MAVIC AIR User Manual 2018.02 v1.
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Contents Using This Manual 2 Legend 2 Read Before the First Flight 2 Video Tutorials 2 Download the DJI GO 4 App 2 Download DJI Assistant 2 2 Product Profile 6 Introduction 6 Feature Highlights 6 Preparing the Mavic Air 6 Aircraft Diagram 8 Remote Controller Diagram 8 Activation 9 Aircraft 11 Flight Modes 11 Aircraft LEDs and Status Indicator 12 Return to Home 13 Vision Systems 16 Intelligent Flight Modes 19 Advanced Pilot Assistance Systems 27 Flight Recorder 27
DJI GO 4 App 41 Equipment 41 Editor 44 SkyPixel 44 Me 44 Controlling the Aircraft with a Mobile Device 44 Flight 47 Flight Environment Requirements 47 Flight Limits and GEO Zones 47 Preflight Checklist 48 Auto Takeoff and Auto Landing 49 Starting/Stopping the Motors 49 Test Flight 50 Appendix 53 4 Specifications 53 Calibrating the Compass 55 Firmware Updates 57 After-Sales Information 57 © 2018 DJI All Rights Reserved.
Product Profile This section introduces the Mavic Air and lists the components of the aircraft and remote controller. © 2018 DJI All Rights Reserved.
Product Profile Introduction The DJI Mavic Air features a new folding design and a fully stabilized 3-axis gimbal camera capable of shooting 4K video and 12 megapixel photos. DJI signature technologies such as Obstacle Avoidance and Intelligent Flight Modes like SmartCapture, Panorama, Advanced Pilot Assistance Systems, QuickShots, ActiveTrackTM, and TapFlyTM make capturing complex shots easy. The Mavic Air boasts a maximum flight speed of 42.5 mph (68.4 kph) and a maximum flight time of 21 minutes*.
Mavic Air User Manual 3. For safety reasons it is recommended that the propeller guards are mounted when flying in Beginner Mode* or indoors. Refer to the Mavic Air Propeller Guards User Guide to learn more. It is recommended that the gimbal protector be attached when the aircraft is not in use. Make sure the gimbal is horizontal when mounting or removing the gimbal protector. Ensure the landing gear is properly unfolded before use.
Mavic Air User Manual Aircraft Diagram 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 11 10 12 13 14 15 16 1. Forward Vision System 2. Propellers 3. Motors 4. Front LEDs 5. Landing Gear (with built-in antennas) 6. Gimbal and Camera 7. GPS Antennas 8. Vents 9. USB-C Port 10. Camera microSD Card Slot 11. Aircraft Status Indicator / Function Button 12. Backward Vision System 13. Battery Level LEDs 14. Power Button 15. Intelligent Flight Battery 16. Battery Latches 17.
Mavic Air User Manual 5. Control Sticks Control the orientation and movement of the aircraft. 6. Flight Pause Button Press once for emergency braking (when GPS or Vision System are available). 7. Mobile Device Clamps Securely mount your mobile device onto the remote controller. 8. Flight Mode Switch Switch between P-mode and S-mode. 9. USB / Assistant Video Link Port Connect to a mobile device for video downlink via a standard USB cable. 13. Gimbal Dial Controls the camera's tilt. 14.
Aircraft This section introduces the flight controller, Forward, Backward and Downward Vision Systems, and the Intelligent Flight Battery. 10 © 2018 DJI All Rights Reserved.
Aircraft The Mavic Air contains a flight controller, video downlink system, propulsion system, and an Intelligent Flight Battery. Refer to the aircraft diagram in the Product Profile section. Flight Modes The Mavic Air has two flight modes that users can select, plus a third flight mode that the aircraft falls back to in certain circumstances: P-mode (Positioning): P-mode works best when the GPS signal is strong.
Mavic Air User Manual Aircraft LEDs and Status Indicator The Mavic Air has Front LEDs and an Aircraft Status Indicator as shown in the figure below: Front LED Front LED Aircraft Status Indicator The Front LEDs show the orientation of the aircraft and the status of some of the functions (refer to the function sections for more details). The Front LEDs glow solid red when the aircraft is turned on to indicate the front of the aircraft.
