DJI Mavic 3 - How To Use Active Track 5.0 - Walking, Riding, and Driving - Tutorial

Using the Active Track 5.0 with the Mavic 3 is really easy. The new firmware update has added a lot of features including Focus Track. Active Track is an autonomous flying feature. Once you launch the drone, and lock onto a subject, the drone will fly itself. It will follow the subject anywhere it goes, as long as it stays locked on. In my testing so far, the drone is doing a decent job. Most of my problems have come when the drone is trying to track from the front position. Tracking from the side and back has worked pretty well.
I will be doing a lot more testing with this drone. Stay tuned.
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[@InnerbloomStudios]

Yeah, amazing demonstrations here. I'm going to go film a video for a car company and I'm glad the tracking feature is available with obstacle avoidance. I have the Mavic 3 Pro so hopefully I'll be able to use one of the telephoto lenses while using this feature. Tomorrow I'll test. Thanks again.

[@jesserodriguez6461]

Great narration- The voice of patience and sharing your views on safety as you explain are helpful. Nicely done- Keep flying!

[@TheApConnection]

This is the most straightforward, insight on how to use Active Track. I appreciate the fact that you've shared this informational video on Active Track. Thank You!

[@WaaProductions]

looks like this was shot at the OC great park... right in my back yard. nice!

[@my360agent]

Nice job on this video! I need to get out and try these features with my Mavic 3!

[@yoyoballish]

Can I just say that you made this so easy to understand. Not super technical! Thank you for sharing!!!

[@uosocal]

Thank you

[@yoyoballish]

@@uosocal I tried to do what you said and I get a message saying I can’t using this function while the drone is in explore mode.

[@uosocal]

Doesn't work in explorer mode, only in regular mode x2.

[@danielstratford5384]

Great video, you answered a lot of my questions in a really nice clear way. Keep it coming!

[@leroybailey8828]

Great video. You did a good job. I am planning on buying the Mavic 3.

[@millbah]

Good one buddy, I learnt something for by M3.

[@ThierryCarrascosa]

Excellent tuto!!!!!

[@Photoflyboy]

You may want to consider changing your return to home setting to hover instead of return to home. If you get too far away from your home point and you lose signal which triggers a return to home, it's easier to recover close to where you are, instead of returning to where you started. Anyway, excellent video! 🙂

[@uosocal]

If you choose hover, it will land wherever it stops when the battery gets too low. Much better to choose a safe home point. IMO

[@Photoflyboy]

Actually, it will just hover and if you are paying attention you will notice you have lost signal. Also as you were driving you were over 2000 ft away from your home point so a much greater chance of your battery failing before it reaches your takeoff point. You do you, just trying to help.

[@crazywhiteboy5658]

​@@Photoflyboy I think u can change your HP will your flying so u can land where your at

[@Photoflyboy]

@@crazywhiteboy5658 I believe your right but why add an extra step. You guys do things how you want I'm just trying to make things easier for you.

[@crazywhiteboy5658]

@@Photoflyboy know I agree with u easier the better I'm new to all of this drone stuff IV been watching videos trying to figure it all out lol

[@sutv6754]

Very Good Danny. Quick Question. When using the active track, POI and Spotlight does the drone automatically go in to BY PASS mode as far as obstacle avoidance is concerned ? or is it always up to you to set that to your preference. Or is each mode different. Like Active Track might default to BY PASS.. Please let me know. Really enjoying you channel. Just subscribed. I use the 3 classic

[@uosocal]

I'm not sure. Once you set it to bypass, it should always do that.

[@BlairAir]

Lol "make sure there are no broken arms" 😄 🤣 -after getting it up in the air? That's something I want to see in a future video! Great tracking primer for people getting started 👏 👍 👌 That comment made me laugh though 😆

[@uosocal]

What I meant was cracked arms. It was supposedly a problem with the MA2 later in production. Bad plastic.

[@outbacktraveller58]

I’ve been trying to active track a 36 metre long road train (3 trailer truck) in a paddock and probably doing something dramatically wrong because it just won’t “lock on” to it. Obviously, it’s not a profile it recognises, but do you reckon there’s a workaround?

[@NICKs_HIGHTECH]

That was a very good Active track review.

[@samhanks1594]

Thanks for a wonderful video. No BS, just great narration and information. I want a drone for tracking a motorcycle and thought my mind was made up on the Skydio 2+. But it's just so big, wish they would make it with foldable arm. 5.0 looks OK, I hope they keep developing the software.

[@uosocal]

From a purely tracking standpoint, the Skydio is much better.( when paired with the Beacon module) The DJI drone is much better all around, but can be fickle when tracking.

[@SabrToothSqrl]

Anyway you can follow the truck in sport mode? Before I buy one, really like to see it track up to 47mph. Or just lmk if it can or can’t. Thanks!

