DJI is a leading manufacturer of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as drones, and associated technologies. Among the advanced features offered by DJI drones are Home Lock and Course Lock. These features are designed to provide drone operators with greater control and precision during flights, making them ideal for a range of applications. In this blog post, we will discuss DJI Home Lock and Course Lock in detail and their benefits.
Summary:
What are DJI Home and Course Lock modes?
What is DJI Home Lock?
DJI Home Lock is an advanced flight mode that enables your drone to fly towards a preset home point automatically. When activated, the drone will fly in the direction you push the control stick, regardless of its orientation. This means that the drone will always fly towards the home point, no matter which way it's facing. DJI Home Lock is ideal for pilots who want to ensure that their drone returns to a specific point easily and accurately.
Home Lock mode: when using this mode, you're setting your drone to fly back to you in a straight line (no matter in which direction you're aiming to go) but keep control during its flight back to you (which is the main difference with return to home function).
What is DJI Course Lock?
DJI Course Lock is another advanced flight mode that enables you to lock the drone's course relative to its current orientation. When activated, the drone will fly in a straight line in the direction that you push the control stick, regardless of its actual orientation. This means that the drone will always fly in the direction that you want, regardless of how it's facing. DJI Course Lock is ideal for pilots who want to ensure that their drone follows a specific path accurately, such as when conducting surveys or inspections.
Course Lock mode: when using this mode, your drone will be locked into a clear runway where yoiu will only be able to move it forward or backwards whilst keeping full control of your gimbal.
Home and Course Lock modes are quite unknown to the general public despite been one the first intelligent flight modes made available by DJI. But they can prove useful when wanting to train or have a straight line shot for e.g.
How do DJI Home and Course modes work?
To activate them, simply tap your app screen and select auto flight modes on the let hand side. You will have all the intelligent flight modes available for your drone appearing there. For the mavic and phantoms, you should be able to find both Home and Course Lock modes.
Course Lock flight mode: determine your flight path.
Before selecting this mode, aim your camera and the front of your drone towards the destination or filming subject you want to reach. Once in place, active the Course Lock mode and your drone will only move towards or backwards from your destination/subject.
This mode is very useful when you're flying in narrow spaces and just want to focus on the subject of filming. We had a very good need of it when filming a river on Taveuni Island (Fiji) for e.g. as it was in the middle of the jungle with trees on both sides.
Home Lock flight mode: return to home quicker and safer
To activate this mode, you will need to be at least 5m away from your home point. If this is the case, once activated, your drone will be flying back towards your home point and stop when 5m away from it and hover. Its can be a little confusing as no matter where you're pointing the joysticks, your drone will be flying towards its Home Point. You remain in charge of the speed, height and camera during the whole time.
As mentioning Home Lock mode has the advantage of letting you in charge of the speed and height of your flight which means you will potentially save battery by going faster and fly higher or lower during your flight compared to the return to home function which is automated for you.
What are DJI Course and Home Lock options?
There are no set options to select from. You remain in charge of the speed, altitude and gimbal during the whole time in these two intelligent drone flight modes.
🌊 When filming over water, this is a little easier although make sure you allow enough battery time for a safe landing. Too often, we let our drone flight in Active Track mode to be reminded a few minutes before of the low battery levels. 💡 Smart! Water glare is a killer when flying above coastal waters, make sure you have a lens filter.
Benefits of DJI Home Lock and Course Lock
Increased precision
DJI Home Lock and Course Lock provide greater precision when flying drones. These modes allow you to fly the drone in a specific direction accurately, regardless of its orientation or position, which can be incredibly useful in a wide range of applications.
Easier navigation
DJI Home Lock and Course Lock make navigation much more accessible, especially for novice pilots. These modes eliminate the need to worry about the drone's orientation or position, allowing you to focus on flying the drone safely and capturing high-quality footage.
More efficient flights
DJI Home Lock and Course Lock can also make flights more efficient. These modes allow you to plan your flights more accurately, reducing the need to make adjustments during flights. This can save time and battery life, allowing you to complete your tasks more efficiently.
Improved safety
DJI Home Lock and Course Lock can improve safety during flights, especially when flying in complex or dangerous environments. These modes allow you to control the drone more accurately and prevent accidents, reducing the risk of damage to the drone or injury to people or property.
Which drones have DJI Home and Course Lock modes?
DJI Home Lock and Course Lock features are available on most DJI drone models, including the DJI Mavic, DJI Air, DJI Phantom, DJI Inspire, DJI Mini, DJI Avata and DJI FPV. These drones are designed for a range of applications, including aerial photography, surveying, mapping, and inspection, and are widely used in various industries such as construction, agriculture, and search and rescue. Each of these drones has different specifications and capabilities, so it's essential to choose the one that best suits your needs.
Compare All DJI drones in one place and choose the best one for you here
DJI Home Lock and Course Lock are advanced flight modes that provide greater control and precision when flying drones. These modes make navigation more accessible, flights more efficient, and can improve safety during flights. Whether you're a novice or an experienced pilot, DJI Home Lock and Course Lock can help you fly your drone more effectively and achieve better results. If you're looking to improve your drone flying skills or want to capture high-quality footage or data, consider using DJI Home Lock and Course Lock to take your flights to the next level.
✅ We hope this blog post helped you understand a more about this DJI intelligent flight mode. If you want to learn more, check out all our tutorials. Please leave a comment or update Drone Forum when you receive news and/or gain experience with your drone! Have fun and safe flying!
Disclaimer: Although great care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information researched, we take no responsibility for any loss, harm or damage caused as a direct or indirect consequence of relying on this information. It is your responsibility to seek advice from qualified local & relevant authorities for needed information about local drone rules and regulations.
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