Overview
Manual Flight gives you full control of your drone within the DroneDeploy app. While DroneDeploy is known for industry-leading flight autonomy, manual control is essential for custom shots, navigating tight spaces, or scouting altitudes before an autonomous mission.
Availability
Subscriptions: Available for all DroneDeploy subscription tiers.
Platforms: iOS and Android mobile devices.
General Use Cases
Custom Shots: Maneuver the drone with full control to capture specific photo and video angles.
Tight Navigation: Fly in and out of complex or confined spaces.
Mission Planning: Scope areas and check obstacle altitudes to inform your autonomous mission settings.
In-Flight Takeover: Take manual control at any point during an autonomous mission for safety or detailed inspection.
Launching Manual Flight
Open your project in the DroneDeploy mobile app.
Create a new flight template by clicking the Plus (+) button.
Select Manual from the template options.
Operating Manual Flight
Manual Flight operates similarly to standard flight applications. Use your controller joysticks to move the drone while viewing the first-person view (FPV) and real-time map location on your screen. Key capabilities include:
Capture Media: Take photos, record video, and capture panoramas directly to the drone's SD card.
Real-time Telemetry: Monitor location, trajectory, signal strength, and connectivity.
Zoom and Autofocus: Use the camera's built-in zoom for close-up asset inspections. Tap the screen to focus on specific objects.
In-Flight Manual Takeover
Take control of your drone at any point during an autonomous mission to perform inspections or ensure flight safety.
During an autonomous flight, tap Pause.
Tap the Manual Flight button to take control.
Perform your manual maneuvers or captures.
When finished, select the option to resume your autonomous mission.
Video of switching from an autonomous mission to manual flight
Inspections
Pause an autonomous mission to conduct detailed inspections. While in manual mode, capture media at various altitudes using Video, Photo, or Panorama modes. After completing the inspection, resume the autonomous mission from the point it was paused.
After completing the manual inspection, select the option to resume the autonomous mission from the point it was paused.
Flight Safety
Maintain compliance with safety and airspace requirements by pausing autonomous missions directly within the DroneDeploy app. Manual takeover allows you to navigate away from obstacles or clear the airspace immediately if required by local regulations.
Camera Controls and Asset Inspection
Manual flight includes advanced camera tools to assist in detailed asset inspections.
Zoom: Use the camera's built-in zoom to capture close-up details of assets without moving the drone closer to the object.
Autofocus and Manual Focus: The drone camera uses Autofocus by default. To focus on a specific point of interest, tap the screen on the object or area you wish to highlight.
FAQs
Q: Where can I use Manual Flight? A: Manual Flight is supported on the DroneDeploy iOS and Android apps. Web planning is not supported as there are no settings to configure in advance.
Q: Which drones are supported? A: All DJI drones supported by DroneDeploy that use physical controllers are compatible.
Q: Are third-party cameras supported? A: No, Manual Flight does not currently support third-party cameras.
Q: Where is the captured media stored? A: Photos and videos are saved directly to the drone's SD card.
Q: Does DroneDeploy record logs for manual flights? A: Yes. You can find flight logs in your Project Settings.
Q: Can I capture panoramas in Manual Flight? A: You can capture panoramas via Manual Flight using the DroneDeploy app on a mobile device. This feature is not available when using a DJI RC controller.
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