We are Parrot. Welcome to the team! With ANAFI Ai, you have chosen the first IoT*-compatible and 4G flying robot, which you can use everywhere on the go, anytime. We strongly recommend you read the following information and instructions thoroughly before you get ANAFI Ai in the air, to make the most of your first 32-minute flight.
About ANAFI Ai documentation The present guide completes the documentation of ANAFI Ai, which also consists in: - ANAFI Ai Flight Safety Guide, available online Flight Safety guide, - ANAFI Ai and FreeFlight 7 release notes, available online Release note, ANAFI Ai repair and maintenance tutorials available on Youtube channel Read the Flight Safety Guide provided with the ANAFI Ai to have complementary information about safety, operational limitations, for use and maintenance of the drone.
Prerequisites You want to put ANAFI Ai to work as soon as possible, so do we. Refer to the enclosed Super Quick Start Guide (SQSG) if you need illustrated guidance to get these quick prerequisites out of the way. 1. Wake up the batteries of your ANAFI Ai and Skycontroller 4. Charge the batteries using the enclosed USB-C to USB-C cables. The batteries’ LEDs start flashing: they are awake. Let them charge while you read.
3. Tap “Allow”: FreeFlight 7 runs. If the prompt does not appear on your screen when you connect your device to your Skycontroller 4, launch FreeFlight 7 manually, as any other app. FreeFlight 7 Update screen V7.4.1.
4. Follow onscreen instructions to update your ecosystem. Tap “Software” from the Skycontroller 4 page to launch the update V7.4.1.
Skycontroller 4 update in progress Tap “Software” from the ANAFI Ai page to launch the update Tap “Install all” V7.4.1.
Update complete 5. Follow onscreen instructions to carry out calibrations if required – refer to the “Calibrations” section of this guide for further information. All systems are ready for flight. V7.4.1.
Table des matières Using this guide .................................................................................................................................................. 2 About ANAFI Ai documentation ......................................................................................................................... 3 Prerequisites ......................................................................................................................................................
Activating the nano SIM card ....................................................................................................................... 27 Data sharing and User accounts ...................................................................................................................... 30 Anonymous sharing (default option) ........................................................................................................... 30 Private mode (zero data) ....................................
Battery care and safety ................................................................................................................................ 56 Battery state of health ................................................................................................................................. 57 Media retrieval .................................................................................................................................................
Lock AE ......................................................................................................................................................... 84 Lock AE Touch .............................................................................................................................................. 85 HDR............................................................................................................................................................... 86 P-Log ...............
Reinstalling FreeFlight 7 ............................................................................................................................. 120 Resetting ANAFI Ai ..................................................................................................................................... 121 Turn-off ANAFI Ai ....................................................................................................................................... 121 Resetting the Skycontroller 4 ...........
Foreword About ANAFI Ai Always transport ANAFI Ai safely stored in its case and always reposition its gimbal protection before storing it in its case. ANAFI Ai was designed and optimized to fly as is. Parrot therefore strongly discourages the use of any addon or accessory which could be mounted on, or attached to ANAFI Ai (feet extensions, buoys, hulls, etc.). In addition to the overweight they carry for the drone and its motors, they can indeed magnetically disturb ANAFI Ai and impair its communications.
For this reason, Parrot recommends ANAFI Ai pilots to always set up, start and finish their automated and assisted flights from wide open areas, as a sports field. About 4K video formats 4K video formats are professional grade media which may not be read natively by slower computers. Shoot in 1080p or use a video converter to turn your ANAFI Ai’s 4K videos into a more manageable format (like 1080p) if they do not read properly on your equipment.
Refer to the “DATA SHARING AND USER ACCOUNTS/Parrot.Cloud account & Full sharing” section of this guide for additional information. About information related to Privacy Rights Please check the information provided in the Flight Safety Guide given in the ANAFI Ai packaging to learn more about appearance of individuals in video and photo made by a drone. V7.4.1.
Disclaimer 1. ANAFI Ai IS NOT A TOY and should not be used or handled by a person under the age of 18 years. 2. Using ANAFI Ai carries no particular health requirement. 3. BEFORE USING ANAFI Ai: (A) CAREFULLY READ the user manual and all information and documentation available on www.parrot.com, which is susceptible to be updated at any time and without prior notice (hereinafter referred to as "Parrot Documentation").
Technical specifications Drone SKYCONTROLLER 4 Size folded: 304 x 130 x 118 mm Size unfolded: 320 x 440 x 118 mm Weight: 898 g / 1.98 lb Ready to fly in 60 seconds Maximum flight time: 32 min Maximum horizontal speed: 17 m/s – 38 mph Maximum vertical climb speed: 4 m/s – 9 mph Maximum vertical descent speed: 3 m/s – 7 mph Maximum wind resistance: 15 m/s – 31.3 mph during flight & 12 m/s – 26.
WEIGHT AND BALANCE Weight: 898 g / 1.98 lb Center of gravity: V7.4.1.
Package contents Your ANAFI Ai pack contains: - ANAFI Ai drone - 1 Parrot Skycontroller 4 - 1 smart battery, preinstalled on ANAFI Ai - 1 hard case - 1 worldwide compatible USB-PD fast charger - 2 long USB-C to USB-C cables for charging and pairing - 2 short USB cables (1 Lightning and 1 USB-C) to connect devices - 1 additional set of propeller blades - 1 additional set of joysticks - 1 gimbal protection A Flight Safety Guide V7.4.1.
