Litchi?

[53-63-6f-74-74]

One of my friends uses Pix4d for photogrammetry and modeling (not just with drones); some of the results are really good! Between two departments at my school, we actually have access to 4 different modeling softwares, so one of our smaller "poster projects" is running the same batch of photos in each software to examine the differences. Does Pix4D allow for drone control within the program itself? I hadn't heard of Drone Deploy, so I'll check it out too.

The resulting models are phenomenal! Last summer our team had a drone specialist who did basically everything you mentioned; we had imagery and DEMs so accurate we could see out bootprints in the sand. Amazing! It's what ot me interested in this stuff. He liked to fly manually though; kind of an intense guy. I'm trying to make it a little easier on myself haha

I'm not sure what you mean by 'drone control within the program itself'. If you mean manual control while the app is running, then no. Fly the mission first at a specified height above take off, then when it's done if you need more photos to detail a specific subject you can fly manually to get them, or fly a second 'tighter' mission and simply bring all of the photos into your processing software at the same time. The apps do nothing more than take photos, there is nothing unique about the photos captured. You'll still have all of the same EXIF information whether or not you take photos manually.

 

[CookieTheArch]

@53-63-6f-74-74 That answers my question; I only knew Pix4D as a photo modeling software, so I wasn't sure if the app just dealt with photos or if it managed the entire flight. Today I downloaded both the Pix4D app and Drone Deploy, and I'm hoping the weather is good enough tomorrow to test them. Thank you for your help on this!

 

[53-63-6f-74-74]

@53-63-6f-74-74 That answers my question; I only knew Pix4D as a photo modeling software, so I wasn't sure if the app just dealt with photos or if it managed the entire flight. Today I downloaded both the Pix4D app and Drone Deploy, and I'm hoping the weather is good enough tomorrow to test them. Thank you for your help on this!

PM me and let me know how it goes. I don't want to get the thread off-topic but I'm interested in your results. I have NOT used either app with my Mavic; I have used only Pix4d capturing and processing for our survey with a Phantom 4 Pro. I'm planning some tests with the Mavic when the weather improves.

 

[CookieTheArch]

PM me and let me know how it goes. I don't want to get the thread off-topic but I'm interested in your results. I have NOT used either app with my Mavic; I have used only Pix4d capturing and processing for our survey with a Phantom 4 Pro. I'm planning some tests with the Mavic when the weather improves.

As soon as I have something worth writing about, I definitely will. Thanks again!

 

[John1945]

I cannot fly missions that I built on mission hub and downloaded to the litchi app, I get a "mission failed to load error, I was running the latest version of litchi 4.x. when I posted my problem on Facebook litchi replied that I needed to install version 3.10.10 to be comparable with my phone (Samsung Galaxy S6active) an the gave me a link to download the software
.
This mobile device won't be powerful enough to run Litchi's latest version correctly.
You could either upgrade to a more powerful device or downgrade Litchi to 3.10.10. You can install 3.10.10 from here: https://drive.google.com/.../0B9SCOsPRhNjTbGZMWk9GNG.../view
Please note when using the latest DJI firmware with Litchi 3.10.10, you need to first start DJI Go to unlock flight limits, then close DJI Go and start Litchi.

For Android, our recommended devices are: Nvidia Shield K1, Google Pixel/Pixel XL, Samsung Galaxy S7/S7Edge/S8/S8+/Note 5, Huawei MediaPad M3 8.4inch.
For iOS, our recommended devices are: iPad mini 4, iPad 2017, iPad Air 2, iPad Pro, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s+, iPhone 7, iPhone 7+, iPhone 8, iPhone 8+, iPhone X.
I downloaded and installed it but now i can't fly the drone at all.

The phone is connected to the drone's IOT. Mavic-****** so I don't know what to do

 

[Marko5584]

I had the opposite problem: I could not get Litchi version 3.10 to work with my Mavic until I installed the newer version 4. Then it immediately connected. You need to logon with DJI in order to have Litchi work (I think). You can force stop the Go app and run litchi. litchi will inidicate if you are logged on. There should be an icon on the litchi screen indicating you are logged on.

here's a waypoint mission with several points of interest that the camera turned to during the run.

http://www.planetcanadice.com/Movies/Trailtest.mp4

I am not happy with the video quality. (I cannot see or edit anything higher than 1920 x 1080 till I get some editing software for higher definition.)

