Different Drones Need Multiple Flight Versions?

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  Mike (Arizona Wyldwest) Dronelink Expert

  • Edited September 16, 2022 21:56

  Not a bad idea. I have several different Repos for my drones. One for my MM and a few for my MA2 depending on which area I fly them. Many other Repos for different situations. Ive created many plans then copy them and save as a duplicate plan #2 etc. The MM camera doesn’t have the same ability so I can set the camera for those plans and know I’ve got the right settings for it. If your worried about messing up or losing a plan you can copy it at any time and place it in a different Repo and name it something like MA2 #2. You can can create as many Repos as you want. Also if you have flown a mission and somehow deleted it you can go to your previously flown missions and open it then copy back into a Repo. Hope this helps. Good luck.

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  John Merryman

  • September 16, 2022 23:06

  Appreciate the feedback.  Easy to modify and save for each drone.  I've had a couple of flights with first the 2Pro and then the same with the Phantom with different results.  I know they don't have the same cameras but there were a few things I noticed.

  I think I will just go ahead and start doing that as a standard.

  Thanks,

   

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  Barry Houldsworth Dronelink Expert

  • September 17, 2022 07:14

  If you are doing that because you want different camera setups then you can run into issues where you try to execute a command that is valid on one drone, but not valid on others. 

  You can reduce that by marking them as not required.  However, in some cases, this can cause the mission to fail, and in other cases it can cause the camera to reset, thereby losing some of the settings you applied earlier.

  That leaves you with a few options:

  1. Include all of the functions in a single mission but test how it works with different drones before you get on site
  2. Have a different copy of the mission for each drone.  If you make the actual flight a component you can synchronize any changes to the flight across those with one button push if you make changes later.
  3. Leave all drone-specific elements out of the plan and use "setup missions" to set the camera correctly before starting the flight.  See how to do that here:  https://vimeo.com/685216953
  4. Leave all of the camera settings out of the mission and remember to set them ahead of time manually'

  Hope that helps!

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  Mike (Arizona Wyldwest) Dronelink Expert

  • September 17, 2022 17:01

  John. Here is some info I’ve saved on how to test only the cameras settings. You can do this with any drone which is supported by DL and see which ones work and which don’t. Very easy and can be done indoors, no flight needed. 

  Camera command testing.

  You can test any camera commands without actually flying a mission. Just create a plan with only camera commands, No Path, Orbit, Map component. All you should have is the purple take-off/ reference pin, nothing else. Since there is no actual flight path it will just load all the camera commands. If there is something which will not work it will indicate them. If any errors occur just remove or change any commands which don’t work and try again. It can be done for Video or Photos.

  Caution: May be a good idea to remove the props on first few attempts. More of a pain with a Mini but better safe then sorry. As long as the plan has only the Purple Reference Pin and not any Destination, Path, Orbit or Map component etc., it will not launch and just load the camera commands. If they work then you will know which ones do on each drone. Great way to know ahead of time. Enjoy….

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  John Merryman

  • September 17, 2022 18:01

  Barry/Mike,

  Appreciate all the information.  I think what I will do for the present time is copy and modify and have the plans saved for different drones.

  One question: Barry you said there is a one button sync.  I have looked in the program and am using expert mode.  Its probably right under my nose but I am not seeing how to select several copies and sync them.  Would love not to have to try and duplicate any changes manually in each copy.

  Mike, also like the idea on testing camera commands.  Looked at the video and makes sense. That is a great way to make sure I haven't made mistakes when creating plans. And since Id rather not damage one of my drones will take the props off when testing.

  Thanks,

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  Barry Houldsworth Dronelink Expert

  • September 17, 2022 19:12

  John Merryman

  I think the approach you have chosen works.

  For what I mentioned, this is turning things into a component.  Components become your own set of functions that you can incorporate into any new missions and if you ever change the component you can go into anything that uses that component and you will see an option to synchronize any updates made. 

  I would not turn missions into components unless you are using the same thing often though - it is sort of a backwards use of that functionality.  I do use components a lot for clients that need the same set of shots at different locations.

   

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  John Merryman

  • September 17, 2022 21:32

  Barry,

  Oh, I understand components syncing now.  I was starting to wonder if I needed remidal Dronelink training.

  I think I am on the right track now.

  Appreciate the help and feedback!

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  Mike (Arizona Wyldwest) Dronelink Expert

  • September 17, 2022 22:25

  🤙🏼

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