So I believe I know the answer to this question, but am too chicken to prove it.   If I shut off my transmitter, after a predetermined time, of the drone not seeing my transmitter signal, will it go into failsafe mode and execute a RTH?  ( if that is what I have it set to do )  Is this generally the case, assuming I have a home point set and a RTH option and altitude set properly, etc?  Own P3P, running 3.2.4sw

I believe you are correct. That is the same as a disconnect or signal loss

Yes.  If no control signal is detected for 3 secs, the AC goes into Fail-Safe.

I tested it about a year ago:
I turned off the RC in full forward flight at 40 m hight. The drone decelerated immediately after the RC was off, kept its position, and then it climbed to the set 50 m RTH altitude. Then my P3P flew to its homepoint and landed automatically.
It is just an RC signal loss for the drone, but somewhat scary for the pilot if you are new to the game or never tried or experienced it before.
I check all those functions from time to time, just to teach myself trusting it for the moment when it must be working as it should...

Good to know. And a good idea!   Thank you

Best case scenario yes. Hopefully one, you only find out, in an actual emergency situation.  ;-)



RedHotPoker

As a side note, it's very easy to panic after a unplanned disconnect and hit the RTH button, but if the connection has been reestablished by then beginners just end up canceling the RTH and wonder why the drone doesn't come back.

Fruxen Posted at 2017-2-28 21:19
As a side note, it's very easy to panic after a unplanned disconnect and hit the RTH button, but if the connection has been reestablished by then beginners just end up canceling the RTH and wonder why the drone doesn't come back.

Maybe on most models that's true, but on the Standard you use two different switches to start (S2) or cancel (S1) a RTH. So I don't think that would happen with a P3S.

Yes that is correct.  If you have RTH as your setting if you lost RC connection the drone just flies home.
Happened to me when my Go App and RC lost connection.  My drone was a mile out on the return trip.

My drone was over 1000ft above launch point so I wasn't concerned about hitting anything.  Here are my 2 logs, first showing flight till lost connection.  Second log showing me taking control when drone had flown back to home point.   When I heard my drone go into the landing mode I started up my RC and Go App and manually landed.

http://healthydrones.com/main?fl ... _id=GENERALOverview

http://healthydrones.com/main?fl ... _id=GENERALOverview

RedHotPoker Posted at 2017-2-28 20:46
Best case scenario yes. Hopefully one, you only find out, in an actual emergency situation.  ;-)

I usually use RTH when wanting my drone to come home.  Can sit back and relax while it does it's own thing from 2.7km away lol.  I actually went to video the roads and valleys where I live and see how far I could get from my track and field area just near my home.

WilliamM Posted at 2017-2-28 21:25
Maybe on most models that's true, but on the Standard you use two different switches to start (S2) or cancel (S1) a RTH. So I don't think that would happen with a P3S.

Ah ok I didn't know that. That sounds more user friendly actually.

Yes you are correct.

blackcrusader Posted at 2017-2-28 21:43
I usually use RTH when wanting my drone to come home.  Can sit back and relax while it does it's own thing from 2.7km away lol.  I actually went to video the roads and valleys where I live and see how far I could get from my track and field area just near my home.

Yeah, you can even multi task.   

Go check your email, or even reply to a few forum posts while the drone is autonomously flying back. ;-)



I have never needed RTH, so far, so good. But I set my battery warning at 20%

RedHotPoker

RedHotPoker Posted at 2017-2-28 23:25
Yeah, you can even multi task.   

Go check your email, or even reply to a few forum posts while the drone is autonomously flying back. ;-)

Yes it's amazing what auto pilot allows one to get up to.  

blackcrusader Posted at 2017-3-1 02:10
Yes it's amazing what auto pilot allows one to get up to.

One eye on the radio/device, and one on the beach. Haha



RedHotPoker

blackcrusader Posted at 2017-2-28 21:43
I usually use RTH when wanting my drone to come home.  Can sit back and relax while it does it's own thing from 2.7km away lol.  I actually went to video the roads and valleys where I live and see how far I could get from my track and field area just near my home.

You do realize it only flies at like 2/3 speed on a RTH, in case of low battery or high winds it could be a issue. Unless you push the right stick forward all the way, than it goes faster. Personally I don't like relying on RTH as a normal way to fly back home and use it just as a last resort thing. It's also cutting down on your fun, flying.

WilliamM Posted at 2017-3-1 07:59
You do realize it only flies at like 2/3 speed on a RTH, in case of low battery or high winds it could be a issue. Unless you push the right stick forward all the way, than it goes faster. Personally I don't like relying on RTH as a normal way to fly back home and use it just as a last resort thing. It's also cutting down on your fun, flying.

A good pilot is aware of the conditions and battery usage.  If you see my flight logs posted above, even when I did that flight 2.7km down range around 2200ft above the valley floor, you will see I have a lot of battery power left. I flew into an 8mph average head wind. Also when flying that 2.7km I was stopping along the way not just at full throttle.

I landed with 29% battery. Well within the confines of allowing a safety margin.  That's even allowing for the fact that 1 mile or 1.6km of the flight my RC and Go App were turned off on the return leg. It's not necessary to go full throttle all the time, unless maybe you need a fast climb to the 1640ft max height limit of the drone. I have done this to clear clouds that are 1300ft thick to get above them for nice shots.  But by then I am usually flying above 10,000 feet altitude.

My flight time to reach that 8658ft distance was 8.37 and I had 60% battery left when my drone went to RTH.  I was well aware at the time what my battery level was. When I landed I had 29% left. So my RTH return speed was faster than my average speed out as I had stopped several times and also flew slowly not at 100% full throttle. I sometimes fly at 100% full throttle but not often. So I used 38% battery getting to max distance and 31% to return. Landed with 29%.  

8m 37.8s        Go Home        12satellites        1,313.0ft        0mph        8,858.1ft        60%        15.042V        3.752V        3.758V        3.772V        3.76V        0.02V

Another thing. I flew into a headwind and on the return home had a nice 8mph tail wind as I came near east on the return flight. I knew that as the wind pretty much always comes east down that valley. Knowing ones local conditions from living here helps with planning flights. So yes winds and the direction that are travelling are important. The mountains pretty much channels the winds to my home point.   Thanks for your concern.  Good for other pilots to read these things and learn how other pilots fly.

You will actually note my flight out is over 8 minutes 37 second and flight home 6 minutes.  So I was over 2 minutes faster on the return leg on RTH autopilot.

http://www.phantomhelp.com/LogViewer/T8CFQ1K1OJ55OR4SAGTJ/

[tr][/tr]

Average Wind Speed	Average Wind Direction	Max Gust Speed
8.4 mph	North West North West North East East South West South East South	10.8 mph
2 calculated wind periods	Avg. direction: 265°	Gust direction: 280° Recorded on: 00m 30s

When I took off about a year ago with my mini 3 pro, it completely lost connection after less that 100m and it never came home. I contacted DJI and they reckon I purposefully flew Into a massive mountain at full speed In sport mode 3,000m away...lol - I was so shocked, to shocked at their response to even consider fighting it.