What is controlling the drone when flying on a "flight plan"?

[Wade Gizzy]

am assuming that the Mavic 2 has a "flight plan" mode where you select way points, the speed of the drone between way points, the height of the drone, and the direction of the camera.
Is this controlled by the app on the smartphone directly, through the app to the controller then to the drone, or are the coordinates and various info stored in the drone itself and readings taken from GPS satellites?
If it can fly independently of the app, smartphone and controller (and directly from GPS satellites), is distance only dependent on time of flight?

 

[dvarapala]

Dunno about the 2, but on the original Mavic Pro the answer is "both" - the waypoints are stored internally to the aircraft, but the gimbal angle is controlled from the app on the ground. If the aircraft loses contact with the app, it will continue to fly the mission but the camera angle will no longer change.

 

[DanMan32]

M2 does not have Waypoints yet. Waypoint 2 "coming soon"
Hyperlapse has limited waypoint function however.

 

[Wade Gizzy]

Dunno about the 2, but on the original Mavic Pro the answer is "both" - the waypoints are stored internally to the aircraft, but the gimbal angle is controlled from the app on the ground. If the aircraft loses contact with the app, it will continue to fly the mission but the camera angle will no longer change.

If the drone loses contact with the app will the drone "continue to fly the mission" if the drone is not in line of sight? Under those circumstances, is the distance flown by the drone limited only by the amount of battery?

 

[Keule]

If the drone loses contact with the app will the drone "continue to fly the mission" if the drone is not in line of sight?

That depends on the app you are using and the settings.

Firstly, Mavic 2 and GO4 currently do not offer waypoint / mission capability. (yet)
You have to use some other app such as DJI Groundstation Pro (ipad only) or Litchi.

If you decide in the mission settings of said apps, to contininue the flight when link is lost, then the aircraft will fly autonomous without uplink/downlink/video signal and therefore you completely given up to control the aircraft with the RC.
Be sure to check your local regulations about flying an automated flight and/or BVLOS.

is the distance flown by the drone limited only by the amount of battery?

Yes.