DJI Firmware Update and New Functions – Phantom 3

DJI released a firmware update (1.4.0010) for the Phantom 3 Professional (as well as others) this morning, and updates to their iOS (v2.2.0) and Android (v2.1.0) DJI GO applications. I spent time updating the firmware on the bird, updating my iOS device, calibrating (and re-calibrating) the IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit – in english – the bird’s brain and senses) then calibrating the gimbal and remote controller, and lastly did a compass recalibration just for good measure.

An hour or so later, the bird is ready to fly!

I scared the crap out of myself – there was very little wind at ground level, but about 100′ up it was blustery – I saw the UAV drifting left and panicked – landing her quickly. Needlessly recalibrated the compass and sent it back up. Now I grok’d that it was windy and continued on with my test of the drone – running through basics (hover, yaw, altitude, rotate, etc…) Once satisfied it all worked I used my house for testing the POI (Point of Interest) functionality. It works pretty damn good.


[youtube=https://youtu.be/G7-YT6-e2lo&rel=0&width=1000]


Once the wind dies down a bit, and the heat subsides (man its hot as hell today) I’m planning on taking a longer POI shot as well as running through the other new functions.

One huge negative IMO is the fact that in order to use the new Waypoints to plot out a ‘mission’ you need to actually fly it and set each waypoint – you cant just set an altitude and lat/lon position on the map. This is probably a safety measure so that you don’t plot a waypoint in the middle of a tree or building, but it should be overridable in the options.

 

John P. Hoke

John P. Hoke headshot

Cyber Security Professional, Photographer, Coffee Junkie, Mac Addict, Craft Beer & Whiskey connoisseur, all around curmudgeon and generally sarcastic SOB – Not necessarily in that order.

The opinions expressed on this blog are mine alone and not those of my employer, family, pets, the voices in my head, or anyone else for that matter … hell in an hour they may not be mine either 🙂

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