RTH at night

[msinger]

Still a bit confusing, as they do not clearly explain which altitude limit they are referring to. However, it would appear to be the separate maximum altitude setting (that @Bad Santa is referring to as the ceiling height) rather than the RTH altitude setting.

They're referring to the max altitude setting, which is supposed to limit how high the aircraft can fly. The RTH altitude only comes into play when RTH is triggered, making sure the aircraft climbs to the correct height before heading back.

That's how these altitude settings have worked on all DJI drones for quite some time.

 

[DarR-T]

They're referring to the max altitude setting, which is supposed to limit how high the aircraft can fly. The RTH altitude only comes into play when RTH is triggered, making sure the aircraft climbs to the correct height before heading back.

That's how these altitude settings have worked on all DJI drones for quite some time.

As I've experienced and described in my previous posts, you can't rely on the RTH maximum altitude at night. Paying attention to your altitude, disabling the obstacle avoidance and setting a hard ceiling are your first line of defense.

 

[msinger]

As I've experienced and described in my previous posts, you can't rely on the RTH maximum altitude at night. Paying attention to your altitude, disabling the obstacle avoidance and setting a hard ceiling are your first line of defense.

There is no "max RTH altitude" setting.

As I mentioned above, the RTH Altitude simply ensures the aircraft climbs to the correct height before returning home. This feature works the same during the day or night since it doesn't depend on visual sensors to reach that set altitude.

 

[DarR-T]

There is no "max RTH altitude" setting. This feature works the same during the day or night since it doesn't depend on visual sensors to reach that set altitude.

You misread or misinterpreted.
I'm referring to the maximum RTH altitude which I set.
Moreover, the RTH altitude does not work at night unless you disable the obstacle avoidance as DJI suggested.

 

[msinger]

You misread or misinterpreted.
I'm referring to the maximum RTH altitude which I set.
Moreover, the RTH altitude does not work at night unless you disable the obstacle avoidance as DJI suggested.

I think you might be misunderstanding what the RTH Altitude setting does. It sounds like you're thinking it prevents the drone from flying higher than the RTH Altitude once it starts returning home, but that's not the case, as mentioned above.

The RTH Altitude setting works properly at night, even when obstacle avoidance is enabled.

From what you described in your first post, the issue you experienced was related to the drone not following the Max Altitude setting, which is a known issue that can happen with models even older than the Air 3S. And as DJI mentioned, the only known workaround is to disable obstacle avoidance.

 

[Droning on and on...]

All this worry about RTH altitude control malfunction is easily avoided by just flying the drone yourself. Better to be the PIC than a spectator.

If you lose position awareness for the drone, it's dirt simple to follow the rubber band line on the controller map back to the home point.

This got me thinking about developing/honing instrument flying skills (what limited instrumentation we have, although it's sufficient). Go to a rural locale where there is very little risk of aircraft, people, etc., no lights so the view will be black through the camera, then fly around using the attitude/radar indicator. Go there first in daylight to fly around and determine minimum heights, etc.

Lots of risk, so I wouldn't do it with my Air 3, but maybe my Mini 3P, which is pretty much part of the drone legacy now, not anything I ever fly and wouldn't be beside myself if I lost it or got damaged.

 

[DarR-T]

I think you might be misunderstanding what the RTH Altitude setting does. It sounds like you're thinking it prevents the drone from flying higher than the RTH Altitude once it starts returning home, but that's not the case, as mentioned above.

The RTH Altitude setting works properly at night, even when obstacle avoidance is enabled.

From what you described in your first post, the issue you experienced was related to the drone not following the Max Altitude setting, which is a known issue that can happen with models even older than the Air 3S. And as DJI mentioned, the only known workaround is to disable obstacle avoidance.

In my experience the RTH maximum altitude setting was violated at night. This was confirmed by DJI as the drone's sensor see only black at night and interprets this as an obstacle thus it climbs attempting to avoid it. I'll just let others test the RTH max altitude at night with and without obstacle avoidance and take if from there.