Hi
I'm a complete newbie, both to forums and owning a drone!
So here's my trouble...
I've had my spark for about 4 weeks. The first week or so everything seemed to be going well. (Myself learning how to fly etc. as never used a drone before)
Then unexpectedly the IMU wants to be calibrated each time a start up... I go throught the process of calibration to get the 'sucess' screen and the green light for go fly. All seems well, flying fine and responds fine.
The fustrating thing is it does this every time I power on and launch app. (BTW I have the latest firmware for both batteries.)
Oddly enough I had been a bit slow taking the props off, and after a few minutes, the calibration warning then disappears! and I get green status for the sensor and ready to fly!
I'm thinking it's surely not meant to prompt for calibration every time?
hope this make sense I'm new to this stuff!

Are you sure its not an IMU warm up warning?

Please provide the screenshot of the error message on your app. And what is the version of your device? Did you try to reinstall your app?

Hi
sorry it's taken me a while... I've attached two screenshots.

I notice red gyro level  -
Is this  OK?

DJI Elektra Posted at 2017-9-11 20:06
Please provide the screenshot of the error message on your app. And what is the version of your device? Did you try to reinstall your app?

I've uploaded screenshots, not reinstalled app... will give it a try. My device is Sony Xperia z2, has been running well on it, the app hasn't crashed on it...

Fable-Mae Posted at 2017-9-13 05:17
I've uploaded screenshots, not reinstalled app... will give it a try. My device is Sony Xperia z2, has been running well on it, the app hasn't crashed on it...

Are you on a balcony...? Building normally contains tons of steel which kills your calibrations..

JMR58 Posted at 2017-9-13 07:31
Are you on a balcony...? Building normally contains tons of steel which kills your calibrations..

No ... actually a bungalow! just the window frame in the screenshot

Fable-Mae Posted at 2017-9-13 07:39
No ... actually a bungalow! just the window frame in the screenshot

Frankly I do not know, what actually can cause a gyroscope to throw off and require a recalibration, but it should not have anything to do with magnetic interference due to iron structures nearby. That could create compass errors which is another thing.

Before my last flight, I noticed that the Gyro bias shown in the App was quite high (yellow color). I waited for another 2-3min just watching the bias and it slowly decreased to a value I used to see in my previous flights. After some time the indicator bar turned green and I started my flight without any issues.
As an electrical engineer I'm aware that heating up the IMU (at least my Spark gets quite warm after a few minutes) will cause some sensor drift. But the deviation I saw was quite high and I'm uncertain wheter my Spark has an hardware defect or not.

Is anybody else experiencing similar issues?

Fable-Mae Posted at 2017-9-13 07:39
No ... actually a bungalow! just the window frame in the screenshot

Can you do a full factory reset in assistant 2, you may need to do this, if there is still a problem with gyros you may have to send back.

Mike79 Posted at 2017-9-13 08:17
Before my last flight, I noticed that the Gyro bias shown in the App was quite high (yellow color). I waited for another 2-3min just watching the bias and it slowly decreased to a value I used to see in my previous flights. After some time the indicator bar turned green and I started my flight without any issues.
As an electrical engineer I'm aware that heating up the IMU (at least my Spark gets quite warm after a few minutes) will cause some sensor drift. But the deviation I saw was quite high and I'm uncertain wheter my Spark has an hardware defect or not.

That's almost what happens with mine...  It still says requires IMU calibration on start up.. cos the props are a bit fiddly it took me a while to get them off (newbie drone owner lol) and by the time I'd done it the gyro sensor had gone green.
So didn't then do the calibration. For the last 4-5 times previous I've done the full calibration, cos I'm new to all this it's worried me... I'm sure it's not meant to be every time though?...

Fable-Mae Posted at 2017-9-13 07:39
No ... actually a bungalow! just the window frame in the screenshot

Did your drone crash before?
Please calibrate your IMU in a flat place, if the warning still appears, please export the flight data and black box data for us to analyze.

