No GPS flight

[Superslo]

I am new to drone ownership and am just getting my Mavic Air in the air. I am a construction superintendent, and did not realize it wouldn't fly without GPS. I have situations where I thought I could inspect high ceiling framing and other issues using the drone, but it seems it is not possible.....or is there a way to lock out GPS and fly manually?

 

[Shon]

It can fly indoors. When GPS is not available, it will switch either to OPTI Mode or ATTI Mode. Unlike other DJI drones, you don't have a choice in the matter...the drone will chose the best mode based on the environment.

GPS is generally available outside, and is most stable.
OPTI mode uses optical sensors for stabilization.
ATTI mode will activate if GPS or OPTI mode is not available. This is the least stable... your drone may drift and is more prone to crashing in this mode.


Honestly...for the type of work you are talking about...I would recommend a Gopro Hero 7 Camera, a telescoping pole (like you could use for painting) and a bike mount for the camera.

You could even purchase a bike mount for your phone that you can attach to the bottom of the pole, and using the Bluetooth connection, have a live view of what you are looking at with the camera. There are also flashlight attachments for the camera, lighting up darker areas.

Putting the camera on a pole will allow you to get much closer to what you need to look at, offer very precise control of the camera, and also allow you to squeeze into tighter spaces than with a drone. Also... if in the U.S., using a drone for work would require you to take a knowledge test and register with the FAA. Oh...and it is about half the cost of the Air...if that... and you could certainly use a cheaper option than the Hero 7...

 

[Mrmund]

Great idea Shon but I'd say get the GoPro/pole set up and keep the Air. You can use the GoPro now to get what you need while you learn the drone and figure out all the FAA regs

 

[Canuk]

The little spark is a great drone for flying inside buildings . Once the prop guards are on it can bounce off walls and not crash . When it was -40 outside I was flying my spark in my shop all the time . It can be hand launched easy . I have my function button set to control , launch and land .

 

[brett8883]

I am new to drone ownership and am just getting my Mavic Air in the air. I am a construction superintendent, and did not realize it wouldn't fly without GPS. I have situations where I thought I could inspect high ceiling framing and other issues using the drone, but it seems it is not possible.....or is there a way to lock out GPS and fly manually?

You can change your remote setting so that instead of sport mode let’s say you change to atti mode instead.

In atti mode no GPS or VPS is used only barometer and gyroscopes/compass. The drone will keep itself level but if a wind comes along the wind will push the drone without any protest from the drone. It also will no longer have automatic brakes. If you let go of the sticks in flight the drone will continue its forward motion until you change its direction or it runs out of emerita. It’s basically like a puck on one of those air hockey tables. Basically you have to actually “fly” the thing.

Doing this will require plugging the mavic into your computer and changing a setting in the firmware. It’s easy to do but keep in mind it’s not something DJI would reccomend but it is possible and lots of us have done it no problem.

You can always switch back to P-mode and the drone will immediately regain automatic positioning. Will probably take so practice before flying in indoors for a job.

This brings up an interesting question though. Do you need a 107 in the US to fly the drone INDOORS. The FAA dosent regulate the airspace inside a building. Anybody have any thoughts?

 

[Shon]

[QUOTE="brett8883, post: 701456, member: 86003"

This brings up an interesting question though. Do you need a 107 in the US to fly the drone INDOORS. The FAA doesn't regulate the airspace inside a building. Anybody have any thoughts?[/QUOTE]

I doubt it is an issue for indoor use. But...what if you are framing a building and the roof isn't on yet? What if you want to expand use, to look at something outside or on the roof? What if an on-sight accident occurs and you are not strictly flying legally? Would it void any insurance coverage you might have to address these kind of issues? If I was flying a drone for business reasons, I would certainly want to dot all my "i"s and cross all my "t"s.

 

[Superslo]

Thanks for the replies! Lot's of good info. As for an update.....I finally got my drone in the air, and it was impossible to keep my phone screen visible (I have no hood). However, I had a tablet which I wanted to use, so I loaded the software on it, updated it, and when I fired everything up inside my house, it automatically went to OPTI mode and I was able to fly indoors! As for a selfie stick, do they make them 30' long?....LOL
So I've been back outside and then it had a 'compass' problem. I tried the calibration and it got locked up and I shut it all down. When I rebooted all was good. So, all is good as far as I can tell indoors or out without major programming. These things are complicated, then there's the flying skills which I DO NOT HAVE....I'll keep working on that.
Thanks again for all the feedback.
By the way, I registered my drone with the FAA and got a number. $5.00 and it's no big deal.