This may give you an idea of some of the camera work you can program into Litchi. This would be very hard to do if you had to manually fly the bird to these precise spots around the trees. The bird was about 6000 feet away when it circled the trees.

by the way, can anyone recommend a tablet on which both the DJI Go app and Litchi can reside? My phone works, but it is tiny. Android please.

 

[John1945]

Well now it loads OK but I am still having problems. When I try to fly the mission I get the error shown below. But I know that the aircraft is connected because I can see the images from the camera in the popup window.(not shown in the picture) the DISCONNECTED message is most disturbing. Can anyone help?

 

[BD0G]

I dont know if this is helpful, but I typically connect to the Mavic using DJIGO4 first to make sure everthing is connecting. Then I just launch Lichti and fly the mission. Do you also connect via DJIGO4 prior to the Lichti Mission?

 

[John1945]

I dont know if this is helpful, but I typically connect to the Mavic using DJIGO4 first to make sure everthing is connecting. Then I just launch Lichti and fly the mission. Do you also connect via DJIGO4 prior to the Lichti Mission?

I just tried it but was not able to connect.

1. started dji go 4
2. started the MP
3. forced a stop
4. connected to Mavic-3a6096
5. started litchi
6. got an error about the license
7. stopped litchi
8. connected to my WiFi
9. started litchi
10. stopped litchi
11. reconnected to the MP's WiFi
12. connected my phone the the RC
    
13. restarted litchi
14. was not connected to the MP

Also, I was wondering about the RC. do I need to have the MP switch in WiFi mode to fly with litchi and should I connect the phone to the controller?

 

[John1945]

I just tried it but was not able to connect.

1. started dji go 4
2. started the MP
3. forced a stop
4. connected to Mavic-3a6096
5. started litchi
6. got an error about the license
7. stopped litchi
8. connected to my WiFi
9. started litchi
10. stopped litchi
11. reconnected to the MP's WiFi
12. connected my phone the the RC
    
13. restarted litchi
14. was not connected to the MP

Also, I was wondering about the RC. do I need to have the MP switch in WiFi mode to fly with litchi and should I connect the phone to the controller?

OK, I got it to connect by following the on screen directions-- how novel "go to settings for the app (go 4) and choose force stop. BUT I still can't fly my missions. I get "Mission failed to upload error: mission can not execute" This is the original problem that I needed to downgrade the litchi app to version 3.10.10 to supposedly cure.

 

[Lake_Flyer]

One of the primary purposes for which I bought my drone is photogrammetric modeling; without a long-winded explanation, creating 3D models from overlapping photo sets. So this brings up 3 questions I have with regards to Litchi (I had more, but it's late for me and I forgot them):

1. Can you set up the flight path to automatically take photos at multiple given points? (I'm slightly unclear on this)
2. Will it manage the camera throughout the flight? (I need photos that are literally straight down to the ground; will the camera try and adjust itself between shots?)
3. Are the photos it takes georeferenced? (i.e. do they have GPS points embedded in/associated with the image file?)

I'm not trying to sound condescending with anything I'm saying; I know most people here might be familiar with different terms (georeferencing for sure) but I just wanted to make sure I'm clear on what I'm asking. I would love to have a drone app where I could basically design the flight on the ground, press "GO" and it does what I need (I know nothing is that simple, but you guys know what I mean). Is Litchi what I'm looking for, or will it at least be a step in the right direction from the Go4 app?

Thank you guys so much!

P.S. I've said before that I'll try and post updates on research projects I work on, but if anyone ever has any questions feel free to message me. I can talk about my research for hours haha)

I use Groundstation Pro (free IOS app from DJI Japan). For 3D mapping it is really good and reliable. And is totally supported by DJI of course.

 

[John1945]

Cookie,
That is very close to what I want to do. I want to take a series of pictures of a corn crop, geo-tag the images and use AI on the images to make predictions about the soil. But I can't get litchi to cooperate. I can't even fly ONE way-point mission let alone geo-taging the images and uploading them for processing. From what you say, I take it that dji GS Pro may be better. But I don't have an Apple orchard.