Presentation of ANAFI Ai Ready to store or carry Foldable arms and propellers Gimbal protection 4G cover Right LED Ready to fly Stereo obstacle avoidance cameras Charge level LED indicators 180° tilt 4K camera gimbal Smart battery USB-C charging port V7.4.1.
Bottom view Low light & low altitude assistance lights Bottom LED Vertical camera Time of Flight (ToF) SD cover Left LED About LEDs and assistance lights LEDs ensure ANAFI Ai’s visibility, and they facilitate the visualization of the drone’s orientation in flight. The right LED flashes for 0.4 seconds every 2-second cycle. The left LED flashes for 0.4 seconds every 2-second cycle. Both right and left LEDs are dimmed when the drone is landed. The bottom LED is off when the drone is landed.
Presentation of Parrot Skycontroller 4 Front Detachable Control sticks RTH Wi-Fi antenna Power Status indicator LED Take-off/Landing Sliding handles LED status indicator color codes When the Parrot Skycontroller 4 is powered on, its LED status indicator gives you an instant visual indication: Flashing green: Skycontroller 4 update in progress Alternating light blue and dark blue: Connecting to ANAFI Ai Flashing light blue: No drone configured or wrong WPA key Steady dark blue: Connected to ANAFI
Top Gimbal tilt trigger Optics reset Zoom trigger Media recording Neck strap loops Bottom USB-C charging port Micro-HDMI port Charging status LED Right Side USB-C device connection port Sparecontrol stickstorage(2nd one on theopposite side ) V7.4.1.
Pairing ANAFI Ai to a Parrot Skycontroller 4 This procedure is useful to pair a drone and a controller which have never been paired, and to restore the lost pairing between a drone and a controller. 1. 2. 3. 4. Check a compatible microSD card is inserted into ANAFI Ai. Power ANAFI Ai on. Power the Parrot Skycontroller 4 on. Plug the drone to one of the USB-C ports of the controller (side or bottom) with an USB-C to USB-C cable. 5.
4G Connectivity 4G connectivity warning Check local regulations before using 4G connectivity, as some countries may restrict or prohibit drone connections to local 4G networks, even in areas where drone operations are allowed. In such a situation, turn “Cellular access” off in the FreeFlight 7 application and use the Wi-Fi connection only (refer to the “Advanced settings / Connection” section of this guide).
Installing and retrieving the nano SIM card The nano SIM card slot of ANAFI Ai is located on the right side of the drone, under the “4G” cover. To install the nano SIM card, lift the cover open and insert the nano SIM card straight into the slot, shortest side first and connectors turned to the back of the drone – refer to the diagram inside the 4G cover. To retrieve the nano SIM, press the card and extract it.
“SIM card PIN” interface Enter your PIN and tap “Ok” to confirm. The interface closes and after a few seconds, the 4G protocols are activated as in the following screenshot. “Cellular access”: connected Tap the “Cellular access” tile again to check the corresponding interface, displayed in the following screenshot. V7.4.1.
Cellular access interface • Note that selecting “Reset SIM” from this interface and confirming this action causes the drone to reboot, with a “SIM locked” status. • Note that although creating a Parrot.Cloud account is always recommended, it is not mandatory to activate ANAFI Ai’s 4G functions. V7.4.1.
Data sharing and User accounts Parrot highly values your privacy and the security of your data. The FIPS140-2 compliant & CC EAL5+ certified Secure Elements and strong authentication for 4G feature of the ANAFI Ai ecosystem provide absolute protection for your workflow. This section describes the three data sharing options available for ANAFI Ai owners and operators, in connection with the Parrot.Cloud account. PIX4D accounts are also covered in this section.
FreeFlight 7: Data sharing and user accounts Manage flight data sharing: Anonymous sharing Private mode (zero data) From the “Manage flight data sharing” page, select “Private mode”: FreeFlight 7 warns you that confirming this choice will delete all flight data from your device. V7.4.1.
No sharing warning Select “Continue”: no additional data will be recorded on your device until this option is reverted. Private mode • Note that activating the Private mode considerably limits your ability to get technical support, warranty, or both from Parrot Support. Although the ecosystem produces data to enable safe flight and mission, NONE of it is saved after the ecosystem is powered off. Parrot.Cloud account & Full sharing Logging in to a Parrot.
FreeFlight 7: Data sharing and user accounts After you have logged in to your Parrot.Cloud account, by default, the Full sharing option is activated. User profile interface Manage flight data sharing: Full sharing V7.4.1.
• Note that the “Clear all data” button enables you to delete all your data from your device (and from the Cloud, if you decide so) at any time – this is useful for multi-operators drones. PIX4D account – 3 offered photogrammetry models for new users Existing PIX4D users can link their account to their drone, start programming photogrammetry missions directly from FreeFlight 7 and enjoy 4G upload to PIX4D.
Log in or create a PIX4D account Follow in-app instructions to log in or create an account - creating a PIX4D account may require a confirmation from your email account before full activation. Refer to the “MISSIONS: PHOTOGRAMMETRY” section of this guide for additional details on photogrammetry missions. V7.4.1.
Obstacle avoidance • The drone’s obstacle avoidance (OA) system relies on stereo cameras, located on each side of the main camera. Make sure the lenses of the stereo cameras are always perfectly clean: you can use a drop of specialized (photo) lens cleaning liquid to ensure the cleanliness of the optics.
Red shield: deactivate the OA immediately. Obstacle avoidance and manual piloting • The OA is designed to help the pilot, not to replace his control over the drone. Do not lose sight of the drone and always remain focused on its flight. - Rely on your own judgement to control the drone and manually avoid obstacles. - Be wary of obstacles, in particular people and animals which may find themselves on the trajectory of the drone. - Keep the speed of your drone under 8 m/s.
