GPS aspects

[KingRat]

Genral question.
When setting your drone up. I haven't risked trying to fly it yet, only 20 feet in the garden and to practice catching it - first time I flew it, caught it first go, dead easy.

BUT, if taking it out into the wide, blue yonder.... the return to home thing. I want to ALWAYS have it as return to the controller. I still need to set this up. My phone is not good enough for me to use to fly it, I am just using it to start to get familiarised with where things are... remember, I have never used a swipe screen phone before. This is just one given to me to use to get going until I can buy something appropriate. It is too small, I can barely see the buttons on it, even indoors. That has already decided me that I need a big screen, 9" or so. I am considering the iPod mini4, because everyone seems to say they work well with the controller.

Now a couple of very basic questions to help me decide. How does the helicopter work out where to return to? Does it use the ignal from the controller? Or does it use the GPS from the screen? In which case you must have a screen with a GPS in it?

I have absolutely no understanding of what is happening between the screen, the 'app', the control set (joy stick box) and helicopter. Is anyone able to, in baby steps, give me an idea of how it all works please? BEAR IN MIND I HAVE NEVER USED A SWIPE PHONE or tablet or anything, not even a music machine later than a cassette player. I never had a Walkman either.

The whole system is completely new and alien to me. I need to buy something and time is running out!

 

[Starz]

Recorded home point is from the GPS receiver in the aircraft. If you want the home point to the controller, you will need a screen device that has a GPS receiver in that device. Some good info hiding here.

https://dl.djicdn.com/downloads/Mavic%20Air/20180525/Mavic%20Air%20User%20Manual%20v1.2.pdf

 

[KingRat]

Recorded home point is from the GPS receiver in the aircraft. If you want the home point to the controller, you will need a screen device that has a GPS receiver in that device. Some good info hiding here.

https://dl.djicdn.com/downloads/Mavic%20Air/20180525/Mavic%20Air%20User%20Manual%20v1.2.pdf

Thanks.
I have actually downloaded the Mavic Air manual already.... but that doesn't mean I necessarily understand what is written!

 

[Meta4]

Now a couple of very basic questions to help me decide. How does the helicopter work out where to return to? Does it use the signal from the controller? Or does it use the GPS from the screen? In which case you must have a screen with a GPS in it?

Your drone has a GPS receiver that will record a home point as soon as it gets warmed up and gets good location data.
That's the point to which it will return when RTH is initiated.
There is rarely (if ever) any need to change the recorded home point so it's not worth thinking about it until you might find a particular situation where it would help.

 

[KingRat]

Your drone has a GPS receiver that will record a home point as soon as it gets warmed up and gets good location data.
That's the point to which it will return when RTH is initiated.
There is rarely (if ever) any need to change the recorded home point so it's not worth thinking about it until you might find a particular situation where it would help.

This is where my RTH differs. I will be moving over water.... I will be taking off and landing on a boat. Nearly always!
If I don't move and the controller is still where it was at take off - no problem, it can still come back to the control set. I need to know what tablet I can get that will allow use of DJI Go 4 and have the controller as the RTH point, always! In fact, I can't see why this is a disadvantage. I would have thought it was a benefit to have it come back to you.

 

[Starz]

iPad mini 4 or 5 with cellular will work.

 

[Meta4]

This is where my RTH differs. I will be moving over water.... I will be taking off and landing on a boat. Nearly always!

OK ... that's one of the situations.
I shoot boats from land and on the water so I understand how it works.
Flying from a boat involves some tricky elements that land-based flyers can't even imagine.
It's an unforgiving environment out here and it just takes one mistake to leave you with one less drone.
Before taking the drone aboard the boat, you need to become familiar with all aspects of its operation and everything you'll be doing with it, on land.

In fact, I can't see why this is a disadvantage. I would have thought it was a benefit to have it come back to you.

Because most flyers aren't moving any significant distance from where they launch during a flight, having the launch point as the RTH point is simple and handy.

 

[KingRat]

Thanks - what about the mini 3? There is one with cellular, unlocked. is it worth bidding on?

 

[KingRat]

OK ... that's one of the situations.
I shoot boats from land and on the water so I understand how it works.
Flying from a boat involves some tricky elements that land-based flyers can't even imagine.
It's an unforgiving environment out here and it just takes one mistake to leave you with one less drone.
Before taking the drone aboard the boat, you need to become familiar with all aspects of its operation and everything you'll be doing with it, on land.


Because most flyers aren't moving any significant distance from where they launch during a flight, having the launch point as the RTH point is simple and handy.

OH yes. that is why I am asking so many questions!

I have flown mine for the first time today, using a crap, old phone loaned to me pro-temp just to get going. It is too small to see the info on, but it has allowed connection with controller and helicopter - so I have practiced catch landing today, my first flight I landed it in my hand. That has given me confidence to practice that aspect. Take off I can make a portable helipad, 1/4" birch ply with a handle beneath, like a plasterer's mortar board. Or just use the cockpit deck/table. Or even the cochroof.

 

[Meta4]

Thanks - what about the mini 3? There is one with cellular, unlocked. is it worth bidding on?