AS AN EDIT, ON MY FIRST POST THE SITUATION WAS THAT THE PROGRAM WOULD NOT GO TO OPTI. THAT'S WHY I THOUGHT IT WOULD NOT FLY INSIDE. THEN I HOOKED UP THE TABLET---PROBLEM RESOLVED.

 

[brett8883]

Thanks for the replies! Lot's of good info. As for an update.....I finally got my drone in the air, and it was impossible to keep my phone screen visible (I have no hood). However, I had a tablet which I wanted to use, so I loaded the software on it, updated it, and when I fired everything up inside my house, it automatically went to OPTI mode and I was able to fly indoors! As for a selfie stick, do they make them 30' long?....LOL
So I've been back outside and then it had a 'compass' problem. I tried the calibration and it got locked up and I shut it all down. When I rebooted all was good. So, all is good as far as I can tell indoors or out without major programming. These things are complicated, then there's the flying skills which I DO NOT HAVE....I'll keep working on that.
Thanks again for all the feedback.
By the way, I registered my drone with the FAA and got a number. $5.00 and it's no big deal.

Just to give you the information so you are fully aware, using the drone to aid in a job or using it for work of any kind in the US requires what we call a part 107 UAV pilot’s license IN ADDITION to registering the drone under Part 107.

Now there’s some grey area or maybe even a solid loophole when it comes to flying inside of a roofed structure because presumably the FAA wouldn’t have jurisdiction in that environment. I can’t confirm this loophole but it would seem plausible.

Outdoors, however, the Federal Law is clear you would need to to have one to inspect a roof or servey a job site etc. This applies even if the job you are doing isn’t directly related to the work your drone is doing.

An example that is often used is a Real Estate Agent taking photos of a property they are trying to sell. Even though the Real Estate Agent isn’t selling the drone photographs and thus not directly profiting off the work the drone does, it is being used to further a business interest, therefore, a part 107 UAV Pilot’s License would be required.

Again just telling you this so you have the information. I personally think it’s a rediculous Law and won’t think less of anybody who breaks it but I think it’s important to make sure people know so you can make an informed dicision about it.

 

[sar104]

You can change your remote setting so that instead of sport mode let’s say you change to atti mode instead.

In atti mode no GPS or VPS is used only barometer and gyroscopes/compass. The drone will keep itself level but if a wind comes along the wind will push the drone without any protest from the drone. It also will no longer have automatic brakes. If you let go of the sticks in flight the drone will continue its forward motion until you change its direction or it runs out of emerita. It’s basically like a puck on one of those air hockey tables. Basically you have to actually “fly” the thing.

Doing this will require plugging the mavic into your computer and changing a setting in the firmware. It’s easy to do but keep in mind it’s not something DJI would reccomend but it is possible and lots of us have done it no problem.

You can always switch back to P-mode and the drone will immediately regain automatic positioning. Will probably take so practice before flying in indoors for a job.

This brings up an interesting question though. Do you need a 107 in the US to fly the drone INDOORS. The FAA dosent regulate the airspace inside a building. Anybody have any thoughts?

The FAA has no jurisdiction at all over indoor flight.

 

[Shon]

As for a selfie stick, do they make them 30' long?....LOL.

They have long telescoping extension poles at Home Depot. The kind you might attach a paint roller to. Add a “bike” mount and a camera, and you have a 30’ selfie stick. I’ve used this method in a situation where it was too dangerous to fly my drone.

 

[Superslo]

Just to give you the information so you are fully aware, using the drone to aid in a job or using it for work of any kind in the US requires what we call a part 107 UAV pilot’s license IN ADDITION to registering the drone under Part 107.

Now there’s some grey area or maybe even a solid loophole when it comes to flying inside of a roofed structure because presumably the FAA wouldn’t have jurisdiction in that environment. I can’t confirm this loophole but it would seem plausible.

Outdoors, however, the Federal Law is clear you would need to to have one to inspect a roof or servey a job site etc. This applies even if the job you are doing isn’t directly related to the work your drone is doing.

An example that is often used is a Real Estate Agent taking photos of a property they are trying to sell. Even though the Real Estate Agent isn’t selling the drone photographs and thus not directly profiting off the work the drone does, it is being used to further a business interest, therefore, a part 107 UAV Pilot’s License would be required.

Again just telling you this so you have the information. I personally think it’s a rediculous Law and won’t think less of anybody who breaks it but I think it’s important to make sure people know so you can make an informed dicision about it.

Thanks Brett, good explanation of the 107 license vs registration. I like to roll by the book, so I'll be studying up and taking the test.