When you first set up the DJI Dock to use a third-party provider like DroneDeploy, it often takes some time for the media/file transfer component on DJI to update. Please contact your DroneDeploy representative or your Dock admin to reboot the dock within DroneDeploy’s system to ensure your data is uploaded correctly.
Below is a typical testing process:
- Open the Fly Tab in your DroneDeploy Project, and ensure you can see the dock selector. Once you are happy with the flight plan, click the “Select a Drone” dropdown on the bottom left of the screen. Select the dock you want to fly the flight plan with. Contact your DroneDeploy Solution Engineer or Support (support@dronedeploy.com if you do not see the selector.
- Set up the RC Plus/RC Pro Enterprise as Controller B to the drone before doing your first flight test. See DJI setup manual on how to do this.
- Once the flight plan has been selected, you will get a notification that the drone is connected. Then you should see the DroneDeploy icon on your map at the location of the dock you have selected. Your map plan duration, images, and number of batteries will be updated based on the connected dock. Confirm that the information is correct.
- Start Pre-Flight checks in your DroneDeploy Project. The checklist will confirm permissions, and the dock and drone are ready to fly. You will notice we've added checklist items specific for dock drones:
Weather Check: Get real-time weather information from the dock to confirm conditions are favorable for flight.
Dock Camera Check: Ensure the dock is fully functional and clear of people before takeoff.
Drone Condition Verification: Open the dock to verify the drone’s condition before it takes off.
- Test Opening and closing the Dock manually.
- Check the Dock camera feed and Drone camera feed, and confirm you’re receiving both feeds.
- Fly a small map plan over the top of the dock or a safe area close by using the DroneDeploy Flight page in the DroneDeploy Project. Please see our Dock Flight & Upload Guide here!
a. All mission types are supported except for manual flight
b. Once in the air, make sure you can take control of the drone from the controller and return to dock. Click the drone-shaped button on the RC and then press and hold the RTH button on the RC. If you can’t, then return to the dock from DD UI and then try to pair the controller again. Repeat.
c. If the blue aircraft arrow is not moving on the map when the actual aircraft is flying, this means you are not receiving telemetry from the aircraft. This is usually caused by an incorrectly configured aircraft serial number. You will have to register the Dock again and enter the correct SNs. Speak with your DroneDeploy representative.
- Fly the small map again and make sure the drone camera is working once the drone turns on (it is typically off when inside the dock, so you won't see it at the start)
- Once the drone lands and the dock has closed. Check the Upload tab to monitor photo uploads (note this may take up to 5 minutes after the drone lands, as the images need to be transferred from the drone to the dock)
- Test Photo and Panos plans as needed. Since these are smaller files, they will upload fairly quickly after landing.