Autopilot Beta Test

gottafly · Aug 7, 2015

I think the pace at which you are knocking out updates is incredible!! And some nice improvements in the process!!

gottafly · Aug 7, 2015

question: I had not had a chance to use the Manual camera mode. How were other beta testers utilizing this with a single Tx remote? I assume that to get full control one would need to use dual operator/2nd camera Tx to get full functionality?

Also, notice with build 27 that Manual mode has been replaced with Passive mode? Same thing? Looking forward to more testing this weekend. 4 batts charged and ready to go!

Hangar · Aug 7, 2015

gottafly said:
I think the pace at which you are knocking out updates is incredible!! And some nice improvements in the process!!

Thanks! We work really hard.

gottafly said:
assume that to get full control one would need to use dual operator/2nd camera Tx to get full functionality?

Also, notice with build 27 that Manual mode has been replaced with Passive mode? Same thing? Looking forward to more testing this weekend. 4 batts charged and ready to go!

Passive mode is intended mainly for Inspire users with a slave RC, yes. Passive is just Manual renamed.

mrkihn · Aug 7, 2015

Okay very interested in this App so how and where do I get it and of course the price

Kilrah · Aug 8, 2015

You wait until beta testing is finished and it's actually released

Envoyé de mon SM-G920F en utilisant Tapatalk

BGill · Aug 8, 2015

Hi Jim,

I have the same question like kode. I signed up for the Beta program 2 weeks ago but did not get a confirmation - probably the program has alot of users.
The work you have done with Autopilot just looks great.
I wanted to use the App for my upcomming trip to the Carribean. Is there a chance to buy the Beta Release and change Firmware back from 1.3 to the Beta Firmware?

lake_flyer · Aug 8, 2015

We had a go yesterday with build26.
Follow mode worked very nice. Unfortunately for some reason the on screen video had a terrible lag and even stalled completely for some time. Restarted the app several times and even rebooted the Ipad Mini2, all while the I1 was up in the air. It didn't go away. Might be the new lightning cable I used caused this.
In Focus mode it impossible to determine if the subject stayed in frame that way. However, it did track the RC pretty good, so it turned out.

The sun was extremely bright and high and I already anticipated that the white boat would be overexposed quite severely. However there was no way to change the camera exposure settings from within the app, unless I overlooked that feature. The result was that the boat at times looks like a bright white blob with the shape of a boat, but without any detail in the whites. I couldn't get the detail back in post processing.

Here's the short clip I cut, about 1 minute, please don't mind the 'music', I just used some stuff out of my synth rig and mixed together, not meant to be anything serious.

lake_flyer · Aug 8, 2015

Can't wait to try out build27. I hope there will be full camera exposure control in a future build. Auto exposure doesn't cut it for me. I always use Manual. Normally I would have underexposed a bit, at least preserving detail in the extreme whites. I would like to have an option to see the histogram as well, but that's only helpful with manual exposure control.

Patou · Aug 8, 2015

Autoflight Logic said:
The next build will attempt to address this issue, but there is a max ascent rate, and if the altitude difference between the two points is too great, it will have stair-step at some point. I will also point out that there is a pretty conservative altitude priority by default:
http://autoflightlogic.com/beta/aut...ettings-movement-parameters-altitude-priority

You might want to consider setting it to something larger to avoid the stair-step motion.

The RC GPS does not have altitude information, so if you are going to follow it with an iPad Air (no barometer), be careful not to change altitude as you will be forced to select a fixed altimeter reference.

Thanks for all of that!

Another Question/suggestion...sorry

:

- Using an iPadAir (No GPS/No Barometer) i got a very poor lateral accuracy on the map (150m away from my physical position). After switching to FOCUS/SUBJECT/RC i can't see the position of the RC (only thing visible is always the blue DOT of the device, 150m away from me).

-So is it possible to have another symbol when RC as Focus subject is activated to make the difference between RC/Device...

Thanks a lot

Busch · Aug 8, 2015

Hi lads (and if any) ladies

I have invested in the Inspire 1 to make some commercial vids for our transport company that is specialist in OD transports, and this software with the follow me function is simply spot on as a "MUST HAVE" for this.

I will say that you guys that are testing the Autoflight Logic and risking your equipment are doing a great job (while ofcourse tasting the candy before the rest of us).

Sorry if it didnt bring anything constructive - but just wanted to put a comment in.

Hangar · Aug 8, 2015

BGill said:
Is there a chance to buy the Beta Release and change Firmware back from 1.3 to the Beta Firmware?

Unfortunately no. Apple limits the number of installations through TestFlight and side-loading, and we are maxed out. As for the firmware, there is no way to downgrade that we are aware of:
http://autoflightlogic.com/beta/autopilotdji/support#162968ce

lake_flyer said:
Unfortunately for some reason the on screen video had a terrible lag and even stalled completely for some time. Restarted the app several times and even rebooted the Ipad Mini2, all while the I1 was up in the air. It didn't go away. Might be the new lightning cable I used caused this.

