New Follow Me Mode Goes Erratic
- Thread starter Larr2000
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I have had good luck with the POI function, still don't think the Inpsire should have been equipped with the follow me feature. This feature does have its place but I think the Inspire is not it.
My brother has the Yuntec 500 with followme function. works perfectly every time. He's done it about 20 times in the last month.
Why the fk can't DJI get it done properly?? Useless idiots
Why the fk can't DJI get it done properly?? Useless idiots
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No it doesn't. So you're wrong this timeIm sure It uses the RC's GPS unit
It's not often I'm wrong, but I could be right again. lol
It can only be used with a cellular device with GPS. The reason for this is that the RC GPS is not strong enough according to DJI. I guess it's more because the P3 remote doesn't have a GPS and they want the app to stay the same for P's and I's.
With Autoflight Logic's Autopilot, the RC GPS is used with great success. (look for the Autopilot Beta test thread on the forum) The subject (RC) has to move with some speed though, otherwise the Inspire will jerk around a bit. Other than that it's working very good. With a Cellular IOS device, even the barometer is updated so it can follow in mountainous terrain.
I know this feature isn't bullet proof at this point but I have a question about the way "Follow Me" is supposed to work. If I engage follow me with the drone 75 feet away from me and at 180 degrees or due south, will it remain due south throughout the trip? If I turn left or right will the drone maintain the same relative bearing of 180 degrees?
Brian
Brian
See You Tube video I posted up thread... Yes it seems to do that basically...
My guess is it's maintaining a certain offset in the GPS locations iPad to Drone...
Why it went crazy on that other try... is not clear at this time...
Thanks John, checked out your video and all was well until the last 15 seconds or so. Did you happen to notice what the GPS signal was like when it went nuts?
I have a couple more questions about the follow me function if you don't mind...
First, you confirmed that it tries to maintain a constant distance and relative heading, but what about relative altitude? That is, if I'm at 1000 feet and the I1 is at 1100 feet when follow me is engaged will it maintain the same relative altitude difference? So, if I climb to 1250 feet will the drone climb to 1350? What about decent?
Lastly, and this is perhaps a more general question, but if the drone tries to maintain the same relative height then if I climb more than 400 feet will the drone continue to follow me or will it stop at +400 feet from where it was launched? Going in the opposite direction, will it follow me if I descend more than 400 feet?
The reason I'm asking these specific questions is that there's a place I'm thinking about that's a dirt road the ascends a cliff of 1200 feet elevation gain. The road has a number of switch backs and I've plotted where I'd want the I1 to be relative to me so that it doesn't hit anything, but with an elevation gain or loss of 1200 feet I'd have to break this up into three or more segments unless follow me will permit an elevation change greater than 400 feet.
This does raise a technical question about the 400 foot rule given the fact that I could ascend or descend 1200 feet and the I1 would never be more than 400 feet above the ground at any moment in time. Seems like a grey area, but I have to believe the DJI controller will go by the elevation at start up no matter what.
And, just to be clear, if you can go no higher than 400 feet how much below the starting elevation can you go -- 400 feet?
Brian
I have a couple more questions about the follow me function if you don't mind...
First, you confirmed that it tries to maintain a constant distance and relative heading, but what about relative altitude? That is, if I'm at 1000 feet and the I1 is at 1100 feet when follow me is engaged will it maintain the same relative altitude difference? So, if I climb to 1250 feet will the drone climb to 1350? What about decent?
Lastly, and this is perhaps a more general question, but if the drone tries to maintain the same relative height then if I climb more than 400 feet will the drone continue to follow me or will it stop at +400 feet from where it was launched? Going in the opposite direction, will it follow me if I descend more than 400 feet?
The reason I'm asking these specific questions is that there's a place I'm thinking about that's a dirt road the ascends a cliff of 1200 feet elevation gain. The road has a number of switch backs and I've plotted where I'd want the I1 to be relative to me so that it doesn't hit anything, but with an elevation gain or loss of 1200 feet I'd have to break this up into three or more segments unless follow me will permit an elevation change greater than 400 feet.
This does raise a technical question about the 400 foot rule given the fact that I could ascend or descend 1200 feet and the I1 would never be more than 400 feet above the ground at any moment in time. Seems like a grey area, but I have to believe the DJI controller will go by the elevation at start up no matter what.
And, just to be clear, if you can go no higher than 400 feet how much below the starting elevation can you go -- 400 feet?
Brian
Drone GPS signal on the GO app was still good... To clarify that video was two separate tries of the function...