DJI Elektra Posted at 2017-9-13 22:27
Did your drone crash before?
Please calibrate your IMU in a flat place, if the warning still appears, please export the flight data and black box data for us to analyze.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngEHdAlAh9A

No did not crash... Still asks for IMU calibration, if I leave a while it does seems to sort it's self and says ready to fly!??... still concerned it's not behaving as it should on start up. With the flight data (think I've done it right) its everything, about 1Gb hope that's alright...

https://wetransfer.com/downloads/d7d608351ff71093bbc31077fe6d9dfa20170914195430/e6b23429842b81bebb3352d11d549b6a20170914195430/1697b1

Well I've mentioned orange gyro reading several times before.
I haven't recalibrated as spark has not requested it. Behaviour seems ok, so I don't really know what to do.

Fable-Mae Posted at 2017-9-14 12:16
No did not crash... Still asks for IMU calibration, if I leave a while it does seems to sort it's self and says ready to fly!??... still concerned it's not behaving as it should on start up. With the flight data (think I've done it right) its everything, about 1Gb hope that's alright...

https://wetransfer.com/downloads/d7d608351ff71093bbc31077fe6d9dfa20170914195430/e6b23429842b81bebb3352d11d549b6a20170914195430/1697b1

Can you upload it to dropbox? Thanks a lot.

DJI Elektra Posted at 2017-9-14 22:45
Can you upload it to dropbox? Thanks a lot.

Hi Dropbox link

https://www.dropbox.com/s/oxqw1z ... 4_20-07-42.DAT?dl=0

Fable-Mae Posted at 2017-9-15 06:04
Hi Dropbox link

https://www.dropbox.com/s/oxqw1zsn3t1n39t/DJI_ASSISTANT_EXPORT_FILE_2017-09-14_20-07-42.DAT?dl=0

Thanks for your update. I would forward this to our engineers. Please wait patiently.

I have the same Problem since this weekend. If i put the Spark to the ground and power on the spark , i got the same message. If i wait for 10-20 seconds, the message disaperars  and the App says ready to fly. Callibration helps for a moment, but i a wait for 30 minutes and whants to fly again, the same problem.
But, if i switch on the spark, and don't put it on the ground (hold it in my hand) no IMU calibration message appears.

Sinus Posted at 2017-9-18 03:15
I have the same Problem since this weekend. If i put the Spark to the ground and power on the spark , i got the same message. If i wait for 10-20 seconds, the message disaperars  and the App says ready to fly. Callibration helps for a moment, but i a wait for 30 minutes and whants to fly again, the same problem.
But, if i switch on the spark, and don't put it on the ground (hold it in my hand) no IMU calibration message appears.

Mine had been doing this for a couple of weeks... hadn't noticed if i put it on my hand if the message came back or not... I'd contact support as well... they have my flight data now, I'll keep everyone posted on what happens.

I opened a case yesterday evening, too.
I think this is a problem warming up the IMU.
If i power on the Spark the IMU state is very bad and every second the state will be better. Once i have a good state, i can power off the Spark and power on again, the state is good. If i wait for e.g. 30 minutes, the state is bad and i have to wait for a good state.

By the way, no need to take the props off unless you think it's a really fun thing to do.

DJI support says i had to send my spark back. i am excited how long it takes.

Sinus Posted at 2017-9-19 01:39
DJI support says i had to send my spark back. i am excited how long it takes.

Glad you've got a response so quick! I've not heard anything yet...

TheFlyingDutchm Posted at 2017-9-18 22:04
By the way, no need to take the props off unless you think it's a really fun thing to do.

when calibrating? it says too... must admit I got a bit fed up of doing it lol!

So, i got a e-mail from DJI support:Warranty. no crash damage. IMU calibration message keeps coming on the screen.
even after you calibrate the IMU it keeps coming back. firmware upgrade didnt help
After testing and diagnosing your product, DJI will provide you with the free repair service.
The repair is expected to be finished in 2 to 3 working days, then the product will be sent back to you. Thank you for choosing DJI.

Sinus Posted at 2017-9-22 08:16
So, i got a e-mail from DJI support:Warranty. no crash damage. IMU calibration message keeps coming on the screen.
even after you calibrate the IMU it keeps coming back. firmware upgrade didnt help
After testing and diagnosing your product, DJI will provide you with the free repair service.

DJI send me a new spark and everything is o.k. now.
@Fable-Mae
did#t you heard anything from DJI?