[@uosocal]

I did some testing in the desert with the MA2. Check my other vids. It depends on the terrain. Maybe not up to 47mph, but close.

[@DamnedHistory]

thank you so much for this

[@ChandanaUdagedara]

Its really really helpful lesson!!! Thanks

[@tzachikraus]

Great video

[@76litho]

Thankyou for a good video. How though do you get audio?

[@carlospadilla1642]

Awesome video. Thank you.

[@stefanbuscaylet]

Good video. Btw i crashed my M3 on my very first try using active track. $350 in damage and the drown has been away for a month now and hopefully I’ll get it back in a day or so. Really glad that wasn’t your experience. My drone got jammed up in some whispy tree branches in the middle of winter on a somewhat hazy day. I’ve frankly lost confidence. If active track could set an altitude above all the trees and light posts I might try it again. I also won’t do it over hard concrete. Had it landed on sand and/or grass it would have been fine. Your advise regarding getting insurance if you are going to try active track with any need for ANY obstinate avoidance seems very wise. Thanks again for the video!

[@uosocal]

Those damn whispy tree limbs seem to get a lot of people. Hopefully the next update will make it even better.

[@pamalot9428]

Activetrack 5.0 is basically as reliable as activetrack 1.0.

[@uosocal]

It's not quite that bad, but still has some bugs.

[@wheels.nature]

I will try this active track "outside home" nx time😪

[@TriniWeekes]

great review man. Thanks for sharing

[@marcterryjadal6520]

Nice 😍😍👍

[@trailpimp6369]

Sick homie

[@uosocal]

Thanks

[@mapperstwo]

Good video you are luck that you have trees with leaves. I will not do this where I live with many trees with no leaves. The twigs are scary. Hopefully with software up dates in January things will get better.

[@uosocal]

Thin branches are very scary. Even the Skydio 2 has a hard time seeing them.

[@smorton17]

Danny, we are trying to follow a JetSki. Do you have any advice on how to best approach tracking on the jet ski. Thank you. Steve

[@uosocal]

Depending on which model you have, will determine your top tracking speed. If you have a pilot, you can follow in sport mode.

[@Kneedeepinstock]

can you put the controller and phone away in a bookbag etc and still have it track you?

[@uosocal]

You can, but I usually take off the joysticks and cover the screen.

[@TheMarketSniper1]

Planning on recording a desert motorbike ride on a BMW GS1250, we regularly doing over 100KM/H up to 160 km/h [100mph] on dirt roads, will the drone be able to stay with us? What is the max follow speed? Also the motorbike may only be registered as bicycle and not have enough speed, and it won't convert to vehicle as bike is not big like a car?

[@uosocal]

The top speed is around 45mph. Tracking a vehicle in sport will get close to that. But, usually motorcycles register in walking mode. Which means, slower top speed tracking, even in sport mode.

[@alandsnascimento4272]

Does the ‘Follow Me’ feature with options to maintain a front, side, or rear angle also work on the Mini 4 Pro and Air 3 drones?

[@uosocal]

I would expect the Air 3 to have that feature. Maybe the Mini 4 Pro, but not sure.

[@EyeTVindonesia]

How to logo or ikon back front left n right on screen???

[@0321recon]

At 7:50 you mentioned drawing the square with your finger. I can’t get past a yellow box when I tap an object. Brand newbie MAVIC 3 here. Is it that those functions come up when you tap when in video? I see a lot of videos now on active track, but I can’t find “step one”.

[@uosocal]

Keep your finger on the screen, and drag across your subject

[@t.s_mtb]

can this be used in woods when doing trails cos i wanna get a drone for following me and my mate when doing trails

[@uosocal]

If the drone can see you from above the trees, yes. Flying through the trees, probably not. I have done a bunch of mtb tracking videos with DJI and Skydio 2 drones. Check my playlists

[@meditationdaily1129]

Thanks bro for comprehensive guide! Does that work in slo mo? Would be rly cool

[@uosocal]

Typically won't track in slo mo

[@FrankCalvano]

I was just out flying my DJI Air 2 trying to capture an RC car. Watched your tutorial and for some reason ... it would not lock in on the car. The active track green + spot on the car would is interminate.

[@uosocal]

I've never tried an rc car. It's pretty small. Maybe try a bright colored shell.

[@chriscollins9522]

So in Active Track Mode you cannot use the joystick to pull back or "zoom out" from a subject. Tracking a car and zooming out to show more surroundings is not possible?

[@uosocal]

You can a little, but the drone won't stay at a set distance. You are better off using Spotlight and controlling the drone yourself

[@Abraham_makes_music]

Good video ur arrows were quite confusing though as it wasn’t really pointing to anything specific most of the time

[@uosocal]

The arrows are pointing to specific items I'm talking about at that time. Like: auto settings, the flight mode, satellite count.

