DJI is a leading manufacturer of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), known as drones, and associated technologies. One of the company's most impressive offerings is the DJI Waypoint system. This advanced technology enables drone operators to create precise flight paths and execute them automatically, providing a range of benefits for a variety of applications. In this blog post, we will discuss the DJI Waypoint system and its features in detail.
Summary:
What is Waypoints 2.0 by DJI?
How do I set it up?
How to use it?
Be mindful
Which drones feature it?
What is DJI Waypoints 2.0 mode?
DJI Waypoint is an advanced flight planning system that allows drone operators to create flight paths and execute them automatically. The system uses GPS technology to create precise flight paths and provides users with real-time data and insights. DJI Waypoint is ideal for a wide range of applications, including aerial photography, surveying, mapping, and inspection. Waypoints 2.0 is probably one of the most advanced intelligent flight modes made by DJI.
What makes Waypoints 2.0 so powerful is it allows your DJI drone to set an identical flight path over and over. This mode allows you to record a similar scene at different times of the day, month, year and see the change or progress. This is particularly useful for filming building sites or farming lands for e.g.
How does DJI Waypoints 2.0 mode work?
This mode is great for repeating shots following the same flight path and will even save your previous points for future use. The mode is also useful for site surveying as you can assess the changes in an area.
🚨 Due to safety reasons it is not possible to use a map, where you can determine the route using your fingers. You can only retrace a route, that means you have to fly the route on your own by using Waypoints on the most concise points. Having determined the Waypoints once, the drone can automatically fly the route on its own.
💡 Good to know, you have a maximum of 99 Waypoints to place, at a minimum distance of 5m or a maximum distance of 500m from each other. Your total Waypoints flight should not exceed 5 kms.
How to create a new Waypoint?
Ensure you're in P mode (positioning mode, which is DJI's default flying mode).
Start DJI GO, connect your mobile device to the remote controller, and power on both the remote controller and the drone.
Tap the intelligent flight modes icon on left side of DJI GO.
Tap the Waypoints icon.
Scroll the map to the location where you'd like to fly your mission.
Follow these instructions to add waypoints to the map.
Once you've completed all your waypoints, you can save your flight path to reuse. This will be save automatically with date + time as for title but you can change that in the task library (the '...' on the screenshot below).
💡 Points of interest (POIs) can be added to the map to make the camera point toward a specific location while it's flying the mission. This would be useful if you were (for example) flying around a house and wanted the camera to automatically point at the house at any point during the mission.
Start flying a Waypoint flight
Load the mission from the Task Library (the ones you've saved previously)
Tap the green GO button.
Review the settings in the Task Check list to ensure everything it set to your needs.
Scroll down to the bottom of the Task Check screen and tap Start.
✅ During a Waypoint flight it is possible to take control of the camera and your drone. The drone flies automatically the route and you can make it rotate around its own axis, while controlling the gimbal and making amazing aerial shots.
How to use DJI Waypoints 2.0 mode?
As you now understand, this is flight mode is great for repetitive flights when you want to observe a project evolving over time (not space). Here are a few ideas/industries where this mode is particularly useful.
Engineering Project Site Surveys: When waypoints are programmed into the application, the drone can go directly to the first point and proceed to each point in turn, filming or taking photos of each point.
Environment & Conservation: Surveying areas of interest whether coastal erosion to areas affected by illegal dumping of waste.
Agriculture: Surveys of farm buildings or fencing. Agricultural drones use advanced thermal vision cameras and multispectral sensors along with specialized software which give farmers new ways to increase analyse farm date to yields and reduce crop damage.
Parcel Delivery: This is perhaps somewhere in the future with a lot of legal and safety challenges to overcome before been made possible. Programmed GPS waypoints would map the route from the delivery drone. The delivery drone can take a number of parcels and go from delivery point to the next without the need for a pilot.
Benefits of DJI Waypoint
Increased Efficiency: DJI Waypoint can significantly increase efficiency when conducting aerial photography, surveying, mapping, and inspection tasks. The system allows you to create complex flight paths that cover large areas quickly and efficiently, saving time and resources.
Greater Accuracy: DJI Waypoint provides greater accuracy than manual flight paths, which can be subject to human error. The system uses GPS technology to ensure that the drone follows the flight path accurately and precisely, providing high-quality data and imagery.
Improved Safety: the DJI Waypoint system can also improve safety when conducting aerial tasks. The system allows you to plan flights that avoid obstacles and hazardous areas, reducing the risk of accidents.
Flexibility: the DJI Waypoint system is flexible and can be customized to meet a variety of needs. Whether you're conducting aerial photography, surveying, mapping, or inspection, the system can be adapted to suit your specific requirements.
What to be aware of when using DJI Waypoints 2.0?
Altitude: All altitudes shown in the mission planner are the altitude above the takeoff point (not the altitude above the ground below the waypoint/POI). If you're flying in a location where the terrain is not flat, you'll need to adjust the altitude at each waypoint accordingly to account for any altitude changes. You can use Google Earth to get an idea of how flat the terrain is in your flying location.
Return to Home Altitude: If your drone disconnects during its automated flight, it will return home at either its current altitude or at a safe minimum of 30m one. If your flight requires your drone to be higher at any time, change this setting prior engaging your intelligent flight.
Sensors: If your drone isn't equipped with side sensors, then its your job to be aware of what around it while circling. Always keep your drone in sight and try to stay clear from any high obstacles such as electric poles or roofs for e.g.
Which drones have DJI Waypoint 2.0 modes?
The DJI Waypoint system is available on several DJI drone models, including the DJI Mavic, DJI Phantom, and DJI Matrice series. 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
✅ 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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