Flight safety limits introduced in Phantom 2 Firmware

[DaveyLC]

No-Fly Zones

A database of restricted locations that will include airports from small to large will be stored on your flight-controller; for the larger international airports (Category A) once your Phantom has a GPS fix it will not even be able to function from inside a 1.5 mile radius of the airport (centre) its self, and if you managed to take off in-side this area without a GPS fix as soon as a fix is acquired the Phantom will attempt to slowly and safely land.

From 1.5 miles and up-to 5 miles away from the centre of the airport you will able to fly but the maximum altitude will be restricted between these points rising gradually from 35ft (10m) to 400ft (100m).

For smaller local airports (Category B) the initial no-fly zone will be with-in 0.6 miles of the airport (centre)  and a progressive altitude restriction will be applied just out-side of the zone.

If you are using the video or ground-station app you will be warned in advance as you approach these zones.

Height & Distance Limits

This has been a feature of the full-version Naza for a while now but DJI are introducing defaults (that can be modified) that will prevent your craft from flying over 1300ft or further than 1mile from the initial point of take-off.

In addition to these defaults they are also introducing a FIXED altitude restriction for MANUAL and ATTI flight modes that will prevent you from flying over 394ft (100m).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebXsTUtUwlA&feature=player_embedded

http://www.ifpv.co.uk/dji-introduce-new-flight-saftey-features-to-phantom-2/

[BlueFlyer]

actually a good idea, there's no reason to fly a quad that high or that far from launch anyway.

[Heliotrope]

I like that - makes a lot of sense.

[electrotor]

In essence a very good idea. However the Inside FPV article seriously misrepresents what actually happened.

We've discussed the importance of observing ATZ's and no fly zones before and after the recent UK prosecution of an FPV pilot its really brought home how serious ignoring the CAA guidance can be!

No amount of observing ATZs and no-fly zones will help if there is a system failure and the model flies away.
I note with interest that the default settings can be modified.

[rob.thomson]

Does seem to me that while you need defaults that you can modify, its worth little if you can increase the default!

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

[Loopdreams]

Yeah, but it might just keep a few of the mouthbreathers in check if they can't figure out how to change those settings.

[BlueFlyer]

Yeah, but it might just keep a few of the mouthbreathers in check if they can't figure out how to change those settings.

well said, for people who buy these things and have neither the ability nor the inclination to learn how to use/configure these types of system, it makes perfect sense to have strict defaults from the factory.

[DaveyLC]

I totally agree with you guys :) personally I'd make it 100m x 100m :D

[Zeeflyboy]

Hang on, I don't get it... It is "soft" limited in GPS mode to 1300ft and 1 mile, but in manual or Atti it is "hard" limited to 394ft at all times?

That's a bit odd? Also means if flying in manual or Atti you can't fly up to the now allowed 1000ft in the UK. What happens if flying at 1000ft over some higher ground than launch and you lose GPS, thus revert to Atti? Will it descend to 394 feet and plant you into the forest you were flying over?

In general I think this is great, and it's good to see DJI step up to try and do something to prevent it's insanely popular products from being used irresponsibly. As said, it at least presents a hurdle to those with no inclination to learn about the hobby before they fly off into Heathrow.

However, we all know how great some of their implementation has been. Hopefully there aren't too many bugs with this.

[Zeeflyboy]

Ahhh ok I just watched the video. That's written wrongly in the post, it's not a hard limit for Atti and Manual, it's a hard limit when no GPS signal is found...

That makes more sense, it can't determine where it is so to be on the safe side it won't allow the user above 394ft.

I guess that does mean you are screwed if you lose GPS signal when flying over terrain that is more than 394ft above your launch point though - it seems like it will automatically descend to 394ft upon signal loss.

[hiccups96]

I think this could be the shape of things to come. You not might be able to buy flight controllers without this feature permanently enabled in the future.

[Heliotrope]

I think this could be the shape of things to come. You not might be able to buy flight controllers without this feature permanently enabled in the future.

Quite agree. It would be a simple way to regulate one of the biggest dangers. Yes we all know that there will be some clever sods who will be able to find ways around it, but it reduces the risk massively and TBH most terrorists don't seem that bright.