DJI PHANTOM GROUND STATION INFORMATION
I would be happy to relate my experience with Ground Station. It is complicated, as it does so much, but in my view it is the next logical step for this hobby (assuming legislation doesn’t kill us first).
I walk out into my yard, run thru my 13 step (self made) checklist, just like any pilot, hit OK on the iPad, recheck the 4 waypoint specifications, and then hit GO. The craft fires up the motors, uploading the mission, and then launches itself into the blue.
I have set 4 waypoints, and it computes the difference between its present altitude and the altitude desired at waypoint #1, then motors off to that point, halts, turns to my preset heading for pictures (which it is taking every 5 seconds) holds for 5 seconds, then heads off for waypoint #2.
I am monitoring the telemetry video and adjusting the camera angle as needed to frame the shots I want on my 3D gimbal.
It continues on the mission, stopping to take shots or just making turns as I specify, until it comes to the last waypoint where I take over control and land it manually.
It has faithfully completed every mission I have given it so far. I am having issues with the Blue Tooth connection, but in fact once the mission is uploaded to the craft, human control is not required and it needs no help to complete its task.
Today I did my first FBV flight around my garage, up a road at 6’ level behind my 30x48x18 foot metal barn, through a parking lot full of vehicles at 5’ level (all out of sight) while monitoring my progress using the video from GS and the Google Earth picture on the IPad.
Video was grainy for much of the flight since the craft was behind buildings and metal, but it was a blast! (I made sure there were no trees or other obstructions over head just in case I lost contact so it could do a “return to home if necessary).
I wish GS had better documentation, but I am slowly figuring it out.
Try it, you will like it.
Your stateside gadfly,
Hank
Click here to visit DJI's Ground Station Information
