Topviewpics Posted at 2016-5-13 19:28
For God's Sake Mr. DJI Tim.

The requests for files, videos and proof of what we are experiencing ...

At this point, I would accept a warning about when to expect the drone to drop when it stops and the causes for the malfunction. They can fix it in the next drone if we can learn when to expect it in the P4 and avoid it.

juliovincentyjr Posted at 2016-4-25 20:01
To the folks experiencing the drop, are you updated on firmware?

CERTAINLY!  I am COMPLETELY updated on aircraft firmware, remote control firmware, as well as the latest update to the Go app.  I have CAREFULLY calibrated my IMU(s), and calibrate my compass before each first flight.  This drop happens whether going forward or back, left or right, or straight up, or straight down.  In ALL these cases, I experience this drop.  This is NOT a firmware mismatch, or IMU or compass error.

juliovincentyjr Posted at 2016-4-25 22:28
I did some testing last night. It only happens when I'm over 30 feet. If I'm under the 30 feet it di ...

"are you updated on firmware?"

sploodge Posted at 2016-5-17 16:33
A lot of seemingly immature children in here recently.. Show some respect will you..

Its not the wo ...

Somehow, an individual with a screen name of "Sploodge" just doesn't seem like the right person to be calling ANYONE immature....  just my 2 cents worth...

Did the same to me today again , never had that problems with p3 for 2000$ with 3 bat fuck it's annoying

i resent being use as a beta tester by dji. clearly they dont test their software and are leaving it up to their customers to do it for them. i dont see it as a threat or ultimatum to say you will return products because they no-longer function safely or properly. dji need to wise up! i find it offensive that dji effectively bricked my product by stopping me from flying it unless i upgraded it. then their upgrade made it unsafe and stopped it working correctly!

xjoeyx@satx.rr. Posted at 2016-5-20 00:06
Somehow, an individual with a screen name of "Sploodge" just doesn't seem like the right person to ...

And Joey with X's each end is much more credible.. What is it, your porn name ? Jog on...

I've got my P4 a week now, and the drops are scary.
And mine drifts when above water. I've got a flight log that shows this very clearly.  When I've got time this weekend, I'll try to put it together in a YT post.
And yes.Latest firmware,everything calibrated. IMU, compass sensors... the works. Still it drops more then two meters sometimes. Quute Quite scary when flying three meters above a big lake.
Please try and fix this DJI.

Just received my 2nd Phantom 4 to replace for "tilted horizon" although I later discovered I had the "altitude drop" issue.  I flew 3 batteries on new unit today.  Immediately out of the box, I flew it about 40 feet away from me and about 40 feet up.  Would hover for a few seconds then slowly drop,,, then slowly rise... the Yo-Yo effect was dramatic.  Flew it to 300 feet,, would watch it lose horizon and fall 60+ feet,, then catch,, rise to original altitude,,, then power up and fly 60+ feet straight up.  The altitude read out on the DJI Go app cannot be trusted.  I will not give you an accurate and immediate reading.  DJI Go app will lag far behind in determining the true altitude of the drone.  Upon landing after 1 battery, my DJI Go app said my original home point was now -12.5 feet in altitude.  That's a significant error in my opinion.  Oh well,, I guess its on to Phantom 4 #3... at least the "tilted horizon" issue seems to be missing from this unit... so,, progress has been made.

After reading this thread i decided to take the P4 out and see if it suffers from same problem (only had this 3 weeks) thankfully its not a problem with my particular drone.

HI,  I just received my new P4 from DJI last week.   Has the same problems with altitude drop as reported.  The P4 drops 5-10ft after stopping from forward flight and while orbiting around subject while using active track.   Is there a link anywhere to a post which describes how to get flight log and upload for them.  This occurs during all flights in P and S mode, have not tried ATTI.

Here is my video of the "Altitude Yo-Yo" effect as seen on my latest Phantom 4 unit.  My first Phantom 4 suffered from this "altitude drop/rise" issue as well.  Identical behavior, although, this new Phantom 4 unit is not displaying the "tilted horizon" I originally complained about upon receiving my original Phantom 4.  Maybe some of you recognize similar behavior from your own units?

bengalboy69@gma Posted at 2016-5-22 14:38
Here is my video of the "Altitude Yo-Yo" effect as seen on my latest Phantom 4 unit.  My first Phant ...

