Creating Complex Waypoint Flight Plans for The Air 3 and the Mavic 3

[Conservative Nihilist]

Just a few minutes ago I stumbled on a waypoint creation utility that allows owners of DJI Fly-based drones to create highly complex waypoint flight plans on their laptop or desktop and then transfer such waypoint sequences to the dedicated RC Pro Controller. The free version of this utility greatly simplifies the process of creating waypoint missions for DJI Fly-based drones, and the $15 monthly subscription version adds several more useful and time-saving functionalities.

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Above is the website offering this groundbreaking waypoint creation tool for DJI Fly, and below is the link to a YouTube video published by the college students who created this versatile product that many newer DJI drone owners will find immensely useful. Even the gimbal tilt angle can be customized for each waypoint with this new product, and that is a step beyond the capabilities of Litchi, which only works with DJI GO4 and earlier drones.

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Virtually all the drone flying I do is waypoint missions, and the main reason I haven't thus far been inclined to buy a DJI Air 3 has been the complicated user interface that was the only option available for creating waypoint flight plans directly on the RC Pro controller. Now that highly detailed waypoint flight plans can be created on a laptop and then transposed into a usable form on the RC controller which can then upload the waypoint sequence to the drone before takeoff, I might bite the bullet and buy an Air 3.

I am curious to hear whether other visitors to this forum have ever encountered this time-saving waypoint-generating utility, and if so, how their experience has been in flying missions created with this method. Either way, this is an amazing product whose time has come, and whose introduction will surely win over many older drone owners who have been toying with the idea of adding an Air 3 or Mavic 3 to their drone fleet.

 

[rexster1505]

"Litchi, which only works with DJI GO4 and earlier drones."
Well, I guess I'm the only one that used Litchi on my Air 2S which uses the Fly app.
You might want to check on your statement there.

 

[FCFriedMann]

Have looked at it. Not tried yet.

 

[Conservative Nihilist]

"Litchi, which only works with DJI GO4 and earlier drones."
Well, I guess I'm the only one that used Litchi on my Air 2S which uses the Fly app.
You might want to check on your statement there.

I should qualify my earlier blanket statement by adding that my notion of Litchi being fully compatible with a drone means that the drone will also retain the capability of completing waypoint missions well beyond the signal range of the RC controller. This narrowed definition excludes drones such as the Air 2S that cannot store ALL GPS waypoint data on board at the point of departure, namely those that connect to Litchi using the notoriously glitchy "Virtual Sticks" concept.

For the Air 2S whose Litchi connection relies on the infamous "virtual sticks" protocol, an instant RTH kicks in the moment RC controller connectivity is interrupted or lost, which contrasts with the older DJI-GO4 drones that store waypoint GPS data on board and will complete waypoint missions long past the point when RC signal strength wanes.

The Mavic 3 family, and the Air 3 all store GPS data on board such that they can complete waypoint missions beyond RC signal range, BUT planning those waypoint missions using Litchi entails a complex series of steps devised by Wes Barris, a computer genius who offers advice in the Litchi forum. My excitement over this new means of waypoint flight plan creation is that it simplifies the process of creating waypoint missions using DJI's new waypoint planning capability while eliminating the intermediate step of planning those waypoint flights using Litchi.

 

[Conservative Nihilist]

Have looked at it. Not tried yet.

My enthusiasm has waned somewhat because from what I can see thus far, this utility was created primarily for mapping operations and not for simple waypoint missions. I plotted a waypoint mission using this product but thus far haven't figured out how to save it because the only options I see thus far are those geared towards fl;ying grid patterns to generate 3D mapping renditions of the overflown landscape.

I will update my report with more findings as I investigate further. In the meantime, I would be glad to hear from anyone who can figure out how to save and execute simple waypoint missions using this utility. My decision to eventually buy a used Air 3 will depend entirely on how well this utility works since I am not prepared to create waypoint flight plans using a fiddly RC screen, having been thoroughly spoiled by the ease of planning Litchi waypoint flights on my laptop.

 

[Romi]

I tried "Waypointmap.com" but couldn't make the unpaid version work. Litchi just works. The author, Wes is very active and accessible and he's a member here. The issue with the limitations of the controller is complex and Litchi has crafted a very good solution.

 

[Conservative Nihilist]

Wes Barris is a living legend among Litchi users, and his ingenious converter that transposes Litchi flight plans to the DJI waypoint format is just one example of the man's brilliance as an advanced practitioner of computer code alchemy.

