Today, I made a test to see how Spark holds its position using VPS. By covering GPS with thick allu foil, I could get Spark flying in VPS mode, the altitude is controlled lower than 8 m. The result is very good. No drift at all. If you lost gps or compass you may lower Spark to this altitude to keep position holding.

Thanks for your positive review. Glad you have fun with your spark.

Great.
It did not enter ATTI mode?

Within VPS altitude (<8m.) it is ATTI with Vision positioning. No drift. It uses VPS instead of GPS.

So if you are under 8 m., is the spark using gps or vps; since it says gps even very close to ground ,unless display changes to atti. When RTH it does sometimes say a/c repositioning presumably now using vps?

At altitude below 8 m. if there is sufficient GPS then GPS is used otherwise VPS. At altitude over 8 m. where no GPS available it goes ATTI.

Here is another test over lawn.

https://youtu.be/Idy-dE-u3AQ

Can it perform ActiveTrack while on VPS with no GPS?

Have not tested. Read somewhere it requires GPS.

fansa7dc5944 Posted at 2017-9-13 02:58
VPS over lawn

Thanks for the testing!

I have the spark as a "selfie" Drone. It´s not my purpose fly far away. I don´t have the controller (juste Phone), and don´t want to have, as I said, for me, it´s a "selfie" machine.

My flights are almost all below 8m.:

Is this spark damaged?what is this tape in first video?

Nop. It is good Spark. I intentionally cover the GPS with alluminum foil.

fansa7dc5944 Posted at 2017-9-13 03:44
Nop. It is good Spark. I intentionally cover the GPS with alluminum foil.

Thanks i did not see that its alluminum foil.....

Wouldn't that be the typical behavior if you launched your spark indoors?  it would hover in place using the VPS.

fansa7dc5944 Posted at 2017-9-13 02:51
At altitude below 8 m. if there is sufficient GPS then GPS is used otherwise VPS. At altitude over 8 m. where no GPS available it goes ATTI.

Hi to all, in fact it would be a great idea that helps many pilots having limitted flying experience in ATTI mode, if the little sparky uses VPS for stabilizing AC in ATTI mode. In such scenario, if due to any reason, spark encounters compass error and dropping GPS, she can descent using barometer reading to the height that VPS Recognize First detectable pattern 8meters below AC (may be tall trees tops below sparky even) And then using pattern for stabilized hovering till compass error resolves or using VPS for stabilized fly with stick commands such as named P-VPS when flying indoors without gps. VPS readings are processed differently and are relative according to below surface pattern and are interpretable Without Compass. Using VPS readings, crash landing or accident with below surface is not probable much, because descent of AC will stop 8 meters above first obstacle. Please DJI consider this as a possible solution for those atti mode situations and make Spark even more Greate.

PS: In fact such capability is used even now by Mavic as "Terrain following" flight mode

Very stable hovering.  Mine always hovers well when in ATTI, GPS mode and even with moderate winds.

Sparky_17 Posted at 2017-9-13 08:37
Wouldn't that be the typical behavior if you launched your spark indoors?  it would hover in place using the VPS.

The purpose of testing is to see how Spark VPS performs in outdoor where slight wind and terrain are naturally random. The Spark does hold its position well. I also did a small flying test and it can be controlled as in P-GPS, it can fly straight, stops precisely, slide left and right correspond to stick command. With the limited altitude of 8 m. is good enough to prevent itsself from crashing into people. So it can be used as an emergency practice when you loss gps in-flight.

One thing that I want to report here is the Spark's GPS does regain the GPS gradually. Though I covered thr GPS  with thick foil and flew in VPS for 15 min. it could restore P-GPS and set its Home-Point to where it restored. You may need to reset the home point again to rc location otherwise when RTH is triggered it willl return to the position where GPS mode is restored.

Adriano Araujo Posted at 2017-9-13 03:05
Can it perform ActiveTrack while on VPS with no GPS?

Yes, Spark can do Active Track in VPS. In this test it tracked me flying backward and forward.

Hope our Chinese friends from AliExpress will make special aluminum cover for flying in no-fly zones to take selfies and 8m will be enough) Little bit scary for me to tape something so close to rotating blades)

Nice!
Best would be if DJI would add switches for all the nannyware features
AND if the transmission links worked properly in Europe.

fansa7dc5944 Posted at 2017-9-13 01:05
Within VPS altitude (<8m) ...

up to 8m ? really ?
here it says up to 30m !!!
https://store.dji.com/guides/dji-spark-highlights/
"...allows Spark to hover accurately anywhere with VPS assistance at up to 98 ft (30 m). "
or is it just the altitude <8m ?!
but position up to 30m ?

Adriano Araujo Posted at 2017-9-13 03:05
Can it perform ActiveTrack while on VPS with no GPS?

Yes..it will...

Cool, thanks for sharing!