Think about this next time you're tempted to fly over the crowd

Here's an example why you never fly over people. In the video you see a very popular multi rotor stabilization system (DJI WooKong) experience a firmware bug.

...Tiger

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqhwSX6VXf4&feature=channel&list=UL[/youtube]

 

I wonder if he lost GPS signal like this guy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS96uTaX3Sg

It is well known and discussed that if the Wookong H or Ace One loses GPS (and they lose it in the wide open flying high, usually from rf junk caused by the aircraft or other influence) you lose swashplate control for 10 seconds. This is happening on the giant gas powered helicopters right now like the AF25.

 

Looks like.  That is a indication of something already because those were not the original DJI 15 inch carbon fiber props.  You can also see he flipped a switch on the transmitter at least once (0:14) and maybe a second time (0:22) immediately prior to the hexacopter freaking out.

Another thing I've observed from this video is that his GPS unit is not mounted on the mast.  The mast is intended to get the GPS unit up and away from electrical and RF interference, such as the motors.  The WK-M comes with three masts of different heights for this purpose.
After reading the DJI recall notice (see link below) the affected units were manufactured after June 15th, 2012.  DJI claims that the problem ony occurs in certain contitions.  Taking that into consideration, and also Tysons comment on the WK-H and Ace One, it could be possible that having the GPS unit on the frame instead of on the mast could be one of those conditions, or at least aggravate them.

It seems to me this guy knew what was going to happen and was able to recreate the situation, possibly intentionally to get it on video.

He does have this link in the description of that video:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/53205026/DJI%20FINDS%20FIRMWARE%20BUG%20CAUSING%20SPONTANEOUS%20S800%20SYSTEM%20FAILURE.pdf

So DJI knows about the problem and I will presume they will replace all his, and other's, broken parts.

[quote author=Tiger link=topic=2058.msg12703#msg12703 date=1350766166]
Here's an example why you never fly over people. In the video you see a very popular multi rotor stabilization system (DJI WooKong) experience a firmware bug.

...Tiger
[/quote]

This problem would would have been identified by most of us here by test flying.  It would be crazy to fly over people prior to having some flight time with all the various modes tested on a new vehicle of any kind.

 

Here is the same info on the website...

http://www.dji-innovations.com/compass/submit_rma/?utm_source=dji_web&utm_medium=homepage_kv&utm_campaign=compass_firmware_bug_form

Love the road sign indicating that there is a bug  ;D

 

Love the quote on that page.  These guys are really "excited"!

"DJI is excited that the company not only discovered the fault and developed a fix..."


...Tiger