Lost my Mavic Air in a first day

[john2k]

are you flying your drone yet?

No yet, still reading up and preparing for first flight lol. to be honest i'm at work during the week so by the time i get home it's dark so cannot do a test flight. probably weekend will be first attempt.

 

[Mossiback]

I believe that if you are too close to the drone it will also not go to the RTH height first. Keep that in mind if you are surrounded by obstacles.

Close. From the manual pg 16: "Aircraft automatically descends and lands if RTH is triggered when the aircraft is within a 16 ft (5 m) radius of the Home Point."

 

[swooshdave]

Close. From the manual pg 16: "Aircraft automatically descends and lands if RTH is triggered when the aircraft is within a 16 ft (5 m) radius of the Home Point."

So does that mean that it will land within 5m regardless of RTH point? Or does it mean it will attempt to land at the RTH point. This could be important if you are on a boat.

 

[Mossiback]

So does that mean that it will land within 5m regardless of RTH point? Or does it mean it will attempt to land at the RTH point. This could be important if you are on a boat.

It will try to land where it is if 5m or closer to home point. Unless you are anchored fore and aft to stabilize your position, return RTH is useless on a boat. You could set it for your position but it would only be accurate to within a few feet if your tablet/phone has accurate GPS capability. Most tend to set RTH to hover when in a boat. That way you can maneuver closer or under it to attempt capture.

 

[Tinmania]

So does that mean that it will land within 5m regardless of RTH point? Or does it mean it will attempt to land at the RTH point. This could be important if you are on a boat.

If it’s within 5m it will land where it is.

 

[swooshdave]

It will try to land where it is if 5m or closer to home point. Unless you are anchored fore and aft to stabilize your position, return RTH is useless on a boat. You could set it for your position but it would only be accurate to within a few feet. Most tend to set RTH to hover when in a boat. That way you can maneuver closer or under it to attempt capture.

This is what my drone will look like if I get close to water.

 

[swooshdave]

If it’s within 5m it will land where it is.

The point being and what people need to remember is that it won't go the RTH height setting first.

 

[Tinmania]

The point being and what people need to remember is that it won't go the RTH height setting first.

I think what people on a boat need to remember is it’s going to land right where it is even if right where it is is over water.

Of course it won’t ascend to RTH height before landing right where it is, as that would be pointless.

Moreover it works differently if the aircraft is between 5 and 20 meters away. At that distance the aircraft will ascend to 10m, if aircraft is already lower, then return home. If the aircraft is already higher than 10m it returns home at that altitude. Only when greater than 20m away will the aircraft ascend to return home height, again assuming it was already lower else it returns home at current altitude.



Mike

 

[swooshdave]

Moreover it works differently if the aircraft is between 5 and 20 meters away. At that distance the aircraft will ascend to 10m, if aircraft is already lower, then return home. If the aircraft is already higher than 10m it returns home at that altitude. Only when greater than 20m away will the aircraft ascend to return home height, again assuming it was already lower else it returns home at current altitude.

Mike

That is a lot of rules to remember.

Back to the whole water thing. Since the drone knows where it’s at via GPS do you think, based on GPS data, know that it’s over water and attempt to land on ground? Or know to hover and not land on water until power is lost?

 

[msinger]

do you think, based on GPS data, know that it’s over water and attempt to land on ground? Or know to hover and not land on water until power is lost?

The drone does not know where water is located (even with the help of GPS data), but it will try to land on safe ground. That is of course an automated feature, so you shouldn't rely on it being foolproof.

 

[Mossiback]

It knows where it is but not what is below it.

 

[swooshdave]

It knows where it is but not what is below it.

This is hypothetical but if it relied on more than just the GPS coordinates then determine what was below it would be possible. From a simplistic standpoint if I can look at Google Maps and it's blue under me I'm either above water or below it. If the drone doesn't know the app certainly could.

 

[Mossiback]

This is hypothetical but if it relied on more than just the GPS coordinates then determine what was below it would be possible. From a simplistic standpoint if I can look at Google Maps and it's blue under me I'm either above water or below it. If the drone doesn't know the app certainly could.

Yes they could improve the landing system to include surface types but they would also then need to determine the next step, mainly the closest safe landing spot. It really boils down to the pilot keeping the AC in sight. Then there is no question about where to land it.

 

[swooshdave]

Totally agree but if the AC makes an emergency landing on it's own (outside of pilot command) it should have some idea that the landing area is fatal.

 

[Akoztha]

Sorry for your loss buddy!

 

[ryanolivas]

Sorry to hear that. Did you attach a gps tracking device into the mavic?

 

[laurens23]

Sorry to hear that. Did you attach a gps tracking device into the mavic?

It was autolanding and at only 90ft (maybe 150 AGL) when the log ends. The area looks steep but accessible from the P1 road to the north, or from the takeoff point. @Dimitrius you can probably find it without much issue, and find it with minimal damage because it was landing itself. You were already walking behind it during most of the flight anyway.

red, drone flightpath
green, where you already walked
blue circle, where the drone probably is
blue arrow, best way to park?

 

[Simmo]

I also asked the same question yesterday. The answer is no. If you switch to sport mode. It will cancel RTH. However I did read that if you disable obstacle avoidance, it will return faster as it will gain more speed. But you run the risk of it crashing.

True, however if you have contact with the RPA, initiate RTH, the AC will turn towards the HP. Then, switching to sport mode and giving it full elevator will give you max speed into the wind, and hopefully toward home or a suitable plan B landing site.

 

[SxSmith]

So does that mean that it will land within 5m regardless of RTH point? Or does it mean it will attempt to land at the RTH point. This could be important if you are on a boat.

You're going to need a bigger boat.

 

[Radio flier]

Can understand even on a windy day the temptation to get airporn is overpowering when you first your new Mavic Air.
Yep been there done that and yep got freaked out similar scenario low battery and drifting blown by the wind.
Seriously I was flippin lucky RTH just wasn't cutting it especially as mine was set to return at a maximum of 120m 400ft the ceiling set by CAA part 101 here in New Zealand .
Had to cancel RTH and fly it back manulaaly via Map visually could not see it .
Since that crazy day 2nd day out it was with my new Mavic Air have reset RTH to 60m 200ft figured would scoot over the top of most natural obstacles ...there's always obstacle avoidance kicking in if need be.
Anyway sorry your experience became a nightmare I was very very lucky.

The temptation to get what? Almost fell out of my chair!