OK, so as all the settings and firmware updates etc are done via app or directly using card or memory stick, what is the USB for on the P3?

It basically acts like a memory card reader.  You plug that in to your computer, and you don't have to take the memory card out.  The other reason for the port is to update the controller in case you don't have a memory card reader or usb thumb drive around.

OK, so what is the USB port in the gimbal for then?

Alterastro Posted at 2015-5-7 05:47
OK, so what is the USB port in the gimbal for then?

I could be wrong but I believe that is so you don't have to take the memory card out and you can look at your pictures and videos that way.

It also allows to update the RC firmware using the supplied USB cable.

I wondered this as well - I think his question is why there are two usb ports on the quad...why not stick to one?

I have hunted through the manual about this as I was wondering the same thing. I think...  the USB port on the camera is for exporting images, as an alternative to removing the micro SD card. The USB port on the front of the droid, is for exporting flight data. But that is an only an "I think." The manual is a little vague in places.

The controller connects to your mobile device via the usb port

USB Ports - aircraft
There's one micro-USB port on the gimbal. It's used for reading media (video/photos) without having to monkey with the micro SD card.
There's another micro-USB port on the front of the aircraft. It's covered with a little rubberized tab, just below the name on the front.

Supposedly, this is used to retrieve log data, but I've not been able to make it work - at least not for me with an Android (Galaxy S5) device.

The lengthy tutorial I saw earlier here on the forum shows firmware updates being done via the SD card. I have no idea if the port on the front could be used for firmware updates or not.

USB Ports - controller
The USB port is used to connect your device running the Pilot App.

I've never used the micro-USB port on the controller. Don't remember what that one's for!

hi, guys.
about micro USB port at RC.
what do you thinks, is this port able for video stream out to another device (monitor, recorder, videoglasses, etc)?

alisdair@digita Posted at 2015-5-7 22:43
I have hunted through the manual about this as I was wondering the same thing. I think...  the USB p ...

In one of the "murky menus" there's an option to "Enter Flight Data Mode." Once you've entered this mode, you can connect a cable between your PC and the P3 (through the front microUSB port) and download individual pilot data files. They are in a proprietary format - nothing on my PC will read them. I found a web site (flitchi or something like that) that supposedly will convert the files into CSV format - but I never could fathom what's really going on with the data files.

aburkefl@gmail. Posted at 2015-5-13 19:49
In one of the "murky menus" there's an option to "Enter Flight Data Mode." Once you've entered thi ...

You can find flight data recorded to you tablet/mobilephone. Check directory named  DJI

ReppocMike Posted at 2015-5-14 17:26
You can find flight data recorded to you tablet/mobilephone. Check directory named  DJI

Unh huh - it says they're .txt files.

Try opening one of them!

aburkefl@gmail. Posted at 2015-5-14 22:15
Unh huh - it says they're .txt files.

Try opening one of them!

And you can load dji fly data also. Connect drone to PC using drones front USB port.
You have to open it by Dji Pilot app. You find dji_flyxx.dat files. I dont find program can
open those files. I think only Dji service can do it.

USB

You can find flight data files by using this usb port.

Took me awhile to figure out how to actually get ACCESS to the data log files.  Couldn't find it in the manual, just looked around on the various screens until I found something that said "Flight Data".  Finally figured out how to do a screen capture on a tablet so I did a step-by-step to show how to get to the Flight Data option.



Log files are in bin format.  You can decode them onto a CSV file using this web site: http://www.flylitchi.com/logs [thanks tchavalas]

gil Posted at 2015-5-15 04:02
Took me awhile to figure out how to actually get ACCESS to the data log files.  Couldn't find it in  ...

Fabulous documentation!

Now can you do the same thing with that web site? I understand what a CSV file is and I have Excel, but I get kind of lost in the conversion process - can't seem to retain/capture the resultant file.

Again - awesome job on the documentation - impossible not to follow the right procedure!

gil Posted at 2015-5-15 04:02
Took me awhile to figure out how to actually get ACCESS to the data log files.  Couldn't find it in  ...

Nice detective work Gil!

Jerry

rschiehl@gmail. Posted at 2015-5-11 02:13
The controller connects to your mobile device via the usb port

It is used for viewing your flight data via a USB cable connected from the quad to the RC. You may enter this mode by selecting "MC Settings" then "Advanced Settings". From there select "Enter Flight Data Mode". A screen will popup stating you may now view your flight data by connecting a USB cable from the RC to the quad.
Hope that helps!

kevin@tj-digita Posted at 2015-6-13 21:45
It is used for viewing your flight data via a USB cable connected from the quad to the RC. You may ...

Ok, But my problem is I want to know what is the front USB Port on the drone is used for? I am very curious about this.

fansc33eb125 Posted at 2016-11-3 01:35
Ok, But my problem is I want to know what is the front USB Port on the drone is used for? I am ver ...

Exporting flight data

lebed73@mail.ru Posted at 2015-5-13 01:48
hi, guys.
about micro USB port at RC.
what do you thinks, is this port able for video stream out to  ...

According to to the user manual the micro USB on the RC is for "Connect to a SD card reader to upgrade the firmware."

I know this is an old thread but I found an additional use for the front USB connector on the AC.   When not in flight data mode, the connector is a serial port.  I connected Putty to it where I found it was sending all sorts of telemetry data.
I believe at one time DJI Assistant made use of this port in serial mode.
Not sure what baud rate it is sending out on.  I tried default 9600 baud and max baud 11520, same data.

Here's a sample output:
^----lat------lon-----radi-con-cla-id----sta-----end--
^numOfItem[0]tick0~3[0][0][0][0]
^interfere list num:[0],in area:[0],sn match[1]
^app switch[0] cfg switch[1] in limit[0]
^limit num[0]:[0][0][0][0][0]
^gps_date:20170212 errono[0]
^-----------------[periodic]-------------------
^----lat------lon-----radi-con-cla-id----sta-----end--
^numOfItem[0]tick0~3[0][0][0][0]
^interfere list num:[0],in area:[0],sn match[1]
^app switch[0] cfg switch[1] in limit[0]
^limit num[0]:[0][0][0][0][0]
^gps_date:20170212 errono[0]
\>>sending limit areas:[0]
tgimbal         pitch 0.00, roll 0.00, yaw 149.30

Lots of garbage characters when viewed in WordPad.  Had to copy line by line or else it didn't copy everything I selected.  I suspect some of the garbage characters stops the stream;
Noted the the gimbal yaw varied 148.2 and 149.3

Not sure if those garbage characters are legitimate or if they generated due to baud rate mismatch.

RC on P3 can no longer be upgraded by USB.   Now it has to be done through the app.

OK, that was a bit scary.  After messing around with the P3 checking out the data readout, I powercycled where the P3A went through its Doo doo doo doot, did its gimbal initalization, gave its three dits saying all OK there, then started dit dit    Dit dit    Dit dit.
Uh oh, what did I do?   Connected the RC and the tablet, got compass error and firmware error.
Then I realized I had the AC sitting on my PC tower made of steel.   DOH!  Moved it to a wooden table, all normal even without powering off.

The microUSB port on the RC also appears to be a serial port but no data comes out of it.