I only watched the first part of the video, can you please try without the gimbal guard you have mounted under it. If it still acts the same then there is definitely a problem.The sonar is being messed up by that.
Also, if you use full throttle down it may shut the motors off because the aircraft thinks it's on the ground as the sonar waves are being bounced off the gimbal guard. You re not supposed to have ANYTHING mounted below the VPS.

Also, please upload the DAT file from that flight and post a link and I will have the file analyzed.

You are extremely luck you didn't lose it in the water.

gvgs Posted at 2016-5-20 08:54
I've got my P4 a week now, and the drops are scary.
And mine drifts when above water. I've got a fl ...

I also had some major drift the other day over water.  Minimal wind.  Scared the crap out of me so I immediately brought it back over the beach.  Any answer?  I have done all updates, recalibrate IMU and compass.  I have the drop also so we're just careful when it happens.

DJI-Ken Posted at 2016-5-23 15:28
I only watched the first part of the video, can you please try without the gimbal guard you have mo ...

The first unit I received experienced the "Altitude Yo-Yo" without the gimbal guard attached.  If you like, I'll be happy to post a video of it performing exactly the same way without the gimbal guard attached??  If that was the case, the bird would not hover at all especially at low altitude as it does in the very beginning, correct??  (So, how do you explain the fact it can and does hover correctly at low altitude before being flown and after flying it and bringing it in?? Doesn't VPS shut off after 20 feet or so anyway??  Why is the readout on the DJI Go app not displaying the correct altitude of the craft saying it is at 40 feet when the P4 is actually over 100 feet in the air?? Does the VPS measure the altitude as well??  Why are other Phantom 4 owners reporting the same exact behavior?? Are all of the "Altitude Yo-Yo" P4's wearing a gimbal guard??  Why does it perform the "Altitude Yo-Yo" in Sport mode, I thought VPS was disabled when using Sport Mode??)

bengalboy69@gma Posted at 2016-5-24 11:01
The first unit I received experienced the "Altitude Yo-Yo" without the gimbal guard attached.  If y ...

Yes, please post a video and the DAT file of the same flight, I need to forward it on.
VPS on the P4 is active up to 10m. If the app shows you at 40ft and are actually at 100ft then the DAT file will be able to explain why. And yes, VPS measures your altitude from the ground up to 10m, after that it is  the barometer.

Zdrone Posted at 2016-5-24 04:08
I also had some major drift the other day over water.  Minimal wind.  Scared the crap out of me so  ...

Again, please post a link to the DAT file of the flight and I will have it analyzed.

I will make another video without the gimbal guard attached tomorrow evening if possible, if not, hopefully by Wednesday.  I have already requested a New replacement unit from Drone World and I'm sure you can get the craft from your Dealer for inspection and analysis.  By your own statement, the VPS is only active on the P4 from launch position to 33 feet.  However, the first time I realized I had a "altitude Yo-Yo" I was flying my first P4 at about 300 feet and 3000 feet away.  It wasn't until I realized that the horizon in the image I was framing on screen was starting to change and that my P4 was dropping altitude.   The scariest and most dramatic drops are when your at altitude.  300 feet,,, 200 feet... .. getting distracted trying to take a photo and not realizing your P4 has descended 60-70 feet into the top of a tree.. I'm not sure what VPS has to do with it at that height, however, I will go make a video and post it up here of the same Phantom 4 without the gimbal guard attached for your review.  I hope your right and I can keep this second unit... however,, if your wrong,, I hope you will admit that some units of the Phantom 4 have a serious hardware or software issue and take action to help the other members of this site, Phantom Pilots and FaceBook who are complaining about this very issue.

DJI fix it please !!

Yes it's been along time with no feed back from Dji on this

Because I fly collective pitch Helis now on my P4 when I fly over trees or objects I want to stop over I have to input a little on the pitch stick to make it stay at the same altitude, fine for someone who is use to flying collective with no assistance like gps, but for pilots that haven't had that flying experience it going to be hard.

So for it to stop at the same altitude I've been flying at just by me inputting a small pitch command is saying to me it's problem with the flight logic!!!!

