DJI-Ken Posted at 2016-1-17 13:14
This is the map you should get.
http://www.dji.com/fly-safe/category-mc?www=v1

Hi Ken,

I know you're getting hammered with questions and may not have all the answers. I do appreciate that you are taking the time to respond.
My burning question, that I've not seen any answer for anywhere, is why on earth am I being asked to unlock or request authorisation from DJI to fly in airspace that under my countries laws I am completely legally allowed to fly in without restriction?

4StateFlyer Posted at 2016-1-17 13:58
On that site is says "Note this list is only valid for the Phantom 2 series or older products."    ...

Well spotted!  So I guess my question still stands; what map will I see if I upgrade to 2.51?
I think I'll hold off until I know for sure.

mike.wildlight Posted at 2016-1-16 23:13
Hi Ken,

I know you're getting hammered with questions and may not have all the answers. I do appr ...

My guess is that this is only a Beta app and the yellow authorization zones are put on every airport. If and when they release a official version, yellow zones would be more defined. Again, I'm just guessing as I don't know what a final version would look like.

4StateFlyer Posted at 2016-1-16 22:58
On that site is says "Note this list is only valid for the Phantom 2 series or older products."    ...

I'm sorry, I linked the incorrect page. This is the correct one.
http://www.dji.com/flysafe/no-fly

Tomsbird Posted at 2016-1-16 23:14
Well spotted!  So I guess my question still stands; what map will I see if I upgrade to 2.51?
I th ...

This is the correct map you will see.
http://www.dji.com/flysafe/no-fly

DJI-Ken Posted at 2016-1-17 16:51
My guess is that this is only a Beta app and the yellow authorization zones are put on every airpo ...

Thanks Ken,
I really hope you're right, It's an enormous undertaking and to get it wrong risks alienating customers for no good reason.

I know a lot of people are really panicking about the GEO changes that are coming to the DJI series but I suggest you do a little bit of research about Brendan Schulman who is the chief legal council for DJI. He has been very responsive in both this forum and others and he is a legal legend in the area of drone law.

I believe DJI is laying the ground work to derail heavy regulation especially in the US and this move may eventually eliminate the need for 333 exemptions.

I am excited about the changes and the opportunity that is presented.  We all can be part of something really amazing in the very early stages.

Below you will find a link to Mr. Shulmans LinkedIn profile. Take a look and Google about the him and the case he brought.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanschulman

wooglins Posted at 2016-1-17 16:57
I know a lot of people are really panicking about the GEO changes that are coming to the DJI series ...

I'm pretty sure we all agree that Mr. Shulman is the right guy to do this.  It's just that DJI might not be the right company.  Between their consistent lack of communication to customers, their consistent technical ineptitude and the fact that their whole software stack is likely breaking the GPL, any implementation of their ideas, no matter how noble / forward thinking they are, is likely to fall flat.

Details matter.

WetDog Posted at 2016-1-18 13:09
I'm pretty sure we all agree that Mr. Shulman is the right guy to do this.  It's just that DJI mig ...

Nail, Head, Hit.

It's quite a cool concept, particularly if customised precisely to the laws of each country!

But wow it's an enormous undertaking to get right and maintain right.

At this stage it has a distinct odour of "Hey Y'all, look at this". A bit rushed. Not well thought out.  With limited understanding of consequences of less than perfect implementation.
Whilst the firmware may be in Beta still, the app has been updated and implemented to accommodate.

I really wish them well with it because it has great potential. but thus far I remain underwhelmed.

WetDog Posted at 2016-1-18 11:09
I'm pretty sure we all agree that Mr. Shulman is the right guy to do this.  It's just that DJI mig ...

Since DJI is the only  company  selling drones that did over 1 billion in sales in 2015 I would say they are the only company in position to make this move.

It is easy to sit in the phantom 3 forum and forget that this is the company that makes drones that are used for real work and not hobby.

dji-p3p1 Posted at 2016-1-13 09:19
Lets REALLY Hope DJI Fix This BIG Issue...

