Wind Speed Resistance

[AusTrekie]

I have a Mavic Air 2 with a 8.5-10 m/s level 5 Wind Resistance speed. I also have Mini 2 with a 8.5-10 m/s scale 5 Wind Resistance speed. What is the difference between scale 5 and level 5, as the 8.5-10 m/s for both drones is the same ? I understand the Mavic Air 2 has a stronger wind resistance, but unable to clarify the wind speed specs for both drones. Hope someone can clarify this.

 

[Heindrich1988]

It's the same thing, sort of.

DJI just used different English words to refer to the same Chinese word (级). "Level" would be the better translation they should have stuck to.

Instead of giving specific numbers on wind strength, Chinese weather forecasts use levels to refer to wind strength. i.e. "It is a sunny day in Shenzhen tomorrow with temperatures between 9C to 22C with level 3 winds."

Categorizing the wind resistance of both drones at lv5 winds means both drones have been designed and tested to handle such winds. If you encounter winds less than 10.5 m/s and your Mini 2 or Air 2 blow away under normal operating conditions, that'd be a manufacturer's warranty issue.

However, it doesn't mean the Air 2 and Mini 2 have the same wind resistance in practice. As with all things engineering, there will be some tolerance built in. Being a bigger, heavier and more powerful drone, the Air 2 will have a greater tolerance if you happen to get caught in lv5+ gusts. Also, it would be reasonable to expect the Air 2 to provide a more stable shooting platform compared to the Mini 2 when operating on the edge of its wind resistance capability. At 11m/s, the Mini 2 might be able to limp home, but the Air 2 can probably still shoot beautiful smooth footage.

 

[AusTrekie]

It's the same thing, sort of.

DJI just used different English words to refer to the same Chinese word (级). "Level" would be the better translation they should have stuck to.

Instead of giving specific numbers on wind strength, Chinese weather forecasts use levels to refer to wind strength. i.e. "It is a sunny day in Shenzhen tomorrow with temperatures between 9C to 22C with level 3 winds."

Categorizing the wind resistance of both drones at lv5 winds means both drones have been designed and tested to handle such winds. If you encounter winds less than 10.5 m/s and your Mini 2 or Air 2 blow away under normal operating conditions, that'd be a manufacturer's warranty issue.

However, it doesn't mean the Air 2 and Mini 2 have the same wind resistance in practice. As with all things engineering, there will be some tolerance built in. Being a bigger, heavier and more powerful drone, the Air 2 will have a greater tolerance if you happen to get caught in lv5+ gusts. Also, it would be reasonable to expect the Air 2 to provide a more stable shooting platform compared to the Mini 2 when operating on the edge of its wind resistance capability. At 11m/s, the Mini 2 might be able to limp home, but the Air 2 can probably still shoot beautiful smooth footage.

Thankyou for your clarification, as DJI explanation was rather confusing. Not sure as to why DJI have both specs show the same wind resistance, even though both drones are of substantial different in weight. Thanks again for your explanation.

 

[Meta4]

Not sure as to why DJI have both specs show the same wind resistance, even though both drones are of substantial different in weight.

DJI's wind resistance relates to the highest wind speed for which a drone can hold position.
That depends on the speed the drone can fly at and has nothing to do with the drone's weight.

Level/Scale 5 .. is a reference to wind strength expressed on the Beaufort Scale.

Beaufort scale - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

On the Beaufort Scale, a wind of force 5 is a wind of 8–10.7 m/s or 17–21 knots

 

[DanMan32]

It takes thrust, as in power, not weight to fight against wind.

Weight can help help dampen effects of changing winds due to inertia though. It's easier than electronic stability.