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
261 comments
We are testing an alpha version of MSDK 5.8.0 in which DJI re-wrote their video previewer (the code responsible for displaying the live video feed). So far, our testing has shown it to be stable compared to the previous video previewer, so if you guys want to give it a try, 4.8.3 (278) is available for download now.
Weather this week and personal commitments next mean I'm unlikely to be able to test in flight anytime soon, but I did get some crashing behavior in edit mode.
Great news.
Will test it asap.
I just tested 4.8.3 (278) with mini 3 pro.
No video.
Previous version video was OK.
Were you opening the flight dashboard with the drone not connected? If you swap the map and video preview back and forth does it wake it up?
Drone was connected as usual.
I did some some swaps, reset, close then restart app.
First time I see this behavior.
Maybe others can confirm or not.
I will relaunch in few minutes again.
I just tested 4.8.3 (278) with mini 3 pro.
works as advertised thankfully even with DroneTweaks DJI fly app, Rainbow Pilot, Litchi Pilot and last but not least Dronelink DJI.
I'm on Xiaomi 11T Pro w A13.
Didn't crash for you at all? How many batteries?
Entonces funciona? Por favor alguien que me lo confirme. Muchas gracias.
I just confirmed video view. No flight done due to complete darkness outside including showers....
Update from Norway/Scandinavia:
Did fly the Mini3Pro today (08.11.2021) with latest update 4.8.3 (278) kernel 4.8.0 using my android Galaxy tab OS ver.13.
- App is stable - No crashes
- Both pictures and video recording working fine within missions (mapping and waypoint)
- Did use -3- batteries
BUT: Video transmission unstable (get "blury" / pixels not updating - on/off)
Keep up the good work!!
This morning's first short test with Mini 3 pro and Pixel 6 on Android 13 and version: 4.8.3 (278) was successful. About 1.5ha mapping without interruption, which was the first time. This weekend and next week I'm hoping for good weather and will test three batteries on a bigger mission. So far it looks like the biggest hurdles have been overcome. Many thanks to everyone who has made the effort.
Alexander, no issue with the video transmission ?
I can confirm that the crashes have stopped. I used to get a dozen plus crashes on my test run and today I got ZERO! I am using it on a Samsung S20. It could also run in Virtual Stick mode with APAS enabled on bypass.
I am seeing only one bug so far. When DL reconfigured the camera from the video orbit to a still photo, the preview screen turned white as it shifted shooting modes, and I flew it home via RTH and manually landed it. I did not try closing DL and opening Fly App to see if the video was white there too. I will try next time. This screenshot was taken after I landed.
Glad to hear that the crashes have stopped. We have reported the inconsistencies in the video preview to DJI and hopefully they can resolve it soon.
For what it's worth, we made zero code changes from the previous version, other than including the 5.8.0 alpha SDK from DJI. I think it is fair to say at this point that the crashes were ultimately cause by something in their code that wasn't playing nice with one or more of the other libraries that Dronelink depends on (most likely Google's Flutter framework). In other words, there was nothing we could do to fix the issue in our code directly.
I just reviewed the footage, and interestingly the JPG that was shot at the end of the test plan was completely white also. So if the screen turns white, no data is being saved even if it takes the photo. Dang...
Issue with the exposure parameters?
I will go retest and focus on this part with more detail.
I caught a break in the weather and tested a long mapping mission (2.5 batteries). Pixel 7 Pro, Mini 3 Pro.
1) No crashes during mission (phew!)
2) Video occasionally (rarely) had artifacts/smearing. Tested in manual flight with a Pixel 5 and artifacting/smearing was much worse than Pixel 7 Pro. Phone performance difference?
3) Edit mode crashes frequently still.
4) RTMP streaming works very well (nice touch Dronelink team).
5) Trying to take a 360 panorama in manual flight yields a CANNOT_START_VOLTAGE_ALARM message.
Anyway, in its current state the app is very usable. Nice work!
stéphane GARNIER I can only say exactly when I do a longer mission with video recording. When mapping, I can't tell the difference between jerking caused by the shutter release and possible jerking caused by poor transmission. I didn't notice any blurring or longer dropouts.
Tested today, it is stable and error-free. I'm talking about mapping. However, when it follows the path and always in the same direction, the drone rotates along the lateral axis. Problem already reported some time ago.
Can you post a mission that this happens on
I am testing again mini 3 Pro + rcn1 + 4.8.3
Still no video images on the screen of the smartphone.
Everything was OK before this last version.
Am I the only one facing this issue?
Thx.
So it seems.
Maybe double check the permissions stéphane GARNIER
When it flies south the drone rotates along the lateral axis, when it goes back north everything is ok. one swipe yes and one noRoberto Lombardi Geologo I see nothing wrong with that plan, as the drone moves from one leg to the next it rotates ready to be facing the right direction for the next leg, and during the section its rotating it isn't taking photos as can be seen here
Jim,
Tested with 2 smartphones :
A51 : OK
S10+ : (no more) OK = KO
Any idea ?
Tested a flight yesterday, 2 batteries, about 400 photos, no crashes at all, just some occasional video distortion in the preview as already mentioned by others, but that is way more tolerable than crashing. Great work! :)
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