Mavic Mini 1
IMU Calibration Problem
After noticing the gimbal connection ribbon was cut, I purchased a replacement. When it arrived Friday evening, I set to work, disassembled everything, and, without any particular problems, removed the old, damaged one and connected the new one.
I dusted off the inside with a special brush (the kind used for smartphones, very soft and light), but there wasn't much to remove. I also applied a little thermal paste to replace what had been removed during disassembly. I also added a drop of glue (B-7000, the kind used for smartphones) to secure the connectors (I avoided using hot glue like the one that came with the drone).
I turned on the drone and noticed that the gimbal had started working again (I just turned on the drone and immediately noticed that the camera was stabilized again), so for me it was fine.
The next day, I decided to take a flight to check if everything was OK. I connected the RC, smartphone, and drone, and it gave me an error about the IMU needing calibration. I proceeded with the app as instructed, but the progress was sooooo slow; nothing flashed, and the step remained at 1/5, only to fail around 17-20%. It didn't ask me to reposition the drone. I tried several times, even following the suggestions I'd found about starting the calibration with the drone in a different position, but nothing changed.
Today, with a little more time, I reassembled everything to check the connections. Perhaps some connectors were inserted incorrectly or some debris ended up on the contacts. I didn't notice anything. I even used a small microscope to magnify the various areas of interest, but I didn't notice anything. Obviously, I double-checked the connector that connects to the MB, the one that connects to the gimbal, and the one that connects to the IMU. The connection ribbon appears to be perfect, no damage is visible. The problem remains.
I retried the calibration, connected the drone to the PC, and updated the firmware with DJI Assistant 2. I'm out of ideas now.
I found the cable cut overnight, and I noticed it during a flight where I didn't receive any other errors. Thinking back, I remembered that a couple of weeks earlier, the case the drone was in (its case, with the gimbal protector) had fallen from my shelf at home. I don't think the damage was consistent with that fall, but I haven't had any other occasions that would justify it. Maybe applying a filter to the lens gave it the final blow. But the IMU problem, after the fall, hadn't occurred to me yet during the last flight. Now I don't know if the problem is software: it seems unlikely, but never say never, and in any case, I don't know how to fix it.
1) The problem could be in the cable, perhaps it's defective. It was sold to me as compatible with both Mini 1 and Mini 2, but are they the same?
2) The problem is the IMU, which is broken. In this case, is it "enough" to replace the part? I read somewhere, but I don't know if it refers to all DJI drones or just certain models, that some parts need to be "enabled" by a special software they have in support. Do you know anything about this? Can I just buy a new IMU and install it or will it not work because it needs to be associated with the software that has support?
I realize that, absurdly, the IMU error can't even rule out an anomaly in the MB, but it all seems very strange to me.
Do you have any suggestions?
IMU Calibration Problem
After noticing the gimbal connection ribbon was cut, I purchased a replacement. When it arrived Friday evening, I set to work, disassembled everything, and, without any particular problems, removed the old, damaged one and connected the new one.
I dusted off the inside with a special brush (the kind used for smartphones, very soft and light), but there wasn't much to remove. I also applied a little thermal paste to replace what had been removed during disassembly. I also added a drop of glue (B-7000, the kind used for smartphones) to secure the connectors (I avoided using hot glue like the one that came with the drone).
I turned on the drone and noticed that the gimbal had started working again (I just turned on the drone and immediately noticed that the camera was stabilized again), so for me it was fine.
The next day, I decided to take a flight to check if everything was OK. I connected the RC, smartphone, and drone, and it gave me an error about the IMU needing calibration. I proceeded with the app as instructed, but the progress was sooooo slow; nothing flashed, and the step remained at 1/5, only to fail around 17-20%. It didn't ask me to reposition the drone. I tried several times, even following the suggestions I'd found about starting the calibration with the drone in a different position, but nothing changed.
Today, with a little more time, I reassembled everything to check the connections. Perhaps some connectors were inserted incorrectly or some debris ended up on the contacts. I didn't notice anything. I even used a small microscope to magnify the various areas of interest, but I didn't notice anything. Obviously, I double-checked the connector that connects to the MB, the one that connects to the gimbal, and the one that connects to the IMU. The connection ribbon appears to be perfect, no damage is visible. The problem remains.
I retried the calibration, connected the drone to the PC, and updated the firmware with DJI Assistant 2. I'm out of ideas now.
I found the cable cut overnight, and I noticed it during a flight where I didn't receive any other errors. Thinking back, I remembered that a couple of weeks earlier, the case the drone was in (its case, with the gimbal protector) had fallen from my shelf at home. I don't think the damage was consistent with that fall, but I haven't had any other occasions that would justify it. Maybe applying a filter to the lens gave it the final blow. But the IMU problem, after the fall, hadn't occurred to me yet during the last flight. Now I don't know if the problem is software: it seems unlikely, but never say never, and in any case, I don't know how to fix it.
1) The problem could be in the cable, perhaps it's defective. It was sold to me as compatible with both Mini 1 and Mini 2, but are they the same?
2) The problem is the IMU, which is broken. In this case, is it "enough" to replace the part? I read somewhere, but I don't know if it refers to all DJI drones or just certain models, that some parts need to be "enabled" by a special software they have in support. Do you know anything about this? Can I just buy a new IMU and install it or will it not work because it needs to be associated with the software that has support?
I realize that, absurdly, the IMU error can't even rule out an anomaly in the MB, but it all seems very strange to me.
Do you have any suggestions?
