Hand catching the Mavic 4 Pro.

[YorksPhotos]

I am looking for any tips on hand catching the M4P. I am coming from Phantom 4 Pro that had a nice handle/landing gear to grab. On ground I would let the sensors stop it in front of me and walk up to it and grab the right rear gear and kill the motors. I think I could do the same with M4P but cradle it the bottom but not sure what would happen possibly covering the down sensors. I fly off a boat as well, far more challenging for take off and landing. I quickly learned the need of disabling the collision avoidance. It's a 29' cruiser so plenty of rock and roll and have to time the catch. I wouldn't fly if the swell was over 3' or to frequent. With drift, pitching, rolling and altitude changing I will need some practice and confidence before attempting it with the M4P. A miss catch could be ugly and I am on blood thinners. For now the Phantoms will continue to board. Thanks in advance.

 

[Cafguy]

plenty of rock and roll and have to time the catch. I wouldn't fly if the swell was over 3' or to frequent. With drift, pitching, rolling and altitude changing I will need some practice and confidence before attempting it with the M4P. A miss catch could be ugly and I am on blood thinners.

Can I buy some pot from you!
Really!! You are on Blood thinners too!
What in the world are you photographing or videoing that is worth the chance!! As I see it you best option is trying to land on the deck and hoping for the best!
You could loose the Drone to the Water sometimes sure, BUT getting to skip speeding off to an E.R. or doctor before you bleed to death, just may be worth steering clear of hand landing. My 2 cents.....

 

[YorksPhotos]

Can I buy some pot from you!
Really!! You are on Blood thinners too!
What in the world are you photographing or videoing that is worth the chance!! As I see it you best option is trying to land on the deck and hoping for the best!
You could loose the Drone to the Water sometimes sure, BUT getting to skip speeding off to an E.R. or doctor before you bleed to death, just may be worth steering clear of hand landing. My 2 cents.....

I suppose you can, it's legal here. Its just baby aspirin but gummy's for me pot makes me cough. Always looking for dolphin and whales and always hope for the best. Getting it to me isn't that difficult. I learned to fly with P2's no automation and catching a Phantom was relatively easy. I may never attempt it with the M4P but would like to catch on land just to keep it out of the sand and dirt. I am sure many do and just looking for their method. Never lost a drone. Never sold one, still have my 2 P2's and 2 P4Pros all still flying.

 

[GadgetGuy]

I am looking for any tips on hand catching the M4P. I am coming from Phantom 4

So far, hand catching it from underneath at the back has worked for me twice.

Props are up higher in the back. Just hover it on your right side, slightly above head height, and reach up and grip it while the left hand shuts it down on the remote.

However, I landed at just below 10% both times, where the sensors may be expecting a hand from below.

Test it on stationary dry land with gloves first!

 

[YorksPhotos]

So far, hand catching it from underneath at the back has worked for me twice.

Props are up higher in the back. Just hover it on your right side, slightly above head height, and reach up and grip it while the left hand shuts it down on the remote.

However, I landed at just below 10% both times, where the sensors may be expecting a hand from below.

Test it on stationary dry land with gloves first!

Thanks that helps. The extra clearance from the props will help. It's still a lot closer than I am used to on the P4. Will try it after I get more flight time in. I also need to get a harness for the remote for shutting it down 1 handed. Each day I have been taking it out and learning something new. I read it, then I watch it, then I try it..

 

[GadgetGuy]

Thanks that helps. The extra clearance from the props will help. It's still a lot closer than I am used to on the P4. Will try it after I get more flight time in. I also need to get a harness for the remote for shutting it down 1 handed. Each day I have been taking it out and learning something new. I read it, then I watch it, then I try it..

I've gotten used to it from the Mavic 2 Pro and Mavic 3 series. Definitely was less risky on the Phantoms. A neck-strap is definitely helpful, but not necessarily needed for hand catching, as I had no neck-strap for my first two flights and managed just fine. While holding the RC Pro 2 in the left hand, just slide your left thumb over the top to the stick and pull it down, after gripping the rear of the drone from underneath with your right hand.

