DJI A2....ready for prime time?

[Bartman]

Just wondering what the current status is of the DJI A2 system.

Also, should we change the sub-forums here to WKM/A2 or change it entirely to just A2?

I should probably add a Phantom sub-forum to the DJI sub-forum, no?

would like to know about the A2 at the moment. Does one have to fly the A2 to use a zenmuse?

Thanks,
Bart

 

[Benjamin Kenobi]

I think 2 separate topics, WKM and A2. WKM has a huge following and is a tried and true FC. A2 is new to the market but will likely become popular as time goes on (people post about issues quite a bit at the moment).

For the Zenmuse you need a WKM or A2, not sure if naza works with the larger Zenmuses.

Phantom subforum is a great idea. After Christmas it will probably be a busy place!

 

[Droider]

A2 Woe's

Just wondering what the current status is of the DJI A2 system.

Also, should we change the sub-forums here to WKM/A2 or change it entirely to just A2?

I should probably add a Phantom sub-forum to the DJI sub-forum, no?

would like to know about the A2 at the moment. Does one have to fly the A2 to use a zenmuse?

Thanks,
Bart

Hi Bart. Not sure what your config is. It seems to work ok with futaba and DSM2 sats BUT the following issues I have foun

Return to home will scare you
GPS is rock solid but like the early WKM it locks up to fast when the sticks or centred rather than a gradual lock.
V1 firmware has fly away issues - these are intermittent and I have eye witnesses and video evidence.
NO telemetry! This useless for CAA rgegistarted operators.

SO

I tried the s-bus converter so I could use my Spektrum radio and TM1000 telemetry module. I got everything working BUT it will not recognise if the radio is switched off and go to failsafe. I have tried and tried but no joy and all I get back from DJI is "RTFM"!!! have you seen the section for the s-bus conveyer?

I have flown it in my garage but outdoors yet. I may have another go and try and rephrase my email for support or my be TE could sort it out for us!;-)

MY thread on the A2 should be read

Dave

 

[rilot]

So, you have a Spektrum rx, connected to a "traditional to s-bus" converter yes?
When you switch your radio off, what are you seeing as the outputs from the spektrum rx? Are you seeing the pre-set failsafe positions of the sticks and switches that you have set?

 

[Droider]

No in the assistant it just says tx normal. The s-bus is the DJI one
Dave

 

[rilot]

So, have you set failsafe bind positions on the Spektrum rx?

 

[Droider]

So, have you set failsafe bind positions on the Spektrum rx?

Yep..

Have you got one working?

Dave

 

[rilot]

I've not tried with Spektrum but am assuming that with the DJI S-Bus converter and a normal Spektrum Rx, it's the same as connecting a Spektrum Rx to WKM or Naza as the A2 is removed from the failsafe intelligence.
I don't understand why, if you have set your failsafe switch positions on the rx to return to home, it's not activating when you switch your transmitter off. The A2 shouldn't have anything to do with the failsafe with your setup, the Spektrum Rx just sets switches to return to home and the A2 does what it's told.
Does return to home actually work when you flick the switch?

I use FrSky X8R rx by the way, connected via S-Bus and just pre-set switch positions for tx loss. When I lose connection to the rx, the rx moves the switches to my preset positions which activates return to home.

 

[Bartman]

Hi Bart. Not sure what your config is. It seems to work ok with futaba and DSM2 sats BUT the following issues I have foun

Return to home will scare you
GPS is rock solid but like the early WKM it locks up to fast when the sticks or centred rather than a gradual lock.
V1 firmware has fly away issues - these are intermittent and I have eye witnesses and video evidence.
NO telemetry! This useless for CAA rgegistarted operators.

SO

I tried the s-bus converter so I could use my Spektrum radio and TM1000 telemetry module. I got everything working BUT it will not recognise if the radio is switched off and go to failsafe. I have tried and tried but no joy and all I get back from DJI is "RTFM"!!! have you seen the section for the s-bus conveyer?

I have flown it in my garage but outdoors yet. I may have another go and try and rephrase my email for support or my be TE could sort it out for us!;-)

MY thread on the A2 should be read

Dave

Dave,

My configuration would be my XY8 frame and a 2 axis zen muse.

