DJI to restrict non-compliant drones at next software update

Robbyg · May 23, 2017

Bladzalot said:
I have $200!!!! Where do I sign up?!

kona · May 23, 2017

My big concern with the update coming this week is that the NFZ zones in their current database are BS. For instance where I live there is no airport within 5 miles and B4UFLY gives me green light. There is however a helipad of a hospital less than 5 miles away, which DJI's app notes when I try to take off, but apparently this doesn't make it a no fly zone to the FAA. I worry that the update will effectively brick my drone in my home town.

Foxtrot Uniform · May 23, 2017

alienwarrior said:
Conspiracy theory X:

China and USA are pushing, shoving and flexing muscle over the South China Sea and all the man made islands China has built and militarized. Some sources indicate war could be around the corner and if by some chance China and the USA start throwing bullets and bombs at each other then DJI will most likely be forced to hit the kill switch by the Chinese govt.
"We make Imperialist Yankee Americans pay, turn off all their expensive toys!"(Spoken with a strong Chinese accent)
And this next update will make it all possible!

Whadayarekon?

You're talking about going to war and your concern is whether you can fly your drone? UNBELIEVABLE!

ripple · May 23, 2017

DrudgeReport just picked up this story. What a PR nightmare for DJI.

Stuart Wood · May 23, 2017

Robbyg said:
NFZ mod for Mavic Pro

From Gothenburg, Sweden??? Found an old thread that was up on here last Nov.

tomnjfl · May 23, 2017

OK, So I admit I don't want to read 15 pages of this thread to see if these questions have been asked, so I'm going to ask them anyway.

1) As of right now, I can turn off the Geo setting in the Go4 app which will allow me to take off and fly in any NFZ zone except for RED. Will that still be the case with this new update, or are they taking away that ability from the user?

2) Is it possible that DJI started the planning and execution of this process months ago, and now that the FAA is clearly going to either abandon their drone regulations or at least loosen them a bit, maybe DJI will have to rethink this entire new process and possibly just go back to the way it was?

Robbyg · May 23, 2017

DJI better have someone at the top address this soon. It's not enough to have Techs that have lied to us in the past to be the one's making promises on DJI's forum.

Stories like this will curtail a lot of future sales.

Top drone manufacturer threatens to 'brick' its £1.5k copters unless owners agree to share their details online

Rob

4wd · May 23, 2017

I see the thread about it on DJI forum has vanished, not sure if hidden for major negative post deletion or something is afoot.

Turnerm · May 23, 2017

kona said:
My big concern with the update coming this week is that the NFZ zones in their current database are BS. For instance where I live there is no airport within 5 miles and B4UFLY gives me green light. There is however a helipad of a hospital less than 5 miles away, which DJI's app notes when I try to take off, but apparently this doesn't make it a no fly zone to the FAA. I worry that the update will effectively brick my drone in my home town.

I live Charlotte, NC and there are multiple helipads all around my area. If they were to block out those then I'd basically have to travel out into the country to fly.

I'd be SHOCKED if they do this. Those notifications are, in my mind at least, there to simply let you know you are flying within range of a heli pad and to be careful. I think I've seen one helicopter flying under 400 feet near my home. It rarely happens.

Blades · May 23, 2017

Robbyg said:
NFZ mod for Mavic Pro

Wow! Well worth the $200 to fly the way it was built to do. If my neighbor flies his drone into my other neighbors car why should I be responsible or penalized! Go after him he's the one that did it not everybody else in the neighborhood that never crashed their drone into anything. Thank you Robbyg

Stuart Wood · May 23, 2017

4wd said:
I see the thread about it on DJI forum has vanished, not sure if hidden for major negative post deletion or something is afoot.

Still there, second hot post down on right side of Community home page.

4wd · May 23, 2017

Perhaps they just un-stickied it.

SkunkWerx's · May 23, 2017

I wonder who will be making all the software, receivers / monitors being that the Ocusync transmission signal system is DJI's
Then be allowed to sell them to Law enforcement ?
What a tangled web we weave lolllllll

Stuart Wood · May 23, 2017

4wd said:
Perhaps they just un-stickied it.

DJI Joe is getting beaten up, just showed his head again then has gone back underground! Someone posted that they had just bought some popcorn! Very entertaining, and concerning at the same time.

SkunkWerx's · May 23, 2017

Even though I don't like to see people being beat up even one's that wronged me ---- Maybe Joe had it coming to him ???

SkunkWerx's · May 23, 2017

Arora said:
I wonder who will be making all the software, receivers / monitors being that the Ocusync transmission signal system is DJI's
Then be allowed to sell them to Law enforcement ?
What a tangled web we weave lolllllll

In the future, I wonder if we have to upgrade FW / software for the Mavic system (DJI systems) will the Law Enforcement Receivers have to take the updates too ?

Logger · May 23, 2017

kona said:
My big concern with the update coming this week is that the NFZ zones in their current database are BS.....

Good Point. Have been trying to understand what all the NFZ fuss is about. Intuitively I thought no one should be flying in a NFZ, so it is just people griping about loss of freedom. I was wrong. I now see the real issue is the Broad brush implementation of these NFZs (the database) and not so much the system that DJI are using to keep clear of them.

Logger · May 23, 2017

Robbyg said:
DJI better have someone at the top address this soon. It's not enough to have Techs that have lied to us in the past to be the one's making promises on DJI's forum..

What is it you want them to Address? Are you simply seeking a clarification of what the impending registration changes will mean? Wont this become self evident once the changes have been implemented. Either the sky will fall in or it wont!

Stories like this will curtail a lot of future sales....

Depending on ones point of view it may be a good thing to moderate the number of drones out there.
BTW I have calculated DJI are making around 1.5 million Mavics a year!

adiru · May 23, 2017

Logger said:
What is it you want them to Address? Are you simply seeking a clarification of what the impending registration changes will mean? Wont this become self evident once the changes have been implemented. Either the sky will fall in or it wont!

Depending on ones point of view it may be a good thing to moderate the number of drones out there.
BTW I have calculated DJI are making around 1.5 million Mavics a year!

1.5 million times $1000 is 1.5 billion profit a year!!!