Mavic 3’s additional anticollision setting

JoelP · Jul 11, 2022

After updating my Fly app and installing the latest iteration of the FW to my MA3 I checked all of the settings and found a new setting for collision avoidance that is intended to be less aggressive, but they warn of increased risk of collision. Personally, I like the security of anticollision avoidance, but it does cause some unpredictable movement at times while filming. What have others found with this new option for less aggressive collision avoidance?

I think I might choose this if for advanced RTH it would revert to the more conservative collision avoidance, but I am not sure what this actually does in that circumstance. Has anyone tested this?

MS Coast · Jul 11, 2022

JoelP said:
After updating my Fly app and installing the latest iteration of the FW to my MA3 I checked all of the settings and found a new setting for collision avoidance that is intended to be less aggressive, but they warn of increased risk of collision. Personally, I like the security of anticollision avoidance, but it does cause some unpredictable movement at times while filming. What have others found with this new option for less aggressive collision avoidance?

I think I might choose this if for advanced RTH it would revert to the more conservative collision avoidance, but I am not sure what this actually does in that circumstance. Has anyone tested this?

The "Nifty" collision avoidance mode?

I've not tried it yet, but two youtube videos makers weren't particularly impressed with it. One reported that Nifty mode substantially altered how the drone positioned itself relative to the subject.

JoelP · Jul 11, 2022

Yes, Nifty. Who in DJI marketing picked such a strange name for this?

BlairAir · Jul 11, 2022

Personally I think it's golly gee keen.

In fairness, I think DCRainmaker assumed it was entirely for use with tracking (as many do) when in fact DJI even told him "it's primarily for when an operator is at the sticks" It's a type of APAS tuning that will smooth out the motions of the MVic 3 Which is hugely aggressive in how its tuned.

I don't think great footage is achieved by flying right up to an object, then suddenly swerving and going around it like a person fleeing an age murderer through the woods. Maybe if you are filming a horror flick, and want to simulate running in a blind panic, looking back, then almost running g I to trees.

The obstacle avoidance on Mavic 3 is terrible. The glass lenses on the OA Sensors get flare or ghosting in low sun situations. I've had dozens of sunset hyperlapses stop with "object detected. Hyperlapse canceled. When it's hundreds of feet above the treeline. At least they greatly improved the uncommanded altitude increases in low sun angles or with snow or water underneath.

I believe 90% of the long list of fails on Mavic 3 are directly attributable to releasing hardware spec to production before they even tested the standard suite of software. We had video/photo at release. As features came online it was obvious they fell short of promised performance, and DJI is completely aware they screwed up. Releasing untested hardware to production expecting to fix it later through software is the height of arrogance. If nothing else it made the Mini 3 Pro the absolutely awesome lightweight portable drone it is. A) They knew they had to exceed expectations. B) they delayed it several times, vs repeating Mavic 3 debacle. It's not perfect by any stretch, and they have had a few big blunders with signal and some features. But fixes come fast and furious. It's obvious they put huge resources towards its success.

I thought Mavic 3 was going to follow this playbook. Instead, fixes took months on end, releases were months apart, during which owners were seriously wondering if things like the GPS issue were even addressable without a hardware recall.

Lessons learned. By DJI. By us. Everyone is more cautious now. I even waited a full WEEK before ordering Mini 3 Pro. That taught 'em, you can be sure!