Thursday, March 28, 2024

DJI investigates after Spark users report fly-aways and unexplained crashes

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While the company’s size and history mean DJI drones include some of the best safeguards in the industry, the Spark isn’t immune to potential drone problems.

The DJI Spark is the company’s cheapest and smallest drone yet — but now the firm is investigating multiple user reports of unexplained crashes. On the company’s online forum, a handful of users have reported that they lost control of the drone while using the gesture controls or the mobile app, causing Spark fly-aways and crashes.

“DJI is aware of these reports and we are investigating to determine the causes,” a DJI spokesperson told Quartz, who first pointed out at least fourteen similar complaints on the online forums.

One user says that the drone was in tracking mode when it suddenly flew away and crashed to the ground. After three hours of searching, the drone was recovered, allowing access to the flight data and the video of the fly-away:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=geDeBsuHnz0?feature=oembed&w=100&h=100]

Another user reported the Spark losing power midflight and falling to the ground while the user was operating the drone with the iPhone app.

While it’s unclear if the DJI Spark fly-away issue is widespread or confined to a few faulty units, or even if the problem is a result of user error, DJI is investigating. On one forum, a DJI official encourages users who experience the problem to send the company the flight log for analysis.

DJI’s small drone has been well received, with reviewers impressed at the Twinkie-sized drone’s flight performance, intelligent flight modes, and obstacle avoidance. While small drones tend to be more difficult to control, the Spark’s reliability during a two-week test has the drone slated as one of the best options for beginners.

If DJI does in fact find a hardware or software error is to blame, the Spark wouldn’t be the first compact drone to experience issues. GoPro recalled its first drone, the Karma, shortly after launch because several units lost power and fell out of the air. The issue happened to be a simple fix that could have actually been temporarily done with duct-tape — the battery didn’t fit properly and could lose connection in a rough flight — and the drone is now back on the market.

The Spark and the Karma have several threads in common, offering aerial views from a drone that can fit inside a backpack. The Karma is noted for the simplicity of the flight as well as the three-axis gimbal, but as the company’s first drone doesn’t use features like tracking and obstacle avoidance.

Fly-aways are a common issue with unmanned aerial vehicles, often caused by losing connection with the controller, though other factors like electromagnetic interference can also play a role. DJI’s drones use several different safeguards designed to help in such an issue, including setting a home point, which the drone will automatically return to if the connection with the controller is lost.




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