What happens if the Waypoint mode loses communication between the drone and the remote control? This is DJI mini SE
We are waiting for an answer from the Litchi representatives. The Waypoint function is said to continue even after the signal is lost.
Due to DJI SDK waypoint limitations for the latest consumer aircraft, we use joystick mode to provide a waypoint solution, but you must stay within range of the remote.
With a MIni SE the drone will activate RTH. Depending on what you have RTH set to it will Return To Home, Hover or Land.
I fly a Mini 2. From my experience, the drone will behave at signal loss in the attitude it was set too within the app. Any loss of connection between the drone and controller will automatically initiate RTH command. The RTH data is actually stored in the drone memory. Not so with waypoint maps. The mission requires the remote to feed the data. Missions must be set within these parameters. I have also notice when in close proximity to controlled airspace, waypoint missions will be interrupted if the next pin and altitude are not in compliance with FAA Facility Map altitude limits set for the mission area. Hope this helps. Happy Flying!
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Thanks to everyone for the answers. Now I understand. I thought the Waypoint map was stored in the drone, and it would continue on its way even after the signal was lost.
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For drones older than the Mini-1 this is the case.
The mission is uploaded to the drone and the drone does all the flying, exept for changes in flying speed and gimbal pitch.
Drones build for the DJI FLY App are controlled by “Virtual Stick Commands” send continuously to the drone.
I have the mini 2 and on the very first waypoint (48ft high, 57 ft away), I had 2 signal losses reported. On lasted 4 sec and the other 7 seconds. The drone did an automatic RTH. I also had this happen another time, but the drone was well over 0.5 mile away (several waypoints away), and signal loss occurred several times, but did not RTH until I pressed it on the RC. If perhaps, I waited longer, it would have automatically occurred, but the way point 1 at 57 ft, initiated the RTH right away.
A good day to you all:
Is it still true that DJI Mini 2 cannot store waypoints/mission onboard that upon signal loss from RC it will only RTH? Any firmware updates out there can improve this? If this is still the case unfortunately I’ll have to return my Mini 2 since that’s a big loss in range & functionality. I have a P3S in excellent condition that allows me to run waypoints up to 10km+ per mission.
Anyone know if DJI Mini 3 Pro will have the same Mini 2 limitations described above?
Thanks in advance for your insights.
All the DJI drones that use DJI fly are like this as they don’t have the onboard memory and use a VSC function, so yes the mini 3 pro will be exactly the same
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I routinely fly Litchi waypoint missions that range way beyond the reach of my RC controller, but this is only possible with the Phantom 3 and 4 series drones, and with the Mavic Pro1 and Pro Platinum first-generation DJI drones, all of which store the entire waypoint mission parameters of GPS location, altitude, and camera (horizontal) direction, onboard the drone.
This type of beyond visual range and beyond RC signal range drone mission is not permitted in most of the EU and USA, but since I reside in a remote Third World backwater where drone operation guidelines don’t exist, I am free to send the drones anywhere I like within the range of their flight batteries. A typical mission flown by any of my drones is 6 miles round trip, and 22 minutes flight time, during which 4GB of 2.7K resolution video footage is recorded to the SD memory card.
All newer DJI drones than the ones listed above will revert to RTH the instant a waypoint mission exceeds the drone’s radio link to the controller. To fly fully autonomous Litchi missions beyond RC signal range, there is currently no alternative to using an older DJI drone.
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This final picture was taken from video footage filmed at 140 feet above a river valley which translates to 50 feet below the launch point. With all pre-programmed waypoint GPS coordinates stored in the onboard memory of my trusty Phantom3 Standard, Litchi faithfully returns my drone to base each time, even after well over 2,300 miles and 131 hours flown thus far.
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Flying DJI mini SE. This is the worst of excuses to explain bad logic. Signal lost is multi faceted and requires simple analysis in order to manage same. The way DJI is failing to support this issue is not a valid basis to neglect being diligent.
When a litchi waypoint mission is temporary interrupted due to signal lost, control is either manually by operator or by litchi interface, but the mission is abandoned. Under such circumstance, there is a lack within litchi interface not to provide the operator with a very logically option when signal is restored, which would be an option to “resume” the mission.
There is already an option of pausing and continue under full signal scenario. So, with a bit of logic one can easily “resume” mission as if the temporary signal lost is equal to “pause” by either pressing the “play” function, or to make a dedicated “resume” function.
To confirm, pressing “play” after regaining signal on temp signal lost, did not cause continue of mission.
To abandon a mission on temporary signal lost by being forced to either
1 continue manually
2) rth, edit mission and fly amended mission
is not at all efficient.
Permanent or long term signal lost is a different scenario.
A simple function option can only make the app better.
If the Mini SE operates with DJI Fly and NOT DJI Go4, then the drone MUST have uninterrupted connectivity to the controller in your hand throughout a Litchi mission, for all waypoints to be overflown as planned in the Litchi Mission Hub.
For newer drones like yours using DJI Fly, the waypoint GPS coordinates are NOT stored on board the drone’s internal memory, but are instead stored in the controller which then requires continuous connectivity to transmit the waypoint GPS coordinates as the drone flies the mission.
Unless DJI releases an SDK that will enable DJI Fly drones to store Litchi waypoint mission GPS data on board the drone as opposed to in the controller’s memory, Litchi will not be able to offer waypoint mission completion beyond RC signal range. The problem you are describing is therefore created by DJI’s new policy on where GPS coordinates are stored, rather than due to any fault on the part of Litchi.
NOTHING is stored in the controller.
Have a look at this topic:
Would it then be correct to say that for DJI Fly drones, Litchi waypoint GPS coordinates are stored in the smart device’s memory, but then retrieved and transmitted to the drone by the controller?
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I’m sorry, but you miss the whole point.
Temporary signal lost is experienced by Litchi as abandon mission, or do nothing.
The point is, on regaining signal after temporary loss, there ought to be a “resume” function from Litchi to start controlling the drone again, but to ensure to continue the mission from last known point.
Forget about what DJI is failing to do or how they make life difficult for you, we get that, but it is a totally different point.
Try and concentrate on the concept of “temporary signal lost” and “resume” as analogous to “pause” and “play” already active with Litchi.
Hope the penny drops.
All the best.
Ah, I see. As the owner of older DGJ Go and DJI Go4 drones, I am clearly out of my depth on this consideration, so I’ll stop my flailing typing fingers and allow the pros to weigh in with more relevant perspectives.
Come to think of it, litchi can outwit dji. It is enough to programmatically replace wp with the “home” point, and each time change it on the map when there is a signal with the remote control, then it will not matter if the signal is lost or not, the drone will think that it is flying home every time. And it will fly straight without jerks.
I have suggested this idea before.
Yes, there will be problems with the camera, perhaps, but at least the drones will not wind around the map