Otherwise here's a forecast/Prediction on what it could  ...

Your chart makes no sense.  Did you make those numbers up or did someone else.  Dji sold 500 million dollars worth of drones in 2014 and over 1 billion in 2015.  

That is roughly 300000 drones in 2014 and 600000 in 2015.

nrgwise Posted at 2016-1-2 06:08
Pretty much my sentiments as well.  If your quad is flying well and you are happy with it, leave i ...

" Most operators are responsible and fly safely.  Yes, there are always going to be people who don't.  This system is not going to prevent those who don't. "

This is true.  The thing I find amusing is the few who cause problems get an over the top, fast response,  while the few who are HAVING problems with their drones are being ignored because statistically not enough people are having a particular problem.  Like short range on the Standards,  or the Advanced gimbal issue or battery issue or no signal issue.  Cant have it both ways Dji.

wooglins Posted at 2016-1-19 14:19
Your chart makes no sense.  Did you make those numbers up or did someone else.  Dji sold 500 milli ...

Woogins - You are right! You are very observant! - Yes the chart will make no "literal" sense - I made the numbers up - its purely illustrative of where things could end-up if DJI dont "Think Intelligently" from the end users viewpoint about GEO implementation..

DJI-Ken Posted at 2015-12-31 11:51
Can you post a screenshot that shows 3/4 of the country a no-fly zone?

Can you explain why, west of Fairbanks, AK there is a 300mi by 300 mi no-fly zone

Brendan Schulma Posted at 2016-1-1 21:47
This is why we are doing a beta.  Send your feedback so we can improve the user experience while a ...

Surprised and appreciate to see you involved in the forum. I have been unable to find the FAA resource to definitively state airports no-fly radius for the four categories and 6 subcategories (seven if you include remote/private air strip).

The FAA bold print, here and in other forums state that major/ International airports are 5mi radius (that I know), but with an airports decrease in size, volume, etc...  the radius decreases as well.

With that said could you point me to the aforementioned resource which I seek?
I would hope that the "finalized" geofence would also be accurate by not just giving every so-called airport a 5mi radius.

Further, why are there swaths of land, some as large as 90,000 sq mi that need authorization??

I think the whole idea of the GEO as it is currently implemented is useful for tracking and sharing our private data with 3rd parties, restricting gradually the flight ability, and mainly for distracting our attention from the future commercialisation of the airspace. Shortly our phantoms will fly up to 200 feet, Amazon wants the airspace between 200-400 feet for their own heavy lift drones.
Nasa, Amazon, postal services and many others want us to fly very low and at the end, they will force us to fly in designated parks solely. It's funny that this is done for our own safety, while they prepare 55 lbs drones to fly autonomously in urban environments ...
DJI keep silent regarding the height restrictions they will impose to all in the very near future and how our private data will be used by the 3rd parties and the DJI GO app which communicates with many companies.
These are some of the companies in China (there are more) and a host of other DJI DNS appear to connect via the GO app.

https://whois.icann.org

https://whois.icann.org/en/lookup?name=qbox.wscdns.com

https://whois.icann.org/en/lookup?name=baidu.com

http://estrongs.com

https://whois.icann.org/en/lookup?name=pingma.qq.com

http://acbe.aasky.net

https://whois.icann.org/en/lookup?name=pns.qq.com

Beijing Baidu Netcom Science Technology Co., Ltd.

ChinaNetCenter

Xiamen eName Network Co., Ltd.

Shenzhen Tencent Computer Systems Company Limited


Sources:

http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/jul/28/amazon-autonomous-drones-only-airspace-package-delivery

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2584987

https://www.yahoo.com/tech/exclusive-amazon-reveals-details-about-1343951725436982.html

DJI-Ken Posted at 2016-1-14 17:08
If in Beta app, you still need to unlock the zone. If you get GPS lock inside the building, the ap ...

Sorry ken, but some buildings, for interior flight can be inside nfz range. I cannot start my drone miles away and then go inside building.  What about battery swap in this case?

dan.carloni Posted at 2016-1-19 21:25
Sorry ken, but some buildings, for interior flight can be inside nfz range. I cannot start my dron ...