This is a known issue with the DJI SDK and they claim they are looking into it:
http://forum.dji.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=20852

Until then, some people seem to think that it helps if you open the Pilot app first and then Autopilot

lake_flyer said:
However there was no way to change the camera exposure settings from within the app, unless I overlooked that feature.

We have been laser-focused on adding functionality that does not already exist in the Pilot app, and some of the settings are casualties of this prioritization:
http://autoflightlogic.com/beta/autopilotdji/support#5d35d1f4

We will get to it eventually, but we have to make tough decisions somewhere, and for now you need to use the Pilot app first to tweak the settings - then open Autopilot. What would be really helpful is a prioritized list of the settings you would like to see most so we can start at the top when we get there.

Patou said:
So is it possible to have another symbol when RC as Focus subject is activated to make the difference between RC/Device...

We can add another icon to the map for the RC, but until then, the Focus icon is already on the Map and represents this location:
http://autoflightlogic.com/beta/autopilotdji/flightschool#flight-dashboard-marker-focus

lake_flyer · Aug 8, 2015

Autoflight Logic said:
We will get to it eventually, but we have to make tough decisions somewhere, and for now you need to use the Pilot app first to tweak the settings - then open Autopilot. What would be really helpful is a prioritized list of the settings you would like to see most so we can start at the top when we get there.

So, if I understand this correctly all camera settings I make in the DJI app are also used in Autopilot? That's at least something. I'm going to fiddle with that.

I can live with that for a while. But the right wheel on the remote at least should let you make adjustments for under or over exposing.

Hangar · Aug 8, 2015

lake_flyer said:
So, if I understand this correctly all camera settings I make in the DJI app are also used in Autopilot?

Yes: http://autoflightlogic.com/beta/autopilotdji/support#5d35d1f4

lake_flyer said:
But the right wheel on the remote at least should let you make adjustments for under or over exposing.

Haven't tested that yet. Can you try it and report back?

lake_flyer · Aug 8, 2015

Autoflight Logic said:
Yes: http://autoflightlogic.com/beta/autopilotdji/support#5d35d1f4

Didn't find anything about exposure settings. The support article mentions aircraft settings.
Oh well, whatever, if it works like you say I'm pretty happy.
Like I said, as soon as I can I'm going to try different camera settings, and will try the wheel in all sorts of ways.

Hangar · Aug 8, 2015

lake_flyer said:
Didn't find anything about exposure settings. The support article mentions aircraft settings.
Oh well, whatever, if it works like you say I'm pretty happy.
Like I said, as soon as I can I'm going to try different camera settings, and will try the wheel in all sorts of ways.

Flight School was a little unclear there. It is any setting on the aircraft or camera. DJI has told us that once set in the Pilot app, they should remain in effect while using Autopilot.

lake_flyer · Aug 8, 2015

Autoflight Logic said:
Flight School was a little unclear there. It is any setting on the aircraft or camera. DJI has told us that once set in the Pilot app, they should remain in effect while using Autopilot.

Thanks, that's good to know. It makes sense also, but it didn't cross my mind when I tried the app on the boat, all shaking and all. It is kind of adrenalin rushing to see your 3000 Euro bird taken over by an app on an iPad, 1500feet off the nearest shore. But as far as the flying concerns, I'm now pretty confident with it.

It's an amazing add on to the already incredible Inspire1 (love this bird), there nothing like seeing this thing soar by in follow mode, while you're steering your boat. A personal robot in the sky, that's exactly how it feels. Other boat folks were truly amazed when they saw that mean bird of prey following our boat. "That must be an expensive drone, right?", they yelled. "You bet", I yelled back

Hangar · Aug 8, 2015

lake_flyer said:
A personal robot in the sky, that's exactly how it feels.

Couldn't agree more, feels great doesn't it?

lake_flyer · Aug 8, 2015

Autoflight Logic said:
Couldn't agree more, feels great doesn't it?

Especially AFTER landing (catching)

. But I'm still sort of chicken when it comes to flying my I1 over water with the home point moving with the RC in the middle of the lake.

It sure is a great way to film boats specifically. Follow is just the way to do it. It autonomously takes shots from angles you would normally not think of or even dare, and all in one and the same run.

lake_flyer · Aug 9, 2015

Autoflight Logic said:
Haven't tested that yet. Can you try it and report back?

I just tested it on the balcony with props off, build27. I first put the camera in manual mode in DJI Go App, exited and started up AutoPilot.
Happy to report that the settings are retained and the exposure is controllable with the right wheel!
Only the gimbal reset still doesn't work. It did only one time out of the more than 10 times I tried the same sequence I mentioned before in earlier posts.

But very happy the camera functions, once set in DJI Go, are retained in AutoPilot.

Also very good you changed the 'More' button in the dashboard to useful functions that you can easily switch to without leaving the dashboard.