What's it like to fly with Motion controller?

[Chrislaf]

Now that the Goggles N3 are out and are reasonably priced, I am likely to pick them up in the near future since I have always wanted to try out FPV but wasn't willing to fork over the $$$ just to try something I may not like. I have always flown drones with a regular controller so what is it like to fly the NEO with the motion controller? I have no intention of getting the FPV controller since this would just be a fun way to use the NEO.

Chris

 

[mavic3usa]

Speaking only for myself with Avata and FPV1, I find the MCs to be a blast to fly and so much more fun when it comes to smooth cinematic flying primarly due to the trigger control, the one hand use, and the precision from the controller itself. I like the RC as well but I decided to give MC a try just to find out why DJI thinks it's better so I went 100% MC for the past 6 months....and I've found out why. All I can say is if you don't dedicate to it religiously and practice with it alot then it absolutely won't be better. but of course it's not for manual mode.

 

[Chrislaf]

Thanks for your reply. Is manual mode the same as acro mode where you do flips and such?

Chris

 

[Droning on and on...]

Watch: This was fun too!

Goggles 3 + MC3.

You can not effectively fly VLOS with the MC's. Gotta be FPV.

And yes, Easy Acro works. No, it's note rate mode with the MC3 like manual using the FPV RC3.

 

[Chrislaf]

You can not effectively fly VLOS with the MC's. Gotta be FPV.

I’m not sure I understand the difference. Aren’t both of them non VLOS since your eyes are covered and you only see what the camera sees?

The rules in Canada for flying sub 250g drones differ from the US. As long as you are flying the drone in a safe manner, you don’t need to have a spotter or maintain VLOS.

Chris

 

[JohnRC]

Check Captain Drone. He does a very good video but with an Avata 2 and the MC3. There is another good one but I have to find it.
Create and Kaptivate has a version.

 

[Droning on and on...]

I’m not sure I understand the difference. Aren’t both of them non VLOS since your eyes are covered and you only see what the camera sees?

The rules in Canada for flying sub 250g drones differ from the US. As long as you are flying the drone in a safe manner, you don’t need to have a spotter or maintain VLOS.

Chris

wasn't really addressing rules, just that the only way to use the MC is FPV.

 

[Erk1024]

I’m not sure I understand the difference. Aren’t both of them non VLOS since your eyes are covered and you only see what the camera sees?

FPV RC3 (the controller with the joysticks) also only works with goggles?

• Manual Control Mode - You control the yaw, pitch, roll and throttle with your remote.
• Normal/Sport Mode - You control it like a camera drone: up, down, move left, move right, rotate left or right

VLOS: You're looking at the drone and flying it.
Goggles / FPV: You're looking through some VR style goggles that show you the drone's camera view.
MC: Motion Controller - Control stick looking thing that ONLY works with goggles as @Droning on and on... mentioned

There are some RC enthusiasts that fly their drones visually and use manual controls--that's hard. Manual controls are also hard using goggles (FPV), but give you the most control over the drone. Why is it hard? Consider trying to hover. You have to keep adjusting the throttle. Too much and it's climbing, too little and it's falling. If there is any wind, then you have to pitch into the wind, this also means you have to adjust the throttle again, as some of your thrust is not pointing down, but to the side, etc. This type of control is challenging but rewarding.

Flying in Normal or Sport mode with the FPV controller or one of the controllers with the screens is easy. The drone hovers. You use the use the joysticks to go up or down, or left or right, or turn left or right. If you let go of the sticks, it goes back to hovering.

The Motion Controller 3 is super easy to use, and paired with the goggles, it feels like you're flying an XWing fighter. You tilt the controller left or right to fly in that direction. Or pull it up or down to fly higher or lower. Pull the trigger to go forward (or push the trigger to go backwards). I think it's a blast to fly this way. But I haven't flown the NEO yet, just the Avata-2.