You can unlock zones at home before you go out for the day. And I don't know what you mean by "battery swap"

Ithacus Posted at 2016-1-19 13:14
Can you explain why, west of Fairbanks, AK there is a 300mi by 300 mi no-fly zone

I don't know what you mean by 300 mile no fly zone.
Here is the Beta GEO map of Fairbanks and surrounding area.
http://www.dji.com/flysafe/geo-system/unlock

DJI-Ken Posted at 2016-1-19 15:51
You can unlock zones at home before you go out for the day. And I don't know what you mean by "bat ...

Battery swap is when I have to change battery for continue flight, and I need to switch off device.
This is the situation: flight indoor within NFZ range.
Obviously drone don't start inside nfz, and if I've understood nfz cannot be unlocked.
But flight indoor must be free...

In an previous post you say that if there is no gps signal (inside building) I have to go outside, unlock, and then come inside.
But what about if nfz radius is mile far? And what about if I have to change battery? I have to shut down drone, change battery, go outside nfz, start the drone and come inside a building with drone on...? Right?

I think those zones will be redefined in time, but atleast they are yellow and can be unlocked

dan.carloni Posted at 2016-1-20 03:16
Battery swap is when I have to change battery for continue flight, and I need to switch off device ...

Ok, now I get it. I was talking about flying in no-fly zones on the Beta app that lets you fly in the no-fly zones that are now authorization zones. So if on the Beta app, you would go outside and unlock the zone and you have the whole day to fly so you wouldn't have to go outside for battery swaps.
BUT, with the current no-fly zones, if you are in the zone then you are unable to fly even if indoors. I understand that there should be no restriction for indoor use but there's no way for the app and aircraft to know it is inside or outside.

Ithacus Posted at 2016-1-19 13:14
Can you explain why, west of Fairbanks, AK there is a 300mi by 300 mi no-fly zone

And I saw the post with the Alaska maps but now it's gone. That large area is a MOA and Restricted airspace. Those are authorization zones and you are able to fly in them after authorization.

what are you doing?
Total exaggerated are the no-fly zones in Germany.
Here with us to Stuttgart, almost everything Authorization Zones is.
But the joke is that the airport Stuttgart is not included in the Restricted Zone.
Immediately stops this nonsense

i havtn been reading all of ur post

but when u have Problems with regulations of flying (if it is for flying in this zones only)

letz say there is a method to pretend to the GPS you are 20 Kilometer (or a distance u want) away from where u exactly are?

i mean it is not easy u Need to do some changes to the Hardware but it is not impossible

I second the motion of DJI offering a partial refund for slightly used or like new Phantoms.  If I had known that they were going to perform an 'after the sale feature change' I would never have purchased a Phantom to begin with.

DJI-Ken Posted at 2016-1-19 21:07
Ok, now I get it. I was talking about flying in no-fly zones on the Beta app that lets you fly in  ...

An idea is put a checkbox or something else, a user declaration of indoor flight. In that case, Dji is responsibility-free

DJI-Ken Posted at 2016-1-19 21:07
Ok, now I get it. I was talking about flying in no-fly zones on the Beta app that lets you fly in  ...

An idea is put a checkbox or something else, a user declaration of indoor flight. In that case, Dji is responsibility-free

DJI-Ken Posted at 2016-1-19 21:07
Ok, now I get it. I was talking about flying in no-fly zones on the Beta app that lets you fly in  ...

An idea is put a checkbox or something else, a user declaration of indoor flight. In that case, Dji is responsibility-free

Just to ask -- Has anyone heard any sort of timeline where IOS devices would be supported?

I'd rather not go out and buy an Andriod device, knowing at some point IOS devices will be supported.

Thanks,

spiderbot.sb Posted at 2016-1-20 20:51
I second the motion of DJI offering a partial refund for slightly used or like new Phantoms.  If I h ...