• However, you must carefully plan and monitor your automated flights in the following conditions, as the OA might not work optimally. - Dynamic (moving) environments. - In front of surfaces or objects that are: o monochrome (plain white or black, on any other color without distinct texture or motive); o reflective; o water based or transparent; o mobile; o very dark or very bright. - In areas where the lighting conditions change drastically or very rapidly. - In rainy conditions. V7.4.1.
Calibrations This section presents the calibration procedures required by the ecosystem: one procedure for the Skycontroller 4’s magnetometer and four procedures for ANAFI Ai’s systems: - Gimbal calibration - Horizon calibration - Magnetometer calibration - Obstacle avoidance calibration Skycontroller 4 FreeFlight 7 may require you to calibrate the magnetometer of your Skycontroller 4 if it has been exposed to a strong magnetic field or if your flying conditions change radically – from a continent t
Ready to calibrate Skycontroller 4 calibration in progress Gimbal Access calibration options from the ANAFI Ai page of the dashboard. Before starting this procedure, you need to position ANAFI Ai on a flat and perfectly level surface. ANAFI Ai calibration menu Use the first option to perform a gimbal calibration, that is more precise than the quick calibration which occurs when ANAFI Ai is powered on. Both the main camera and the stereo camera gimbals are calibrated successively. V7.4.1.
Stereo camera calibration in progress • Be aware that FreeFlight 7 can prompt you to carry out this calibration when needed. It is not mandatory to take off, but it is recommended. Horizon calibration (exceptional procedure) Your ANAFI Ai’s camera has been factory-calibrated with unparalleled precision.
Magnetometer calibration When the calibration of the magnetometer of the drone is required, FreeFlight 7 guides you through the following procedure. Magnetometer calibration screen Calibrating the Z axis V7.4.1.
Calibrating the Y axis Calibrating the X axis Obstacle avoidance To calibrate the obstacle avoidance system, set up your full ecosystem for a flight: obstacle avoidance calibration implies a short flight in a straight upward line, and a full rotation of the drone (360°). Please note that during this procedure, the obstacle avoidance is disabled.
Tap an option to select it: ANAFI Ai takes off, reaches the selected height, performs a 360 (full rotation) and descends. Calibration in progress When prompted by FreeFlight 7, land the drone to complete the calibration. Calibration successful confirmation Drone landed, calibration sequence complete V7.4.1.
Pre-flight reminders Transport & handling • To ensure a proper storage of your ANAFI Ai, always transport it on its hard case, safely positioned, with gimbal’s protection on. • • Always transport the Parrot Skycontroller 4 safely into its hard case relevant location. To ensure the safe storage of the battery, be sure to protect it from low/high temperatures exposure and try to keep it close to ambient temperatures. • Always handle the ANAFI Ai with care.
• Due to the operating mode of its vertical camera and Time of Flight (ToF) sensor, Parrot recommends you do not fly ANAFI Ai low over water and other reflective surfaces (mirrors, glass, and so on). Getting started 1. Charge the battery using one of the enclosed USB-C to USB-C cables and the enclosed charger. Refer to the “Battery charging” section of this guide for additional information. Parrot recommends you always run a full charge of your smart battery before flying ANAFI Ai. 2.
Hand launch • Be especially careful when you hand launch ANAFI Ai. This procedure is safe provided you are not distracted or startled by an outside event with a live drone in your hand: concentrate on what you are doing, but always stay aware of your surroundings. Power ANAFI Ai on and position the drone on your flat, open hand. On the left of the screen of your device, a “Handlaunch Available” interface appears.
Flying • Note that you can modify ANAFI Ai’s controls through the SETTINGS menu of FreeFlight 7. Refer to the “SETTINGS/ Controls” section of this guide for additional information. V7.4.1.
Returning home: Smart RTH • Returning home implies ANAFI Ai has set a “home point” for itself. This is achieved with the first GPS fix of the drone. In consequence, Parrot recommends ANAFI Ai pilots to check that their drone GPS icon is green before they take-off – as on the next screenshot.
Wi-Fi is about to break up, due to powerline interferences 4G has automatically taken over However, in the very unlikely event of a complete loss of connection between the controller and the drone that last for more than 6 seconds, ANAFI Ai will automatically enter Smart RTH mode. This behavior (drone rises to RTH height and starts route toward home) ensures a quick recovery of pilot control over the drone, in most cases. V7.4.1.
Pilot Smart RTH When the “Pilot” advanced RTH option is selected, ANAFI Ai comes back to the GPS position of the device used to control the drone (whether linked to a Parrot Skycontroller 4 or not) at the exact moment an RTH procedure is activated – or to the last known coordinates of the device, in case it has lost GPS fix. For this reason, we recommend ANAFI Ai pilots not to move, after they have activated an RTH procedure, when in “Pilot” advanced RTH mode.
Hand landing • • • Be especially careful when you hand land ANAFI Ai. This procedure is safe provided you are not distracted or startled by an outside event with a live drone approaching your hand: concentrate on what you are doing, but always stay aware of your surroundings. Drone GPS synchronization is mandatory for a successful hand landing. Do not attempt a hand landing in a wind strong enough to make ANAFI Ai “fight” to hold its hovering position.
Landing button pressed, hand detected 2. ANAFI Ai slowly and safely lands on your hand. V7.4.1.