 

[Lake_Flyer]

Cookie,
That is very close to what I want to do. I want to take a series of pictures of a corn crop, geo-tag the images and use AI on the images to make predictions about the soil. But I can't get litchi to cooperate. I can't even fly ONE way-point mission let alone geo-taging the images and uploading them for processing. From what you say, I take it that dji GS Pro may be better. But I don't have an Apple orchard.

You could try Drone Harmony (free Beta) for Android. I haven't tried it yet but it looks very complete.

 

[BD0G]

You should be in RC Mode using the side switch on the Mavic Pro to connect the Mavic Pro to the remote controller and not WIFi. WiFi is only used when one is trying to use thier WiFi enabled device to fly and not the Remote Controller. You are in this mode - correct?

 

[Marko5584]

John1945,

not sure if this will help...
You might try installing the newer version again to see if there is any difference. I tried for several days to run Litchi with the 3.10 version and it would not connect, even though I received a video feed. As soon as I installed version 4.4.1 I was able to get Litchi to work. The waypoint missions upload in a few seconds.

Are you sure your logon icon shows you are in fact logged on?

My issue is that I have a phone with a very small display. My samsumg tablet E was fine for a while but then with all the system upgrades Litchi became unstable and I went back to my phone.

Version 4.41 seems quite stable on my phone and I retain a video signal from a mile out, but the record button to toggle recording on and off is often glitchy.

I need a new tablet (android) that will house both the DJI Go app and Litchi.

Any suggestions?

Marko

 

[Takeflyt215]

I love the Litchi App, its give you the ability to fly the same route time after time. You can get perfect pans and camera angles. I've used it probably 2 dozen times and never had any issues.

Both of these videos were 100% preplanned

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

Cool shot! Looks like Philly near Columbus Blvd. was this all shot autonomously with the litchi app? And what settings?

 

[John1945]

You should be in RC Mode using the side switch on the Mavic Pro to connect the Mavic Pro to the remote controller and not WIFi. WiFi is only used when one is trying to use thier WiFi enabled device to fly and not the Remote Controller. You are in this mode - correct?

I am in RC mode but I keep getting the Disconnected error

 

[DeWolfe]

I cannot fly missions that I built on mission hub and downloaded to the litchi app, I get a "mission failed to load error, I was running the latest version of litchi 4.x. when I posted my problem on Facebook litchi replied that I needed to install version 3.10.10 to be comparable with my phone (Samsung Galaxy S6active) an the gave me a link to download the software
.
This mobile device won't be powerful enough to run Litchi's latest version correctly.
You could either upgrade to a more powerful device or downgrade Litchi to 3.10.10. You can install 3.10.10 from here: https://drive.google.com/.../0B9SCOsPRhNjTbGZMWk9GNG.../view
Please note when using the latest DJI firmware with Litchi 3.10.10, you need to first start DJI Go to unlock flight limits, then close DJI Go and start Litchi.

For Android, our recommended devices are: Nvidia Shield K1, Google Pixel/Pixel XL, Samsung Galaxy S7/S7Edge/S8/S8+/Note 5, Huawei MediaPad M3 8.4inch.
For iOS, our recommended devices are: iPad mini 4, iPad 2017, iPad Air 2, iPad Pro, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s+, iPhone 7, iPhone 7+, iPhone 8, iPhone 8+, iPhone X.
I downloaded and installed it but now i can't fly the drone at all.

The phone is connected to the drone's IOT. Mavic-****** so I don't know what to do

This proved to be a big help!!!
Got going in Aug 2017 with MP and Litichi ... waypoints are the cats pjs.

Then by this spring .. updated DJI Go 4 and firmware - I use a samsung note 4 which had been doing a great job.

I have downgraded everything I upgraded to.... at least I seem to be back to work...
as in friends house in Maui


Since I live on Oahu... more than 200 miles west of the big island of Hawaii .. I am volcano free. as is the west side or most of the big island... everyone is fretting over getting the tourist back - tourist rarely if ever go to where the volcano is causing all the
damage...

 

[FASTFJR]

Cool shot! Looks like Philly near Columbus Blvd. was this all shot autonomously with the litchi app? And what settings?

Yes it was, to be honest I forget what the settings were