Mavic Air User Manual Return to Home The Return to Home (RTH) function brings the aircraft back to the last recorded Home Point. There are three types of RTH: Smart RTH, Low Battery RTH, and Failsafe RTH. This section describes these three scenarios in detail. Description GPS Home Point If a strong GPS signal was acquired before takeoff, the Home Point is the location from which the aircraft launched. The GPS signal strength is indicated by the GPS icon ( ).
Mavic Air User Manual If a battery level warning appears, take action as described in the table below. RTH and Battery Level Warnings Warning Low Battery Level Aircraft Status Indicator Blinks red slowly DJI GO 4 App Tap “Go-home” to have the aircraft return to the Home Point automatically or “Cancel” to resume normal flight. If no action is taken, the aircraft will automatically fly home after 10 seconds.
Mavic Air User Manual RTH Procedure Smart RTH, Low Battery RTH, and Failsafe RTH follow this procedure: 1. The aircraft adjusts its orientation. 2. a. If the aircraft is further than 20 m from the Home Point it ascends to the pre-set RTH attitude and then flies to the Home Point. b. If the aircraft is between 5 m and 20 m from the Home Point: i.
Mavic Air User Manual Landing Protection Landing Protection will activate during Smart RTH. 1. When Landing Protection determines that the ground is suitable for landing, the Mavic Air will land gently. 2. If Landing Protection determines that the ground is not suitable for landing, the Mavic Air will hover and wait for pilot confirmation. 3. If Landing Protection is not operational, the DJI GO 4 app will display a landing prompt when the Mavic Air descends below 0.5 meters.
Mavic Air User Manual Detection Fields The detection fields of the Forward, Backward and Downward Vision Systems are depicted below. Note that the aircraft cannot sense or avoid obstacles that are not within the detection fields.
Mavic Air User Manual Using the Vision Systems The Downward Vision System is activated automatically when the aircraft is turned on. No further action is required. Using the Downward Vision System, the aircraft can hover precisely even without GPS. The Downward Vision System is typically used in indoor environments where GPS is unavailable. The Downward Vision System works best when the aircraft is at altitudes of 1.6 to 26 ft (0.5 to 8 m).
Mavic Air User Manual Keep the cameras and sensors clean at all times. Dirt or other debris may adversely affect their effectiveness. The Forward, Backward, and Downward Vision Systems may not be able to recognize patterns on the ground in very dark (< 100 lux) environments. Intelligent Flight Modes The Mavic Air supports Intelligent Flight Modes including QuickShots, ActiveTrack, SmartCapture, Tripod mode, Cinematic mode, TapFly, and Point of Interest. Tap Mode.
Mavic Air User Manual 3. Select your target subject in Camera View (tap the circle on the subject or drag a box around the subject) and choose a shooting mode. Tap “GO” to begin recording. The aircraft will fly back to its original position once shooting is finished. In flight (GPS) 12 QuickShot 2.4G 09:29 ISO SHUTTER 1600 1/8000 Dronie 4. Tap Circle Helix Rocket EV 0.3 WB Boomerang 20GB 61% 1080P/24 CAPACITY Asteroid to access the video.
Mavic Air User Manual 3. Tap on the subject you want to track then tap to confirm your selection. If the subject is not automatically recognized, drag a box around it. The box will turn green when the subject has been recognized and tracking has begun. If the box turns red, the object could not be identified and you should try again. In flight (GPS) 12 ActiveTrack 2.4G 09:29 ISO SHUTTER 1600 1/8000 Trace Parallel EV 0.3 WB 20GB 61% 1080P/24 CAPACITY Spotlight 4.
Mavic Air User Manual DO NOT use ActiveTrack in areas with people, animals, small or fine objects (e.g. tree branches or power lines), or transparent objects (e.g. glass or water). Stay clear of obstacles near the flight path, especially obstacles to the left and right of the aircraft. Operate the aircraft manually (press the Flight Pause button or toggle the Flight Mode switch to S-mode on the remote controller) or tap in DJI GO 4 in an emergency.
Mavic Air User Manual b. If the aircraft is already airborne, raise and extend your arm and position your palm about 6.6 ft (2 m) in front of the aircraft's nose. Keep your palm open and your fingers close together. After about two seconds the Front LEDs will blink green slowly to indicate that PalmControl has been activated. Once FaceAware and PalmControl have been activated you can control the aircraft in the following ways.
Mavic Air User Manual Group Selfie Make three or more V gestures at the same time. Once your group selfie gesture has been recognized a two-second countdown will begin, after which the aircraft will take the first of three photos. During the countdown the Front LEDs will blink red slowly for one second and blink red quickly for one second. The Front LEDs will then turn off and the aircraft will take a photo at its current position.