Drone aligned, hand landing in progress Note that during a landing procedure, if the ANAFI Ai is still flying at more than 100 cm (3 ft) from your hand, you can put your open hand, arm extended under the drone: ANAFI Ai will recognize your hand and apply the hand landing as described above. Smart LiPo Battery ANAFI Ai’s smart LiPo battery is preinstalled on the drone. It can be charged whether it is installed on ANAFI Ai, or not.
ANAFI Ai : battery ready for installation Battery charging To charge ANAFI Ai’s smart LiPo battery, use one of the enclosed USB-C to USB-C cable to plug the battery to its charger, or to: o a tabletop or laptop computer’s USB-C port; o a power bank’s USB-C port. Full charging time depends on charger specifications and ambient temperature. At 20°C, you can expect charging your battery in 2 hours.
4 steady LEDs light up: battery is between 75 and 100% charged Finally, the same logic applies when the smart LiPo battery is installed on the drone and when ANAFI Ai is powered on.
Finally, note that ANAFI Ai’s smart battery will only allow charge in ambient temperatures between +10 °C and +45 °C, and that using ANAFI Ai in temperatures approaching 0 °C will reduce its flying time. To minimize this slight drop in the smart battery’s capacity, keep your battery as warm as possible before starting a flight in a cold environment: be aware that if the temperature of the core of the battery drops below 5 °C, it will not power the drone.
Media retrieval Installing and retrieving the microSD card The microSD card slot of ANAFI Ai is located on the left side of the drone, under the “SD” cover. To install the microSD card, lift the cover open and insert the microSD card straight into the slot, shortest side first and connectors turned to the back of the drone. To retrieve the microSD card, press the card and extract it.
- ScanDisk Extreme 128GB - ScanDisk Extreme Plus 128GB - Prograde V60 ScanDisk Extreme Pro 128GB 64GB Direct media retrieval (drone to PC) You can also retrieve your media directly from ANAFI Ai, without extracting the microSD card. Power the full system on and activate the “Direct connection from PC or smartphone” option from the Connection settings – refer to the “ADVANCED SETTINGS/Connection” section of this guide for additional details.
Access the media you have downloaded to your device by tapping the “Local” box, at the top of the interface. MicroSD card formatting Tap the “Format SD card” button of the SD Card screen of FreeFlight 7 Gallery to access formatting options. Select one of the following options. Confirm your selection from the next screen to launch the formatting. • Note that both options delete all microSD card contents. V7.4.1.
Introducing FreeFlight 7 The HUD (head-up display) interface of FreeFlight 7 is the companion to ANAFI Ai. It enables you to access all the features of ANAFI Ai, from the screen of your device, at the touch of your thumbs. This section explores FreeFlight 7 functions, starting with a presentation of HUD information. Presentation of the HUD 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10 . 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16 . 17 . 18 . 19 . 20 . 1. Drone horizontal distance relative to pilot 11. Zoom factor 2.
8. Controller battery & device GPS statuses 9. Drone: battery/4G/Wi-Fi/GPS statuses 10. To settings Missions: Imaging modes: 18. Slider 19. Shutter (Record/Stop: video mode) 20. Imaging settings Piloting Photogrammetry Flight Plan Cameraman Vehicle Touch & Fly: Waypoint & POI Video Single photography Time lapse GPS lapse Panorama Bracketing Burst • Note that both GPS icons are green, on the presentation screenshot.
Touch and slide the slider to the left to increase and adjust the size of the map (or 3D view). Slider: more map • Note that on larger devices (tablets), the map is displayed on the lower part of the screen. V7.4.1.
Settings Access FreeFlight 7 settings through the icon on the extreme right of the top bar of the HUD. This section presents the Quick and Controls settings. Quick For each item, tap to toggle (Map or 3D view) or activate and highlight – as Audio, Geocage and Auto-record on the following screenshot. Quick settings Controls Controls settings manage the way your controller behaves. Tap an option to select it. V7.4.1.
Controls settings Advanced Settings For each item, the default value (DV) is displayed in bold characters or highlighted on screenshots. Presets The Presets settings allow you to adapt the flight behavior of ANAFI Ai for each mode (“Film” and “Sport”). Use each slider to fix your values. Camera tilt speed 1°/s to 180°/s (DV: 10°/s for FILM; 35°/s for SPORT) Banked turn NO / YES (DV: YES for FILM, NO for SPORT) Inclination 0.25°/s to 30°/s (DV: 10°/s for FILM; 25°/s for SPORT) Vertical speed 0.
Presets settings Tap each reset button on the bottom of each page to reset the corresponding Mode to its default values. Interface For each item, Map type or Measurement system, tap an option to select it. Interface settings Tap “RESET INTERFACE SETTINGS” on the bottom of the page to reset to default. V7.4.1.
Geocage The Geocage is activated (“On”) by default, with the following values: - Height: 100 m (configurable from 1 m to 150 m) - Distance: 100 m (configurable from 10 m to 4 km) Tap “No” to deactivate or tap and slide the circle to set new values. Geocage settings Tap “RESET GEOCAGE PREFERENCES” on the bottom of the page to reset to default.
RTH Through RTH settings, you define the behavior of your drone when the RTH feature is activated. The following screenshot displays the default values of the menu. The Hovering slider is set at 2 m and it is configurable between 1 m and 10 m. The RTH minimum height is set at 50 m and it is configurable between 20 m and 100 m. RTH settings Tap “RESET RTH PREFERENCES” on the bottom of the page to reset to default.
country, you can try other settings if you feel bothered by a flicker effect on your device’s screen, your artificial light videos, or both. Tap “RESET CAMERA SETTINGS” on the bottom of the page to reset to default. Connection Connection settings let you manage your 4G connection, change your ANAFI Ai’s Wi-Fi network name, password & band, and broadcast your DRI. The following screenshots highlight default values for each item.
