RTH and sunsets.

[MavicKhan]

Yesterday, I made my very first Mavic flight, which was also my very first drone flight, overall.

I chose a wide open place and practiced a while with "begginer mode" before switching to normal mode and had a lot of fun.

By the end of this first session I played with RTH.

The sun was setting and in one of the RTH runs where the drone had to face the sun an "obstacle detected" notice appeared on the app, in spite of no obstacles being around.

There are a couple of threads here which indicate that lost drones incidences might have happened because the Mavics might have interpreted the sun laying low on the horizon as an obstacle and then had the software algorithms logic unable to deal with the situation.

I am a bit worried that the same seems to have happened right on my very first tests attempts.

Should I turn off obstacle avoidance altogether until DJI sorts this one out?

(...as a prophylactic step, I have calibrated the optical sensors last night...)

MK

 

[JohnC]

Sounds that way, the software just has to deal with its external sensor information as best it can.

One thing I was taught from the outset when learning to fly was to remember that things like GPS in a light aircraft was only ever a 'pilot aid' and ultimately the safety of any flight was down to me and not any electronic wizardry.

While all the features of the Mavic are all designed to, as far as practicable, aid to the pilot, you must always have a plan B! It could be anything from the sensors being blinded by the sun or a large insect impacts into one of the sensors. It could even just fail.

I am not saying that in this case the OP just gave up, he was being very sensible, testing the limits of his new aircraft in the safety of a wide open space. He did effect a recovery, many don't, they just throw their hands up and expect DJI to pickup, literally, the pieces.

 

[msinger]

Should I turn off obstacle avoidance altogether until DJI sorts this one out?

Yes.

 

[Crusader]

If you turn off the FVS, just remember smart rth does not use obsticle detection either.

 

[4wd]

I was testing this yesterday and it's not only during RTH - it was easy to have it braking unexpectedly if rising sun was in front. I suspect it's not the sun itself but the refraction effects confuse it.
Bear in mind when you switch OA off it goes much faster forwards which is quite a surprise at first.

 

[longrange]

Could you flip it to sport mode then hit RTH again. Front sensors will be off. I can't remember if RTH has a locked mode with all sensors on.


Sent from my iPad using MavicPilots

 

[MavicKhan]

Thank you guys. Excellent inputs, as usual.

I think I'll leave OA on for "close quarters" flights and will turn it off when going the distance...especially if there's some wind involved.

I really have to come up with a "checklist" for this thing...

MK

 

[MavicKhan]

Could you flip it to sport mode then hit RTH again. Front sensors will be off. I can't remember if RTH has a locked mode with all sensors on.


Sent from my iPad using MavicPilots

Yes, I know that, on account of reading this great, great forum.

I used "Sport" today for an RTH, not because of this issue but because GPS broke for a while under windy conditions and the drone started to drift away.

I would have pi**ed my pants off if it wasn't for this forum and knowing what to do (I actually lost sight and couldn't even hear it for some seconds, with the sound coming from downwind...)

Regardless of specifications and "it can do it" inputs about the wind I now know what my operational limitations will be.

MK