DJI Spark: How Active Track Actually Works!

In-Depth Review: www.dcrainmaker.com/2017/06/d...
Everything you ever wanted to know about DJI Active Track and how it works across a number of sports. From the setup to the limitations, to how to get around the 100 meter gotchya, as well as plenty of cool shots and tech details.
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#DJISpark #DJI #Drones

[@Dcrainmaker]

Hey all! Enjoy this super-detailed look at the Active Track functionality on the DJI Spark. While the video is a wee bit longer than normal - it's packed full of details on how to optimize your tracking sessions to get the best results. Don't forget to check out the other DJI Spark videos at the end too!

[@GordonMoat]

DC Rainmaker Lots of great little tips. I've been thinking of the Spark as a flying B-camera for a GoPro, and that would be something useful, especially with the low weight.

[@stiannerb8065]

DC Rainmaker what is the song you use in this video?

[@nalder1093]

i have a question... if i plugged in my phone to the remote would it have a better connection than with the wifi?

[@kiara.oblongata]

I've been having a hard tume understanding if the Spark should be recording while in active track. Mine does not nor do I know how to begin recording IF it is capable. Can anyone help? :) Thanks in advance

[@bio10155]

The great thing is now the app has upgraded to give 'dynamic home point' so it'll update the home position every 'x' seconds relative to your movement :)

[@465932465932]

Amazing, looks so easy so even I understand it (age 74)...I begin to fly DJI Spark January 2019

[@nooooddy]

Brilliantly detailed video with helpful commentary and example shots. Thanks for taking the time to make this Rainmaker.

[@wiredwebmaster]

OMG.. thank you for clarifying this topic. I was totally wondering about the Sparks ability to follow. Again, thank you!

[@timetrialist]

This is gold. Ive never used my Sparks active track until now in 2023 thanks DC

[@FormTrends]

Congrats on creating the best explanation of the Spark's capabilities (with and without remote) anywhere. Thanks!

[@bostonblueguy]

great video! I've always been curious about the tracking capability and no review I've seen until this one ever touches on it in detail. Thank you!

[@RandomRaptor679]

this is t be most informative DJI Spark video I have ever seen on the Internet. THANK YOU!!! "679"

[@HviTuLVeR]

Super cool video. Everything well explained. Thanks!

[@brianmorrison9937]

Thank you for the information. I'm getting my Spark in a couple of days. You answered my question about if I could track me on my boat in the river. I seems as though it would not be a good idea. I'm going to be scared using it around water anyway. I'm going to try to find a small locating device that I can attached to it when I get it. All in all, I'm excited to be able to use it and have fun with areal shots.

[@nickcummins2053]

Thanks for such a great video, this gives me some ideas for establishing shots for my videos. cheers!

[@XavierLeong]

Great video! Just got a Spark and I definitely need to try this out soon!

[@coladewitt1663]

Excellent demo and review. Just what I️ needed.

[@arieorange]

I'm thinking to buy one of this, and your review help me a lot, thank you

[@Hotwire_RCTrix]

Great tutorial. It was just what I was seeking. THANKS

[@fc1133]

Fantastic video! I love everything about it!!! Thanks.

[@rafaelmejia5988]

Nice video. Very well explained.

[@andremackowiak1433]

Very helpful - thank you! Will use your tips for my trip to Hawaii with my new Spark

[@PatrickConlon]

Nice video, excellent info, keep them coming! Thanks

[@gguido7542]

Great video , I still have my spark! Learned quite a bit , thanks 😊 new suscriber

[@artsyhyd]

Great explanation of active track vs follow me mode, thanks!

[@trulymad]

A nice and informative video, thanks!

[@Funnyshortstuff]

Thanks for answering some of the questions I was about to ask!

[@TrimaranSpirit]

One of the things it says in the user guide is that the antenna should face a certain way with the flat side pointing up and down not side to side as you had it. This is probably one of the reasons why it was dropping out as you were ridding the bike and lack of an OTG cable wouldn't help either.

[@gogovitch66]

Sailing Trimaran Spirit That’s what I was about to post. As it was shown mounted on your bars, signals are going to the sides and your body blocks the little rest and causes dropouts..

