Neo cracked itself up.

[spacewizard]

Well damn. I had it hovering in the air maybe 30-40 feet up, in a parking lot. It was evening, not dark yet, and the lot was well lit with lamp posts. Satellite coverage was hit and miss. Not great. Suddenly it just started sailing away. I tried to bring it down (I was using a remote) but before I could, it crashed into a lamppost. Scuffed up the whole thing and cracked the front propeller guard.

I've never used DJI care before, this is what it's for right? Are they likely to repair it? Is it likely to cost a lot/take a long time?

 

[Chrislaf]

Sorry to hear about your incident. I have never used Care Refresh but have heard that the turn-around time is very reasonable. You will likely get a new or refurbished one that looks brand new.

Chris

 

[ryguy80]

Have heard similar stories with DJI Care Refresh and the quick turnaround times. Incidents like these are what it was meant for. DJI will just sent you out a new unit and they will just scrap the old one.

 

[spacewizard]

....scrap the old one? SCRAP it? So I just sent my poor little neo off to its doom? I was hoping it would at least be refurbished and given a new life sold at a discount! I had even given it a name!

Well, too late now. I sent it off today. Wishing my little guy well, and hoping to see the next one soon.

Glad I got the care plan!

 

[ryguy80]

I’m sure some of the units that aren’t a total loss are refurbished and resold.

 

[NeoNeo]

Did you have the latest updated firmware loaded? I though DJI might have corrected the low light go crazy on its own issue. If someone is willing to do. Upload the latest firmware update. Stick a length of black tape covering the downward IR sensors. Go outside in a wide open well lighted area with softer surface. Take off in N mode and see what happens. Hopefully just no stabilization. More like ATTI mode. Full control without stabilization aids.

 

[MS Coast]

Did you have the latest updated firmware loaded? I though DJI might have corrected the low light go crazy on its own issue. If someone is willing to do. Upload the latest firmware update. Stick a length of black tape covering the downward IR sensors. Go outside in a wide open well lighted area with softer surface. Take off in N mode and see what happens. Hopefully just no stabilization. More like ATTI mode. Full control without stabilization aids.

This doesn't sound like a "go crazy on its own" fault with the drone. From the OP's description, he didn't have a good GPS satellite lock. The drone was in ATTI mode and drifted into the lamp post before he was able to react on the controls.

 

[NeoNeo]

If OP had full control but just crashed. Then ATTI mode. ATTI mode is just no GPS and /or visual sensor active to stabilize the drone. But if no real control. Neo Crash Mode.

One reason why I wish the Neo would have a simple toggle in the Menu option to engage ATTI mode to allow for safe low light flying. Few attempts at indoors flying have ended up going into no input control crash mode when flying into a deep shadow.

Manual mode using the FPV RC3 has the option of engagement of "ATTI mode". Just prevents angle of attack going past a certain degree no matter what you max rates are set. Almost like angle mode, but with "rate" v. angle stick input. It might be a feature DJI could add to hopefully at least S mode. A S mode option without any stabilization.