RC Stick calibration?

[scro]

I recently had a popup appear on my RC (the "DJI RC" with the built in screen and built in antennas) stating it needed a stick calibration. I went into the menu and started the calibration process, but it seems to just get stuck on the step where it asks you to move the sticks and wheels through their full range of motion, and it never seems to move onto the next step. All the controls seem to go to +/- 100% except for the left stick which tops out at around +70% on the side-to-side axis (ie yaw).

Any ideas why it doesn't complete the calibration?

I don't have any obvious magnetic objects (eg watch, bracelets, ferrous objects etc) nearby that may hinder the process.

 

[Cafguy]

Check the following:
Is the drone turned off? it needs to be.
Is your firmware up to date? check.
Are you sure you are using FULL MOVEMENTS? (not missing any icons).
Use slow steady movements on the controller. It helps sometimes to put the controller down on a flat surface.
The most common reason for the problem you have is.......Electromagnetic interference......Take your calibrating outside. concrete will cause problems.
Keep us posted !

 

[scro]

Check the following:
Is the drone turned off? it needs to be.
Is your firmware up to date? check.
Are you sure you are using FULL MOVEMENTS? (not missing any icons).
Use slow steady movements on the controller. It helps sometimes to put the controller down on a flat surface.
The most common reason for the problem you have is.......Electromagnetic interference......Take your calibrating outside. concrete will cause problems.
Keep us posted !

Thanks for the reply @Cafguy Some good points, a few of which I didn't explicitly check before trying to calibrate but, looking back, I'm confident I'm good on all these points. I've done RC controller calibrations often enough before on other systems, but just not on the DJI RC. I wonder if the calibration was expecting a higher stick output than ~70% to register as full range movement on that axis? There was definitely full physical movement of the stick, but the hall sensor output was less than expected (probably hence the flag for calibrating).

edit - I'm sure it's what you mean when you say "concrete will cause problems" but the concrete itself isn't really a problem, rather the ferrous reinforcing very often hidden embedded in the concrete, which can mess up compass readings, and in this case influence the hall sensor outputs.

 

[Capt KO]

70% is not good especially if it's jerky during the climb to 70. Not fun flying. Normally you move the sticks slowly so you can watch the change but hopefully moving the stick rapidly that one direction several times will get it to 100. Sadly I've had to replace a couple sticks on older units but already had spares on hand. Sent one to DJI with bad sticks and bad battery long past warranty, was pleasantly surprised at the price of a like new replacement. Let us know how she goes, sounds like you've done this before.

 

[scro]

I had another look at the RC, but I could not get the yaw axis to go much past +65-70% readout. The stick was definitely not obstructed, and was moving freely and smoothly through its physical movement range . All the other directions of all the other control inputs would get to 100%. Even powering on the controller with a bit of stick deflection, and starting the calibration with the stick still deflected would not get that one axis to go to 100% (it would get to -100% fine, in all cases).

I decided to open it up and have a look - There was nothing loose or obvious that might cause a problem so I tried powering up with it open and... it calibrated perfectly first try. I reassembled and tried a short flight, and noticed that I was getting slight yaw drift to the right. I checked the calibration and it was back to it's old problem again. I popped it open again and wiggled a few wires and tried a few recalibrations, watching what might cause phantom stick deflection or prevent it getting to 100%. There was nothing obvious, no loose connections that I could detect and no physical obstructions. Now it's all back together again and seemingly working OK.

I'm none-the-wiser, but at least I have a drone that is flyable again - it wouldn't even take off with the controller flagging up needing a calibration.