Connection settings: DRI broadcast About Network preference: the “Auto” (default) option lets the drone manage its connections. Use other options to adapt to your flight conditions: “4G priority” relies on the 4G network as long as it is available, before switching to Wi-Fi; “Wi-Fi priority” relies on the Wi-Fi connection as long as it is available, before switching to 4G.
Tap “RESET WI-FI PREFERENCES” on the bottom of the page to reset to default. FreeFlight 7 must be connected to ANAFI Ai for this button to appear. Developer Developer settings allows you to access debug tools for AirSDK mission developers. If direct connection from a device is ON, you can activate ANAFI Ai shell access and custom mission logs.
Video resolutions menu Second, select a framerate (fps – frames per second) value from the corresponding box of the HUD. Tap the video settings box again to close the sub-boxes and confirm your choices. Available fps values depend on the resolution you have selected, and on whether you have activated the HDR option: 4K: 24, 25 or 30 fps 4K HDR: 24, 25 or 30 fps P-Log 4K: 1080 p: 24, 25 or 30 fps 24, 25, 30, 48, 50 or 60 fps 1080 p HDR: 24, 25 or 30 fps P-Log 1080 p: 24, 25, 30, 48, 50 or 60fps V7.
Video fps menu, 1080p When you are happy with your settings and your framing, press the hard shutter button on the right of Parrot Skycontroller 4 (or tap the soft shutter button of the HUD) to start filming. The round soft shutter button of the HUD turns into a square and displays a double timer: time since the video started (main timer, top) and remaining filming time (small timer, bottom).
Available photo formats for each photo mode are as follows: Photo (Single): JPEG RECT, JPEG WIDE, DNG+JPEG (RECT or WIDE) Timelapse: JPEG RECT only GPS Lapse: JPEG RECT only Panorama: Bracketing: Burst: JPEG RECT only JPEG RECT, JPEG WIDE, DNG+JPEG (RECT or WIDE) JPEG RECT, JPEG WIDE Tap a format (JPEG RECT, or JPEG WIDE if available, or any DNG+JPEG format if available) to select it. Tap the “Imaging” box again to close the sub-boxes and confirm your choice.
About ANAFI Ai photo formats: JPEG RECT: 4:3 aspect ratio, 48 or 12MP and 65° horizontal field of view (HFOV) JPEG WIDE: 4:3 aspect ratio,48MP, 73° HFOV – zoom is disabled for this format DNG+JPEG: 4:3 aspect ratio, 48MP, 73° HFOV – zoom is disabled for WIDE option • The DNG+JPEG option produces at least 2 files (1 DNG, 1 JPEG) for each shutter action. As other RAW picture formats, DNG is a very useful format for professional photography processing and workflow.
Panorama types When you are happy with your framing, press the hard shutter button on the right of the Parrot Skycontroller 4 (or tap the soft shutter button of the HUD) to begin the Panorama capture. ANAFI Ai starts taking pictures and the bottom of the HUD displays a progress bar which fills with green as the capture unfolds.
Tap the green box of the Panorama you want to generate to start downloading the corresponding series of pictures to your device. When the download is complete, FreeFlight 7 displays a page from where you can delete the downloaded photos: tap “Keep” to keep the originals on the microSD card; tap “Delete” to delete them. Select its tab on the left to access the FreeFlight 7 Phone Gallery, which contains only the media you have downloaded from ANAFI Ai’s microSD card.
Tap “Generate Panorama” to create the panorama (or browse the individual pictures with the slider on the right). When the panorama creation is complete, FreeFlight 7 displays the result. About media Metadata ANAFI Ai photos and videos contain Metadata with the drone telemetry elements (position, altitude, speed, battery level, etc.) and video metrics (angle of the camera, exposure value, field of view, etc.).
1080p 1x zoom 1080p 4x (max lossless) zoom As already mentioned, ANAFI Ai presents no lossless zoom capabilities for pictures: the zoom is deactivated by design in WIDE formats (JPEG and DNG+JPEG), and it has an impact on the resolution of the pictures in JPEG RECT format. By contrast, ANAFI Ai offers impressive lossless zoom capabilities for 1080p (4x) and 4K (2x) videos. V7.4.1.
4K 1x zoom 4K 2x (max lossless) zoom Finally, remember that the 1080p video mode offers the best resolution for direct observation, even out of the lossless zoom envelope. 1080p 1x zoom V7.4.1.
1080p 6x (max) zoom You can find below the zoom level correlation table depending on each photo and video mode: Mode Media format Lossless zoom off Lossless zoom on Video 4k (std, HDR, P-Log) Up to x6 Up to x2 1080p (std, HDR, P-Log) Up to x6 Up to x4 JPEG RECT Up to x6 Unavailable JPEG WIDE Unavailable Unavailable DNG+JPEG RECT Up to x6 Unavailable DNG+JPEG WIDE Unavailable Unavailable Timelapse JPEG RECT Unavailable Unavailable GPS Lapse JPEG RECT Unavailable Unavailable Pa
Some image enthusiasts and all professional directors, videographers and photographers, however, will find their way through pro-imaging settings. This section is designed to help you exploit manual settings and develop your filming and photography styles. The Exposure value (EV) is the only setting accessible in the Auto mode, from the “Imaging box” menu of the HUD. Exposure value (EV) The EV expresses the general darkness or lightness of a photograph – or a video. At +0.