Mavic Air User Manual Exercise caution once you have landed the aircraft using GestureLand, as the aircraft will continue to respond to hand gestures until you exit SmartCapture. If the aircraft detects the GestureLaunch gesture before you have exited SmartCapture, the aircraft will take off. Exercise caution when approaching the aircraft and ensure you do not accidently make the GestureLaunch gesture. When using SmartCapture without the remote controller or the DJI GO 4 app: a.
Mavic Air User Manual 1. Take off and hover at least 3.3 ft (1 m) above the ground. 1m 2. In DJI GO 4, tap , select TapFly, then select a sub-mode and follow the prompts. 3. Tap once on the target and wait for the “GO” button to appear. Tap the “GO” button to confirm the selection and the aircraft will fly to the target automatically. A prompt will appear if the target cannot be reached. If this is the case, select another target and try again. The target can be changed midflight by tapping the screen.
Mavic Air User Manual Point of Interest Select a subject, and set the circle radius, flight altitude, and flight speed, and the aircraft will fly around the subject according to these settings. POINT OF INTEREST Circle Radius Flight Altitude 34M 12M 3M/S Stop N 139m 7m/s 612m 1.1m/s 627m Exit Advanced Pilot Assistance Systems The Advanced Pilot Assistance Systems (APAS) feature is available in P-mode.
Mavic Air User Manual Marked Unmarked Attach on motors with white marks Attach on motors without white marks Turn the propellers in the indicated direction to mount and tighten. Attaching the Propellers Attach the propellers with the white marks to the motors with white marks. Press each propeller down onto the mounting plate and rotate in the lock direction until it is secured. Attach unmarked propellers to the motors without marks.
Mavic Air User Manual 4. Overcharge Protection: Charging automatically stops when the battery is fully charged. 5. Temperature Detection: The battery will only charge when the temperature is between 41° and 104° F (5° and 40° C). 6. Overcurrent Protection: The battery stops charging if an excessive current is detected. 7. Overdischarge Protection: Discharging stops automatically to prevent excessive discharge. 8.
Mavic Air User Manual Checking Battery Level The battery level LEDs on the battery display how much charge remains. If the battery is turned off, press the Power button once and the battery level LEDs will light up to display the current battery level. Battery Level LEDs : LED is on. LED1 : LED is flashing. LED2 LED3 : LED is off.
Mavic Air User Manual Battery Level LEDs During Charging : LED is on. LED1 LED2 : LED is flashing. LED3 : LED is off. LED4 Battery Level 0% - 50% 50% - 75% 75% - 100% Fully Charged Battery Protection The table below shows battery protection mechanisms and corresponding LED patterns.
Mavic Air User Manual Removing the Intelligent Flight Battery Slide the battery latches on the sides of the Intelligent Flight Battery and it will pop out of the battery compartment. Never insert or remove the battery when it is turned on. Ensure the battery is mounted firmly. The aircraft will not take off if the battery is mounted incorrectly. Gimbal and Camera Gimbal The Mavic Air’s 3-axis gimbal provides stabilization for the camera, allowing you to capture clear, stable images and video.
Mavic Air User Manual Camera The onboard camera uses its 1/2.3” CMOS sensor to capture video at up to 4K at 30 fps and 12 megapixel stills. You can record video in either MOV or MP4 formats. Available picture shooting modes include Single Shot, Burst, Interval, HDR, and various Panorama modes. A live preview of what the camera is seeing can be monitored on a connected mobile device via the DJI GO 4 app.
Remote Controller This section describes the features of the remote controller and includes instructions for controlling the aircraft and the camera. 34 © 2018 DJI All Rights Reserved.
Remote Controller Built into the remote controller is DJI’s enhanced Wi-Fi technology, enabling a maximum transmission distance of 2.49 miles (4 km)* and downlinking of 720p video from the aircraft to the DJI GO 4 app on your mobile device. The detachable control sticks make the remote controller easier to store. Maximum remote controller battery life is approximately 3 hours**. Refer to the remote controller diagram in the Product Profile section.
Mavic Air User Manual Controlling the Aircraft The remote controller’s control sticks are used to control the aircraft’s orientation (yaw), forward/ backward movement (pitch), altitude (throttle), and left/right movement (roll). The function that each control stick movement performs is determined by the choice of control stick mode. Three preprogrammed modes (Mode 1, Mode 2, and Mode 3) are available and custom modes can be defined in the DJI GO 4 app. The default mode is Mode 2.
