When NOT to trust your app.

[Former Member]

The % indication can give horribly false readings if the battery is not fully charged before a flight.
But the voltage display is accurate and gives a proper indication of what's in the battery.

Yes the % indicator is a moving target and not reliable. Also, I believe that the voltmeter indicator is only available in the IOS version of DJI Go. Or at least it was the last time I had an Apple device in my hand to fly with. I dont like to use Apple devices, I think Im allergic to Apples.

 

[Former Member]

I don’t mean the % indicator because even that is making an assumption about the amount of flight time remaining compared to the amount of time that has already expired. I’m talking about the actual display of voltage like 3.68 in @Meta4 ’s example which is the voltage of the cell with the least voltage of the all the cells. So I can tell that all of @Meta4 ’s cells have AT LEAST 3.68 volts left without having to look at the battery window.

I get your point though about making sure you get home with plenty of time to spare. But you aren’t saying there’s a problem with the volts that are being displayed in the app correct?

Are you using IOS or Android?

 

[Former Member]

i have to agree that it is easy to put to much trust in the automated systems built into our UAVs such as the sensors on the drone the display info etc,this is why i have always advocated,learning to fly your drone manually until the control becomes second nature then if problems arise during a flight you are better able to get your pride and joy back safely,there is nothing wrong with using the technology but you need an understanding of the limitations, that can effect the ability of the drone to operate safely in unexpected situations, and end up crashing or getting lost

@old man mavic! How are you feeling? So happy to see you posting again.

I absolutely agree with you about learning to fly manually until control becomes second nature. If you learn to fly by looking at the display only, and if something goes wrong, there is no failsafe.

 

[CJH92474]

One of the more common things that is overlooked is Magnetic Interference. Pilots rely upon the Mavic to know accurately which way it is pointed when in point of fact it can be 180 degree's off. They routinely dismiss the Mag Interference message when it is no longer on the Remote Controllers screen.

Mistake!

The quick way to check that the orientation is correct and corresponds with the compass is to look at the Radar Display and see if it indicates that the Mavic is pointed in the direction that you can physically see when looking at the Mavic.
If you point the Mavic away from you , but the Radar display has the Red Arrow pointed back towards you. Well then there is an issue. That issue is entirely related to Magnetic Interference.

This is another example where pilots need to physically inspect the Mavics orientation and not trust the compass and sensors to always be correct.

Guilty... ?

 

[redserv]

Some people are really dependent on technology, almost to the point of letting it override common sense. Sometimes I check Accuweather before leaving the house. If Accuweather says it's raining outside, I go and look out the window to see if it really is or not. They are right about half the time. So if they say 50% chance of showers, and they are right half the time, I reduce that to 25% chance of showers. Works for me.

Drones use technology and they are not always right. The Mavic has so many sensors, that if any one of them is not calibrated to what its supposed to be doing, it can lead to a fault or crash. Also, dont always rely on technology to save your bacon. Some examples are the downward sensors not being able to accurately detect water. Others might be the inability of the obstacle avoidance to detect a tree branch, obstacle avoidance not working at night, and counting on return to home to get you out of a bind.

You need to use common sense to protect your investment. If something doesnt seem right, despite what the app says, it probably isnt.

That being said, a good way to protect yourself and your drone is to use prop guards in tight spaces, be careful over water, do NOT rely on the batteries internal voltmeter to accurately measure the batteries level especially when going down to the nether regions of below 20%. I liken that to riding an older motorcycle with fuel gauge. I wouldnt depend on it once it drops below half.

A word to the wise is sufficient, but for a fool not even a stick helps...

Best regards,

Rob "Benjamin Franklin" Schwartz

Awesome and thanks for sharing.

 

[mnis]

Flying below 50 percent is rapidly becoming a lottery game ... All cells of the battery have already reached 40 to 45 ° Celsius, and the voltages of the individual cells drift apart faster.

We know how much LiPo's high temperatures love

So it depends on the current climate, whether a misfortune will happen when we fly. In a cold environment, we can breathe a little, because the batteries will not reach their temperature limits that fast.

We also know that the weakest cell of the battery pack has the highest stress level, it will be the hottest. And it is precisely this weak cell that becomes an unpredictable factor in all calculations.

That is why it is good if this value can be shown in the display. Even better, in my opinion, if the current cell drift could be permanently displayed ...

 

[Former Member]

Flying below 50 percent is rapidly becoming a lottery game ... All cells of the battery have already reached 40 to 45 ° Celsius, and the voltages of the individual cells drift apart faster.

We know how much LiPo's high temperatures love

So it depends on the current climate, whether a misfortune will happen when we fly. In a cold environment, we can breathe a little, because the batteries will not reach their temperature limits that fast.

We also know that the weakest cell of the battery pack has the highest stress level, it will be the hottest. And it is precisely this weak cell that becomes an unpredictable factor in all calculations.

That is why it is good if this value can be shown in the display. Even better, in my opinion, if the current cell drift could be permanently displayed ...

 

[Meta4]

I believe that the voltmeter indicator is only available in the IOS version of DJI Go.

That's an Android display in post #14

 

[Former Member]

That's an Android display in post #14

So it is. It still does not display all 3 or 4 cell voltages, only the lowest. It might be adequate for some, but not if youre below 30% and on RTH.

 

[BrucenYvette]

Back in the day, I was never really comfortable trusting anything I couldn't see. That usually meant Wx forecasts from young Air Force Wx forecasters.

Here in St Augustine, FL I learned not long after I moved here that weather "forecasters" aren't really forecasters...they are weather REPORTERS. They report what they see outside their window! And THEY get it RIGHT...about 50% of the time LOL!!

 

[brett8883]

Are you using IOS or Android?

Yea I’m using an ?

 

[old man mavic]

@old man mavic! How are you feeling? So happy to see you posting again.

I absolutely agree with you about learning to fly manually until control becomes second nature. If you learn to fly by looking at the display only, and if something goes wrong, there is no failsafe.

thanks Rob i am on the mend not out of the woods yet but getting there @Thunderdrones

 

[RedBird2020]

Thats funny and youre right! The first real motorcycle I ever rode I borrowed from my friend when I was 10 and it didnt even have a fuel gauge. I rode it till it ran out of gas. Ended up pushing it 2 miles to a gas station. Told the story to my friend. He asked why I didnt turn the reserve lever, to which I replied, "whats a reserve lever?"

Knowledge is Power, Horse Power in that case.... Sorry could not resist