Summary of Issue:
Drone went off course during a pattern on one flight, and wouldn’t return home on another. Data would not upload from iPhone when connected to internet.
Date Issue Began:
January 20
Drone Model:
Phantom 4 Pro
Mobile Device Model and OS version:
iPhone 7 plus ver 11.1.2
On Saturday, I planned a flight via my iPhone onsite, in which there was no internet connection. I began to fly the pattern, and in the first leg, the drone started to drift off course. Battery level at start was 68%. When I saw it go off course, I hit return to home, and it started the flight to home, but flew past me. I had to manually take control and land it. I may be confusing this part with another flight…but it seemed to be semi responsive to controls and I was afraid I woudn’t get it landed, but eventually it did. Battery was 47% at landing. Flight speed was 10 mph at 350’, as I was flying over timber. Changed batteries and flew another mission, which was also created offline due to no internet. This one did complete the pattern but did a loop halfway down the last leg. When it got to the end of the leg, it kept going instead of making the turn. Again, I had to manually land. Got home and tried to upload when I got an internet connection, and would not upload to the server.
On Sunday, I created two more flight plans from home with internet connection in the same area, and set to make available offline. I was able to fly the first flight ok, again 10 mph and 350’. I noticed that in one direction the speed fluctuated from 10 mph to 4 the entire length, perhaps flying into the wind (winds about 3 mph). On the other direction, it was always a smooth 10 mph. Landed, changed battery, and copied that flight to fly the same pattern but changed direction to 90 degrees from the first pattern. Seemed to fly a little better, but I don’t remember because that flight doesn’t show up on my iPhone or in the desktop application (third problem). I then went to the other site which was nearby to fly over another section of timber, on the other flight I planned from home. Started the flight and halfway through the first leg I hit return to home because a video opportunity occurred that I wanted to use that last battery on with the DJI Go app. It started the return to home, and about halfway, it stopped. I tried to take manual control and it would move a little then stop. Then it went to 400’ and stopped. I ended up switching to the DJI app to get it home. A similar incident happened on Christmas Eve where it went to the start location and stopped. When I hit return to home, it went to 400’ and I was eventually able to get it home. Don’t know if it matters, but all of these locations were areas with limited or no internet connectivity.
I have been unable so far to get the flight plans to upload from Sunday’s flights. The first and third flights kept showing uploading flight plan until I turned my iPhone off last night and then turned it back on, and it doesn’t show that any longer. When I open the flight plan on either one, it has the save button like it’s ready to fly again. The second flight, which was a copy of the first flight, doesn’t show up any longer. The second flight from Saturday shows up on my desktop, but not on my iPhone.
If anyone can help me with what’s going on, I would be very appreciative.