How resilient is the gimbal?

[PropSpin]

I managed to dip forward on landing today and missed my landing pad by about a foot and it landed in some loose dead leaves and maybe a small stick or two, nose down a little. Everything looks okay although the camera doesn't quite seem to point directly forward. It seem slightly off. Not sure if it was like that before or not. Either way, it got me to wondering how much jostling or bumping the gimbal can take.

Anybody with some insight?

 

[Mossiback]

What are you flying?

 

[PropSpin]

mavic 2 pro

 

[cfd2474]

Did you try placing it on level ground and recalibrating the gimbal?

 

[PropSpin]

Not yet. I was just eyeballing it, comparing it to the top leading edge of the front of the drone, but it's angled so it's not the greatest reference point. I think it's okay and maybe a recalibration would get it just right, but I was just wondering how delicate these things are. I think the worst that happened was a bunch of loose leaves pushing into it.

I'm not quite used to the way it lands manually, and surprisingly it was drifting a little, even with GPS. It was dark out at the time, but that shouldn't have mattered.

 

[cfd2474]

I've had a few hard landings, but a recalibration always seems to fix it

 

[lolo780]

Check the gimbal bracket mounts at the dampers, that's the weak point. The gimbal itself is tough as nails.

 

[PropSpin]

Check the gimbal bracket mounts at the dampers, that's the weak point. The gimbal itself is tough as nails.

That all looks good. I guess the stepper motors or whatever is being used for positioning can handle being forced in a direction against it's will without any residual effects?

 

[lolo780]

That all looks good. I guess the stepper motors or whatever is being used for positioning can handle being forced in a direction against it's will without any residual effects?

Yes. One of my Pro cameras is slightly off center by around 1 degree. It would be nice if DJI adds yaw adjustment to the gimbal menu in a future firmware update.

 

[PropSpin]

Yes. One of my Pro cameras is slightly off center by around 1 degree. It would be nice if DJI adds yaw adjustment to the gimbal menu in a future firmware update.

Yeah, it would be nice. I'll have to take a closer look at mine later and try a gimbal calibration and see if that re-centers mine, if it really is off. Depending on the mode being used and the type of shot being taken, I can see even 1 degree not being desirable.

 

[Mossiback]

...I'm not quite used to the way it lands manually, and surprisingly it was drifting a little, even with GPS. It was dark out at the time, but that shouldn't have mattered.

Precision landing needs a well lit area for the downward cameras to work. Some have posted that the LED's on the M2 are not bright enough to help.

 

[CanadaDrone]

It's more than likely fine if it just hit leaves - do a recalibration and if you aren't getting any errors I'd consider it resolved.

People leave gimbal guards on all the time when they fire up the drone by mistake, and it's not great, but very rarely does it do any damage. This doesn't sound any worse.

 

[ff22]

It's more than likely fine if it just hit leaves - do a recalibration and if you aren't getting any errors I'd consider it resolved.

People leave gimbal guards on all the time when they fire up the drone by mistake, and it's not great, but very rarely does it do any damage. This doesn't sound any worse.

It is not even by mistake. The other day I wanted to grab the files off the drone (I've got the Zoom) and plugged in the cable on my crowded desk. I did not want to expose the camera/lens to the desk debris so I left the gimbal guard on. I guess this is not a good practice as the drone is moving propellers and the camera during startup?????

 

[Mossiback]

... so I left the gimbal guard on. I guess this is not a good practice as the drone is moving propellers and the camera during startup?????

Leaving the guard on when powering on is not recommended. It only places un-necessary strain on the gimbal motors. I have taped ribbons on mine to make it more noticeable and less likely to be missed. Leaving the props on is up to you. Since they only twitch at startup it won't cause a problem. Some always remove while indoors in case of accidental motor start.

 

[ff22]

Leaving the guard on when powering on is not recommended. It only places un-necessary strain on the gimbal motors. I have taped ribbons on mine to make it more noticeable and less likely to be missed. Leaving the props on is up to you. Since they only twitch at startup it won't cause a problem. Some always remove while indoors in case of accidental motor start.

I guess some nicely colored electrical tape might also serve but I can see dangling ribbons really gaining attention. Thanks for the idea.

 

[FoxhallGH]

I guess some nicely colored electrical tape might also serve but I can see dangling ribbons really gaining attention. Thanks for the idea.

How about these ... https://www.amazon.co.uk/REMOVE-BEF...4129419&sr=1-15&keywords=remove+before+flight

 

[CanadaDrone]

It is not even by mistake. The other day I wanted to grab the files off the drone (I've got the Zoom) and plugged in the cable on my crowded desk. I did not want to expose the camera/lens to the desk debris so I left the gimbal guard on. I guess this is not a good practice as the drone is moving propellers and the camera during startup?????

Yes, I believe that is the most common reason for things like this to happen. With no intention to fly, people turn the drone on for a firmware upgrade or whatever, and of course the gimbal goes through it's calibration phase - gimbal guard or not. Same with the props, as you point out.

 

[lolo780]

On the M2P if the gimbal isn't responding properly the controller powers it down.

 

[Thealien]

I use the PGY Tech propeller holders. I lay it on its back to do the bottom ones. It helps me remember to remove the gimbal cover as it is more visible while on its back. It is easier to install the gimbal cover while its on its back also.

 

[PropSpin]

Precision landing needs a well lit area for the downward cameras to work. Some have posted that the LED's on the M2 are not bright enough to help.

I don't think that matters unless I'm using auto landing. For some reason, GPS wasn't keeping it very steady.