Trying to understand Drone Link for simple use
So I got dronelink for the sole purpose of being able to fly somewhere and take 360 images (I might expand it to missions etc later)
I tried this for the 1st time today and was a bit confused. I am used to the DJI app with the launch / land functionality but could not find this on the dronelink. Not too worried there I launched with no problem, took m 360 (which I am still trying to find) and then wanted to land.
With no landing option I went my normal route of landing onto my hand by brining it down, which to my surprise did not work. The obstacle avoidance sensor did not kick in and it just kept coming down. So after clipping my finger (no damage to me or the drone), I rather brought it to the ground when it did not stop running / pick up that it had landed.
I am sure there was some user error here, but I would like to know how this should be handled. How do I go about
- Launching / Landing my drone for "casual" flying
- Why did the obstacle avoidance not kick in? If I had land in a hurry I could destroy my drone
I have looked at the tutorial site and have not found any "basic" tutorials on the app.
Thanks, Bjorn
S8+ / Mavic Mini
Comments
5 comments
Dear Bjorn,
I'm just a little ahead of you in using Dronelink. Therefore, please treat my comments with caution.
1. Dronelink was not planned for individual fly. For this purposes I think DJI Fly or DJI Go is better. Not because the movements control, but because the setup possibilities. Anyway, if you disconnect totally your RC from the mobile device you can experience that you can use all the functionality what you can find on your RC (sticks, RTH button, pitch control, picture and video shot buttons... You will able to start the propellers, take off, use the joystiks... It means that it does not matter what application are you using in case when you are managing the drone by the RC the commands are generating by your RC according your manual movements!
2. If you want use programmed flight you have two possibilities: use DJI Flight programmed possibilities (dronie, rocket, circle, spiral) or you can start Dronelink native app. By Dronelink native app you have as well two possibilities: sit down at home an plan your flight with on your PC or MAC. In the Dronelink repositories you will find examples about 360 panorama what you can copy into your repo and can modify according to your needs. Start the native app and download your plan and run the generated mission. The second possibility is to use "On the fly" feature. You can see the tutorial here: https://vimeo.com/showcase/6369415 .
3. I do not understand why the sensors did not worked for you. As far as I know on Mavic Mini it is not possible to switch them off by software commands, so it was not Dronelink who switched them off.
I hope I could help...
Cheers,
Gábor
Thanks Gábor
I was using the "on the fly feature" and found that fine. The biggest problem I had was when trying to land the drone and it did not land. Will see if I can find logs and see why this happened.
Regards, B
If you will read this article maybe it will help too: https://support.dronelink.com/hc/en-us/articles/360036830214-How-do-I-take-over-control-during-a-mission-
In case of Mavic Mini you can always push RTH. When RTH starts you can push once more and the full control will be on your hands...
Cheers, Gábor
Bjorn,
Your question about DroneLink flight planning is a good one.
I too programmed my first simple flight path in DroneLink as follows.
First, it asked me for a takeoff point and within that instruction is a choice for "return to home". I believe (as a newbie) that you should use that choice
Second, I did add a leg of the mission at the end of the flight that brought the drone back to an overhead position from the start. At least, that way, I could see the drone, exit DroneLink and safely bring it down using DJI Fly.
*** So, to others, what really happens at the "end of a mission"?
Dear Dough,
I totally understand your feelings. I still remember when I first time started my Mini I was afraid what will happen when ... After a certain point I learned and viewed that the RTH and other features are working and I learned to trust to the thechnics what i had and have in my hands. After it I started to use Dronelink. and I felt the same uncertainty as at the time when I started with DJI Fly. I think it is normal and the root of those uncertainty is coming from our not enough knowledge and practice about the new technics. Anyway, without having talks about those thinks anybody I have my own view about my drone, my remote controller and the applications running on my phone:
1. The drone itselfs is a computer. It has inputs from GPS, sensors, barometer and RC. The commands coming from RC are stored in the memory of drone (camera and video setups, drone commands (like RTH type and parameters)), The majority of those setup commands will sored and not cleared even when we switch off the drone (battery exchange).
2. Drone and RC: Your drone with your already paired RC are enough for let fly your drone! In this case your drone will work with the previously used last camera, video and drone settings. Without mobile device you are able to start the propellers, take off, fly and make photos and videos and you can use all the functionality what your RC offers for you.
3. If your mobile device is attached to the RC the application running on your mobile can send via RC commands to the drone what your drone is able to accept. This is how DJI Fly and Dronelink native application setup part is working.
4. Dronelink native app is using the DJI "virtual stick" software interface witch allows to the app to send through RC motion commands to the drone. When a mission is running the Dronelink app is sending "continuously" motion commands to the drone. That is why the drone and the RC has to have not interrupted connetion during your mission. When a mission is running and you want to abort the mission you have two methods to do it: 1. press suspend button on the screen and after it you can use your RC as you would fly with DJI Fly or 2. press RTH button. After your drone started the RTH process you can press again the RTH button (cancel RTH) and you can use your RC normally.
5. The RTH feature is not a part of any application on your mobile. It is the feature of your drone! Of curse some parameters of RTH you can set up by the applications (for example: RTH altitude, RTH action...), but the execution is autonomous.
To be on the safe part of the world before I start a Dronelink mission I always start DJI Fly and check the safety parameters and frequency. As far as I know due to the luck of DJI SDK some safety parameters can not be set in Dronelink (Frequency(2.4GHZ or 5.8GHZ), frequency channel (auto, manual), calibrations ...). After having this check I stop running DJI Fly and start Dronelink.
And finally answer to your questions: if you have chosen in your plan setup "return to home" option in that case your drone will execute a normal RTH (return to home) according your previous setup. Remember in your RTH setup you could specify what your drone has to do in case of execution of RTH (really return to home, hover or land). Please do not forget: if your drone is within 20 meters from your home point it will not return to home, but it will land! Another think: it is no need to start DJI Fly if you want to land manually. As I described you can use your sticks to land manually.You should know that in this case your drone is in "P" mode!
I hope I could help to understand how the things are working you also gain trust in Dronelink too!
BR,
Gábor
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