
Ciao, versione 4.6.0 , ho Dji mini 3 con RC N1 , smartphone Honor 70 . Missione di mappatura. Provata 5 volte. La 4° volta è andato tutto perfettamente , non potevo crederci. Tutte le altre volte si arrestato. Ho notato che le volte che ha crashato appariva NO NETWORK , mentre la volta che è andato tutto bene, ho staccato il cavetto dallo smartphone ed ho selezionato trasferimento file come opzione di collegamento diversamente alle altre volte che mettevo solo in carica. Stranamente ha fatto tutto perfettamente. Allora l'ho rifatto per avere la certezza che avessi risolto il problema e mi è ricomparso sul monitor la.scritta.NO Network nonostante avessi dati accesi e mi fossi loggato. Comunque la 5° volta si è bloccato
FAUSTO CAPALBO
Don’t need any Wi-Fi or Cellular service to run the mission. If you have no service at the mission location you can download the mission for off-line use prior to leaving a service area. If done then the mission will work anywhere. Once the mission is either loaded while you have service or downloaded for off-line it will run. Hope that helps.
https://support.dronelink.com/hc/en-us/articles/360052251234-Can-I-use-Dronelink-while-offline-
Grazie Mike, però avevo connessioni dati attiva e copertura massima, eppure mi dava questo errore. Ho pensato che potesse influire sulle motivazioni che portano all'app a chiudersi inaspettatamente. Infatti l'unica volta che ha eseguito la missione per intero questo messaggio era sparito. Sai sto solo cercando di capire cosa fa chiudere l'app che tra l'altro si arresta sempre nello stesso momento . Mentre una volta è andato tutto liscio come l'olio, perfetto.
Most of the issues are explained in Jim’s post above. Since you can download the plan for off- line use may try turning off your internet service since it isn’t needed while flying to see if the no internet error still comes up. Other then that, it’s Beta.
Proveró
I see an SDK update to 5.4 on May 18. Was this integrated yet? The changelog doesn't seem to have anything useful related to this crash.
https://developer.dji.com/doc/mobile-sdk-tutorial/en/
https://support.dronelink.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/17389102203667/comments/17408354314899
Sad Panda :(
I was only able to run one mission on my Hawaii trip due to the crashes. I had to fly everything manually. (THE HORROR!!)
Feel free to voice your opinion here:
https://sdk-forum.dji.net/hc/en-us/community/posts/17495566595609-mini3pro-with-msdk-5-3-crashes-app-from-time-to-time?page=1%C2%A0
I already did a month ago (Check for my post over there). I tried contacting their support today, and they pushed me to another group. I am going to follow up with them next. If the community puts pressure on them, I hope they will respond.
DJI reached out and said they will be starting a beta of 5.5.0 soon - which adds proper support for Android 13. Hopefully it will resolve the crashes.
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