Note that ANAFI Ai can shoot pictures and videos when it is not flying. You can even hold it in your hand and use it as a premium stabilized 4K video and photo camera. Tap the “s” box to open the shutter slider. Select a value to exit the auto-mode for shutter speed and ISO. This action also deactivates the EV slider. Set the s value you require, then tap the “ISO” box to select an ISO value. Experiment: the display of the HUD reflects your settings.
Auto WB Incandescent WB Fluo WB Sunny WB Cloudy WB Shaded WB WB 2 000 K WB 10 000 K Lock AE As any serious camera, FreeFlight 7 offers the possibility to lock the general exposure of a view, to fine-tune the framing of a shot and keep the desired exposure. To access this function, tap the “Imaging settings box” of the HUD. V7.4.1.
Tap the “Open lock” icon, on the far left of the Imaging menu to lock the exposure value to that of the current view. The icon turns into a “Closed lock” on a yellow background. A yellow “Lock AE” box appears in the Notifications & Alert zone, below the top bar of the HUD. Move ANAFI Ai around or tilt its gimbal to change the frame: the exposure settings remain as they were when you activated the function.
Exposure is locked on a building: shutter speed is set at 1/160 s and the image is correctly exposed HDR HDR (high dynamic range) is another great way to enhance a video or a photo. The HDR option is available for videos (no lossless zoom and limited to 30 fps max in 4K, lossless zoom limited to 2x and limited to 30 fps max in 1080 p) and 12MP photos. To activate the HDR option, tap the “Imaging” box from the lower bar of the HUD, then tap the “HDR box”.
HDR On Follow the same procedure and select “HDR Off” to revert. • Note that you cannot modify “EV”, “s” or “ISO” values when the HDR mode is activated. However, you always keep control over your white balance (“WB”). • Note that activating (or deactivating) HDR halts any ongoing video recording, and starts a new recording with the new setting, after 5 seconds. • ANAFI Ai features 2 HDR options: HDR-8 and HDR-10.
Missions: Piloting Tap the “MISSIONS” icon in the left bottom corner of the HUD of FreeFlight 7 to access the Missions. Tap a mission to select it. Each Mission is associated with a specific behavior, which this section and the following describe. The Piloting Mission is ANAFI Ai’s default Mission. It enables you to pilot the drone and fully control its camera tilt and zoom. When you release the commands in Manual flight mode, ANAFI Ai stays in position, hovering. V7.4.1.
Missions: Photogrammetry About photogrammetry According to the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS), photogrammetry is the science and technology of obtaining reliable information about physical objects and the environment through the process of recording, measuring and interpreting photographic images. The ASPRS was created in 1934, but the field of photogrammetry has since greatly benefited of the emergence of flying cameras such as Parrot drones.
Tap the map to create a square grid. Tap and slide the green corners of the square to adapt the grid to the zone you want to map. Tap any “+” sign to create a new segment and a new corner. Tab box to select Image Parameters: Resolution 12MP / 48MP Exposure -3.0 to +3/0 EV (DV: 0.0 EV) White balance Auto / Sunny / Cloudy Tap box to select Flight Parameters: 4G upload Yes / No Obstacle avoidance Yes / No Final RTH Yes / No RTH on data link loss Yes / No Altitude From 5 m (DV: 50 m) Camera tilt -90° to 0.
Tab box to select Image Parameters: Resolution 12MP / 48MP Exposure -3.0 to +3/0 EV (DV: 0.0 EV) White balance Auto / Sunny / Cloudy Tap box to select Flight Parameters: 4G upload Yes / No Obstacle avoidance Yes / No Final RTH Yes / No RTH on data link loss Yes / No Altitude From 5 m (DV: 50 m) Camera tilt -90° to 0.0° (DV: -70°) Front overlap 20.0% to 90.0% (DV: 80.0%) Side overlap 20.0% to 90.0% (DV: 60.0%) Tap “Done” when ready. Tap “Play” to launch the flight.
Exposure White balance -3.0 to +3/0 EV (DV: 0.0 EV) Auto / Sunny / Cloudy Tap box to select Flight Parameters: 4G upload Yes / No Obstacle avoidance Yes / No Final RTH Yes / No RTH on data link loss Yes / No Altitude From 5 m (DV: 50 m) Number of photos 18 to 90 Camera tilt -90% to 0.0° (DV: -45°) Tap “Done” when ready. Tap “Play” to launch the flight.
Obstacle avoidance Final RTH RTH on data link loss Building height Yes / No Yes / No Yes / No From 5 m (DV: 10 m) Tap “Done” when ready. Tap “Play” to launch the flight. FreeFlight 7: 1-Click photogrammetry About PIX4D suite compatibility ANAFI Ai is compatible with the PIX4D software suite, including Pix4Dmapper, Pix4Dinspect, Pix4Dmatic, and Pix4Dcloud. To learn more on how to optimize the processing of the images, please read PIX4D SOFTWARE TUNING FOR ANAFI Ai documentation.
Flight Plan: scenario The mayor of a village island has the responsibility of 3 lighthouses. He wants to set up a daily routine inspection of the lantern of each lighthouse before sundown. His main constraint is to avoid flying over populated areas. The tourist office of the village also sees in daily ANAFI Ai flights the opportunity to gather exceptional footage for communication purposes.
Flight Plan: creating POI As the proposed scenario is based on the inspection of three different locations, it seems sensible to build this Flight Plan around those POI. Empty Flight Plan interface Long press a point on the screen to make it a POI and to open the POI interface: the next screenshot shows the position of the first lighthouse. It is isolated and its area also offers a good take-off point for the flight.
