Calibrating your aircraft is a very important part of flying safely. Not only does it help to ensure that your aircraft is safe when in the air, but it also makes sure you are capturing the highest quality footage your aircraft is capable of.
Although all aircraft are calibrated in a slightly different way, the basics are similar. So in this article, we will be focussing mainly on DJI aircraft. There are 4 main calibrations that should be done on your aircraft before you are ready to fly:
The IMU or Inertial Measurement Unit is one of the most critical sensors inside your aircraft and is often overlooked. It is in charge of making sure your aircraft is level in flight and so the IMU needs a reference point to work from. We get this reference point from calibrating the IMU.
Then follow the on-screen instructions. The DJI Go App will ask you to place your aircraft on a flat surface for a period of time or ask you to place your aircraft on a flat surface in multiple orientations. Once complete, don't forget to power cycle your aircraft. This calibration only normally needs to be done when you first purchase your aircraft, or if you are told to do so in your DJI Go App.
Calibrating your transmitter is also another good thing to know how to do. This makes sure that when you move any of your sticks or dials to 100% travel, your aircraft receives the full 100% travel signal. It also helps to centre your controls for a more accurate position hold and camera control. This calibration is done with your phone connected to the transmitter and the aircraft OFF.
Follow the on-screen instructions. You will need to move both sticks & your camera tilt control through 100% travel in all directions.
Calibrating your compass should be done every time you change locations or when you have ‘compass interference’ (yellow/red flashing status light). The compass is used to orientate the drone and also plays a part in controlling the gimbal. It is very important to note that when calibrating the compass, you should move away from any metal objects including power lines. Also, make sure to remove any keys or loose change from your pockets. This will help make sure you get an accurate calibration first time.
Then follow the onscreen instructions. The DJI Go App will ask you to rotate your aircraft through 360 degrees while holding the aircraft level. Once complete, turn the aircraft on its side and repeat the 360-degree turn on the spot. If all goes well, the status light should go back to a green flash. If you get a rapid red flash, repeat the calibration in a different area.
Lastly, we have gimbal calibration. Normally this is done automatically when the aircraft boots up. However, it is sometimes necessary to re-calibrate the gimbal if the horizon is off or the gimbal goes limp after an overload situation.
Place the aircraft on a flat surface and let the auto calibrate do its thing. Once completed you should have fully calibrated gimbal. Lastly, adjust the roll if necessary. However, if you have followed this guide fully then roll adjustment should not be needed.
You should now have a perfectly calibrated aircraft ready to use on your next job or adventure!