New FAA hobby regs (17th of May 2019) and DJI firmware update (or lack thereof)

[sar104]

Does the "Compass error, move aircraft or calibrate compass" error message that DJIG4 shows mean that the compass is being interfered with even though the map is accurate? Can the map be accurate, but the above error message will still appear?

As far as I can tell - not necessarily. Before the M2 I only saw it when there was magnetic interference, but with the M2 I see it every time I move more than 50 km or every 30 days - as expected based on the M2 firmware. And when it occurs for those reasons there is generally nothing interfering at all - the direction indicator is correct and the sensor compass interference values are all low in the green.

So yes - the compass and direction indication can be just fine if the message is triggered for that reason on a Mavic 2. Mine won't take off in that situation though - hence my earlier question about which aircraft you were referring to.

Another thought. Lets say an owner decides to always take off from the same spt and gets this error message every time. The drone allows him to take off, and within a foot of the ground. Lets further say that the message is due to magnetic interference. Is it possible that a long term consequence could be permanent damage to the compass?

I think it would take a very strong magnetic field to damage the magnetometers permanently, although they can become magnetized sufficiently to need demagnetization according to some reports.

 

[Former Member]

As far as I can tell - not necessarily. Before the M2 I only saw it when there was magnetic interference, but with the M2 I see it every time I move more than 50 km or every 30 days - as expected based on the M2 firmware. And when it occurs for those reasons there is generally nothing interfering at all - the direction indicator is correct and the sensor compass interference values are all low in the green.

So, in this case that you mention, would you calibrate a Mavic Pro? It will let me spool the props even thought the message is there.

With the M2, I think you are saying that you have no choice but to calibrate if its been 30 days or drone has moved more than 50 km because it wont let you spool the motors if you dont. In this case, do you think the error message is valid or just a firmware bug, or something else?

 

[sar104]

So, in this case that you mention, would you calibrate a Mavic Pro? It will let me spool the props even thought the message is there.

With the M2, I think you are saying that you have no choice but to calibrate if its been 30 days or drone has moved more than 50 km because it wont let you spool the motors if you dont. In this case, do you think the error message is valid or just a firmware bug, or something else?

Yes - I just calibrate, because it's programmed to require it. The DAT file event stream shows both the request and the reason (either time or distance). So it's not a bug - it's pretty clear that DJI added this check to the firmware, for reasons that I certainly don't understand - there is no obvious need to do that and none of the previous models required it.

 

[Former Member]

Yes - I just calibrate, because it's programmed to require it. The DAT file event stream shows both the request and the reason (either time or distance). So it's not a bug - it's pretty clear that DJI added this check to the firmware, for reasons that I certainly don't understand - there is no obvious need to do that and none of the previous models required it.

So, based on your interpretation of the requirement of the programming, can I assume that the days of people only calibrating one time in the life of the drone are over, in terms of the Mavic 2 at this point in time? Who knows if future firmware will not make this a requirement.

And also, just because the drone is demanding, after 30 days or 50km, that the compass be calibrated does not necessarily mean that something is broken? I think this issue baffles alot of people, and now that you know that it happens, it just makes sense.

 

[sar104]

So, based on your interpretation of the requirement of the programming, can I assume that the days of people only calibrating one time in the life of the drone are over, in terms of the Mavic 2 at this point in time?

And also, just because the drone is demanding that the compass be calibrated does not necessarily mean that something is broken? I think this issue baffles alot of people, and now that you know that it happens, it just makes sense.

There have been a few Mavic 2 owners who have somehow avoided the 30 day requests. I've looked at a couple of logs from such aircraft, and the "last calibrated" date is years in the future, which explains why it doesn't ask. There have also been a few reports from owners who said that it wasn't requesting recalibration when they changed location by over 50 km, but I haven't seen any logs to confirm that. But other than that, yes, if DJI sticks with that feature in the firmware then those days of a single successful calibration lasting the lifetime of the aircraft (the case with my Mavic Pro, for example) are a thing of the past.