I was drawn to this promising website, Waypointmap.com because it appeared at first glance to entail fewer steps in the conversion process while eliminating the use of Litchi and also allowing pre-programmed camera gimbal pitch angles, which is one variable that is currently unavailable with Litchi.

With visions of a new DJI Air 3 purchase dancing in my mind, I tried multiple times to create and save waypoint missions using the steps described in Waypointmap.com, but thus far have not had any luck saving such waypoint sequences for later execution. If anyone can find a way to create and save waypoint flight plans with this website I am curious to find out how the procedure works because if it does prove successful, I will be placing my order for a DJI Air 3 almost immediately. Thus far on Waypointmap.com, I only see the tools for photogrammetry and mapping, as opposed to those needed for the creation and saving of simple waypoint flight plans of the type my drones fly 99% of the time.

 

[Conservative Nihilist]

I tried "Waypointmap.com" but couldn't make the unpaid version work. Litchi just works. The author, Wes is very active and accessible and he's a member here. The issue with the limitations of the controller is complex and Litchi has crafted a very good solution.

I just re-read your post. Unless I am mistaken you are saying Wes Barris is the magician who created Litchi.

Well, I'll be. I knew he was prodigiously knowledgeable on the intricacies of Litchi, yet he never once let on that Litchi was his brainchild during any of the discussions I followed in the Litchi forum or any other online meeting places. Will the real Wes Barris please stand up?

Hahaha I have sighted the enemy, and it is me.

 

[PHZ]

Conservative Nihilst:
I have used Litchi frequently on a Mavic Pro and Mavic 2 Pro. I have set the gimbal pitch angle in every shot, so I presume I am missing something when you say Litchi does not allow pre-programmed pitch angles. ????
I think I have controlled pre-programmed pitch angles on all my videos and photos. I can even run a virtual flight through Google Earth Pro which is accurate beyond reason in adjusting flight paths to avoid obstacles and get correct gimbal pitch to fine tune shots. It is one reason the M2P will never be obsolete.
Maybe I don’t understand the point you are making?

 

[Chrislaf]

@Conservative Nihilist, I think your best bet is to use Wes's Litchi Waypoint mission to DJI Fly waypoint converter. It's free and Wes is very responsive to questions.

I have used his converter on my Mavic 3 Pro to convert waypoint missions and I use his other converters (SVG to Litchi Converter, Litchi Mission Rotator) extensively to create complex Light Painting missions that I fly with my Phantom 3 Standard or Mini 3 Pro.

Once you have done the conversion process a few times it becomes second nature.

Chris

 

[Conservative Nihilist]

Conservative Nihilst:
I have used Litchi frequently on a Mavic Pro and Mavic 2 Pro. I have set the gimbal pitch angle in every shot, so I presume I am missing something when you say Litchi does not allow pre-programmed pitch angles. ????
I think I have controlled pre-programmed pitch angles on all my videos and photos. I can even run a virtual flight through Google Earth Pro which is accurate beyond reason in adjusting flight paths to avoid obstacles and get correct gimbal pitch to fine tune shots. It is one reason the M2P will never be obsolete.
Maybe I don’t understand the point you are making?

This is the first time I have read that it is possible to pre-set camera gimbal downward tilt angles during the planning stage of Litchi waypoint missions. At some point in the early days of my using Litchi, I ran across a mention that the gimbal angle should be set at a fixed downward angle for the entire duration of the flight if any portion of that waypoint flight ranges out beyond the signal reach of the RC controller.

I recognize that the controller's gimbal thumb-wheel can be used to adjust the camera's downward angle during fully autonomous Litchi waypoint missions provided that connectivity between the controller and the drone is not interrupted, but my understanding all along had been that there is no way to pre-assign variable gimbal downward tilt angles at successive waypoints once the drone to controller signal breaks up as often happens over greater distances.

When this line of tropical downpours has swept through and the air is calmer, I plan to run a test Litchi waypoint flight with variable camera pitch angles to see if this feature will work on my copy of Litchi. If it does I'll owe you a beer, sir, because I will for the first time be in a position to harness that last key variable of drone photography from within the Litchi Mission Hub.

 

[PHZ]

Good luck and have fun enjoying your newfound fun.

 

[Romi]

I just re-read your post. Unless I am mistaken you are saying Wes Barris is the magician who created Litchi.

Well, I'll be. I knew he was prodigiously knowledgeable on the intricacies of Litchi, yet he never once let on that Litchi was his brainchild during any of the discussions I followed in the Litchi forum or any other online meeting places. Will the real Wes Barris please stand up?

Hahaha I have sighted the enemy, and it is me.