[@Abraham_makes_music]

Yeah I got that!! Thank you! Just saying it didn’t always align properly with what you were talking about. So at first I was so confused and kept trying to zoom out my screen thinking I’m missing some content while being full screened on my iPhone 11 max’s weird aspect ratio 😅

[@porroco]

I have a mavic 3 and i have not been able to find follow me mode.

[@uosocal]

The drone has to be in the air. Once it is be sure to be in video mode, probably 4k, and draw a box around yourself or anything else.

[@extrabling22]

Great video. Learned a lot with my 5 day old M3! thx.

[@cmpceylon9669]

thank you sso much.god BLZ

[@JamesChung2000]

I find that the Active Track doesn't do a good job from the front of the subject. Any tips or suggestions? Thanks!

[@uosocal]

The MA2 wasn't designed to track from the front. It may start there, but quickly falls off to the side. The Mavic 3 and Skydio 2 are the only drones I've had successfully track from the front.

[@gregmetcalfe9895]

How do you “lock” (highlight) onto the subject?

[@Sledguy99]

I tried using the active track with my snowmobile. It won't lock on. The best I can tell is it does not recognize the sled. It is looking for a car, bike, or person. It locks onto me if I get off the sled and draw a box around me. It would follow me somewhat once I did that and got on the sled. There was plenty of good lighting and with near perfect situation while trying to get it to lock onto the sled. Sunny day with the sun behind the drone. dark sled on white snow. It would give me an error message when I draw a box around the sled and hit go. I can't remember the error message said but remember thinking that it was not recognizing the sled.

[@uosocal]

It should still lock on to you and track. The problem is, following a person, the drone will top out around 17-20 mph.

[@constantinparaschivescu2648]

Hmmmm,i need you help please🙏i have Mavic 3 Cine and I can't to tack subject...i m was trying what you show as in this video,but it's not working!What i m was did wrong?i guess it's Something in the settings and i don't know exactly what should I do...i m was flying in Normal Mode always! Thank you🙏

[@uosocal]

Are you able to lock on to a subject?

[@constantinparaschivescu2648]

No,i m not enable to track any subject

[@constantinparaschivescu2648]

I can't drag that green right angle🤔

[@uosocal]

Are you in video mode? Just press the screen and slide your finger at a 45* angle across the subject.

[@constantinparaschivescu2648]

I m was trying...in normal mode,in video mode...when i m trying to drag,he moves my gimbal up or down...left or right...

[@bluesteeltraining]

Great video! On my other drones, such as my Mavic 2 Pro and even my Inspire 2 (which I never use active track on) I enter active track by simply tapping on the remote control icon. How do you enter active track on the Mavic 3? It doesn’t seem to go into active track the same way.

[@uosocal]

You have to select a subject, NY drawing a box around something or having subject scanning turned on. Then, the Active Track menus will appear.

[@abodebeats]

@@uosocal does this just work if you've the latest firmware? Like if I drag a box it'll just work or do I need to install separately?

[@harleyvlogger8388]

I can't get my Mavic 3 to follow me on my motorcycle for nothing. It will lock on, but quickly looses track of me. Work fine in my car, or if I'm walking. Does anyone know what that little arrow to the right of the subject icon does. When tracking my motorcycle, it needs to be tracking a vehicle, not a person. It looks like one can hit that right arrow and maybe change the object to a car or boat, but it doesn't do anything when I tap on it.

[@MarEXksz]

My issue is everything works except it won't follow me distance wise. Is there a setting I'm missing?

[@uosocal]

Depends on how far you're talking.

[@MarEXksz]

@uosocal I read online that the camera setting needs to be 4K 30p. I ran out of time outside to check so I'm headed home to see if that's where that setting was left at.

[@uosocal]

What model? I always run 4k24, and haven't had any problems.

[@MarEXksz]

@@uosocal Regular Mavic 3

[@uosocal]

Is the drone locking on to you, and then losing you at distance? Or, is it not locking on at all?

[@Bornintheusa622]

Will this work in sport mode and if so how fast will it go?

[@uosocal]

The MA2 will track in sport mode. The top speed depends on what you are tracking. Person or bike, about 22ish. A vehicle will track up to 40-42mph. Check my Mavic Air 2 playlist.

[@hvailjr]

My experience with “Active Track” while walking was a bit unsettling. It would track me from behind OK but when I put it in front while I was walking forward it seemed to bounce all around and would not settle down so I had to stop the process.

[@uosocal]

It is very jumpy when tracking in front. If it's a straight path, it does better. Still needs work.

[@Terminator000]

I have problems to use active track . When I try it I get a message like function not supported in explorer mode, I don’t know what I will do ?

[@uosocal]

It doesn't work with the zoom camera.

