As of Map Pilot version 2.3.0, a mapping mode that does not require an active connection to the aircraft as been added.
Connectionless Mode is designed for use when mapping will occur far away from the home point or if there is a lot of interference that would keep the camera from triggering properly using Active Connect mode.
NOTE: There are two types of Connectionless Mapping: timed and distance triggered. Distance triggered will take a picture every time the aircraft has moved the prescribed amount of distance. Timed imaging is dumb and just takes an image every X seconds. Distance Triggering leads to better results and is used if it is available. Timed imaging is OK but it will take lot of images in the corners when the aircraft slows down and this can lead to processing issues. Timed imaging is the only option available on aircraft such as the Phantom 4, Phantom 3 and Inspire 1.
Distance Triggering is only available on Phantom 4 Pro/Mavic aircraft or newer. Older aircraft like the Phantom 4 and Inspire 1 use timed imaging.
Active Connect mode will create more accurate 3D models since all of its images are taken while traveling the same speed, but Connectionless mode doesn't require a connection to the app. If you plan on having a strong connection to the aircraft or require the most accurate models possible, we recommend using the Active Connect mode.
When Connectionless mode is being used, the grey dots will be shown as usual to show progress. The location of these dots is based on a message from the aircraft that it took an image. If there is no active connection to the aircraft these dots will not be drawn.
In Active Connect mode, images will only be collected while in the defined survey boundary area. In Connectionless mode images can and will be taken outside the survey area and at aircraft speeds other than the prescribed one.
Previous to this version, the mobile device was in charge of triggering the capture of images at appropriate locations. The Connectionless mode uses the distance the aircraft has traveled to trigger the camera. The distance interval gets automatically defined based on the prescribed flight altitude and speed.
Active Connection mode will create more accurate data outputs and require less image cleanup. Taking images at different speeds, which inherently happens during fixed interval imaging, leads to inaccurate results in elevation and volumetric products and may cause stitching issues in general.
Safety issues aside, the main issue with not maintaining an active connection is the inability to track progress and detect route abandonment events. The camera will continue taking images in the absence of a connection to the mobile device.
Does connectionless mode work with the M600 Pro? It's greyed out on my screen. TIA
In Connectionless mode can we track drone on display ? ( my mean is position of drone on map )
Does this mode mean there is no connection from take of to landing eve in cases that connection signal is strong ?
When using Connectionless mode the video feed and aircraft telemetry are still available as long as the RC connection is still strong. If the connection gets weak it is possible for the app to get fully disconnected from the aircraft in which case there would be no information about the progress of the flight or video feed but the aircraft would continue flying along taking images. In this case the aircraft would continue flying through the end of the mission or whenever the battery triggers the Return to Home event.
*Connectionless Mapping Not Taking Photos On Half of The Map*
Hi Zane, we had a problem with connectionless mapping yesterday with our Mavic 2 Pro. Our AOI was about 400ha, rectangular area and flat terrain.
Our first flight started off fine until the mid point of it we realised it stopped recording the image point. We continue to let it run because we thought it might be due to weak connection, it proceed on without any image points until it got to the parallel point of the last recorded image point, then it started recording the image points again. It's the same with the other flights in the same area too. And indeed when we checked the images, those without image points have no images taken.
What is the problem with this? is it because of the SD Card speed class settings? We set it at U3 - 2 sec/image.
I looked through a couple of your log files in our Flight Sync system. The signal was pretty bad there but it looks like it would have been a problem on the aircraft somehow. The image numbering for the images you did get doesn't have any gaps. It is likely that the camera was not longer able to keep up at the speed you selected and the SD card write speed. Just because you set the image writing speed to 2 sec/image that doesn't mean your camera can support it with that card. The best way to test this is with the DJI app using the intervalometer.
You are getting images during your turnarounds which supports that theory.
Hi Zane, I'm experiencing the same problem now in a new flight. I do not think it is the speed class problem, as the SD card I have to class U3. Besides, I changed the settings back to 2.5 secs/image and the problem still persist.
It seemed to me connectionless mapping is not working very well for us. Form what I understand, connectionless mapping will cause the drone to continue taking images even at turning point. If you check my log flights, it is not doing that consistently.
Would appreciate if you could help us solve this issue. Connectionless mapping for us is absolutely crucial.
You will not see triggering issues in the log since if the signal is bad the markers will be delayed. This is the whole reason you use Connectionless.
Just because your card says it is U3 doesn't mean much. Test it in the DJI app with the intervalometer to see what the card will support WITH THE CAMERA. Basically Map Pilot is telling the camera to take an image every so many X meters based on speed, camera and overlap settings.
Hi Zane, the SD card I'm using is SanDisk Extreme V30. Listed as one of the recommended SD cards for Mavic 2 Pro.
If the SD card is not the issue, then do you have other suggestions?
Yes, if you are 100% sure it isn't the card (you shouldn't be without benchmarking it in the intervalometer as mentioned), you can set the SD card write speed to a slower setting, fly higher, or use less overlap.
In reviewing your most recent log files it looks like you are using 85% along track overlap, which is good for covering trees. But you are using 70% across track overlap. We generally recommend using symmetrical settings since it usually ends up being a wash as far as flight speed and number of passes goes.
If you click on the dots in your flight log traces you can see the filenames. Where there are gaps in the dots there are also gaps in the filenames. If you have a gap that appears to be one image and the file numbers on the sides of the gap are 123 and 125, this means that 124 got written just fine. The gap is only there because there was a dropout in the telemetry but the image was taken. This is a great example of Connectionless mode doing exactly what it was designed for. But don't take out word for it: verify the presence of the gaps with the actual images by selecting them for upload in Maps Made Easy's DJI specific workflow. This allows you to see the relative dot locations of all the images as they are recorded in the tags.
Good morning, I would like to know how to activate this "offline" mode in the Matrice 300. I have tried in different ways, but I always get the same message: "Connectioless Disabled / Active Connect is required currently on the M300RTK drone"
Is there a list of drones compatible with this feature?
I can't use it on the AIR 2S.
Connectionless mapping is not available on aircraft that use Virtual Stick controls (Air 2 series, Mini 2/3/4 series).