DJI Phantom 3 IMU and Gimbal Calibration and Horizon Level Fix

[@jmrns007]

Very helpful video. For the first time I had to make this adjustment after checking that my horizon was not correct. Thank you Ben!

[@cbooher3]

You published this video over a year ago. I just bought a Phantom 3 Standard. My remote is a bit different, the app is a bit different, but your video got me through the process. Thanks!

[@Ben7seven7]

cbooher3 cool, I'm glad you were able to find the video helpful to you despite the changes in the app over time. Thanx for the feedback

[@rray60]

Very nice and simple instructional video. And everything seems to apply to my new Phantom 4, so far un-flown but now gimbal and IMU calibrated thanks to you. Two thumbs up!

[@Ben7seven7]

You're very welcome and I appreciate the feedback

[@wallacereyes475]

Thanks for this video, it's help in order to operate my new Phantom 3 properly calibrated.

[@Ben7seven7]

Wallace Reyes you’re very welcome. I’m glad this video was helpful to you.

[@stevenelliott3444]

Good job this is the best video I have seen on how to do this thank you!

[@Ben7seven7]

+Steven Elliott Thanks much for the feedback :) And i'm glad you found my video helpful to you

[@bigbells]

Thanks for showing me where to find gimbal calibration in the DJI Go app. Now that I've calibrated, the horizon in my videos will be level. Theory: it would be more accurate to shim the platform so that the motor shafts are level rather than the landing legs, because the Phantom could have one of its plastic legs or foam foot pads a tiny bit shorter or longer than the others. Assuming that would not visible to the naked eye, it would make the motors slightly off level when calibrating.

[@Ben7seven7]

+Dave Bellware You're welcome. And nah the plastic legs will be no difference in length provided they're not damaged. And any differences in the foam on either leg would be very subtle but you would need to check them for even wear. You can do it however way you feel is best. it you wanted to do it based on the motors you can put something on top of the motors and place a level on that and shim as needed till things are level then do your calibrations. Either way should be fine.

[@michaelmauk417]

thanks for taking the time to do this video!

[@mancdown]

Thanks for sharing although a tip for next time maybe sit the RC down on a flat surface as well - I got a bit sea sick towards the end :)

[@simonvreman]

my Phantom got hit by one of these 150m wind turbines (vid on my channel) and the horizon line was messed up, now it's fixed

[@thomasoverbo]

Hi, great video. When using add-on filters like ND or CPL, is it necessary to recalibrate? I have heard of gimbals not performing well with filters. Cheers

[@AlexisChang]

THIS SOLVED MY PROBLEM THANK YOU SO MUCH

[@Ben7seven7]

Alexis Chang in so glad my video was able to help you. Thanks for commenting

[@rogermichel6442]

Super! Many thanks! Very helpful.

[@andrewwebber4623]

okay thanks will have a look to see later

[@YemlinSkyhunt]

Nice video👍👍👍new friend from malaysia❤

[@bearcatbiggles]

Thank you, very helpful video.

[@Ben7seven7]

Steven Hooper my pleasure and thank you for commenting.

[@liverpoolpictorial]

Thanks. Very useful.

[@KMpyroXtreme]

Very helpful, thanks!

[@Ben7seven7]

+Kyle Moldver pyroXtreme You're welcome.

[@henrriquetito]

KM pyroXtreme ghh

[@tonyteebee]

thanks again Ben 7, what do you think of the new update I believe on DJi go, my phantom 3 pro was bought in June 2015,

[@Ben7seven7]

+TEEBEE Hi, I used it and it seemed to work okay. I see they changed some of the layout a bit but I have not gotten around to fulling delving into the newer updates of the app and it's changes. I will though soon, but again it did seem to work okay though, and my Phantom is currently on the 1.4 firmware, not the latest. I may even roll back to 1.3 firmware as I don't like some of the changes / restrictions in 1.4

[@DarrylN2UPhotography]

I just need this because of a slight crash.!!!...thanks for the info...

