After many years of flying on land, I wanted to try my luck at flying from a moving boat at sea... it was a complete failure!

While out at sea (it was a calm day with minimal waves) on a small 30 ft. passenger boat I set up my Phantom 4 with my crystal sky monitor in GPS mode.

I waited to see if there were any IMU/GPS/COMPASS errors and everything was fine.
I next proceeded to start the motors, and immediately, before I gave any throttle, the drone began to "compensate" for the sligh rocking of the boat and started spinning the motors erraticly. The drone then proceeded to topple over and fall onto the ground.

I then tried hand launching in ATTI mode, but the same phenomenon seemed to occure, which in the end is logical since the drone wants a stable solid surface for take-off.


My question is, is there any way to disable sensors so the drone doesn't try and "auto-correct" before take-off while on a "rocking boat"?

Any other tips that will help me to take-off succesfully while on a boat, even if the boat is not moving under-way?

Thanks!

Hand launching in atti mode should do what you need.
It's what I do when flying from a boat.
In P-GPS the drone will try to hold position which can cause problems but in atti mode it shouldn't want to fight you.

Hello there Alexios. I am sorry for the trouble this has caused and thank you for reaching out. I will be posting a link where in you can see some tips on How to Fly Safely Over Water. Thank you and fly safe always.

https://store.dji.com/guides/how-to-fly-safely-over-water/

Flying from a boat.....PHHTTT.....  

Aloha Alexios,

     Here is a good video - and the boat was moving!



     Take care and be safe!

Aloha and Drone On!

rwynant V1 Posted at 7-2 18:41
Flying from a boat.....PHHTTT.....  

https://youtu.be/17RWWVnFij8

Looks like he threw the drone into the air and it took flight.

Mark Weiss Posted at 7-10 16:12
Looks like he threw the drone into the air and it took flight.

He just released it and climbed a little and the boat sailed away from it.

Labroides Posted at 7-10 18:45
He just released it and climbed a little and the boat sailed away from it.

Do you think he was in GPS mode or atti mode? Would he have had any compass/calibration errors ... could he still take off? Any help would be great! I’m going out for a shoot on Thursday for my first time on a boat and I’m a bit nervous ...

rwynant V1 Posted at 7-2 18:41
Flying from a boat.....PHHTTT.....  

https://youtu.be/17RWWVnFij8

This video says a lot, thanks so much!

Do you think he was in GPS mode or atti mode? Would he have had any compass/calibration errors ... could he still take off? Any help would be great! I’m going out for a shoot on Thursday for my first time on a boat and I’m a bit nervous ...

DJI Stephen Posted at 7-2 01:44
Hello there Alexios. I am sorry for the trouble this has caused and thank you for reaching out. I will be posting a link where in you can see some tips on How to Fly Safely Over Water. Thank you and fly safe always.

https://store.dji.com/guides/how-to-fly-safely-over-water/

Very helpful, thanks!

Alexios Posted at 7-14 08:59
This video says a lot, thanks so much!

Do you think he was in GPS mode or atti mode? Would he have had any compass/calibration errors ... could he still take off? Any help would be great! I’m going out for a shoot on Thursday for my first time on a boat and I’m a bit nervous ...

I'm sure he was in P mode ( GPS )  but then once oriented.....switched to Sport Mode......

Randy

Alexios Posted at 7-14 08:58
Do you think he was in GPS mode or atti mode? Would he have had any compass/calibration errors ... could he still take off? Any help would be great! I’m going out for a shoot on Thursday for my first time on a boat and I’m a bit nervous ...

Do you think he was in GPS mode or atti mode?
Either would work but on a fast moving boat, he was probably in atti mode to prevent the drone fighting him when it was trying to hold position.

Would he have had any compass/calibration errors ... could he still take off?
Why would he?
Avoid launching from on top of steel and you shouldn't have any compass issues.

Any help would be great! I’m going out for a shoot on Thursday for my first time on a boat and I’m a bit nervous ...
Have you had lots of practice hand launching and catching?
Out on the water is the worst place to learn new drone techniques.

Labroides Posted at 7-14 16:28
Do you think he was in GPS mode or atti mode?
Either would work but on a fast moving boat, he was probably in atti mode to prevent the drone fighting him when it was trying to hold position.

Thanks for the advice! I've caught countless times with hand, but have launched only a few times. I’m going out for some practice hand launching on land ... hopefully it won’t be too different out at sea ...

I always do that but if the gps detects a certain amount of movement, it's normal to compensate with the engine so if you can't take off with the full thrust, you can only do it with an hand launch.

Alexios Posted at 7-14 08:59
Very helpful, thanks!

Hi there Alexios. You are very much welcome and thank you for the reply. If you have any other inquiries or concerns with DJI. Please feel free to post it here at DJI Forum. We are all here to help and support you.

rwynant V1 Posted at 7-2 18:41
Flying from a boat.....PHHTTT.....  

https://youtu.be/17RWWVnFij8

Fair Dinkum ?  What a ripper bit of video.
You are a damn site braver than me !!  
Well done,  loved it  

Cetacean Posted at 7-3 01:28
Aloha Alexios,

     Here is a good video - and the boat was moving!

Great stuff,  well done .....  

Manxmann Posted at 7-16 00:56
Fair Dinkum ?  What a ripper bit of video.
You are a damn site braver than me !!  
Well done,  loved it

You are a damn site braver than me !!  
???
For just posting a link to a popular Youtube video?
That's hardly a courageous action.

Manxmann Posted at 7-16 00:56
Fair Dinkum ?  What a ripper bit of video.
You are a damn site braver than me !!  
Well done,  loved it

HA,  That wasn't me......just some really cool footage.

Thanks though,

Randy

Labroides Posted at 7-16 05:26
You are a damn site braver than me !!  
???
For just posting a link to a popular Youtube video?

Oooops,  didn't realise !
OK,  so I'll say,  "Whomsoever did do it has bigger gonads than me !!"

rwynant V1 Posted at 7-16 13:02
HA,  That wasn't me......just some really cool footage.

Thanks though,

Tricky -   It was still fer-fer-flippin good ;)