Repeat the procedure to add more POI and set their height. Note active POI are displayed in bright green (as on the earlier screenshot), and idle POI are each displayed in different colors (as on the following screenshot). Three POI set Flight Plan: creating and managing WP Let us zoom to the area of the first POI, that of the tallest lighthouse, where we intend to start and finish the flight. First WP set Tap a point on the screen to make it a WP and to open the WP interface.
Direction of camera changed Tap a point on the screen to create a new WP: by default, it is set at the same altitude and camera angle as the one before, and the camera points in the direction of the flight which brought the drone to the WP – refer to the next screenshot. Second WP set Let us start the inspection on the second WP: adjust its altitude with the slider (55 m), so that the drone slightly overflies the lantern of the lighthouse.
WP #2 altitude changed POI selected and WP #2 linked V7.4.1.
First lighthouse inspection programming is complete Flying toward the second lighthouse is straightforward, as the drone does not have to fly over populated areas. Tap the screen to add a WP near the next inspection zone: note its altitude and its camera angle mirror those of the earlier WP. Transit WP set Repeat earlier procedure to program the inspection of the second lighthouse.
The third lighthouse is inside the village, which cannot be flown over. On the next screenshot, reaching WP #16 in a straight line implies flying too close from houses. This gives the opportunity to check the Segment interface. Tap a segment to activate the Segment interface: you can modify the speed of ANAFI Ai for any flight segment (from 0.5 m/s to 12 m/s by 0.5 m/s increments – default value: 5 m/s).
Tap and slide any WP to move it Creating a temporary POI can be a useful aid for framing. With the next screenshots, you can check that a constant -5.0° camera angle should keep a nice framing on the village, provided WP #17 is moved away from the POI: camera angle adapts in real time as you move a POI-linked WP. Then you can delete the POI and fine tune camera directions manually. Temporary 5 m POI created to validate framing V7.4.1.
WP #17 moved to stay consistent with a -5.0° camera angle Repeat earlier procedures to program the inspection of the third lighthouse and transit WP back to the take-off area. Obviously, Flight Plans can take any shape or form and the last WP does not have to be close to the take-off area: you can start and finish a Flight Plan in different locations.
Image parameters interface Select your settings. Flight Plan Image parameters are as follows (default values in bold). Video: Resolutions Framerate Exposure White Balance Timelapse: Duration Resolution Exposure White Balance 4K or 1080p 30 fps (24 to 30 fps for 4K / 24 to 60 fps for 1080p) -3.0 EV to +3.0 EV (DV: 0.0 EV) Auto / Sunny / Cloudy 1 s, 2 s, 4 s, 10 s, 30 s or 60 s intervals between shots 12 MP / 48 MP -3.0 EV to +3.0 EV (DV: 0.0 EV) Auto / Sunny / Cloudy GPS lapse: Distance 0.
Tap “X” to close Flight parameters and confirm your settings. Tap the “Done” button to save your Flight Plan. Flight parameters interface Flight Plan: execution Close FreeFlight 7, get to your take-off area, set up ANAFI Ai for the flight with your Parrot Skycontroller 4 and your device. Tap the “MISSIONS” icon in the left bottom corner of the HUD of FreeFlight 7 to access missions options. Tap “Flight Plan” to select this mission: the last plan you have programmed appears.
Remember you can pause any Flight Plan at any time: tap the red “STOP” (square) button of the interface or reclaim the commands of the drone. When you are done exploring or taking Panoramas and you are ready to resume the Flight Plan, tap “Play” to start again from the latest WP ANAFI Ai has passed.
Missions: Cameraman The Cameraman mission enables you to keep an object or a subject in the center of your frame, while you pilot ANAFI Ai around it/him/her. Frame the object or subject you want to film and fly around. Tap the “MISSIONS” icon in the left bottom corner of the HUD of FreeFlight 7 to access the missions options. Tap “Cameraman” to select this mission. Up to 10 potential targets (people, vehicles, animals, etc.) appear highlighted in yellow as in the screenshot below.
Tracking in progress 1 Tracking in progress 2 Fly ANAFI Ai around your target. The drone keeps your target at the center of the frame. Therefore, if you push the right joystick of the Parrot Skycontroller 4 to the left, ANAFI Ai circles around your target clockwise. If you push the right joystick of the Parrot Skycontroller 4 to the right, ANAFI Ai circles around your target counterclockwise. When the Cameraman mode is activated, ANAFI Ai manages the gimbal tilt to keep the target in the frame.
To end the following of your target, tap the white square on red background (“STOP button”) in the bottom right corner of the HUD. When no target is selected, or when the following of the target has been ended by the pilot, ANAFI Ai’s behavior is similar to that of the Piloting mission.
In other words, the drone follows the vehicle by default, even when the command is activated. However, you keep control of the precise trajectory of ANAFI Ai, of its direction, and thus of the framing of the camera. When you are following a vehicle, a link appears between your drone and the vehicle to symbolize the “tracking mission”. During a Vehicle mission, activating the RTH command initiates a return sequence toward the vehicle (“Returning to vehicle”).
7. From now on, you will not be able to exit the Vehicle mission before you have landed the drone – refer to the next sections of this guide for additional details. 8. You have control over the trajectory and framing of the drone, relative to the referential of the motion of the vehicle in which you travel with the Skycontroller 4.