Mavic Air User Manual The figure below explains how to use each control stick, using Mode 2 as an example. Remote Controller (Mode 2) ( Aircraft Remarks Indicates Nose Direction) Moving the left stick up or down changes the aircraft’s altitude. Push the stick up to ascend and down to descend. The more the stick is pushed away from the center position, the faster the aircraft will change altitude. Always push the stick gently to prevent sudden and unexpected changes in altitude.
Mavic Air User Manual Flight Mode Switch Toggle the switch to select the desired flight mode. Choose between P-mode and S-mode. Position Flight Mode P-mode SPORT SPORT S-mode SPORT RTH Button Press and hold the RTH button to start the Return-to-Home (RTH) procedure. The aircraft will then return to the last recorded Home Point. Press this button again to cancel the RTH procedure and regain control of the aircraft. Refer to the Return to Home section for more information about RTH.
Mavic Air User Manual Linking the Remote Controller Remote controllers that are bought together with a Mavic Air are linked before shipment. To link a remote controller to a Mavic Air, follow the instructions below: 1. Power on the aircraft and the remote controller. 2. Launch DJI GO 4. 3. Select “Connect to the Aircraft’s Wi-Fi” and “Wired Connection”. And then select “Linking the remote controller”. 4. Press and hold the aircraft’s Function button for two seconds.
DJI GO 4 App This section introduces the main functions of the DJI GO 4 app. 40 © 2018 DJI All Rights Reserved.
DJI GO 4 App Use this app to control the gimbal, camera, and other aircraft functions. The app features Equipment, Editor, SkyPixel, and Me sections, which are used for configuring your aircraft, and editing and sharing your photos and videos with others. Equipment Device Menu If it is not already selected, select Mavic Air from the device menu in the top left corner of the screen. Function Menu Tap in the top right corner of the screen to open the Function menu.
Mavic Air User Manual 3. Battery Level Indicator Bar : The battery level indicator provides a dynamic display of the battery level. The colored zones on the battery level indicator represent the power levels needed to carry out different functions. 4. Flight Mode : The text next to this icon indicates the current flight mode. Tap to configure the Flight Controller settings. These settings allow you to modify flight limits and set gain values. 5.
Mavic Air User Manual 14. Camera Settings : Tap to enter the Camera Settings menu. Tap to set the camera’s ISO, shutter, and auto exposure settings. Tap to select picture shooting modes. The Mavic Air supports Single Shot, Burst Shot, Interval Shot, and various Panorama modes. Panorama supports four shooting sub-modes and can capture and generate 32 megapixel sphere panorama photos. Tap to enter the General Camera Settings menu. 15.
Mavic Air User Manual Editor An intelligent video editor is built into the DJI GO 4 app. After recording several video clips and downloading them to your mobile device, go to Editor on the home screen. You can then select a template and a specified number of clips which are automatically combined to create a short film that can be shared immediately. SkyPixel View and share the photos and videos in the SkyPixel page.
Mavic Air User Manual Using Virtual Joysticks Ensure the mobile device has been connected to the aircraft before using the virtual joysticks. The illustrations below are based on Mode 2 (left stick controls throttle and yaw, right stick controls pitch and roll). Tap to enable or disable the virtual joysticks. In flight (GPS) 09:29 P-GPS 12 61% AE Virtual Joysticks Left Right The area beyond the white circles is also responsive to control commands. © 2018 DJI All Rights Reserved.
Flight This section describes safe flight practices and flight restrictions. 46 © 2018 DJI All Rights Reserved.
Flight Once pre-flight preparation is complete, it is recommended that you use the flight simulator in the DJI GO 4 app to hone your flight skills and practice flying safely. Ensure that all flights are carried out in an open area. Refer to the Remote Controller and DJI GO 4 App sections for information about using the remote controller and the app to control the aircraft. Flight Environment Requirements 1. Do not use the aircraft in severe weather conditions.
Mavic Air User Manual GPS Signal Strong Blinking Green Flight Limits DJI GO 4 App Aircraft Status Indicator Max Altitude Aircraft's altitude cannot exceed the specified value. Warning: Height limit reached. N/A Max Distance Flight distance must be within the max radius. Warning: Distance limit reached.
