Different versions of ESC boards

[netsonic]

After seeing that some of our colleagues still have ESC errors after they updated to the newest firmware .0003 and .0004 I was discussing this with @WooZie who got his drone replaced via warranty. We do not see this errors in our recent logs and we had this open argument, that there might be different revisions of the Mini with possible ESC boards that got upgraded.

As we do not have any solid arguments either in favor or against, I took a look at some ESC boards that are pictured on the web. There are two boards BC 1922 02 and BC 1925 06. These are pictured below, however I cannot tell what we have in our drones and what others might have.

@question to the log experts: Can this be seen anywhere in the logs ?

Rhetorical question to the others: Do you consider it a reasonable assumption that the ESC board might got upgraded since launch. Did the latest models got an improved one and the first batches a weaker one ? I cannot imagine that we got two distinct ESC boards (CE and FCC) if the batteries and motors are the same and only the RF part is different. I might be wrong, but this is against standardization.

 

[boredom.is.me]

The markings are more than likely batch numbers from the PCB manufacturing process. It makes it easier to track as they progress along the assembly line. Now I'm not saying that they aren't product numbers, just suggesting what I view as a more likely explanation as both boards look physically identical. The only difference in those pics are where they placed the QC sticker. Even the second set of digits is identical.

 

[netsonic]

Fair point, yet I can't seem to be able to find any search results on the web about that P/N. Whatever it is, it's not public or not publicly documented.

 

[Mavic_Mini_Pilot]

I honestly don't think that the all-in-one ECS board for the Mavic Mini has a new version! Its way too early for that, just my opinion only - if you think about it DJI has not even solved all the problems and issues with this first board to be releasing another different one. We should not underestimate the power of Firmware! The above 2 Boards are EXACTLY THE SAME, these numbers are either the Batch number the Board was produced under, or something like the Identification number of the actual PCB (board)! All the chips are the same, I compared them 2 boards and the only real difference is the actual numbers!

As a Senior Software Developer though I have to say that it makes sense for DJI to firstly sort out this current ESC Boards's firmware version of the Mavic Mini's problems as much as possible so that people can stop complaining about the uncontrollable descents and such things. The idea is that DJI has always produced Drones that are really of another class compared to almost any other drone out there and they have a history of creating very high quality drones that people can really rely on! Like send the drone very far out over a water body or high up in the mountains over a dense forest and not worry that something might happen the drone falls out the sky and gets lost forever or something.

I'm honestly scared to fly my drone far out and over places where I know its gonna be a mission to get it back if it has to fall! I always fly within LOS and always fly very carefully & cautiously - almost never over dangerous areas. Its just that I wanna fly like 500m high and I can't because I'm afraid, what if something goes wrong and high winds come out at 500m altitude and then I don't even get a chance to save my drone - or; what if it just malfunctions and either flies away at a high rate of speed to be gone forever, or it just directly falls down straight to the ground crashing!?

I know it's a machine after all - so everything can be expected. I still think that DJI should really, really look into these cases of Minis losing altitude and their batteries not being able to supply enough current to the ESC at all times ---->

......WHICH MAKES ME WONDER......

since these problems seem to not be affecting every Mini out there, I even like to think that the affected Minis are all exceptions. It may be the actual Battery pins that are dirty or faulty or a bit skew or something and are not giving very good connection to the drone when the battery is inserted or something similar which causes a kind of bottle-neck effect and the Drone can no loner deliver enough current and hence the Not Enough Force/ESC Error.

I just really really hope that DJI sorts out all this and makes this little Mini a true Mavic...

 

[WooZie]

DJI also can check all the logs from everybody anytime, so they can improve the hardware acrodingly to the problems appeared since they launched. My drone was a warranty case and was replaced

 

[Mavic_Mini_Pilot]

DJI also can check all the logs from everybody anytime, so they can improve the hardware acrodingly to the problems appeared since they launched. My drone was a warranty case and was replaced

Really - what exactly was the problem with your drone that it was warranted?!?!

I'm still very happy with mine, not even one problem that I can notice so far. Flies perfectly for about just over 20 minutes - but I always land at 20% battery minimum as to preserve my power source (battery).

I have Care Refresh - so if I notice something wrong with my Mini I'll probably just throw it against the wall as hard as I can and get a replacement Mini from DJI via the Care Refresh. LOL just joking - I would never try and harm my beloved Mini - but I do really have Care Refresh for just in case. I'm looking into buying some strobe lights for my Mini, I want them tiny ones you put on the legs, so I can do my night flights with more ease.

Cool

PS: I'm gonna fly tomorrow the whole day probably, took the Friday off work and will dedicate some time to my new hobby, my Mavic Mini!

 

[WooZie]

here is my thread mavic mini crashed without a reason

 

[netsonic]

The issue how I see it is that some Minis have this error all the time and some do not, regardless if they are on the same firmware. Now software is software and unless it's not a different hardware component they should behave the same. The ones that did crash or fly away do not show any defective batteries or odd or weird battery cell deviations. Exception makes a single Mini where this was visible, the rest are more or less clean, yet they all show the same ESC error. I only saw it once when I was on firmware .0002 and not even once, ever since. And I do fly mine very aggressive in Sport mode.

Now the boards are what I could find on the web and I have no clue if they are indeed different or not as I would trust what I can see in front of my eyes.

 

[Deleted member 114292]

Possibilities:
They found a problem with the ESC board and made changes they may or may not have changed the part number. Perhaps the output drivers were too weak and all they did was change the part. Perhaps there was a bad lot of a part. I would look for board revision changes rather that a part number change of the board which would typically be a letter.
It's also possible if they had un populated boards there would be not change in the part number on the board. It's even possible the re-worked already manufactured boards. Often in a case like this we would put a sticker dot on the board to indicated it had been re-worked.
All of this is of course speculation on all our parts.

If they found this early on they would want to rev it ASAP as there no point is shipping defective product if you know there is an issue.
Has DJI ever done a recall?