The Mini 3 is too slow.
The Mini 4 is the oldest iPad mini to go with.

 

[PhantomFandom]

OH yes. that is why I am asking so many questions!

I have flown mine for the first time today, using a crap, old phone loaned to me pro-temp just to get going. It is too small to see the info on, but it has allowed connection with controller and helicopter - so I have practiced catch landing today, my first flight I landed it in my hand. That has given me confidence to practice that aspect. Take off I can make a portable helipad, 1/4" birch ply with a handle beneath, like a plasterer's mortar board. Or just use the cockpit deck/table. Or even the cochroof.

My suggestion is to not even think about launch and recovery from a boat until you get much, much, much better at piloting and understanding the systems.

As to landing on any fixed surface on the boat itself (cockpit deck/table), that is a recipe for disaster. A boat, even if anchored in calm waters, is always moving. The drone will at best have a hard landing and at worst will be destroyed or hurt someone in the vicinity.

 

[Starz]

Thanks - what about the mini 3? There is one with cellular, unlocked. is it worth bidding on?

Not in my opinion. Faster processor is what you should research.

 

[KingRat]

The Mini 3 is too slow.
The Mini 4 is the oldest iPad mini to go with.

Sounds like that is the one to look for then. Anything bigger is too bulky and too heavy for me. I would rather NOT have a frame attachment. I use a small motorbike to get about, I don't have the space for loads of gubbins!

 

[KingRat]

My suggestion is to not even think about launch and recovery from a boat until you get much, much, much better at piloting and understanding the systems.

Will there be blood? I can practice my first aid.... breaking the drone though, that is not an option.

 

[KingRat]

Not in my opinion. Faster processor is what you should research.

It will be the 4 then.

 

[Detritalgeo]

I like the idea of practicing on land..

Take-off and move by walking or in a car (maintaining VLS) then configure the RTH to your liking once for find a set-up that works.

 

[KingRat]

I like the idea of practicing on land..

Take-off and move by walking or in a car (maintaining VLS) then configure the RTH to your liking once for find a set-up that works.

Once I get a bit more proficient, and I have a 'screen' I can actually see, then I will start to fly in the open fields. That is a great idea to see if the controller updates - would 100 yards be far enough for it to be a suitably different as a test for the RTH to controller? Or would it need to be further? I won't risk the car thing, I will walk!

 

[Detritalgeo]

The GPS precision is only about give or take 15 feet or so.. so just move that far away at minimum.. then practice with further distance..

 

[old man mavic]

@KingRat i think you are not going to be a drone owner for long if you intend flying it off a boat,it is quite a specialised thing to do, and is fraught with danger both to you and your drone
you need to be very proficient at drone control for such a enterprise ,i am not saying you will not master it at some point ,but for me the risks far outweigh the benefits
what you have to remember is one mistake will probably end in disaster

 

[KingRat]

@KingRat i think you are not going to be a drone owner for long if you intend flying it off a boat,it is quite a specialised thing to do, and is fraught with danger both to you and your drone
you need to be very proficient at drone control for such a enterprise ,i am not saying you will not master it at some point ,but for me the risks far outweigh the benefits
what you have to remember is one mistake will probably end in disaster

I do realise this - but it is the sole purpose of me getting the drone.
I am a pro marine photorgapher, I do brochure shoots for boat builders, engine manufacturers and marine electronics companies. Shooting boat to boat is an everyday thing for me - people said I couldn't get the wide angle shot of an offshore powerboat with a wide angle from the bow.... I sat on the bow and they drove. I did say to the helm don't stop! While they kept the speed up, 60+ knots, I was safe. If they stopped, I was off the bow - on a race boat the deck is totally clean, you are not permitted anything on deck that could cause injury, so there is nothing to hold on to, I just wrapped my legs around the bow. The boat was called Sidewinder and she was a Magnum SS28 with 720hp (twin 360s). If I had fallen off, Anna would have been a very wealthy woman. I didn't and I got the shots. The helmsman's nerves returned to normal and we drank gin.

Sometimes I am in a small inflatable (15ft), other times I might be on a 30 footer with loads of deck space. This is why I am practising hand launch and landing. It is also why I am making sure I know what is happening before I even go to a field with the thing. Bugger the injury aspects, I heal. If anyone else gets hurt, well they shouldn't have been getting in my way while I am working...BUT the cost implication of losing it and the footage, now that is too much to think about.

GET THE SHOT - personal safety doesn't come into it. The same with trucks, not many photographers lay in the gutter of the Motorway/Freeway/Autobahn and get the truck to come past at normal speed about a foot away from me. I did it for each truck on the Trans Euro Test - Antwerp to Milan, with 32 trucks the biggest one we did. It was a hectic week - shooting film in those days too.

Technology has moved on. You can now set up remote cameras, you could in those days, but it wasn't feasible. It had to be done by simply being there.

I do appreciate your concern, what I am trying to say is, I don't fear danger. I do fear damage to my kit. I take the time and trouble to get things right, but then I implement them. I don't intend to be anything until I have it mastered, but now you know what I will be doing wit it..... not pretty landscapes!