[@Bill97070]

Thanks for a great video on how the features Follow me and Active Track works.

[@Mitchwilmarth]

Thank you for doing a good explanation of active track! This helped a lot especially since I want to use this while cycling too! Do you know how to setup active track for the side profile view instead of follow?

[@garagedhq8947]

Great info thanks heaps for sharing. Now need to figure how to get active track to work for me!

[@onesimplepage]

Amazing video

[@eugenmalatov5470]

Great video, because it really talks about the nuts and bolts of this feature. However a lot of questions have remained (see all the other comments, like if it still tracks if you do some corrective movements ...) one possibility I was wondering about and which was not covered was covering other people or objects, like a car and stuff like that and also if you can lock and then position only the camera (like you fly in parallel but change the direction of the camera)

[@user-bz9us9fx8o]

Very useful video! Thank you!

[@homepirom]

Great Review

[@Tracks777]

Great stuff :)

[@nathanjames1358]

thanks for the honest review!

[@bhimfb]

Awesome video... Informative...

[@mcquoidd6917]

great video man ! , you deserve alot more subs then this !!

[@derekbogaert]

Great informative video. covered a lot of the questions I had about tracking. Will it fit into your jersey pockets like the mavic does?

[@BehindTheApex]

Helpful review! I would like to suggest that using a direct USB cable from your phone to the controller will minimize dropouts and lag. The wireless connection isn't too reliable.

[@thanos1978-]

Hi! Very nice video! I want to ask: 1:can you track someone else and not yourself? (I have only phone, not controller) 2.if the active track loose you(you go under bridge, or go inside building) what it does? Stop recording and stand still? 3.how high(altitude) can the drone go when you enable active track?

[@champagnesylvie-lavieenfra1378]

🌟⭐Hello DC⭐🌟 I have a dji spark, and it's a really amazing drone. The quality of video is really good. Obstacle avoidance is great, very great. I enjoy that drone for my videos🍾🍷🍇 Greetings from France🍾🍷🍇

[@ramonhernandez3812]

Nice video bro

[@johndawson7145]

Great Video thanks, Just got mine. Hope they develop the unit to track the remote

[@concernedcanadian]

Awesome I am going to try the active track.

[@stephen3966]

very useful info. Thx

[@micheleg9492]

Hi thanks for the nice video. I have read in the manual that Spark can avoid obstacle during active track . Did you test it ? Thanks

[@markkutavasti]

Thanks for this! Really makes me consider one more time 'does it work for me'.

[@a2roland]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@pramodkanakath4322]

Hi, thanks for this tutorial. I have been using Spark for over a year now, but it was today I tried AT for the first time. Unfortunately, I am not able to find the video on the app or in the SD card. FYI, I hit Stop once, then started AT again. But, it was recording all the while. Any ideas?

[@SuperAeross]

nice video, thank bro!

[@popitn2nd]

can you use the active track to lock it in to a subject and control the flight with your remote? active tracking something else like another person or a car but you control to your desire shots, instead of just doing the automatic 360 circle around?

[@mikedoingmikethings702]

Thank you for the in depth review and tutorials. I know you did the review in June, has there been any updates that fixed the dead spots with trees blocking the tracked objects and cellphone receptions since then? TY

[@Dcrainmaker]

Nothing to change the dead spot/trees blocking portions, however, just in the last few weeks DJI has released firmware that resolves the 100m limit for cell phones.

[@mikedoingmikethings702]

DC Rainmaker Nice! TY!

[@1209jayt]

Great video! What set up is that when spark circling around u when u standing on top of the rock? Thanks.

[@BL-hg8bo]

Good to know! Thanks!!!

[@lcoop3505]

So if you are using follow with the controller with the Spark, it can keep following you without resetting the home point, just like the Mavic?

[@mariadsouza9865]

Hi i wondered when i set spark on quick shot modes, can I move away from the controller and still have the spark focus on me as the tracking subject whilst i move away from my controller? Im asking as I want to take videos of myself WITHOUT having to hold the controller or having to use the gesture function.