@mark.mwilliams  Yep, thats exactly what I've been doing.  "Bumping" the sticks.. give it alittle up/down forward/backward at a point in space where you want the P4 to remain.  That seems to stabilize the P4 and keep it holding altitude for awhile.  Something that I'm comfortable with after flying for awhile, but, certainly a new Pilot would not have the benefit of experience and knowledge of this altitude issue flying it right out of the box.  I'm doing exactly the same thing, but, I still can't relax and compose my photos, video, etc.. like I can with my Vision+.  I'm still seeing altitude issues sometimes after hovering for an extended period and I've generally just got no "trust" in my Phantom 4 to remain stationary in the air.  Its like a "Toddler at the Mall",,, if I don't watch it continuously,, it may wander over to the coin fountain, fall in and drown..

bengalboy69@gma Posted at 2016-5-24 12:36
I will make another video without the gimbal guard attached tomorrow evening if possible, if not, ho ...

If it does that kind of altitude adjustment WITHOUT anything obstructing the VPS (your gimbal guard) then it definitely needs to be sent in.

Again, there have only been a couple of P4's out of the tens of thousands that have been sold have come in for this.
Without a gimbal guard your P4 will fly fine, the only reason it is doing extreme altitude adjustments is because of the gimbal guard you have attached to it and the sonar is getting incorrect information because the return waves are bouncing off of the gimbal guard.

SectorDrone Posted at 2016-5-24 15:13
DJI fix it please !!

Please provide your video and DAT file so DJI can analyze to see if there is an issue.
AGAIN, everyone is saying their aircraft does it but only one a few videos have been provided and not one person had supplied their DAT file.

mark.mwilliams7 Posted at 2016-5-24 17:42
Yes it's been along time with no feed back from Dji on this

Because I fly collective pitch Helis no ...

What do you mean a long time with no feedback from DJI ?
I have been active in this thread asking for users to provide a video and DAT file so I can forward it on and have the data analyzed. Only One more video has been provided and that person has a gimbal guard attached to the P4 which is obstructing the return waves of the sonar and that's the reason for the crazy altitude adjustments the video shows.

bengalboy69@gma Posted at 2016-5-24 22:22
@mark.mwilliams  Yep, thats exactly what I've been doing.  "Bumping" the sticks.. give it alittle up ...

Please post the video and if possible a screen recording of the flight.
Also, do not forget to post a link to the DAT file.

DJI-Ken Posted at 2016-5-24 15:38
What do you mean a long time with no feedback from DJI ?
I have been active in this thread asking  ...

Tim had replied way back to us saying dji are working on it and I have supplied flight logs and data two, and had no reply from that data in submitted.

No gimble guard fitted on my P4 and it drops when it stops as does my friends P4 his is a newer patch model I will get data from him too

I will fly later and I'll post more data files

mark.mwilliams7 Posted at 2016-5-24 22:47
Tim had replied way back to us saying dji are working on it and I have supplied flight logs and da ...

I had not known you have already sent something in. I am in the US but I can still have a DAT file analyzed so please post a link to the file and I will have it looked at today.
And honestly, I went to the repair shop and literally there have only been 2 complaints where the users sent in the aircraft so there is no wide spread issue and it's not anything that firmware will fix until many cases are send to DJI. That is why I am asking for all the users to post a video clip and provide a DAT file. Until then nothing will happen with firmware and the next firmware that comes out will not address this.
It pretty much works the sme way as a car recall, it takes many people to have an issue and it being verified by the manufacture by having them look at the product and analyze the data. If many people complain but are unwilling to send the product in or not provide data then there's not much the manufacture can do.

DJI-Ken Posted at 2016-5-24 15:52
I had not known you have already sent something in. I am in the US but I can still have a DAT file  ...

Hi Ken

Page 1 post 25 is my data file in Dropbox please look at the one I'll get more tonight.

And video later this week.

DJI-Ken Posted at 2016-5-24 15:52
I had not known you have already sent something in. I am in the US but I can still have a DAT file  ...

There's someone else's under my too please look at that.

Just because not everyone that is having this issue has submitted a data file doesn't mean it should just be brushed under the carpet!!!!

I work in the medical trade and if one customer reports an issue it get look at, if there's one with a fault there's likely to be more, I know it a completely different industry but dji are selling a prouduct that a number of people have reported an issue with and would like it solved, I am willing to help in any way I can so would all my flights on the P4 help as I'll up load them later?

mark.mwilliams7 Posted at 2016-5-24 23:08
Hi Ken

Page 1 post 25 is my data file in Dropbox please look at the one I'll get more tonight.

Perfect, thank you very much, I really appreciate it.

