Just a short test of the Mavic Air's Active Track function - attempting to track another drone... Considering the tracking function was probably never designed with this in mind, the results weren't too bad I believe :-)

The target was a DJI F550 Flamewheel hexacopter, which were flown at level altitude and at fairly low speed. Starting out with the Mavic Air slightly above the target, made the F550 stand out clearly towards the frozen fjord as background. But since I guess the Air's primary sensor for tracking an object is the camera, it is understandable that it has trouble seeing this small target with a cluttered background.

Edit:

Warning - After having seen the video posted below, I will not try this again! As demonstrated in that video, it may result in a midair, destroying both drones!

Wow, those are pretty good results. I wouldn't try because Your Mileage May Vary...

Here is a video of another Mavic Air while trying to Active Track an Inspire. It lost track and when reselecting the target this happend:

Both craft crashed to the ground...

Great video and test, thank you! But the different result posted here above is a great pity.

LoSBoL Posted at 2018-4-2 04:48
Wow, those are pretty good results. I wouldn't try because Your Mileage May Vary...

Here is a video of another Mavic Air while trying to Active Track an Inspire. It lost track and when reselecting the target this happend:

Oh no - that's an expensive mishap! I'm not sure if I would have carried out my test if I had seen this first...

Hyggen Aviator Posted at 2018-4-2 05:12
Oh no - that's an expensive mishap! I'm not sure if I would have carried out my test if I had seen this first...

I can imagine. I think you did take good precautions starting from above and letting the target stand out from the background scenery. If you like to read more about the kamikaze incident, it's being discussed here https://mavicpilots.com/threads/ ... rack-subject.37945/

I tried to track another drone and it just would not work.  Your video was done with a very high contrast, blank  background and I am sure that helped a lot.  My attempt was on a neighborhood street with houses and leafless trees.  The only way I could get it to lock on for a second was if I had the target drone with clear sky behind it.    As soon as the target drone flew with a tree or a house in the background it lost lock.

Thanks for the video.

LoSBoL Posted at 2018-4-2 05:20
I can imagine. I think you did take good precautions starting from above and letting the target stand out from the background scenery. If you like to read more about the kamikaze incident, it's being discussed here https://mavicpilots.com/threads/ma-flew-itself-into-active-track-subject.37945/

Thanks for posting this - at least it serves as a warning against trying this air-to-air tracking! I have now added a warning in my original post.

LoSBoL Posted at 2018-4-2 04:48
Wow, those are pretty good results. I wouldn't try because Your Mileage May Vary...

Here is a video of another Mavic Air while trying to Active Track an Inspire. It lost track and when reselecting the target this happend:

OMG.... what a "expensive" test!

LoSBoL Posted at 2018-4-2 04:48
Wow, those are pretty good results. I wouldn't try because Your Mileage May Vary...

Here is a video of another Mavic Air while trying to Active Track an Inspire. It lost track and when reselecting the target this happend:

Ooof, that's gotta hurt the ego...

Nice video

Only works if subject stays on the screen and not moving too fast. It will not work if you try to follow a reasonable speed speed glider.

Thank you for your sharing. Take good care of your drone and happy flying.

Ouch

Nice video. Does the mavic has some type of tracking device attachment to it?

Ouch! hope it didn't do a lot of damages.

Ryan Olivas Posted at 2018-4-12 18:54
Nice video. Does the mavic has some type of tracking device attachment to it?

Thanks. No, it only uses the camera. In other words, the object beeing followed doesn't need to carry any cell phone or other device.

Hyggen Aviator Posted at 2018-4-16 13:05
Thanks. No, it only uses the camera. In other words, the object beeing followed doesn't need to carry any cell phone or other device.

would be worse though if you lose sight of your drone

Hyggen Aviator Posted at 2018-4-16 13:05
Thanks. No, it only uses the camera. In other words, the object beeing followed doesn't need to carry any cell phone or other device.

Noted. Thanks for the info