Again, the authorization zones are in the Beta app. You do not have to participate at all if you don't want to.

tvdirector911 Posted at 2016-1-20 22:29
Just to ask -- Has anyone heard any sort of timeline where IOS devices would be supported?

I'd rath ...

We will let you know when it's available for GEO Beta testing.

Ithacus Posted at 2016-1-21 01:15
Yes Ken I had uploaded pics but they were poor screen shots because the app will not allow to zoom ...

Again, if and when the Beta app becomes official I would think the authorization zones would be more defined.

DJI-Ken Posted at 2016-1-19 15:21
And I saw the post with the Alaska maps but now it's gone. That large area is a MOA and Restricted ...

Yes Ken I had uploaded pics but they were poor screen shots because the app will not allow to zoom out far enough. I find the lack of being able to zoom out to show as much as one would like is a premeditated measure by DJI (even though DJI is not the developer) because if a person could zoom out it would be downright rediculous to see the entire county covered in yellow. ..... I think these screen show a better representation.

FINALLY GOT THE SHOTS IN THE PROPER ORDER

martijn.kriens Posted at 2016-1-10 18:27
But that is because there is a lot of regulation from the authorities through flight plans and air ...

Couldn't agree more - I've seen video of drones flying high above cities on this forum - utterly irresponsible. A drone dropping on your head from 400 feet will probably kill you. DJI are being responsible to the public; what they need to do is have potential buyers check their local airspace before purchasing.

Geebax Posted at 2016-1-5 14:02
My wife specialises in industrial law. The key thing is not to get trapped into this thinking that ...

Noting Brendan's response that Aus isn't part of the trial. The zones that are/were marked appear to have nothing whatsoever to do with CASAs (Not CAA) actual airspace zones. The exclusion area (IIRC 3.4NM) actually is measured from the boundary fence, If you look at the current mapping for Oz many runway thresholds are outside the NFZ - not cool for the desired outcome. As DJI and others have noted the mapping is actually done by a third party rather than DJI and it is obvious from the areas that very little consultation  (for Oz at least) has been done with the regulator at this stage.

I live in hope that geofencing will remove some of the current restrictions on perfectly legal flight currently imposed and be a useful tool for advising a pilot when he is entering airspace he should have permissions for. If it did that and that alone it would be officially AMAZING.

Has anyone else noted that there is no proposal or trial or  hint of restriction on DJI's flagship products such as Wookong M or A2. I do recall seeing somewhere a DJI guy suggesting people change to one of those systems if someone didn't like geofencing...

Yup, my 5.8Kg hexa will not have any of the restrictions proposed to be imposed on my 1.3Kg Phantom

Brendan Schulma Posted at 2016-1-11 14:31
"This GEO Fence may actually benefit me a little.  I live near an airport and am not able to fly i ...

As I've mentioned before, I think Geofencing has some amazing potential. I believe as an advisory tool it would set a standard for others to drool over and attempt to follow. If a pilot goes to a regulator and says I'm using this system which tells me when I'm entering restricted airspace, regulators will be way more inclined to issue (insert authority such as 333, RPAS UOC here). Then as a pilot that give me an advantage and that will become a serious reason to buy.

I remain ever baffled however, on the logic behind a company imposing restrictions on the clients that are 100% responsible for their success, beyond any legal requirements.

It's also totally cool that you are on this forum and engaging in the discussion BIG kudos.

perseas Posted at 2016-1-19 05:31
I think the whole idea of the GEO as it is currently implemented is useful for tracking and sharin ...

Ken thank you for answering questions in this thread.  I found some of this post to be interesting.

Is there any plans on changing of flight height?  Or with regulations allowing up to 400 feet in US is that something we can count on not changing?  

As long as I get to keep my legal limit I'm happy.  

dirk-weiss Posted at 2016-1-20 08:40
what are you doing?
Total exaggerated are the no-fly zones in Germany.
Here with us to Stuttgart, a ...

Stuttgart airport is one of the zones. Basis for the zones is the normal ICAO airspaces table.