DJI-Ken Posted at 2016-5-24 16:27
Perfect, thank you very much, I really appreciate it.

Great will be good to know what they find

mark.mwilliams7 Posted at 2016-5-24 23:14
There's someone else's under my too please look at that.

Just because not everyone that is having ...

Trust me, nothing gets swept under the carpet. That benefits no one.
If only a few aircraft have been sent in with an issue out of tens of thousands than that means those particular aircraft have some issue and it get's taken care of and sent back to the customer.
If hundreds are sent in for the same thing than that means it's wide spread and engineering, R&d get involved to resolve it.

DJI-Ken Posted at 2016-5-24 16:43
Trust me, nothing gets swept under the carpet. That benefits no one.
If only a few aircraft have b ...

Yeah and that's the real issue here I'm not going to send anyway my favourite quad just because it drops in altitude! Maybe that's wrong but because I can fly collective Helis I'm use to put corrections in when flying.

Now if dji sent me a replacement first then I would

stshields91 Posted at 2016-4-12 21:42
Here are some records from me as well.  I've posted them prior and also submitted a support ticket ...

I've also forwarded this DAT file as well.

Here is your biggest problem with your statement DJI Ken regarding problems... First of all, there are alot of people reporting this, and some of those people are new Pilots who think the behavior is normal and acceptable.  Others, complain, but, assume a firmware is coming,, others still,, who know DJI's turnaround for repairs don't want to send in their Phantom 4's for a 2 month repair.  I'm happy to do another video,, I hope your right,, and just so you know, DJI Tim approved this guard before I purchased it.  (It doesn't block the sensor/camera area although I don't know what the field of view or dispersion of ultrasonic waves is with the gimbal guard mounted.)

DJI-Tim Hong Kong Offline

4# bengalboy69@gma Posted at 2016-4-27 12:56 Is this the one? Does it mount like this or differently??  Will I be able to use gimbal/camera lock  ... looks pretty good. doesn't seem to influence anything

DJI-Ken Posted at 2016-5-24 16:43
Trust me, nothing gets swept under the carpet. That benefits no one.
If only a few aircraft have b ...

Ken

Please see attached:-

DAT file

and Video

Although the car park is not dead level, the tilt is fairly obvious. At about 14 seconds I pick up P4 and rotate gimbal to all points hoping that this might level things a bit. After which I raise gimbal from -30 degree vertical tilt, and wait. Keep watching at about 46 seconds the gimbal levels itself, I then test this by yawing left and right, all seems well, but look what happens at about 1 minute and 1 second........

bengalboy69@gma Posted at 2016-5-24 17:04
Here is your biggest problem with your statement DJI Ken regarding problems... First of all, there a ...

I was in your second category ...."Others, complain, but, assume a firmware is coming,, "

So I have now presented the evidence for the moderators to pass to their colleagues.

bengalboy69@gma Posted at 2016-5-25 00:04
Here is your biggest problem with your statement DJI Ken regarding problems... First of all, there a ...

Again, anyone can report a problem BUT until they provide a video and DAT file nothing is going to happen. Users cannot just say mine does the same thing as what everyone else is complaining about. It doesn't work like that.
And for your video, I will be incredibly surprised if your aircraft asks the same without the gimbal guard as I have NEVER seen an aircraft act like that. That's why I can almost guarantee it's the gimbal guard.
If you have never crashed your aircraft, sensors are clean, all calibrations done than there's no reason it would act like that. And I don't think that there's any new user out there that would think what you are experiencing is normal and acceptable. For an aircraft to wander off on it's own and rise/descend 50-100ft out in the open with no pilot input, there's an issue.

You said the gimbal guard was far from the front of the aircraft so I would think that puts it by the rear of the aircraft. If you can post a photo of it installed that would be great.

I am awaiting for your video without the gimbal guard, and thanks again for taking the time to document another flight.

Aardvark Posted at 2016-5-25 00:09
Ken

Please see attached:-

This isn't pertaining to the thread topic of altitude drop, looked at you clip really quick and you camera should not do that UNLESS you are in FPV mode. Can you verify that you had the camera in Follow mode.

Apologies for post being in wrong section, I got carried away with the need to provide evidence that might be looked at.

Yes I can confirm camera was in follow mode, bear in mind when I have lifted and rotate aircraft that the gimbal has moved to its extremes.