[@lloydranola]

I'm super glad I watched this before I flew this weekend. That 100 meter limit would have seriously pissed me off if I didn't see this first. Where did you find this info? I couldn't find it in the manual? thanks!

[@Dcrainmaker]

It's within the controller once you initiate the drone, though I'm not sure if it's listed anywhere in the manual. I've confirmed with DJI's PR team that the limit is indeed set to 100m and not something I missed a config piece on.

[@Aerials-lw3yw]

Did you notice the comment that mentioned its only a 100m limit if you're in beginner mode? Can you confirm that is the case?

[@Dcrainmaker]

Nope, that's not true. There is *also* a beginner mode limit, but the 100m limit is actually hard-coded when you're connected via phone (check the video to see how it works). As noted, the 100m limit doesn't exist with a remote.

[@rayjayhenry1498]

Question about the spark video. When I am flying the Spark with the remote and my phone connected to it. Do you get a video lag on the phone when receiving? Sometimes when I am adjusting the gimble or making turns I would get a lag. The video comes out good when I view it. But during flight and record time I get lag. Thanks

[@assujabbari]

can dji spark foloowme mode can Follow another drone. Can you try it?

[@stianjarnass]

Great review thanx! Have they fixed the 100m limitation in an update now? Would be great to track with only the mobile phone😃

[@Dcrainmaker]

Yup - as of about a month or so ago. I'm hoping to put together a video on it in the coming weeks.

[@catoparker7721]

Great video, Whats the intro and outro track? cheers!

[@theadventurebiker]

Wow man, great video! So glad I found this. From a follow/tracking point of view the Spark loses major points in my opinion. Might as well call it a fail. Especially with this 100m from takeoff point limit! Nonsense!

[@chrisginwright9505]

From what I understand it follows at the limit you have it set at with your cellphone as the remote. With the Spark controller there is no limit correct. And it will follow and track.

[@ng-iq4kx]

WiFi of any device, router, phone, game controller, is 300 ft. It's a WiFi limitation not a drone thing

[@guillaumethibaux224]

Nice work with these tests indeed !! I noticed some visual "glitches" in your video footage when climbing the rocks at the end, especially on your head when you turn around yourself. Do you see it as well ? Would that be due to the way the Spark "cheats" to stabilise the image horizontally ? (it has no horizontal axis on the gimbal, so I heard it is cropping the picture from a bigger image/sensor to stabilise digitally...)

[@Dcrainmaker]

+Guillaume Thibaux Yeah, I noticed it later on as well. I didn't see it much in other clips, and the wind was non-existent. So not quite sure why the slight jitters.

[@eugenmalatov5470]

one basic questions, with all these features missing from the Spark, does it help to take another App like Litchi, or are the features just not possible from a hardware point of view?

[@danvuquoc]

I saw you climbing up the rocks with active track on, how does active track react to elevation changes of the tracked object?

[@Dcrainmaker]

+danvuquoc It doesn't respond without manual intervention. I thought I had a section in the video about that, but may have condensed that section.

[@TuanDinhVu]

So if you are doing Active Track but then you make the drone go up or fly backwards or go left or right, then it still tracks?

[@F1mus]

The 100 meter restriction is only for beginner mode... you can use ActiveTrack however far as long as you take it out of beginner mode

[@MannyCAM]

Really do need to clarify this point. Is there a limitation after exiting beginner mode? Or is it still a maximum of 200 m. As pointed out in the video review?

[@F1mus]

In my experience with it, once I left beginner mode, all of the restrictions went away. The drone still complains if you're in a no-fly zone or if it can't find itself using GPS but the 100m thing mentioned above is for beginners who accidentally fly the drone too far away.

[@PaulHummerman]

see comments further down: Rainmaker confirms that with phone the 100m limit from home applies even when not in Beginner mode. You could be brave and try resetting the home point while flying. Instead I start the drone halfway down the path then go 100 m back and start active tracking , and can now do 200m!