For the record, I haven't been given anything by DJI (in case there's any discussion of who/what/why I do what I do). If I go the A2 route it would be by buying one retail from one of our advertisers. I was impressed by the footage seen in the last episode of Gold Rush and I'm considering my options for the 2014 season here on the east coast.

My internal debate is over which FC to use and which camera mount to pair up with it. I'm still flying my 2 axis servo driven mounts and they are absolutely bulletproof for my photo stuff but I've got to get into the video game and it's got to be near perfect footage so I can begin to serve the high end real estate market near me which I am already in contact with as a photographer.

Mikrokoper is coming out with their 6S stuff which would serve me well as I've run into OAT (Outside Air Temp) limits with my former 4S MK stuff at the weights I'm flying. I've been using MK since day one so being comfortable with the system lets me jump right into a new set-up and my current MK's are 6S but with a 3rd party I2c converter which doesn't perform like a pure MK set-up.
XAircraft is making lots of fans with great flying qualities but I'm not sure I want to spend the money to learn yet another whole system if I can get comparable performance elsewhere.
Hoverfly, the best flying I've seen but short on development, my best video footage comes from my HF XY8, they're due for a firmware release so we'll see where that goes.
3DR Pixhawk, lots of promise but too soon to tell??
DJI A2/Zenmuse, if the FC firmware can be sorted out it's hard to argue with it after seeing the results that are possible.

all of the above except DJI would require a third party brushless system for camera stabilization and I'm wondering if the pairing of a FC with a BGC (brushless gimbal controller) by different manufacturers can do as well as the DJI combined product.

so that's where I'm at. I should start my own "What should I do?!?!" thread and let you guys vote on my new heli....that would be an interesting experiment in social media.

bart

 

[Emowillcox]

The one thing I can say Bart with your experience it won't be anything for you to mount a super x and have it figured out in less then the time it takes you to put your props on (-;

 

[PeterLester]

Whereas in the case of the WKM one needs to be very cautious regarding upgrading to the latest firmware so as to avoid risking an MR crash, it seems the situation is the exact opposite with the A2, i.e., critical bugs in earlier fw versions are best resolved by jumping forward to the current new FW release - IMHO. As an example I am highlighting below the new FW features that resolve critical shortcomings on previous fw releases. As for me..... with such cold, snowy weather outside, this is building season and I am in no rush to fly until weather conditions improve greatly.

DJI released new firmware V2.1 for A2!

What is new?

Firmware:

1.Enhanced performance of A2 flight control system in data loss situations that are caused by abnormal communications.
2.Optimized control performance, if the command of Yaw control stick is zero, the command variation of Elevator, Roll and Throttle will not change the aircraft attitude around Yaw.
3.Optimized IOC function and POI algorithm to improve user experience.
4.Optimized communication protocol.
5.Support to upgrade A2 GPS Module.
6.Fixed the attitude jitters during Failsafe and Go Home.
Assistant Software:

1.Added RC status display.

User Manual:

1.Added Failsafe settings for traditional receiver users.
2.Added RC status description.
3.Revised the control mode introduction.
4.Added trouble shooting list of motors start failures.
5.Added a note that if the second level low voltage alerts occur when the aircraft is during Failsafe and Go Home process or the aircraft is controlled by Ground Station, the aircraft will descend automatically.
6.Revised the recording conditions in IOC function.
7.Added a system error LED indicator shown in continuous 4 red blinks.
8.Revised the attitude status LED indicator, there is no blinks if the attitude status is good and continuous 3 white blinks if bad.
9.Added the note that when using with A2, the firmware of iOSD Mark II should be V3.0 or above and OSD Viewer should be V4.0 or above.

Notes for Upgrade:

1.For safety reasons, do not use the power battery for power supply during firmware upgrade. Reconfigure all parameters in the Assistant Software after firmware upgrade.
2.When using the A2 flight control system firmware version V2.1, the firmware of other DJI products used in conjunction must be matched with the requirements in the table below.



Please click here for more information.