Most battery efficient distance mode

[Robw_z]

With vehicles, if you are low on fuel you shouldn't max your speed to get to the next gas station; but go slow to maximize fuel economy.

On that note, with drones; there is a temptation to use sport mode to RTH if your battery life is getting concerning. I've so far steered clear of that temptation and have been using "N" - Normal Mode, to RTH. However, I'm not sure how taxing the obstacle avoidance is on the battery; even when in the clear.

Just curious of others observations when trying to get the best "battery % per hour" in terms of direct distance.

 

[Meta4]

With vehicles, if you are low on fuel you shouldn't max your speed to get to the next gas station; but go slow to maximize fuel economy.

But you also shouldn't go too slow.
There's a "goldilocks" speed in between that will get the best fuel economy.

On that note, with drones; there is a temptation to use sport mode to RTH if your battery life is getting concerning. I've so far steered clear of that temptation and have been using "N" - Normal Mode, to RTH. However, I'm not sure how taxing the obstacle avoidance is on the battery; even when in the clear.

Sport Mode will burn the battery faster and give less distance.
Fly too slow and you use too much battery power just fighting gravity.
But there's no need to wonder of ask what others think.
DJI spell it out for you in their specs.

Max Flight Time
51 minutes
Measured by the aircraft flying forward at a constant speed of 32.4 kph in a windless environment at sea level, with Obstacle Avoidance Action set to Brake, in photo mode, and from 100% battery level until 0%. Actual experience may vary depending on the environment, usage, and firmware version.

Max Flight Distance
41 km
Measured by the aircraft flying forward at a constant speed of 54 kph in a windless environment at sea level, with Obstacle Avoidance Action set to Brake, in photo mode, and from 100% battery level until 0%. Actual experience may vary depending on the environment, usage, and firmware version.

Max Hovering Time
45 minutes
Measured by the aircraft hovering in a windless environment at sea level, with Obstacle Avoidance Action set to Brake, in photo mode, and from 100% battery level until 0%. Actual experience may vary depending on the environment, usage, and firmware version.

 

[Dogpilot]

Real world this week, 9.5 km out and back, sport out normal back. Landed with 26% battery. This is clear arid country on a high point, not too terribly high, but a bit of a knoll. 10 knot wind, measured, flying at 6,200' (1890m) altitude. Trying to track down the wild bison heard we have that roams around here. Got visitors coming in from South Africa, want to see our large wildlife for a change. Need to locate a Gila Monster, we, at least have poisonous lizards.

 

[GadgetGuy]

Max Flight Time
51 minutes
Measured by the aircraft flying forward at a constant speed of 32.4 kph/20.1 mph

Max Flight Distance
41 km/25.5 miles
Measured by the aircraft flying forward at a constant speed of 54 kph/33.5 mph

Max Hovering Time
45 minutes
Measured by the aircraft hovering in a windless environment at sea level,

Taking it a few steps further, while maximizing flight time at 32.4 kph/20.1 mph for 51 minutes, the flight distance covered is only 27.5 km/17.1 miles

While maximizing flight distance at 54 kph/33.5 mph over 42 km/26.1 miles, the flight time will be 45.6 minutes, which is only 34 seconds longer than a 45 minute continuous hover time.

Maximizing flight time reduces the maximum flight distance by 39%!

Maximizing flight distance reduces the maximum flight time by only 18%, and flight time of a maximum distance flight is comparable to a constant hover time.

So, when you are trying to make it all the way back, on a round trip flight, on the return leg, fly at the faster 54 kph/33.5 mph rather than the slower 32.4 kph/20.1 mph, which will come up short by 39% of the 54 kph/33.5 mph speed, but prolong the agony/demise of a ditch landing by flying for 21% longer than the 54 kph/33.5 mph speed flight time! You'll definitely fly for longer, but still die well short of home!

Long distance record flyers fly farther and shorter flights than those optimizing mere flight time. The optimal flight speed for maximizing distance, determined by the best long distance flyer of most DJI prior aircraft (anyone remember @UnknownCaller), was, in fact, 33.5 mph. Still hasn't changed on the Mavic 4 Pro.

Those flying for maximum distance per battery with the Mavic 4 Pro should expect maximum flight times of 82% of DJI's published maximum flight times, which are based upon the much slower 32.4 kmh/20.1 mph speed. That means 42 minutes max from 100% to 0%, not 51 minutes.

Using a more practical 100% to 10% forced landing means 37.8 minutes of flight time at 54 kmh/33.5 mph.

Add in wind and video recording instead of photo mode, reducing flight times by another 10%, and a realistic figure is 33-35 minutes of flight time covering 35km/21.7 miles at 54 kmh/33.5 mph.

That's a 35km/21.7 mile round trip of a straight out flight of 17.5 km/10.8 miles.

"Y'all come back, now, ya hear!"

Don't come up short, especially over the ocean!
Into the wind on the way out, early in the morning, and downwind on the way back, and turn around at 55%, not 50%! Fly under the wind by hugging the ground as much as safely possible.

Oh, and make sure not to lose VLOS! LOL!

Note: above is a purely theoretical discussion of the physical capabilities, and would be illegal in most areas of the world today because of VLOS requirements. However, it still has practical information useful to most pilots when maximizing distance on a return flight to make it back home to dry land safely.