[@MannyCAM]

kimbo kim very cool! Another week for me:)

[@elisemahmood5424]

It's only 453.99 dollars with coupon code: SPARK811 www.gearbest.com/rc-quadcopters/pp_637651.html?wid=21&lkid=10866223 pretty cool kzbin.info/www/bejne/oXSaqniqpseVY5Y

[@WallaceWatts]

Do I have to set a fixed altitude to avoid trees in active track? Thx

[@JoelRiveraMD]

How do you set up the height the drone will fly on follow me mode.? I didn’t get that part

[@Cairomine]

Hi, good evening Sir. I have a question, please help me. Can DJI drone track GPS point like Garmin CSX60 ? If yes, how to setting/find the gps point in DJI drone? I really need to know the setting of compass and GPS point in this DJI drone. Thank you Sir.

[@MAXimator70]

Thanx for your Video. With which equipment did you record Audio while riding on the bike?

[@Dcrainmaker]

I used this mic, attached to my phone. Works great: amzn.to/2tatqRl

[@rodrigocohen2160]

Thanks for the video What is the name of the song that appears in the beginning?

[@MiecholCanteros]

Awesome info dude! Thanks this helped. But how were you recording your voice when you running and biking?

[@Dcrainmaker]

+Miechol Canteros I used a Rode SmartLav mic connected to an older phone in my pocket. Not the most video-editing efficient option, but I get good quality audio on it.

[@MiecholCanteros]

Oh cool! I was like how is the spark recording you that far haha. I understand now. Do you have any audio recording app you recommend? Thanks again!

[@Dcrainmaker]

I just use the default Rode app (it's free). It's called Rode Rec. It makes it easy to upload your files to Dropbox, tweak settings, etc... And I'm 99% certain you don't even need a Rode mic.

[@MiecholCanteros]

Niiiice! Thanks a lot dude! The audio sounded good on your video! :) I am going to check it out! Keep it up dude!

[@captainlarry550]

This was really helpful! thanks. I wanted to use the spark, with a controller, on my boat to get some good sailing shots, but it seems like I might run out of distance too soon and then splash. maybe I should cancel my plans to get a spark and get the mavic instead. what do you advise?

[@Dcrainmaker]

+Captain Larry With this controller you'd be OK, but honestly given the risks of a water landing or range issue (and how difficult it would be to run back instantly), I'd go Mavic purely for the range.

[@captainlarry550]

DC Rainmaker thanks for your answer. Does the Mavic return to controller ( not RTH) work well?

[@Dcrainmaker]

RTH isn't technically return to controller, but rather return to take-off point. You can update teh take-off point on either Mavic or Spark at any time from the controller. But that only works if you still have signal. RTH is primarily useful if you lose signal, it'll go (in theory) to a safe place. But on the water, if your boat has since moved even 50m away, that spot is no longer safe...but rather wet. One has to hope you'll regain signal before it lands itself in the water.

[@Dcrainmaker]

Oh - and just to clarify, DJI doesn't have 'Return to Controller's last known spot' mode/option unfortunately. It's something folks have asked for for years, but...no such luck.

[@captainlarry550]

DC Rainmaker Thanks for your clarifications, much appreciated!

[@jcrewgap2]

What happens when the Spark loses autotrak, or hits the range distance or battery charge limits? It looks pretty cool for a photo snap or video clip drone, even with the imitations of those programmed modes. But when they stop, did the Spark return to home, or taking over manual control, work OK? Safe landing?

[@Dcrainmaker]

If it's within range and loses autotrack, it'll just stay where it is and await further commands. If it ventures out of range, after a few seconds (in any mode), it'll rise to the specified height (default is 30m, but you can change it), and then head back home and land. If you regain connectivity you can stop that at any time and take over control.

[@Ahmed-jh6qf]

Thank you .. your video is very helpful .. but if I set current position as home point did the spark will track me more than 100 m ????

[@Dcrainmaker]

+A7med46669 No, just 100m from that point.

[@adamlewis8632]

DC Rainmaker what's the theory behind this 100m limit with the phone only? Trying to think why that may exist but not with the controller.

[@Aerials-lw3yw]

I might have missed it, but will the spark change in elevation if you're walking up a mountain or even down a mountain?