[@Ben7seven7]

Darryl N2UPhotography my pleasure

[@jaycea7]

I have a problem where when i turn my quad my gimbal rolls a bit, making the horizon slanted, but when i stop turning it slowly goes back into position. The only way I can fix this is by calibrating my gimbal in the settings before every flight, this is a little frustrating. Do you know any way of permamently fixing this? Would be a big help :) (IMU calibration already tried)

[@Oli420X]

Same here

[@JoeyRocketFilmsandPhotography]

Thanks Ben

[@rocksta101]

Hello! You seem to be one of the few who may be able to help me with my issue. I recently got my DJI Phantom 3 Standard drone. However when I try the test "Checking the electronics" nothing happens. I turn on the drone, everything looks fine. The camera moves, the red, yellow and green lights all comes on. I power up the remote control. I then pull down both joysticks and then in as the man in the tutorial video showed. Still nothing. Did I miss a step? Your help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[@Ben7seven7]

The motors won't start if there is an error state in the compass or IMU or both. Make sure you do an IMU calibration and when you compass calibrate do so an an interference free environment without a lot of metal around the Phantom. I did an indoor flight demonstration recently in a class room and there were some spots the phantom would not start the motors do to interference with the compass so simply moving a couple feet over fixed it and I could launch.

[@rocksta101]

Thank you so much!! I am indeed trying to do this inside, so you are probably right. I will try it and confirm with you. Appreciate the response.

[@Ben7seven7]

+Rock Jo you're very welcome and best of luck.

[@TravelswithYoly]

The instructions for calibrating the IMU specifically says NOT to do it around any metal ... I see lots of metal everywhere behind your platform ?

[@Ben7seven7]

Travels with Yoly I think you're confusing IMU calibration with compass calibration. Regardless my phantom has run flawlessly

[@Bobster986]

Hey Ben, That is exactly the way I do it too! :-)

[@Ben7seven7]

Whoa, gmta :) so.. You gettin a P4? I personally will be passing on it

[@Bobster986]

+Ben7seven7 yeah me too for now, looking to get an inspire 1 pro, but waiting for that to change too

[@Ben7seven7]

+Bobster986 re the inspire I'm interested to see what they come up with for an inspire 2. In my wish list would be dual cameras for the FPV that way if you have a second camera operator, the pilot can at least still have a front facing camera so they don't run in to things. Tho if I had to guess, they couldn't make an inspire 2 without it having the same front facing avoidance capability of the P4

[@Bobster986]

+Ben7seven7 if DJI cheese out, they should add both camera ststems

[@Bobster986]

Ben7seven7 Forgot to mention, DJI just dropped the price (like the Phantom 3) of the Inspire 1 Pro nearly $600.00. This could be a sign that something new will be announced soon.

[@Anomaliayt]

Thanks!

[@AllDigitalProductions]

the answer is at the 4:30

[@FlightSim2703]

Good job but Room teprature :) I like that. Well... thumbs up.

[@billytoure8157]

Hello my dear, very good video I have a super subci with my phantom 3 pro, when I turn it it displays ESC status erroneous. Switch off and restart the device I do it repeatedly always the same thing repeats please helped

[@Ben7seven7]

billy toure ESC is electronic speed control, you probably need to send your phantom back to DJI for repair. Only thing you can try to see if it will help would be re flashing the firmware on to your phantom followed by rubbing all calibrations, IMU compass etc.

[@onaircy7584]

okay thanks

[@timothybarone5480]

someone please tell me why I can not move my camera down. I tried calibrating it but it only goes (to the right) up. plus kept losing signal

[@renatoduarte8742]

Did you put something in front of the lens? It seem like a clear scotch tape...

[@Ben7seven7]

No, I may not have yet removed the clear film that came on it new

[@renatoduarte8742]

that's it! :D

[@lisadaughtridge1804]

i have the camera in constant motion, never comes to rest. i tightened the set screw, i took off the back and removed the electrical board to make sure alignment was right and it was. now i tried this emu calibration, but nothing is working. never had a crash, just one day while flying, camera started its nervous constant motion. any more ideas?