The Dynamic Home Point on the RC Pro 2 will definitely be a drone saver for you.

 

[BingBong]

Thanks that helps. The extra clearance from the props will help. It's still a lot closer than I am used to on the P4. Will try it after I get more flight time in. I also need to get a harness for the remote for shutting it down 1 handed. Each day I have been taking it out and learning something new. I read it, then I watch it, then I try it..

I find catching it on land straightforward. Switch to Sport mode for the last few feet and lower it above cupped hand, it will still hesitate briefly as the downward sensor is always active. It's a good shape to pinch, and then shut off with just the down stick holding the RC Pro 2 one-handed. It should be the same for the RC2. A harness would make it easier. I'm looking for one (the screw holes are shorter than others), as my arms are fairly short, and taking off from a hold is mildly hazardous. I take off from the back of the DJI bag at the moment. With my Air 2S, I use my right elbow to hold in the right stick for the startup, but the M4P is a bigger beastie with large props!

At sea is a whole different ball game. I expect third party handles will become available, which would make catching a lot safer. Probably best to stick to the Phantom otherwise.

 

[boudala]

I have an air 3 taking off and landing fronm sailboat so it should be fairly close to it. I got a water landing pad from phantomrain. Set cruise control at same speed than boat, ensure emergency stop is set to always and speed isbset to sport to disable sensors. Have somebody grab the landing pad from underneath and tell you when they have it. Do an emergency shut down. No guarantee but it works every time for me. Hope that helps. Aside from the water landing pad might save from ending at the bottom in the worse case scenario.

 

[YorksPhotos]

I have an air 3 taking off and landing fronm sailboat so it should be fairly close to it. I got a water landing pad from phantomrain. Set cruise control at same speed than boat, ensure emergency stop is set to always and speed isbset to sport to disable sensors. Have somebody grab the landing pad from underneath and tell you when they have it. Do an emergency shut down. No guarantee but it works every time for me. Hope that helps. Aside from the water landing pad might save from ending at the bottom in the worse case scenario.

Thanks everyone for taking the time to respond. All very helpful and thanks for the link. I will check them out.

 

[Meta4]

I am looking for any tips on hand catching the M4P. I am coming from Phantom 4 Pro that had a nice handle/landing gear to grab.

The Phantoms were (relatively) simple to launch and catch from a boat.
Apart from the convenient grab handle landing gear, you also had the ability to switch to Atti Mode and disable the drone's instinct to hold position and fight you if the boat was drifting on any current.

With drift, pitching, rolling and altitude changing I will need some practice and confidence before attempting it with the M4P. A miss catch could be ugly and I am on blood thinners. For now the Phantoms will continue to board. Thanks in advance.

Recovering a drone at sea is much, much harder that landlubbers can imagine and can take many attempts before getting it right.
You need plenty of battery reserve and as the battery runs down, the anxiety increases.

I'd never use sport mode for catching as you need fine control and don't want the drone making jumpy responses to joystick input.
It's much easier and safer to disable obstacle avoidance in the app settings.
The Mavic 3 pro was easy to catch on land, but could be a nightmare from a boat at sea.
My only attempt was stressful and although the drone was not lost to the sea, blood was spilled.
I never tried again.
I found the Mavic 4 pro not so easy to catch on land because of sensor positioning, but will have to try disabling the downward sensors and try again.

The videos from Safehaven Marine show some of the best drone video of boats in real sea conditions.

Safehaven Marine.

Safehaven Marine based in Cork, Ireland are designers and builders of FRP Pilot boats, Patrol boats, Crew transfer vessels, Hydrographic survey catamarans, Naval & Military craft and unique bespoke private motor yachts. All our vessels are built to the highest standards of strength & engineering...

www.youtube.com

I'd always wondered how they could possibly recover the drone.
I found out last week ....

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