Mavic 2 DJI Interface

[HogWldFLTR]

I've got a few questions about how DJI controls the use of the drones they manufacture for use in the US.

The first is the role of cellular input into the drone. I know where I live cellular access is spotty at best. So far I've had no issue during flights; is this apt to show up as an issue.

Second, how does DJI determine no flight zones and how do they upgrade their data for these decisions. Is data updated by DJI Assistant 2? I guess this also ties in with the first question.

Finally I'm in the process of getting an SC which will does not have cellular capability. How is it updated to know locational restrictions?

Thanks in advance for being kind to me in the responses.

 

[brett8883]

I've got a few questions about how DJI controls the use of the drones they manufacture for use in the US.

The first is the role of cellular input into the drone. I know where I live cellular access is spotty at best. So far I've had no issue during flights; is this apt to show up as an issue.

Second, how does DJI determine no flight zones and how do they upgrade their data for these decisions. Is data updated by DJI Assistant 2? I guess this also ties in with the first question.

Finally I'm in the process of getting an SC which will does not have cellular capability. How is it updated to know locational restrictions?

Thanks in advance for being kind to me in the responses.

The drone doesn’t get cell service it only gets GPS service which is from satellites so it doesn’t matter the location to get service only open sky.

DJI makes NFZs based on their own decisions about what they think is safe for drones and this often overlaps with local restrictions but not always.

There is a NFZ database that comes with every update of the drone and DJI Go 4. When you update the drone either via Assistant 2 or with that DJI Go 4 app or update the app you also update the NFZ database automatically.

There are sometimes NFZ database updates that are not tied to a firmware or app update but those only update when the app is within WiFi or cell service. They can be ignored.

SC is the same way it can update the NFZ database while within WiFi or if you use a mobile hotspot with a device that can get cell service.

Bottom line here is that you cannot rely on DJI for up to the minute NFZ or TFR information. You need to still consult your local authority for this before every flight. Do so before arriving on location if cell service will be an issue.

 

[HogWldFLTR]

The drone doesn’t get cell service it only gets GPS service which is from satellites so it doesn’t matter the location to get service only open sky.

DJI makes NFZs based on their own decisions about what they think is safe for drones and this often overlaps with local restrictions but not always.

There is a NFZ database that comes with every update of the drone and DJI Go 4. When you update the drone either via Assistant 2 or with that DJI Go 4 app or update the app you also update the NFZ database automatically.

There are sometimes NFZ database updates that are not tied to a firmware or app update but those only update when the app is within WiFi or cell service. They can be ignored.

SC is the same way it can update the NFZ database while within WiFi or if you use a mobile hotspot with a device that can get cell service.

Bottom line here is that you cannot rely on DJI for up to the minute NFZ or TFR information. You need to still consult your local authority for this before every flight. Do so before arriving on location if cell service will be an issue.

Thanks, I wasn't so much trusting DJI as wondering about their control over the Drones flight capabilities and their ability to cause problems in what would otherwise be acceptable flight plans.

 

[brett8883]

Thanks, I wasn't so much trusting DJI as wondering about their control over the Drones flight capabilities and their ability to cause problems in what would otherwise be acceptable flight plans.

I’m not sure I understand?

 

[HogWldFLTR]

I’m not sure I understand?

For example, currently it's legal in the US to fly in class G airspace. Previously DJI would restrict flying around local unmanned airfields. I'm thinking about the updates and DJI's ability to keep up with laws and changes affecting permissible flights. I wasn't certain of the phone's role in providing DJI with data for maps etcetera as well as updating restrictions. It seems like all that is done through the DJI Assistant prior to flight.

 

[brett8883]

For example, currently it's legal in the US to fly in class G airspace. Previously DJI would restrict flying around local unmanned airfields. I'm thinking about the updates and DJI's ability to keep up with laws and changes affecting permissible flights. I wasn't certain of the phone's role in providing DJI with data for maps etcetera as well as updating restrictions. It seems like all that is done through the DJI Assistant prior to flight.

It does require cell service or internet service to download maps. However, you can cache maps before hand while in WiFi or use a mobile hotspot.

As far as the restricted zones the thing you have to realize is there are two nfz databases. One is on the drone and the other is in the app.

The one on the drone is the database used to restrict flight. That database gets updated by either updating the firmware on the drone or downloading a flysafe update when connected to the drone via the remote while the device is in cell or WiFi connection. So if your device is never connected to the drone while in WiFi or cell service it will not ask you to update the flysafe database on the drone.

The flysafe database in the app is updated with each app update and also when connected to the internet. This database is used to show NFZs on the map but a map is not required to show them. If you don’t have a map downloaded for the area you are flying in it will still show the NFZ area relative to the drones god location. So this NFZ is updated more regularly but doesn’t necessarily restrict the flight of the drone. This is why you’ll hear some people complain that they were able to take off in a location marked a NFZ in the app but then couldn’t fly into another area of the NFZ. This is because the drone’s NFZ isn’t as updated as the app’s NFZ.

Internet to the device is used for downloading maps, syncing flight logs, updating firmware and updating NFZ databases.