[@Terminator000]

@@uosocal ok got it I will try and I will let you know . I am very new on drones and I don’t have any idea . Lol ..Thanks for the help !!

[@uosocal]

Hopefully it's something they add in a future firmware update.

[@Terminator000]

After the new update the active track working perfect. Thanks a lot for the help ☺️

[@tsar2106]

how to set alititude while active tracking

[@uosocal]

However far away it is when you start active track will be the general height. Once you start moving, the drone height can vary.

[@charlesvigneau3701]

Hi UOSocal, maybe you can help me with this Question, can you turn active tracking on the mavic 3 while moving? A lobster fisherman friend would like me to video him returning to the harbor . Thanks for your sharing

[@uosocal]

Probably not while the drone is moving. I would put the drone somewhere in the boats path, hover, and try to lock on to the boat as it moves towards the drone. As long as the boats not moving too fast, it should work.

[@charlesvigneau3701]

@@uosocal Thanks for the fast reply. I will try that this week and let you know how it works.

[@Dr.Octogon]

Wait, I think I missed something. I can not find anything that looks like active track in DJI fly. Are you saying that there is nothing to do in the software and that I can just drag a box over the target?

[@uosocal]

Yep. You can turn on "subject scanning" I think once the drone is in the air, but you dont need to.

[@colleenhamilton894]

Hi, do you know why I couldn't get my drone to follow me? I wanted to walk along a railway track and have it follow behind me. It wouldn't lock onto me and kept wanting to go into spotlight mode. I was about 27 metres above the ground. The sun was behind the drone. Does it matter if I have obstacle avoidance turned off when using active track?

[@Kuliginvitalik]

Why when i use active track my subject always in centre?(((

[@dhmccauley]

You got balls flying that at altitude lower than those poles. I wouldnt trust the sensors.

[@uosocal]

They do a pretty good job. Just stay away from small thin branches.

[@mightbefire]

Is there any way to get the Mavic 3 to fly down around 3 or 4 feet during ActiveTrack instead of up high?

[@uosocal]

I wouldn't advise it using Active Track. You can start it low, but it may move up higher by itself. Of you use Spotlight, you can keep it low.

[@speedball10169]

Just trying it for the first time and it doesn't work for me. It won't recognize the subject that I'm trying to follow. Tried to get it to follow my boat, wouldn't recognize the boat. Tried to follow my nephew on my wakeboard, wouldn't recognize him either. The software blows. It's gotta do a better job at recognizing the subject you're drawing the box around.

[@natedawgg77]

How do you mount the controller on your bike? Especially for the real mtb downhill stuff?

[@uosocal]

I don't mount it. I place it in my backpack.

[@thecorporategypsy]

Looks better than 3.0 but still not equal to Skydio 2

[@HappyTrailsAdventures]

Excellent video! In a comment below, you mentioned you keep your controller in your back pack when mountain biking. Do you have any tips or video links that covers this specifically? That is our greatest challenge with the Air2S. I would be great to learn from your experiences. Thank you! T&S.

[@uosocal]

In my most recent video for tracking with the MA2, I show the setup. The video is in my MA2 playlist, around the 5 minute mark.

[@thomasstory9132]

Cool video. After just getting my 107 license, this would seem illegal though considering how hard the FAA harps on wanting VLOS at all times unless in really remote areas. Maybe safer as a pilot to be a passenger in a car behind or ahead of target? But being a driver and the pilot at same time seems risky out in the streets. Getting insurance on Monday though for sure.

[@uosocal]

Insurance and a driver are very important. I had both. You should always be safe.

[@JarvisVO-Foley]

Lmfao

[@SouthwestSasquatch]

Look into the Skydio drone for mountain biking. Way better than this drone for tracking and action sports.

[@uosocal]

The Skydio 2 is great for action sports tracking. It's one of my playlists.

[@AtortAerials]

Oh look there’s a broken arm. 😂😜

[@AdrianMateoDrones]

Hey my friend great 👍 video Sir. The Dji Mavic 3 is a Beast, I don’t have that drone yet, but is definitely one that I want to add to my drone fleet. Keep up the good work Sir. Long time supporter here. Hey Buddy Would like to have you on my stream to talk a little about drones and have a great conversation. Have a good 👍 day.

[@uosocal]

Thanks for the support. DM me on Instagram, and maybe we can setup something next month.

[@baileystark7629]

Can city government really control federal airspace like that?

[@crank_FPV]

What are laws?! Lol lol jk I always fly safe!!

[@RollinOuttaBucktown]

Heart attack city

[@TheMcs33]

Questions my drone win I hit come home it start going down as soon as I hit the come home why is that I have to make it go back up and bring it in I do nit fo fare at all

[@uosocal]

You can adjust the RTH height. I would set it higher than any trees that are around.