Recent content by Rich Sugden MD

For those of you, like me, with an interest in drones for photography … take a look at what is coming. https://s3.amazonaws.com/public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2019-28100.pdf Unbelievable … 319 pages !! If they’re going to require ADS-B out for drones, why not make it for any drones...

I have FIVE TB-38 batteries that all have failed over the past several years ... all seem to have discharged to destruction due to DJI's monitoring system in the battery causing a drain that eventually destroys Li batteries once they get below a certain level. Some of the newer drone Li...

It all happens automatically when you power up a battery that needs the upgrade ... only flickering lights will tell you it is happening ...

Doesn't Autopilot require that the controller send the flight control information to the drone AS the drone is flying the mission, vs. Litchi uploading the whole mission and then the flight occurs autonomously? If so, then marginal RC conditions, like buildings, trees, etc.. would favor Litchi...

I have 3 batteries that were in storage for about 6 months .. and all three discharged themselves to destruction .. which seems to be a design/engineering fault w. DJI .. I would think the monitoring circuitry would 'disconnect' when the batteries still have enough voltage to last for many, many...

If you have your iPad in any kind of 'jacket' that covers the metal back you should remove it ... radiation of heat from the metal back is the primary way the iPad cools ... and it will overheat much more quickly if any jacket placed around it ... Discovered from using aviation apps while flying...

RC already upgraded ... With everything off, started relinking ... turned on RC, started DJI GO, started the I1 ... and everything hooked up and working OK ... PFM ! But what a pain!!

Well, spoke too soon ... pulled the uSD card and "Success" ... restarted and now I1 Status says "Disconnected" in a red banner .. though it does say "Latest firmware" ... So now I know what "remo-con disconnect" means ... This happened once on a new Mavik after a firmware upgrade before first...

After beep - beep - beeping for about 4 min. there was a multi-tone chime, rear light flashed red/green/yellow (order?) once and then no further beeping and rear yellow light flashing continuously ... Looks like it finally worked!!

Rear light stopped flashing ... no beeping ... after about 5 min. ... checked uSD and new message "Upgrading" and next to the proper firmware version it says "remo-con disconnect" .. so I guess I powered off too soon ... Went to erase uSD on my iMac and it says the format is "Extended...

Still trying to upgrade from 1.9.1 to 1.11.0020 (latest on DJI site today) ... and the I1 just sits there w. flashing rear yellow light ... no beeps .. no nothing ... for an hour. Checked uSD card and says firmware is same as in drone .. but it is not the same ... 1.11 on the card and 1.9.1 in...

Let me know ([email protected]) when you have the plug 'n play DIY version available for the Mavik.

No way w. FAA ... BLOS means you have no direct visual control of the drone .. and a aircraft midair would be possible w/o you being able to avoid it ... forget it, and avoid very bad press !!

Great photos!! I took my Phantom 3 Advanced up to the arctic a couple of years ago and was able to get some great photos ... BUT had a lot of trouble w. unexpected crashes from high hovers which we think was due to problems w. the compass calibration ... due to the high magnetic variation there ...

Chinglish ... This whole "deep cycling" of Inspire batteries is a misnomer ... there is no need to "deep cycle" LiPo batteries ... BUT, DJI has a 'sophisticated' monitoring system built into the battery that keeps track of the battery's capacity ... call it a "battery full -> empty meter" ...