Active Track/Follow me - won't follow me...

Plawa · Jun 3, 2017

So before I get into this - I've read the manual, I searched existing threads on the topic here but I'm just not coming up with answers...

I've tried ActiveTrack with varying degrees of success, for what I do (riding bikes offroad) I understand that the system may have a hard time picking up an object and following it strictly by optical recognition so I wanted to used primarily the GPS based follow me mode. I have the phone (tested with both iOS and Android) in a RAM mount on my handlebars so that I can monitor the drone plus it's out in the open with clear view of the skies. I've never lost GPS when using the phone for navigation.

My steps - I take off manually, position the drone where I want it, make sure I'm above 10m/33ft, hit the intelligent mode button, select follow me, make sure the signal says strong and hit apply. Usually what happens at that point when I start moving (doing max 10mph) the drone will pick up speed for a couple seconds and then just stops.

I also had trouble making it follow me in ActiveTrack mode (I made sure I was in Trace, not Profile/Spotlight) - it obviously recognizes the selected object and will keep the camera pointed at it but the drone won't move.

Examples of all of the above:

FFWD to 3:07 - here it worked perfectly fine in profile mode (not using GPS)

Any ideas?

Mavic Ray · Jun 4, 2017

I've had issues with the GPS follow mode too where it would follow for a bit then stop. It then says weak gps signal. Its a known issue with some of the firmwares. Not sure if it has been completely fixed as I'm still on the 400 firmware. The second part of your video which shows the Active Track, it almost looks like you are in Spotlight mode in which the camera stays locked on you but the mavic won't follow.

Plawa · Jun 4, 2017

Mavic Ray said:
I've had issues with the GPS follow mode too where it would follow for a bit then stop. It then says weak gps signal. Its a known issue with some of the firmwares. Not sure if it has been completely fixed as I'm still on the 400 firmware. The second part of your video which shows the Active Track, it almost looks like you are in Spotlight mode in which the camera stays locked on you but the mavic won't follow.

Exactly.. that's why I made sure I wasn't in spotlight but in trace but it still won't follow..

Mavic Ray · Jun 4, 2017

Plawa said:
Exactly.. that's why I made sure I wasn't in spotlight but in trace but it still won't follow..

Sorry, I don't know what's going on then.

Plawa · Jun 4, 2017

Another data point - when I review the flight log in the app I can see that at the point when the drone stops following me the mode switches from FM to GPS. I do put the RC in my tankbag with a stick protector on it (and I don't see any stick movement in the log) but the C1/C2 buttons are not protected - will accidentally pushing them (or other controls on the RC) disable FM mode? I guess that's easily tested...

Plawa · Jun 5, 2017

I did a little more digging, as far as I can tell this is relevant:

Me enabling FM mode at 1:04 of the flight log - DJI Phantom & Mavic Flight Log Viewer - PhantomHelp.com
64.240 : 1385436548 : 15135 [L-MIS][SDK] old open GS(app)
64.240 : 1385436712 : 15135 [L-MIS]received on/off 1 from can
64.240 : 1385436889 : 15135 [L-MIS]ack on/off 0 to can
64.460 : 1386425935 : 15146 [L-MIS]Follow Mission: receive followme mission from app
64.460 : 1386426082 : 15146 [L-MIS]Follow Mission: follow mode 0
64.460 : 1386426217 : 15146 [L-MIS]Follow Mission: yaw_mode 1
64.460 : 1386426409 : 15146 [L-MIS]Follow Mission: init_lati 0.582
64.460 : 1386426549 : 15146 [L-MIS]Follow Mission: init_long -1.957
64.460 : 1386426723 : 15146 [L-MIS]Follow Mission: init_alti 0.000
64.460 : 1386426839 : 15146 [L-MIS]Follow Mission: init_angl 0.000
64.460 : 1386427056 : 15146 [L-MIS]Follow Mission: sensitivity 64
64.460 : 1386427401 : 15146 [L-MIS][FOLLOW_ME]mission start 1
64.460 : 1386427583 : 15146 [L-MIS]Follow Mission: ack followme start 0 to app
64.466 : 1386451455 : 15147 [L-FLYMODE][Ctrl<3>] REQ_NAVI_MISSION NAVI_FOLLOW_MISSION ctrl_navi_follow_me_mission
.
.
65.700 : 1392006089 : 15208 [L-MIS][FOLLOW_ME]SUCCESS:init target pos check(0.01 m)!
67.105 : 1398329861 : 15279 [L-MIS][FOLLOW_ME]init gpitch -35.300,gdist offset 14.148,d2ph 0.426,d2prt 14.573
67.105 : 1398330084 : 15279 [L-MIS][FOLLOW_ME] change to FOLLOW_MOVING
.
.
And going back to P-GPS at 1:26:
87.640 : 1490736107 : 16305 [L-MIS][SDK] old open GS(app)
87.640 : 1490736297 : 16305 [L-MIS]received on/off 2 from can
87.640 : 1490736467 : 16305 [L-FLYMODE]CTRL reset target mode by APP.mission.request.off 12
87.640 : 1490736622 : 16305 [L-MIS]ack on/off 0 to can
87.645 : 1490759259 : 16306 [L-FLYMODE]CTRL reset target mode by ctrl_dev_changed 12
87.645 : 1490759541 : 16306 [L-MIS][SDK]reset user_emergency_brake by ctrl dev changing
87.645 : 1490760168 : 16306 [L-FLYMODE]CTRL reset all by APP.mission.follow.no.mission
87.665 : 1490848106 : 16307 [L-FLYMODE][Ctrl<1>] REQ_RC_NORMAL ATTI_HOLD ctrl_gps_atti

