DJI Neo & DJI Flip

Good day, people! Shawn right here from Air Pictures. Not too long ago, DJI launched the brand-new Flip, and never too way back they launched the DJI Neo. You may be questioning if shopping for a drone at the moment of yr is secure for winter and cold-weather flying. The easy reply is sure—you possibly can. All these drones have a minimal temperature score. In line with DJI’s web site, each the Flip and the Neo can function right down to -10°C (14°F), so you possibly can certainly fly them in chilly situations.

Now, with that stated, flying these drones on a chilly day in sub-zero temperatures does require further precautions. It’s not the identical as flying on a heat summer season day. On this publish, we’ll go over some ideas to make sure you have a secure and profitable winter flight.

Precipitation

On some days, like right this moment, there’s no snow in any respect. Nevertheless, there could also be different days when it’s calm and never too windy, however there’s mild snowfall. You would possibly marvel if it’s secure to fly your drone in these situations.

My rule of thumb for flying when it’s snowing is straightforward: if it’s actually chilly and the snow is mild and dry, I often fly. There’s sometimes no difficulty. If it’s milder and the snow is heavy and moist, I don’t fly. Moist, heavy snow can accumulate in your drone, and if you carry it again you’ll discover it saturated. Electronics and water don’t combine very effectively, so I keep away from it underneath these situations. Consider it like driving in winter: dry snow simply blows previous your windshield, however moist snow sticks. The identical logic applies to drones.

Ice Buildup on the Drone Props

Ice buildup on the propellers is one other potential drawback in winter, even when there’s no snow on the bottom. Should you’re flying in sub-zero temperatures or when the temperature hovers round freezing, there will be moisture within the air that types ice on the props. It’s crucial to carry the drone again usually to test for ice.

Ice on the props may cause vibration, resulting in jello-like footage. It could actually additionally weaken the props themselves. Spinning at excessive RPMs, a broken or imbalanced prop can break or shatter, doubtlessly inflicting a crash.

Contemplate a Touchdown Pad

With a drone just like the Flip or the Neo, you possibly can launch from the palm of your hand. For bigger drones just like the Mini 4 Professional or the Air 3, you might not wish to place them instantly on the snow. Should you’re uncomfortable with hand launching or hand catching, a touchdown pad is an affordable funding. It helps shield your drone and means that you can take off and land on snowy or moist surfaces.

Maintain Drone Batteries Heat

Retaining your batteries heat is as vital as checking for ice. These drone batteries have to be at a heat temperature to perform correctly. In the event that they’re too chilly, they’ll lose energy rapidly, which will be harmful.

You possibly can merely hold your batteries in an inside jacket pocket. Should you’ll be outside for an extended interval, digital hand heaters will be positioned in your digital camera bag. They’re designed to maintain your fingers heat, however additionally they assist keep a extra steady temperature on your batteries.

Maintain Flights Brief

On a pleasant summer season day, you would possibly hold your drone within the air for as much as half-hour, relying on the mannequin. In winter, it’s finest to shorten your flights. This allows you to carry the drone again extra typically to test for ice, and in addition to examine the lens for any moisture or snow accumulation.

One other technique I take advantage of in chilly climate is to keep away from flying under 45% battery. In summer season, I would go down to fifteen% and even 10%, however in chilly situations, batteries can drop in voltage in a short time as soon as they’re under 50%. I’ve personally seen it occur, and others have commented on comparable experiences. The very last thing you need is to be distant and understand your battery doesn’t have sufficient energy left to get again.

Keep Shut

Along with protecting flights brief, keep nearer to your house level than you usually would. After all, you must at all times observe visible line-of-sight guidelines, however that is much more vital in chilly climate. In case your battery all of the sudden loses energy or if ice builds up, you’ll need the drone inside straightforward attain to carry it again safely.

Fly Drone Slower and Much less Aggressively

Whereas these drones can deal with chilly climate, the rubber dampeners contained in the gimbal can stiffen up in excessive chilly. This will result in vibration or jello results in your footage. By flying slower and avoiding aggressive maneuvers, you’ll cut back stress on the gimbal and get smoother video. It’s not at all times an issue, however one thing to bear in mind.

Bonus Ideas

Should you plan to fly quite a bit in winter, spend money on a superb pair of pictures gloves. These gloves typically have fingertips (thumb and index finger) that fold again, permitting you to function your controller or touchscreens extra simply.

One other tip is to fly from inside your automotive. Many fashionable drones have robust transmission techniques (like DJI’s O4), which work high-quality by means of a windshield. You’ll keep heat, your flight will probably be extra comfy, and also you gained’t usually lose sign. Simply bear in mind you continue to want visible line of sight, so fly the place you possibly can see the drone by means of the windshield.

These are some fast ideas for flying the DJI Flip or the DJI Neo on a chilly winter day. I hope you discovered this data useful. Thanks for watching, and we’ll see you within the subsequent one!