Hi all,
I’m curious if it’s possible to use the DJI autopilot system to create a self-flying RC plane. This is just a theoretical question, but I’d love to hear your thoughts or ideas. Thanks!
Autonomous flying drones are usually not legal in most places. Even companies like Amazon had to get special exemptions.
Cameron said:
Autonomous flying drones are usually not legal in most places. Even companies like Amazon had to get special exemptions.
I found some information that says automated flights within a pilot’s line of sight are allowed, as long as the pilot can intervene if needed. Flying drones in restricted areas like hunting grounds or bird sanctuaries, however, is completely prohibited. Based on this, I think it might be possible within those boundaries.
@Noor
You’re right about automated flights being allowed if the pilot remains in control. I misunderstood and thought you meant fully removing the operator from the loop, which would require a special waiver. Beyond the legal side, this also becomes more of a programming and technical challenge.
@Cameron
Thanks for clarifying. I’m not deeply into the technical side of drones, but I thought this forum might have some insights. I’ll look into more specific communities for programming help.
If you’re looking for autopilots for fixed-wing RC planes, there are already several options out there. A quick online search should give you plenty of ideas.
Check out Ardupilot. It’s one of the most popular and cost-effective solutions for autonomous fixed-wing planes.
Using DJI for something like this isn’t practical. They don’t allow firmware customization for their aircraft. You might want to look into open-source options like:
- Ardupilot: Great for complex setups, including planes, boats, and cars.
- INAV: Simpler than Ardupilot and mostly focused on aircraft but also supports cars and boats.
- Betaflight: Geared toward FPV quads but still has code for planes and other configurations.
Other options to explore are Cleanflight and LibrePilot.