I prefer to land my camera drone visually because I can see the drone and the ground (and surrounding area) while I'm landing. And you can look out for pedestrians that have ZERO situational awareness and will happily walk into your drone as it's landing. This even though it has whirling propellers and sounds like a very angry bee.

Using the goggles, I just fly it close to the ground and push the "land" button on the Motion controller.

 

[Chrislaf]

View attachment 1013

FPV RC3 (the controller with the joysticks) also only works with goggles?

• Manual Control Mode - You control the yaw, pitch, roll and throttle with your remote.
• Normal/Sport Mode - You control it like a camera drone: up, down, move left, move right, rotate left or right

VLOS: You're looking at the drone and flying it.
Goggles / FPV: You're looking through some VR style goggles that show you the drone's camera view.
MC: Motion Controller - Control stick looking thing that ONLY works with goggles as @Droning on and on... mentioned

There are some RC enthusiasts that fly their drones visually and use manual controls--that's hard. Manual controls are also hard using goggles (FPV), but give you the most control over the drone. Why is it hard? Consider trying to hover. You have to keep adjusting the throttle. Too much and it's climbing, too little and it's falling. If there is any wind, then you have to pitch into the wind, this also means you have to adjust the throttle again, as some of your thrust is not pointing down, but to the side, etc. This type of control is challenging but rewarding.

Flying in Normal or Sport mode with the FPV controller or one of the controllers with the screens is easy. The drone hovers. You use the use the joysticks to go up or down, or left or right, or turn left or right. If you let go of the sticks, it goes back to hovering.

The Motion Controller 3 is super easy to use, and paired with the goggles, it feels like you're fying an XWing fighter. You tilt the controller left or right to fly in that direction. Or pull it up or down to fly higher or lower. Pull the trigger to go forward (or push the trigger to go backwards). I think it's a blast to fly this way. But I haven't flown the NEO yet, just the Avata-2.

I prefer to land my camera drone visually because I can see the drone and the ground (and surrounding area) while I'm landing. And you can look out for pedestrians that have ZERO situational awareness and will happily walk into your drone as it's landing. This even though it has whirling propellers and sounds like a very angry bee.

Using the goggles, I just fly it close to the ground and push the "land" button on the Motion controller.

Thanks for the detailed response, it explains a lot. If I do get the goggles I will probably get the motion controller as I don't intend to ever fly the NEO in manual mode. For me the flying FPV would just be a fun way to fly the NEO and enjoy the view from the 'cockpit'.

If I understand correctly even with the new goggles N3 you can't use a regular controller like the RC-N3 to fly NEO - you must use a dedicated FPV controller like the motion controller or the FPV controller.

Chris

 

[Droning on and on...]

Thanks for the detailed response, it explains a lot. If I do get the goggles I will probably get the motion controller as I don't intend to ever fly the NEO in manual mode. For me the flying FPV would just be a fun way to fly the NEO and enjoy the view from the 'cockpit'.

If I understand correctly even with the new goggles N3 you can't use a regular controller like the RC-N3 to fly NEO - you must use a dedicated FPV controller like the motion controller or the FPV controller.

Chris

Correct.

The main reason for this is DJI changed the way the components of the system connect. Up to the Avata 1, both the goggles and the RC/MC connected directly to the drone. With the Avata 2 and Goggles 3, only the goggles connect to the drone, the MC3 and RC3 connect just to the goggles.

So the goggles must be connected (and used) in order to use the RC3 and MC3.

 

[Chrislaf]

Correct.

The main reason for this is DJI changed the way the components of the system connect. Up to the Avata 1, both the goggles and the RC/MC connected directly to the drone. With the Avata 2 and Goggles 3, only the goggles connect to the drone, the MC3 and RC3 connect just to the goggles.

So the goggles must be connected (and used) in order to use the RC3 and MC3.

Thanks, that makes sense.

I am going to do some more research but I think I would enjoy using the goggles for fun and maybe to shoot video. Is it easier to fly in tight spaces using the goggles?