 

[Former Member]

There have been a few Mavic 2 owners who have somehow avoided the 30 day requests. I've looked at a couple of logs from such aircraft, and the "last calibrated" date is years in the future, which explains why it doesn't ask. There have also been a few reports from owners who said that it wasn't requesting recalibration when they changed location by over 50 km, but I haven't seen any logs to confirm that. But other than that, yes, if DJI sticks with that feature in the firmware then those days of a single successful calibration lasting the lifetime of the aircraft (the case with my Mavic Pro, for example) are a thing of the past.

Do you think theres a way to set the Mavic 2 clock ahead so that at least the 30 day requirement will always be met? I wonder if there would be any harm in doing that.

 

[sar104]

Do you think theres a way to set the Mavic 2 clock ahead so that at least the 30 day requirement will always be met? I wonder if there would be any harm in doing that.

I have wondered that too, but I have no idea how to change those data on the aircraft. In the end I stopped worrying about it, since calibration takes less than 30 seconds and always seems to work first time, at least on my aircraft. I'm more just puzzled why they did that.

 

[Former Member]

I wonder if those people with current calibration dates indicating future dates will have 20 year warranties? Im guessing not. joking

 

[FlyGuy8675309]

In previous user posts there is on where a temp NFZ started while user was flying. The drone immediately landed.

Having the quad land when it enters a NFZ is the most irresponsible action I can think of. No reason there can't be an "invisible fence" that just stops it from entering or perform a RTH action. Having it land willy-nilly is very dangerous.

 

[BigAl07]

Having the quad land when it enters a NFZ is the most irresponsible action I can think of. No reason there can't be an "invisible fence" that just stops it from entering or perform a RTH action. Having it land willy-nilly is very dangerous.

Let's not get that one started again. We've hashed it out to "Ad nauseam " and we are not going to agree on this one.

 

[dylanthecat]

There have been a few Mavic 2 owners who have somehow avoided the 30 day requests. I've looked at a couple of logs from such aircraft, and the "last calibrated" date is years in the future, which explains why it doesn't ask. There have also been a few reports from owners who said that it wasn't requesting recalibration when they changed location by over 50 km, but I haven't seen any logs to confirm that. But other than that, yes, if DJI sticks with that feature in the firmware then those days of a single successful calibration lasting the lifetime of the aircraft (the case with my Mavic Pro, for example) are a thing of the past.

I am one of those people. 1 cal so far from September. I will be flying this weekend about 140 miles away. I will report back what I find.

 

[raylo32]

I will be hitting the road for the first time with my M2 this weekend, about 200k away from home. Curious to see if it will require compass cal.

 

[FlyGuy8675309]

Let's not get that one started again. We've hashed it out to "Ad nauseam " and we are not going to agree on this one.

Sorry. I didn't get the memo. But way to be professional about it.

 

[Q24H]

I hope it's not a stupid question, I've been out of the loop for a few months now. I see a lot of posters are linking the FAA map for reference, and I want to make sure I understand the rules right:

ArcGIS Web Application

faa.maps.arcgis.com

Are red/green boxes just color coded for different air space zones? Or do they have additional meaning? Just don't fly in those boxes and I should be ok right??

Also if I understand the new rules right, hobbyist will also need LAANC clearance but that system isnt quite online yet so technically we are not allowed to fly in BCDE air spaces until that is implemented

 

[msinger]

if I understand the new rules right, hobbyist will also need LAANC clearance but that system isnt quite online yet so technically we are not allowed to fly in BCDE air spaces until that is implemented

As of right now, hobbyists can only fly up to 400 feet AGL in Class G airspace or within authorized fixed sites in controlled airspace.