Mavic Air User Manual Auto Takeoff and Auto Landing Auto Takeoff Use auto takeoff only if the Aircraft Status Indicator is blinking green. Follow the steps below to use the auto takeoff feature: 1. Launch the DJI GO 4 app, and tap “GO FLY” to enter Camera View. 2. Complete all steps in the pre-flight checklist. 3. Tap . 4. If conditions are safe for takeoff slide the slider to confirm and the aircraft will take off and hover 3.9 ft (1.2 m) above the ground.
Mavic Air User Manual Stopping the Motors There are two methods to stop the motors. 1. Method 1: When the aircraft has landed, push and hold the left stick down. The motors will stop after three seconds. 2. Method 2: When aircraft has landed, push the left stick down, then conduct the same CSC that was used to start the motors, as described above. The motors will stop immediately. Release both sticks once the motors have stopped.
Mavic Air User Manual 4. Always fly in good weather and avoid flying in rain or wind. 5. Choose the camera settings that suit your needs. Settings include photo format and exposure compensation. 6. Perform flight tests to establish flight routes and preview scenes. 7. Push the control sticks gently to keep the aircraft’s movement smooth and stable. © 2018 DJI All Rights Reserved.
Appendix 52 © 2018 DJI All Rights Reserved.
Appendix Specifications Aircraft Weight 430 g Dimensions (L×W×H) Folded: 168×83×49 mm Unfolded: 168×184×64 mm Diagonal Length 213 mm (excluding propellers) Max Ascent Speed 2 m/s (P-mode with RC); 4 m/s (S - mode); 2 m/s (P-mode without RC) Max Descent Speed 1.5 m/s (P-mode with RC); 3 m/s (S -mode); 1 m/s (P-mode without RC) Max Speed (Near Sea Level, No Wind) 17.9 mph (28.8 km/h); P-mode with RC 42.5 mph (68.4 km/h); S-mode 17.9 mph (28.
Mavic Air User Manual Directions Forward/Backward/Downward FOV Forward: Horizontal: 50°, Vertical: 38° Backward: Horizontal: 50°, Vertical: 38° Downward: Front and Back: 67°, Left and Right: 53° Sensing Range Forward: Precision Measurement Range: 0.5-12 m Detectable Range: 12-24 m Backward: Precision Measurement Range: 0.5-10 m Detectable Range: 10-20 m Camera Sensor 1/2.3” CMOS; Effective pixels: 12 megapixels Lens 85° FOV, 24 mm (35 mm format equivalent) f/2.8 Shooting Range: 0.
Mavic Air User Manual Transmitter Power (EIRP) 2.4 GHz: < 26 dBm (FCC), < 18 dBm (CE), < 18 dBm (SRRC), < 18 dBm (MIC) 5.8 GHz: < 30 dBm (FCC), < 14 dBm (CE), < 26 dBm (SRRC) Built-in Battery 2970 mAh Operating Current/Voltage 1400 mA 3.7 V (Android) 750 mA 3.7 V (iOS) Supported Mobile Device Size Thickness: 6.5 to 8.5 mm Max length: 160 mm Supported USB port types Lightning, Micro USB (Type-B), USB-C Power Adapter Input 100 to 240 V, 50/60 Hz, 1.4 A Output Main: 13.2 V 3.
Mavic Air User Manual Calibration Procedure Choose an open area to carry out the following procedure. 1. Tap the System Status Bar in the DJI GO 4 app and select “Calibrate”, then follow the on-screen instructions. 2. Hold the aircraft horizontally and rotate it 360 degrees. The Aircraft Status Indicator will turn solid green. 3. Hold the aircraft vertically, with its nose pointing downward, and rotate it 360 degrees around a vertical axis. 4.
Mavic Air User Manual Firmware Updates Use DJI GO 4 or DJI Assistant 2 to update aircraft firmware. Using DJI GO 4 When you connect the aircraft or remote controller to the DJI GO 4 app you will be notified if a new firmware update is available. To start updating, connect your mobile device to the Internet and follow the on-screen instructions. Note that you cannot update the firmware if the remote controller is not linked to the aircraft.
DJI Support http://www.dji.com/support This content is subject to change. Download the latest version from http://www.dji.com/mavic-air If you have any questions about this document, please contact DJI by sending a message to DocSupport@dji.com. MAVIC is a trademark of DJI. Copyright © 2018 DJI All Rights Reserved.