Chris

 

[Erk1024]

For me the flying FPV would just be a fun way to fly the NEO and enjoy the view from the 'cockpit'.

This is a great way to describe it. Should be plenty fun on the NEO, including indoors. I get an adrenalin rush from flying this way. For an additional $450 you could pick up an Avata-2 and you'd have all the controllers you need to fly it. And yes, it's easy to fly indoors using the goggles. Just put something heavy on the napkins before you blow them all over the living room.

 

[Chrislaf]

This is a great way to describe it. Should be plenty fun on the NEO, including indoors. I get an adrenalin rush from flying this way. For an additional $450 you could pick up an Avata-2 and you'd have all the controllers you need to fly it. And yes, it's easy to fly indoors using the goggles. Just put something heavy on the napkins before you blow them all over the living room.

View attachment 1014

LOL. I flew the NEO yesterday in my house and same thing happened - forgot to put something heavy on my papers and as you can guess they were all over the floor.

Chris

 

[Erk1024]

One thing about flying with the Goggles and MC is that you'll be more aware of the wind. Like if you're hovering with a cross wind, the drone will be tilted over to compensate.

 

[Droning on and on...]

Thanks, that makes sense.

I am going to do some more research but I think I would enjoy using the goggles for fun and maybe to shoot video. Is it easier to fly in tight spaces using the goggles?

Oh yes, very much so!

Think of it this way: Imagine wearing FPV goggles showing an image from a camera On a tripod at the 50yd line, you are the ball carrier, and you're running for the end zone with 11 defenders trying to get you. Think you can effectively dodge and weave? Uh huh

Now try it with your own, FPV eyes. Success!

Same with trying to fly around a space with obstacles VLOS, vs. FPV. You can't really do it VLOS without alot of errors. FPV you can squeeze through tree trunk forks, holes in the bushes, etc. quite easily.

 

[Chrislaf]

One thing about flying with the Goggles and MC is that you'll be more aware of the wind. Like if you're hovering with a cross wind, the drone will be tilted over to compensate.

View attachment 1016

I guess when you fly FPV the gimbal is automatically in FPV mode where the horizon doesn't stay horizontal.

Chris

 

[Chrislaf]

Oh yes, very much so!

Think of it this way: Imagine wearing FPV goggles showing an image from a camera On a tripod at the 50yd line, you are the ball carrier, and you're running for the end zone with 11 defenders trying to get you. Think you can effectively dodge and weave? Uh huh

Now try it with your own, FPV eyes. Success!

Same with trying to fly around a space with obstacles VLOS, vs. FPV. You can't really do it VLOS without alot of errors. FPV you can squeeze through tree trunk forks, holes in the bushes, etc. quite easily.

That's good because I would love to fly the NEO into some abandoned buildings and it is hard to do this with a regular perspective when watching the drone from where you are standing.

Chris

 

[GerdS]

I cannot remommend flying the Neo indoors with the Motion Controller. As soon as it is flying into a dark space the weak bottom camera will fail and therefore positioning will fail too, making the Neo almost unconrollable and leading to a crash. The Motion Controller works best with GPS coverage, but in atti mode it lacks control over the roll axis.
If you want to fly indoors anyway, then add a lamp to Neo's bottom, so there is always sufficient light for the camera.

 

[4 Inch Pistons]

I must confess that I hated the MC when it came out and I was forced to use it with my Avata and Mavic Classic. I am eating bitter words when I say I have grown to love the head tracking and flying with the MC 1 and 2 with all 4 of my drones. Enough humble pie for today.

 

[Droning on and on...]

I must confess that I hated the MC when it came out and I was forced to use it with my Avata and Mavic Classic. I am eating bitter words when I say I have grown to love the head tracking and flying with the MC 1 and 2 with all 4 of my drones. Enough humble pie for today.

You have lots of company! While I took to it from the beginning, it's always great to welcome another member of the club

Can you say F22 Raptor?