 

[John Suhr]

You often won't see a compass error at the takeoff point - all that happens is that the local magnetic field (in this case possibly due to magnetized metal parts in the table) affects the compass, so that it gets the aircraft heading wrong and incorrectly initializes the IMU yaw value. When it takes off and leaves the magnetic field of the table, the compass then reads correctly but the IMU yaw value and compass disagree - that's when the compass error typically occurs. And that can cause uncontrolled flight.



I've rarely seen a compass error on the ground that goes away after takeoff. Compass errors on the ground are generally because the aircraft magnetic field has changed and it needs recalibration or demagnetization, it is in the presence of an external magnetic field that exceeds its limits or, with the M2, because it has moved more than 50 km or it is more than 30 days since the last calibration. Generally it will not start motors with those kinds of errors but, if it does and can take off, the error will not go away.

It happened to me once, I ignored it because it went away, flew OK for 5 seconds and the crashed. Only crash in 1 year plus. Now I look carefully until I’m up and secure everything is clear. If I see it I land immediately and start again from a different location or hand launch. Watch out for all metal and concrete. I fly on the edge of a 5m radius and never have an issue, there is also an app for the iPhone which helped me identify magnetic interference Tesla Recorder.

 

[dfb]

First off welcome to the forum.

The aircraft does not "Swan Dive" when it enters a NFZ. Something else went wrong and you need to diagnose that before you fly it again.

The new rule does NOT state anything about "5 mile from an airport". That was the OLD rule.

New law states you know what Airspace you're in and then you determine if flying is allowed or not.

I sure hope that's true. Been depressed about actually reading this bill. Techno speak, I need to read every paragraph 3 times. All day today I have been reading and seeking summaries on the FAA site. I must have retained some older material or found bad advice (The FAA seems to be behind on web updates) where both cases were in the same sentence. Don't fly in controlled airspace or within 5 nm of an airport. I want to go with the controlled airspace, this 5 nm radius thing is overkill.

 

[FlyGuy8675309]

Also if I understand the new rules right, hobbyist will also need LAANC clearance but that system isnt quite online yet so technically we are not allowed to fly in BCDE air spaces until that is implemented

Just keep in mind, unless you're in a remote area, that Class G airspace will usually be below Class E airspace. Class G airspace extends from the surface to the base of the overlying Class E airspace. Hope this makes sense.

 

[sar104]

I hope it's not a stupid question, I've been out of the loop for a few months now. I see a lot of posters are linking the FAA map for reference, and I want to make sure I understand the rules right:

ArcGIS Web Application

faa.maps.arcgis.com

Are red/green boxes just color coded for different air space zones? Or do they have additional meaning? Just don't fly in those boxes and I should be ok right??

Also if I understand the new rules right, hobbyist will also need LAANC clearance but that system isnt quite online yet so technically we are not allowed to fly in BCDE air spaces until that is implemented

The green boxes are implemented LAANC clearance zones. The red ones are still pending - in those zones you still have to use the legacy FAA waiver/authorization process. Both LAANC and the legacy system are only for Part 107 flights - you cannot currently fly recreationally in controlled airspace except at designated fields.

 

[dfb]

I hope it's not a stupid question, I've been out of the loop for a few months now. I see a lot of posters are linking the FAA map for reference, and I want to make sure I understand the rules right:

ArcGIS Web Application

faa.maps.arcgis.com

Are red/green boxes just color coded for different air space zones? Or do they have additional meaning? Just don't fly in those boxes and I should be ok right??

Also if I understand the new rules right, hobbyist will also need LAANC clearance but that system isnt quite online yet so technically we are not allowed to fly in BCDE air spaces until that is implemented

Are you referring to the "Visualize it" FAA map? Attached below. Those contain a ceiling altitude for the controlled airspace. I think you still need authorization to fly. I don't expect the LAANC to reach my neighborhood in my flying lifetime. The FAA site, UAS Facility Map Decision Flow Chart, should explain how to get approval before the former method arrives. I'm going to test that soon. Just found it today. Do it before you really want to fly there and see if it is worth doing again.