Seems to me like a forced reset from the app, I cannot be 100% sure something happened at the controller since I put it (carefully, with stick guards) into my bag, the phone was in the holder so no input there... I'll try it again where I can be 100% sure nothing touches the controller or the phone and I'll see if that makes a difference..

Mako79 · Jun 5, 2017

Plawa said:
So before I get into this - I've read the manual, I searched existing threads on the topic here but I'm just not coming up with answers...

I also had trouble making it follow me in ActiveTrack mode (I made sure I was in Trace, not Profile/Spotlight) - it obviously recognizes the selected object and will keep the camera pointed at it but the drone won't move.

Examples of all of the above:

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FFWD to 3:07 - here it worked perfectly fine in profile mode (not using GPS)

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Any ideas?

For active track to work, you need to select the target and wait for it to turn green. Once its green, the green box should say OK. Tap the OK and the camera should centre the tracked object.

As for GPS follow me, i heard there was some issues with android or something.... i cant recall and i havent tested GPS track as i haven't had the need to.

Chun · Jun 5, 2017

Plawa said:
Another data point - when I review the flight log in the app I can see that at the point when the drone stops following me the mode switches from FM to GPS. I do put the RC in my tankbag with a stick protector on it (and I don't see any stick movement in the log) but the C1/C2 buttons are not protected - will accidentally pushing them (or other controls on the RC) disable FM mode? I guess that's easily tested...

Out of the box C2 does exit all flight mode back to GPS mode, which you can change in the app

Plawa · Jun 5, 2017

I have my C2 set to Center AF..

I converted the txt log to csv, there are absolutely no inputs at the point where it goes from FM to P-GPS....

wolfmad · Jun 6, 2017

I've had exactly the same things happen to me.
Active track seems to be much better than the follow me mode.

Plawa · Jun 6, 2017

Which makes absolutely no sense.. the issue I have with ActiveTrack is that once it loses you, it usually doesn't catch back up, FM mode should have no problem catching up even if you speed up and temporarily lose the drone.. it should always be able to get back into position.

Roo · Jun 6, 2017

From memory "follow me" follows the GPS location of the phone/device used with the remote. So if the phone GPS signal is weak, that might explain it. Is that compromised when you put it in the bag?

Plawa · Jun 6, 2017

C'mon people, we covered this in the first post

I have the phone (tested with both iOS and Android) in a RAM mount on my handlebars so that I can monitor the drone plus it's out in the open with clear view of the skies. I've never lost GPS when using the phone for navigation.

Roo · Jun 7, 2017

Plawa said:
C'mon people, we covered this in the first post

I have the phone (tested with both iOS and Android) in a RAM mount on my handlebars so that I can monitor the drone plus it's out in the open with clear view of the skies. I've never lost GPS when using the phone for navigation.

Oops missed that!

oikonomoupetros · Jun 10, 2017

So what will be the best way to make the drone follow us?
Did u find a solution?

Plawa · Jun 10, 2017

The ActiveTrack issue was purely operator error - I didn't press "GO" when I selected the subject. I retested that today, it works pretty well. I have not had a chance to test the FollowMe mode but if ActiveTrack as well as it seems to then I might just stick with it.