What is it with you people who feel they just have to leave remarks as if you're the only person who knows anything. You're pathetic. You could have just asked. Not that it's important but I was referring the Litchi utilities. Back off.

 

[Conservative Nihilist]

My post was misunderstood. I was attempting to be humorous in my admission that I did not know before you mentioned that Wes Barris created Litchi. I have benefitted enormously from the man's advice and was pleasantly surprised to discover that he is the creative engine behind Litchi. That is the essence of my post above that may have been misinterpreted

If my brand of humor was too obscure this time, I apologize for typing words whose light-hearted intent could be misconstrued. I view all online discussion forums as invitation-only venues and as such I never offer opinions that could be deemed ungrateful for the privilege of participation extended to me.

Once again I offer my apologies for my failed attempt at humor yesterday. Stand-up comedy is not for everyone, and I will keep my day job rather than continue to pursue my sideline of irreverent banter.

 

[Droning on and on...]

My post was misunderstood. I was attempting to be humorous in my admission that I did not know before you mentioned that Wes Barris created Litchi. I have benefitted enormously from the man's advice and was pleasantly surprised to discover that he is the creative engine behind Litchi.

I believe this is mistaken. Wes created and maintains the excellent Litchi tools, but not Litchi.

 

[Droning on and on...]

What is it with you people who feel they just have to leave remarks as if you're the only person who knows anything. You're pathetic. You could have just asked. Not that it's important but I was referring the Litchi utilities. Back off.

Boy this was rude, and for no apparent reason.

Cut back on the coffee.

 

[mobychien]

I am working on a project which will take placemarks created on Google Earth along with a configuration file which defines how the drone should operate(e.g. speed, altitude, camera direction, tec.) and turns that into a DJI waypoint file. I have tested this utility for creating numerous destinations in many challenging terrain and it works flawlessly. If you r interested, let me know.

 

[Conservative Nihilist]

I am working on a project which will take placemarks created on Google Earth along with a configuration file which defines how the drone should operate(e.g. speed, altitude, camera direction, tec.) and turns that into a DJI waypoint file. I have tested this utility for creating numerous destinations in many challenging terrain and it works flawlessly. If you r interested, let me know.

This sounds like a worthwhile project that will attract the attention of drone owners who like DJI's newer drones but are unwilling to tackle the overly complex DJI Fly waypoint creation procedure. I would gladly pay for the capability to convert Google Earth files directly to waypoint flight plans that can be used within DJI Fly, so please do keep us posted as your design of this interface progresses.

 

[Droning on and on...]

This sounds like a worthwhile project that will attract the attention of drone owners who like DJI's newer drones but are unwilling to tackle the overly complex DJI Fly waypoint creation procedure.

You keep saying this. I disagree.

I've been using Litchi for nearly 10 years. I'm familiar with just about every aspect of it.

The DJI waypoint feature is not overly complex by any means. Again, my opinion, its no more complex or obscure than Litchi to create a mission. It's simply different. Therefore, if you're a Litchi user you have to learn a new way of performing the same tasks on the DJI UI and workflow.

The steps necessary to create waypoints, set up global mission parameters like speed, edit waypoints, move them, specify actions, etc., is on par with Litchi.

I don't find the DJI waypoint feature complicated or more difficult to use than Litchi. The biggest issue is there are many very useful features that DJI waypoints don't have, but many of these are due to the fact Litchi is a full-blown replacement for GO4 and Fly, not just a waypoint feature.

For creating waypoint missions, the Fly process isn't any more cumbersome, complicated, or difficult than Litchi. You just have to learn how it works.

 

[mobychien]

You keep saying this. I disagree.

I've been using Litchi for nearly 10 years. I'm familiar with just about every aspect of it.

The DJI waypoint feature is not overly complex by any means. Again, my opinion, its no more complex or obscure than Litchi to create a mission. It's simply different. Therefore, if you're a Litchi user you have to learn a new way of performing the same tasks on the DJI UI and workflow.

The steps necessary to create waypoints, set up global mission parameters like speed, edit waypoints, move them, specify actions, etc., is on par with Litchi.

I don't find the DJI waypoint feature complicated or more difficult to use than Litchi. The biggest issue is there are many very useful features that DJI waypoints don't have, but many of these are due to the fact Litchi is a full-blown replacement for GO4 and Fly, not just a waypoint feature.

For creating waypoint missions, the Fly process isn't any more cumbersome, complicated, or difficult than Litchi. You just have to learn how it works.

I have Air 3 and Mini 4 Pro, and soon Air 3S I don't see they are compatible with Litchi.