DJI Air 3S: Advanced RTH in Complex Environments with LiDAR

[msinger]

The DJI Air 3S enhances the safety of its Return to Home (RTH) feature with forward-facing LiDAR, allowing it to detect obstacles even in low-light environments. This omnidirectional obstacle sensing helps the drone avoid obstacles like buildings during its flight and return paths, improving safety during night flights in urban areas. Additionally, it can memorize flight paths in well-lit conditions, allowing for quick and safe returns even when satellite signals are unavailable.

In this video, Air Photography demonstrates the impressive capabilities of the Air 3S as it navigates back to its home point in a tree-covered environment.

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[wco81]

Saw a clip where the aircraft at night or in twilight is flying about 20-30 feet high towards a lit apartment balcony, goes right through the glass doors and lands in a table inside.

So you don't need to worry about setting a safe RTH height?

Or was it flying at 50 feet or higher and then for the last 100 feet or so it dropped in altitude so that it was level with the balcony doors, ending up like 3-4 foot above the table inside before finally landing on it?

Is the lidar definitely going to detect power lines or other thin profile obstacles which the drone might encounter in its RTH path?

 

[msinger]

Is the lidar definitely going to detect power lines or other thin profile obstacles which the drone might encounter in its RTH path?

Like any automated features in DJI drones, you should use them with care like any tool in your toolbelt -- rather than a safety net that is always there to catch you.

Here's some guidance from the Air 3S manual:

 

[wco81]

Yeah that video was mocked up for marketing.

And the manual has CYA verbiage, though basically saying that the kind of operation depicted is not supported or even recommended.

 

[msinger]

that video was mocked up for marketing

I think it's a great example of what the Air 3S is capable of when flying in good conditions.

And for DJI's recommendations, they are always going to tell people to take the safest route. Because that's the most successful way to fly safely.