They were flights about 45 mins apart in reality as I recall...
First try seemed to work at walking speed... the last 15 seconds was another try that went all wrong in a hurry...
As to altitude changes... I honestly do not know yet how it will react... or what it's basing RC height on...
The Drone uses it's Barometric air sensor reset to zero height when the home point is set...
Some tablets (like the Air 2) also have a Baro sensor... but is it using it to get RC height?
I somehow doubt that... based on all the tablets out there without one...
GPS altitude both on the iPad and Drone (from what I have seen) is not steady enough to be in use on this is my guess.
Takes time for a GPS to dial in a height fix... Yet we are maybe trying to use it shortly after power up...
Legally (I am assuming you are US based) the 400 foot rule is above ground level where the aircraft is at in flight...
I regularly take off and fly over a river valley area below takeoff height by 80 ft or more... (overall area is flat on balance)
If I go above 320ft indicated while over that area... I am in a way breaking the rules...
The valley is only 1/2 mile wide however... No aircraft flying at 500ft would dive down to follow the terrain...
In short... I feel I don't know enough about DJI "Follow Me" to give you any good answers...
Hey John, appreciate your feedback.
GPS based altitude is accurate when integrated over time but not so good moment to moment so I can see why a baro sensor is used.
After posting the last question I found a video on youtube where the guy did a 5km drive in his car and climbed most of the way. He said that he had to keep increasing the height as he went so that suggests the altitude remains constant unless changed by the pilot. Did not know you could change the height while within follow me.
Brian
GPS based altitude is accurate when integrated over time but not so good moment to moment so I can see why a baro sensor is used.
After posting the last question I found a video on youtube where the guy did a 5km drive in his car and climbed most of the way. He said that he had to keep increasing the height as he went so that suggests the altitude remains constant unless changed by the pilot. Did not know you could change the height while within follow me.
Brian
Ah... learned something to try out...
Can I adjust height in Follow Me mode on my Inspire also...
My guess... you can and have to...not so useful is it ...
After one day of playing with it... decided it's not for me in it's current state...
Can I adjust height in Follow Me mode on my Inspire also...
My guess... you can and have to...not so useful is it ...
After one day of playing with it... decided it's not for me in it's current state...
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If you truly need Follow me you would be better off with a specialised App like Litchi (Android) or Autopilot (IOS), and there are some others as well.
The Go implementation of Follow me, but also Waypoints, is very basic and only meant to give new Inspire1 and P3 buyers 'ínstant gratification' out of the box. And that's only a marketing thing, nothing else. All the other drone brands do have Follow me as standard now, so it seems, and DJI must have thought it should be implemented because consumers look the other way if Follow me is not there. And they really needed to have it before Christmas sales of course.
As I mentioned before, AutoPilot uses the RC GPS and the barometer from the mobile IOS device (if present) so it will follow in mountainous terrain. That's a professional grade implementation of Follow me.
The Go implementation of Follow me, but also Waypoints, is very basic and only meant to give new Inspire1 and P3 buyers 'ínstant gratification' out of the box. And that's only a marketing thing, nothing else. All the other drone brands do have Follow me as standard now, so it seems, and DJI must have thought it should be implemented because consumers look the other way if Follow me is not there. And they really needed to have it before Christmas sales of course.
As I mentioned before, AutoPilot uses the RC GPS and the barometer from the mobile IOS device (if present) so it will follow in mountainous terrain. That's a professional grade implementation of Follow me.
I for one am very excited about the follow me function bc I do a lot of sports that it would be cool to film. I'm not going to let anyone else fly my bird so how else would I get a shot of me skiing off a cliff or mountain biking...? When I tell my mom the things I do she says "oh, I wish I could see you!!!" So I would love to put some footage together to share with her. I am sure that dji will figure it out. The I1 is such an amazing bit of technology. And, just think, this is the first time in known human history that we can do this. It's the science fiction of only a few years ago. The technology is amazing and it takes time to develop and get right. But guess what? We are the people who get to own and use this equipment. I am beyond stoked with this crazy flying filming contraption. I know it sucks when something like this doesn't work right but be patient and remember how frikin cool it is that we get to be a part of this revolution. I don't know first hand but it seems like the lily quad is the best product for follow me. Cheaper too. So if you do a lot of sports that you want to get on video, that might be the best option right now
I agree Im also excited about the Follow Me feature. Just a note of caution on the Lily though. There are some issues with it and I have some serious concerns that this video addresses.
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I think that is why the Lily is a year late. They cant make the tech work safely enough.