Tap the green “PLAY” button, as seen in the last screenshot, to restore tracking. Returning to vehicle The Returning to vehicle (RTV) feature brings ANAFI Ai back to the vehicle from which it took off, and which hosts the Skycontroller 4. Smart rules associated with RTH features of ANAFI Ai (low battery, ecosystem link loss) are also valid for RTV. The RTV procedure can be decomposed in three steps. When an RTV is activated: 1.
3. When the vehicle is identified, ANAFI Ai stays synchronized to its route and speed, and descends to the selected hovering height – or the “landing zone search” height, if you have selected the “Landing” ending from the Advanced RTH settings. Vehicle found: descent to hover altitude is about to begin Vehicle landing safety • Landing a drone on a moving vehicle is a technical gesture, which requires training and focus.
• If the vehicle is moving and the landing zone cannot be acquired after 8 seconds, the drone automatically lands at a reduced speed. FreeFlight 7 will prompt you to adjust the drone’s position. • If the vehicle is stopped, the drone keeps descending while searching for the landing zone. If the landing zone cannot be acquired, FreeFlight 7 prompts you to adjust the drone’s position and the drone lands while tracking the vehicle position.
Touch & Fly interface Single tap a point on the map to select a destination for ANAFI Ai: the drone turns toward this point, which is marked as a black circle with a green border. Use the slider on the right of the screen to set the drone’s WP altitude. Touch & Fly WP configuration Tap the green “Play button” on the bottom right of the interface to send ANAFI Ai toward its defined WP (position and height). Touch & Fly: drone flying to WP V7.4.1.
Once the waypoint is set on the map, you can tap the live image window to display it full screen. The waypoint will be visible on its center. You can then tap on the live image or drag and drop the waypoint to set its new position. The new waypoint location is set on a cylinder with, as a center the drone, and as a radius the distance between the drone and the last waypoint.
Once the POI is set on the map, you can tap the live image window to display it full screen. The POI will be visible on its center. You can then tap on the live image or drag and drop the POI to set its new position. The new POI location is set on a horizontal plane which has the high of the last POI. Touch & Fly: POI on the live video Fly ANAFI Ai around your POI. The drone keeps the POI at the center of the frame.
FreeFlight 7 dashboard Flight logs The Flight logs box of the dashboard displays the number of recorded flights, the corresponding distance flown, and the corresponding flight time. Tap the box to access Flight logs. All flights list Note you can toggle the top center selector of this interface from “All flight” to “Executed projects”, which brings you to Flight Plan projects. Tap a flight to open it. V7.4.1.
Individual flight log From this screen you can edit the name of the flight with the pen icon, check the time, date and details of the flight, and share the flight (through all iOS sharing options). You can also delete individual flights from this screen (the app asks you to confirm). Finally, you can slide, zoom in or out and navigate in the map of the surrounding of your flight on the left part of the screen. Tap “<” to go back to the Flights list.
- edit the project name with the pen icon; duplicate the project; - delete the project; open the project (you can double tap projects directly from the list to open them in the Flight Plan mission interface). Use the toggle at the top center of the screen to access Photogrammetry projects. Photogrammetry projects Tap “New” to create a new project in the Photogrammetry mission interface.
Therefore, Parrot recommends you immediately replace propeller blades which have sustained even a minor contact with the environment– or to replace them every 50 flight hours, as part of scheduled maintenance. ANAFI Ai propeller blades have been designed for instant, no tool replacement. To replace a propeller blade, follow this simple procedure. 1. Unfold the arm that supports the blades which need to be replaced. 2. Hold the motor (round rotating part) of the propeller between your left thumb and index.
Resetting ANAFI Ai Resetting ANAFI Ai reverts the drone back to its latest firmware update: it cleans all media, logs and credentials from the drone. For this reason, remember to back up all your “Drone memory” FreeFlight 7 media before resetting ANAFI Ai. To reset ANAFI Ai, press and hold the drone’s power button for approximately 10 seconds, until one of the LED flashes in red, then release the button immediately. The drone reboots. The reset is successful.
Press and hold the controller’s Take-off/Landing, Optics reset and Media recording buttons for 15 seconds, then release the 3 buttons – note that the LED starts flashing after 10 seconds, but hold the buttons for 5 seconds more. The Skycontroller 4 reboots. The reset is successful. The same procedure can be carried out safely, even with a drone connected, through the “Reset” button of the Skycontroller 4 page, in FreeFlight 7.
4G connectivity issue 4G connectivity issue can be caused by one of the following possibilities: - There is no SIM card in the drone You did not enter the SIM card code of the drone Drone’s 4G connectivity is not activated Your mobile has no internet access The 4G connection is not established In these cases, FreeFlight 7 connectivity interface informs the origin of the issue. Ortherwise, the interface displays the “ask for support 4G” option. If you press the button, a dialogue box appear.
FreeFlight 7: "Ask for support" End of the drone service life • Please, refers to the flight safety guide manual provided inside the packaging to find complementary information on how to recycle this product. The propeller blades and the give box are made of plastic, they can be disposed in the recycle bin. All the electronical devices (ANAFI Ai, Parrot Skycontroller 4, smart battery) must be brought back to a collection point (e.g. stores, recycling center) to be recycled.
Appendix 1: Operational Checklist Update & calibration Device...................................................................................................... UPDATED FreeFlight 7 ............................................................................................. UPDATED Parrot Skycontroller 4 ............................................................................ UPDATED Anafi Ai ..................................................................................................
Before Take-off Device GPS .............................................................................................. signal Red / Green Flight mode ............................................................................................. MANUAL Weather .................................................................................................. checked and OK TO Zone ................................................................................................... clear Drone status .........