[@Ben7seven7]

Lisa Daughtridge if it just began malfunctioning out of the blue there could also be a physical defect with the electronics. Short of that you could try re flashing the firmware of the phantom followed by another IMU calibration.

[@VanessaMPhoto]

Hello - how far does the gimbal rotate the camera left and right? I just set mine up and it doesn't seem to move more than half an inch.

[@Ben7seven7]

It's not supposed to rotate very far left or right, that function is mainly intended to smooth out the video when your turning. The only range of motion you babe actual control of is down and up which allows you to point the camera straight down

[@VanessaMPhoto]

Thanks Ben!!!

[@Ben7seven7]

My pleasure

[@mhoovers52]

I just got a Phantom 3 4k and when I try to do the calibration it doesn't do anything and the compass and acceleration numbers are all 0, any helpful hints on that?

[@RickyReyes7]

i have the same problem. in the sensors i dnt have any number!! and my phantom its beep .. really i dnt know what happ

[@soak000]

I crashed my P3 standard and had to replace the camera and the gimbal assembly. I am noticing shaky video (wobbly effect) which I can't tell if it's due to excessive shutter speed or IMU calibration issue. Any suggestion? Thank you.

[@Ben7seven7]

soak000 it's hard to say if it's the IMU causing your problem or the internal chips which control the gimbal. It couldn't hurt to do the IMU calibration as explained in the video as a starting point.

[@soak000]

Thank you for taking time replying!

[@onaircy7584]

Should n't the phantom be away from metal objects when you do this? ? ?

[@Ben7seven7]

No, this isn't a compass calibration

[@BirdWhisperer46]

So it doesn't matter if there is metal or electronics around?

[@Ben7seven7]

Mitch not so much, compass calibration is where you need to be careful about surrounding metals

[@BirdWhisperer46]

Thanks Ben, I got a new Advanced coming and gonna need to do this soon.

[@CoastlineRobotics]

IMU means Inertial Measurement Unit not Internal Measurement unit... just a little comment ;) . Nice vid tho.

[@Ben7seven7]

Coastline Robotics thanks for the feedback, I knew that info actually. Can’t say if I just simply misspoke it at the time or what not. Anyway thanks for watching and safe flying :)

[@ridemydirt2005]

How do you roll back a firmware update?

[@glocked22]

how often do u need to calibrate the imu? like for a number of flights reached?

[@andykelly7321]

You should never need to do it unless you have crashed it or something went wrong in flight, heavy winds, bad landing.. that sort of thing.

[@taffox3566]

look at that motor closest to the camera at 10:55, is it meant to be like that?

[@Ben7seven7]

randotaf yes actually the P3 is designed that way on purpose

[@taffox3566]

Ben7seven7 what motor are you talking about? gimbal or motors for propellor

[@Ben7seven7]

randotaf prop motors

[@taffox3566]

Ben7seven7 ok thanks

[@KASSKELPRESENTA]

hello how often u have to calibration the IMU?

[@Ben7seven7]

KASSKELL Calibrate when doing firmware changes, you see a IMU error telling you to calibrate, or your phantom is flying erratically and a compass calibration alone doesn't fix,

[@KASSKELPRESENTA]

i did onces the IMU CALIBRATION when a do the firmware but no problem now just asking if a need to do it again, thanks

[@jaredaugust2879]

my gimbal is looking to the left hot to I fix it

[@jaredaugust2879]

how do

[@wayneharrison6621]

My Phantom 3 does the same thing, I have to manually move the camera to straighten it out. It's frustrating, I thought it would automatically point directly forward after starting.

[@andrewwebber4623]

would this be the same on the p3 standard

[@Ben7seven7]

Andrew Webber I believe so but couldn't say for 100%