MA2 Waypoint mission.

Mitch · May 3, 2020

Was wondering if producing a waypoint mission on DJI’s app (similar to what Litchi supports with other DJI drones) is possible with MA2? I see under hyperlapse there is a feature call waypoint but don’t know anything about it. Does anyone know?

lee82gx · May 3, 2020

the number of waypoints are 5....i think that is laughable compared to Litchi. Not sure is it just myself but usually I have way more than 5 in a single mission, which I program by the full web browser. Maybe on the mobile app itself 5 is enough but anyway it is not comparable if you ask me.

Mitch · May 3, 2020

lee82gx said:
the number of waypoints are 5....i think that is laughable compared to Litchi. Not sure is it just myself but usually I have way more than 5 in a single mission, which I program by the full web browser. Maybe on the mobile app itself 5 is enough but anyway it is not comparable if you ask me.

Agreed 5 is pathetic . Litchi won’t get the SDK from DJI for a while. Litchi expects to get the SDK for the mini mid 2020 so, after that for the MA2.

Northwood Mediaworks · May 3, 2020

Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that is just for hyperlapse, not like Waypoints 2.0 in the M2 line.

Deleted member 94047 · May 3, 2020

Northwood Mediaworks said:
Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that is just for hyperlapse, not like Waypoints 2.0 in the M2 line.

You are correct. The current waypoint function in the MA2 is limited to just the hyperlapse mode.

Mousehunter · May 4, 2020

Market segmentation. Products have to be differentiated, target markets must remain protected. Beauty of this is they don’t even have to upgrade the product to upgrade it’s features.

GadgetGuy · May 4, 2020

They co

Mousehunter said:
Market segmentation. Products have to be differentiated, target markets must remain protected. Beauty of this is they don’t even have to upgrade the product to upgrade it’s features.

They could always charge for a specialized FW update to add new features to older aircraft. Free is better though!

TerryToast · May 4, 2020

GadgetGuy said:
They could always charge for a specialized FW update to add new features to older aircraft. Free is better though!

That is actually a very good business idea for DJI to consider. DJI could sell Waypoints to Mavic Air customers “via In-App“ purchases on your phone. Similarly they could sell Active Track 3.0, Point of Interest 3.0 and Spotlight 2.0 to existing Mavic 2 Pro customers. Etc, etc.

Money for jam (for DJI), as the software development work is already done. DJI’s only risk would be cannibalizing their own products (i.e. people keep their old drones for longer). That risk is minimal as Litchi is already selling a similar product/app.

Mitch · May 4, 2020

Feel like I’m stuck in limbo. My Mavic pro platinum just crapped out. I used it primarily for Litchi waypoint missions. I like the Mavic air 2 but, the SDK won’t be available to Litchi likely for several months. I don’t want to spend the money on m2p or m2z as they are 18 months old and due for a refresh. Sure would be nice if there was a good waypoint option for a newer DJI drone.

Mousehunter · May 4, 2020

I am fence sitting as well - which to me seems to indicate their marketing team did a good job. The only advantage of the Pro Platinum I can see is DJIGo4 and an existing SDK. I think the MA2 with the SDK would be a perfect fit, but with no SDK, I am seriously weighing in if I should bite the bullet and get the M2P. The complicating factor is it is quite likely that the SDK might not come out before a speculated M3 (at which time I would be frustrated either way - waiting months, or purchasing a product right before it is retired.

Flip side, perhaps the reason the SDK has been postponed for the MM is the simple fact it already has a reputation of fly always due to wind - which will only be compounded exponentially if waypoint missions become possible.

Mousehunter · May 6, 2020

Ok, was just exercising my imagination last night. What if...

The smart controller is currently not compatible, with the M2A - but DJI has stated they will fix that with an update in the next 2 weeks... What if instead of installing the DJI Fly app on the smart controller, they update it’s DJI Go4 and waypoints app to be M2A compatable. Well since this is entirely my imagination, hell maybe the Litchi for the smart controller app flows through the DJI Go in it’s OS, so that it would not need the SDK to work.

It would be an incredibly evil way to offer an “upgrade” to the MA2 at a rather substantial price (for non-smart controller owners).

swooshdave · May 6, 2020

Mousehunter said:
Ok, was just exercising my imagination last night. What if...

The smart controller is currently not compatible, with the M2A - but DJI has stated they will fix that with an update in the next 2 weeks... What if instead of installing the DJI Fly app on the smart controller, they update it’s DJI Go4 and waypoints app to be M2A compatable. Well since this is entirely my imagination, hell maybe the Litchi for the smart controller app flows through the DJI Go in it’s OS, so that it would not need the SDK to work.

It would be an incredibly evil way to offer an “upgrade” to the MA2 at a rather substantial price (for non-smart controller owners).

I don't see that happening.

Mousehunter · May 7, 2020

The smart controller does at a couple small features for people using DJI Go4, and it should - or else why would anyone spend money on it. But yes, most likely the update will probably only install a version of DJI Fly. At best, the. Smart Controller might still have html out with DJI Fly (other than that, it would simply be installing the android DJI Fly app(.