Mini pro4 lost in woods.
- Thread starter Camerart
- Start date
Hi B and B,
I think if my flight was normal, it would have been fine, but I set the RTH ALT too low to go over the trees, and it couldn't find another route back.
Once I took over, it took me quite a while to find a hole in the canopy, and if I'd been a better flyer, I would have made it back. The path that I was aiming for was right behind me, but I didn't turn round and decided to reverse into a tree instead DOH! Basically, I can't judge the hole that the Drone can go through yet, perhaps I need cat's whiskers?
There was no damage to the drone, as it landed on top of fearns and slid through.
All in all it was a good learning lesson, and I learnt quite a bit, so all fine.
I was surprised to find the video on the handset, so lucky I had an SD card in both.
A tip for any learners, record the flight, as this is what saved me
Cheers, C.
Felix le Chat
Well-Known Member
Before you bought it, I take it you watched all the DJI bumf about the amazing obstacle avoidance. Sadly, it doesn't work that well outside the advertising videos. But the best way to learn what your drone can do: is to learn object lessons about what it can't do.
At least you've still got a drone you can fly tomorrow... a lot of people who learn not to trust O/A have to fork out another £800 before they can put their hard-earned experience to good use.
The moral of this tale is that your mini 4 ain't that bright... the finest and most reliable safety feature is the thing wiggling its thumbs on the controller sticks.
At least you've still got a drone you can fly tomorrow... a lot of people who learn not to trust O/A have to fork out another £800 before they can put their hard-earned experience to good use.
The moral of this tale is that your mini 4 ain't that bright... the finest and most reliable safety feature is the thing wiggling its thumbs on the controller sticks.
Hi F,
Yes, I watched videos and reviews, then bought it. It's not quite as I imagined, but miles better than the ones I've been building for years, and I now know, that my ones wouldn't know where they are any where near the DJI one.
I've also got some videos in my queue, about flying under trees and other tips. I don't look at the sensational thumbnail ones!
As you say, using them is a lot better for learning, and the place where I was, is really good.
My fist flight was round trees, and down a path, so I could watch it while watching the screen. It was beeping most of the time, left a bit, right a bit, down a bit.
When I lost it the tube through the wood, I could see right down into a field in the the distance. When I got to the field, I could see thin dangly twigs hanging down, that I negotiated ok.
All would have been fine, if I'd gone on this flight first, as it was the same battery as the first one. A silly mistake.
Cheers, C.
Felix le Chat
Well-Known Member
You got one of the major problems pegged with your response to the other 'forest flier' thread. GPS... or more to the point: the lack of it.
When you don't get a strong satellite uplink, the drone automatically switches to VPS (Vision Positioning System)... the problem then starts if there isn't enough ambient light for the VPS to grab onto textures or objects... it will have difficulty holding a stable hover. You're on a woodland track so the ambient light level will have dropped considerably - you won't have noticed it too much because your vision will have automatically adjusted to compensate. The drone sensors are nowhere near as sophisticated as your eyes.
When VPS craps out: the next step is ATTI mode, which means flying seat-of-the-pants and if you can't see the drone: well... you get the picture.
The next thing to happen will be when you lose the control signal due to attenuation (objects blocking or interfering with the radio transmission... trees and bushes). When this happens, the first thing to crap out is the live video feed... You're blind.
Then the control signal spits the dummy and RTH kicks in after 3 seconds. If you've got RTH set to Return To Home: the drone shoots itself straight up... and into whatever branches and foliage are directly above it.
But if the drone had lost GPS like you said, it can't RTH and would land wherever it is.
Chrislaf
Well-Known Member
If you want to fly under tree cover and along bush trails then maybe the Flip would have been a better choice for you. It basically has the same camera as the Mini 4 Pro but has completely enclosed props.
That still wouldn’t have solved your original problem of letting the battery run down too low but you may have had a better chance of getting up through the hole in the tree cover.
Chris
Honestly, I come home at 20% as I do not trust the usage readings either. There have been times I've hit RTH with the battery at 15%, and the reading suddenly jumped up to a higher number, like 25-30%. I am concerned that if the usage reading can jump that high in one direction, it can go just as far in the opposite direction.
Rchawks
Well-Known Member
Air temp can effect flight time as well. If it’s’ very hot or cold outside it can shorten your useable flight time. Keeping an eye on the fuel gauge during the flight is very important and can change rapidly with wind conditions at different heights and power Input.
Hi all,
You've got to agree, there's a lot to consider, and I'm new to it.
My eyesight isn't what it was so watching the drone, then looking for the fuel gauge needs practice.
I get the points about GPS, data and video signals failing, and so far in the wood I was in, the GPS lost signal, but the rest seemed fine, even though by this time, I couldn't see the drone.
I think these woods are perfect, as it's interesting and there's holes in the canopy, and as I try different things, I'm sure I'll get used to it.
One thing, that didn't work was the 'make a noise' trigger, it wouldn't connect., I'm sure I could stick something on the drone to make a noise. e,g, I have low battery modules, which if wired in, would keep making a noise even if the was only one cell with power. I'll see what I can do.
Cheers, thanks for the comments C.
You've got to agree, there's a lot to consider, and I'm new to it.
My eyesight isn't what it was so watching the drone, then looking for the fuel gauge needs practice.
I get the points about GPS, data and video signals failing, and so far in the wood I was in, the GPS lost signal, but the rest seemed fine, even though by this time, I couldn't see the drone.
I think these woods are perfect, as it's interesting and there's holes in the canopy, and as I try different things, I'm sure I'll get used to it.
One thing, that didn't work was the 'make a noise' trigger, it wouldn't connect., I'm sure I could stick something on the drone to make a noise. e,g, I have low battery modules, which if wired in, would keep making a noise even if the was only one cell with power. I'll see what I can do.
Cheers, thanks for the comments C.
There are some 15-20 foot wide trails near me that probably are unobstructed by tree branches for 20-30 feet both vertically and horizontally.
I learned my lesson about flying my m4pro there. I'm lucky there was no damage.
I don't think I'd fly in an area like that again, but I think it can be safely done by using propeller guards, and not running the battery below 25% to avoid any possibility of it from returning to home. Being U.S.based and not being able to easily replace this means my risk tolerance is low
It's 2025, I know you said you were new to drones but the hobby isn't new. It's a drone not an airplane and DJI doesn't expect to you "pilot" it like one which is why they've done their best to take care of all the important issues related to flight like the smart battery, auto RTH, GPS, etc. No need to rip into your drone to wire up module, we've had these for a long time:
Drone Buzzer
VIFLY is a team of FPV enthusiasts with a long history in the RC industry, we dedicated in designing and developing innovative and practical FPV gears for this hobby.
viflydrone.com
Hi M,It's 2025, I know you said you were new to drones but the hobby isn't new. It's a drone not an airplane and DJI doesn't expect to you "pilot" it like one which is why they've done their best to take care of all the important issues related to flight like the smart battery, auto RTH, GPS, etc. No need to rip into your drone to wire up module, we've had these for a long time:
Drone Buzzer
VIFLY is a team of FPV enthusiasts with a long history in the RC industry, we dedicated in designing and developing innovative and practical FPV gears for this hobby.viflydrone.com
I've built drones for years, and flown mine, but they definately, are no where near the DJI ones.
I was thinking about using the battery leds, to trigger a noise, but the link you sent looks good. What triggers the noise, or are they buzzing all of the time?
Thanks, C.
