DJI Dock underwent a major update. Its new features bring more flexibility and capabilities. These include Live Flight Controls, which allows users to remotely control their drone and gimbal in real-time via DJI FlightHub 2. And there is also Resume Flight From Breakpoint, which improves the efficiency and reliability of mission planning.
Live flight control
The long-awaited Live Flight Controls feature is online! You can access the Live Flight Controls mode in the FlightHub 2 platform. And thus control the drone and gimbal remotely and in near real-time via the cloud. Something that greatly enhances the flexibility of DJI Dock operations . This feature is also available via the Cloud API for developers.
The Live Flight Controls feature includes FlyTo tasks and keyboard controls to manually control the aircraft and gimbal as well.
1. FlyTo flights
When the drone is docked or on a route mission, you fly with Live Flight Controls. Here, you can generate a FlyTo location by right-clicking on the map. For multiple points of interest or coordinated operations with multiple units, you can also use the PinPoint functions. This way, you generate several visual reference points to switch to FlyTo later.
Once the FlyTo point is set, FlightHub 2 maps the flight path and the drone flies directly to that point. This makes FlyTo a simple but useful feature that lets you improve operational efficiency.
Keep in mind that when the drone performs a FlyTo action from the Dock via the Take Off function, it will first take off to the safe clearance altitude you set. It will then fly directly to the default AGL you set at the FlyTo point. To ensure flight safety, pay attention to the height of surrounding buildings or obstacles and set a reasonable safe clearance height to avoid collisions.
2. Live flight control of the aircraft
The latest update for DJI Dock includes Live Flight Controls that allow the operator to fly the drone wherever it is needed with a FlyTo feature as well as keyboard controls.
A control that PC gamers should be familiar with as you can control the drone with the following buttons:
- Forward (W)
- Reverse (S)
- Left (A)
- Right (D)
- Up (C)
- Down (Z)
- Drone yawing to the left (left turn) (Q)
- Drone yawing to the right (right turn) (E)
Moreover, in the event of an emergency, the user can immediately give the drone an emergency stop (Space).
This new feature enhances Dock functionality as users can take manual control of their drone and steer it according to different mission requirements.
3. Gimbal control
In addition, users can also control the drone’s gimbal in Live Flight Control mode. In FlightHub 2, you can double-click on a target in the camera’s live feed. The gimbal will automatically align itself to that point. You can drag the zoom bar or use the middle mouse wheel to zoom in and out. There are also buttons to centre the gimbal, to switch between photo and video mode and to switch between zoom, wide-angle and infrared.
Live flight control in action
Pearland police have been able to use these features for their Drone as a First Responder (DFR) programme. Sergeant F. Williams IV of the Pearland Police Department in Pearland, Texas explains:
“The recent additions of manual flight capabilities through FlightHub 2 have completely removed some limitations. Think of having people on the ground at the launch site to perform manual operations as well as changing batteries. With our BVLOS waiver, we can now operate our DFR programme remotely from our dedicated drone operations office, with only one pilot on remote. The DJI Dock can launch the DJI M30 in 45 seconds from a powered-off, standby state. This enables us to respond very quickly and get to the scene, providing important and relevant information to responding officers. Something that increases their safety and awareness. In the past three weeks, I have spent about 55 hours working with the DJI Dock, and I can’t wait to see how DJI continues to improve it. This has been excellent for our DFR programme. I see this as part of many such programmes in the very near future.”
“The DJI Dock is a gamechanger for DFR operations” – Sergeant F. Williams IV, Pearland Police Department
Resume flight from breakpoint
To improve mission efficiency, the ‘resume flight from breakpoint’ feature was added to the dock’s task plan library. When the drone cannot complete its current route task, for example because its battery is low, it automatically returns to the dock to recharge. If you have the interrupt function enabled, the system
- will automatically record the location of the interruption point
- will generate the task to be performed
- will then automatically take off to complete its task from the interruption point
But only if the drone is fully charged and conditions are suitable to proceed.
Click the bottom left to enable the breakpoint when creating a new plan. If you do not enable the breakpoint when creating a new plan, you can click the ‘Continue’ button in the plan library list to manually activate resumption when the flight is yet to be completed. If an immediate or timed task needs to be performed, the drone will perform that task first. Only then will the interrupted task follow.
New email notification function
This new setting allows you to receive alerts when the Dock encounters an emergency or mission failure. To receive these via email, though, you must explicitly specify this in the settings.
The new features added to the DJI Dock are meant to serve users in different sectors. Think firefighting, emergency rescue, energy inspections, city management and more. The Live Flight Controls feature allows remote and real-time control of the drone and gimbal via the cloud. Something that greatly improves operational efficiency. With FlyTo flights, manual drone control and gimbal control, users can steer the drone to different mission requirements.
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