[@Dcrainmaker]

Nope. It cannot track elevation changes. It'll basically just stop eventually when you go out of frame (too high), or get too small (going down). You can see this a bit in the longer cycling portion where I get smaller and smaller as I go downhill.

[@ChrisParayno]

Cool!

[@RogerPuzo415]

You had the circle speed set at about 25% (around 7min into video)... but drone didn't circle you? Can you also explain more about the profile tracking... does it just track you profile at the angle you toggle it on? Thanks for great video.

[@Dcrainmaker]

My speed was too high in that case to complete the circle. It's a problem I've generally seen with anything other than running (and even then, I can sometimes outrun it). The angle is determined by the distance you start off at from a radius standpoint.

[@RogerPuzo415]

Thanks. If you are more stationary, is it suppose to circle you once and stop? I was playing with it last night, and while standing still, it just kept circling me over and over until I stopped it. With Profile.... I still don't quite get it... if you start off with the drone 90degrees from you... ie.... its on your left side as you face forward... then start profile.... it will stay on your left side if you walk straight... but if you turn... it seems to go back behind you or not stay on that left side. Have you noticed this? Thanks.

[@Dcrainmaker]

If stationary it'll loop constantly at whatever speed percentage you set it. Around and around and around. Quick shots however will only loop once and done. My understanding with profile is that it's staying to the directionally relative side (i.e. West/East/etc...) of you.

[@PSPmaster321]

Do you think this would work for skiing?

[@mihalisization]

Anyone knows if there is a Home Lock mode? (headless mode) Or if there's going to be an update to include that?

[@onegize]

Hello there wh Wanted to talk about a drone idea for the future use, where to start

[@DJRevolver1]

U can change the mode to the home point is set to the phone, so it updates

[@jorgemaldonadoaraya472]

hey bro, where do you buy that t-shit ? is awesome

[@Chmiell]

Hello DC Rainmaker, Could you please explain how you mount controller on your bike?

[@Dcrainmaker]

So I've converted entirely to using QuadLock mounts for my phone+controller combo. Works pretty well. Some details here: www.dcrainmaker.com/2018/03/quad-lock-cycling-phone-mount-in-depth-review.html

[@Chmiell]

@@Dcrainmaker - thx for that info.

[@patdevine59]

How do you get it to come back to you after active track

[@anbu5903]

Nice

[@PureAlbania]

Can he avoid those power lines while in active tracking? Or we have to really pay attention in our path so the drone don't go and crash against them?

[@Dcrainmaker]

No, realistically it won't generally pickup the wires in most cases. So you need to be a bit aware there.

[@guycobb3251]

So, if I go into settings and toggle "enable max distance" to off, it still limits the distance? That doesn't seem right. I just picked up the Spark today, so I've not verified this yet.

[@Dcrainmaker]

If you're talking phone mode, then yes, it's still static at 100m.

[@dfgdfg_]

DC Rainmaker what's the music at the start, please?

[@jonny999]

Anyone knows what the music at the start and end is called? That would interest me too...

[@Thegreekgeekss]

Are you sure about the 24km/h on active track? Because i ve seen spark following a motorbike going over 40km hmm...

[@fatiheris]

Hi dude , why u try dynamic home point in this video ? So u can fix distance limitation easily, i think .

[@Dcrainmaker]

Because it didn’t exist then. It came about 4-6 months later.

[@fatiheris]

@@Dcrainmaker ok dude :)

[@eggtart7214]

Hi, can the spark active track while in bird eye view?

[@alksadventures8851]

Nigel Chew no, they should add a mode for this though

[@DexterIT]

good video. Please tell me how did u record iphone screen?

[@Dcrainmaker]

I used the iOS11 beta.

[@DexterIT]

DC Rainmaker oh thanks.~~^^ it awesome funtion.~~lol

[@laudesmons]

Hey Ray, how di you setup the view that is displayed around 12:00 ? Could you do it but behind you instead of in front?

[@Dcrainmaker]

That was actually a manual shot done with the controller on my handlebars and holding it back every so slightly. That said, I'm about 95% sure I could replicate that more easily with Active Track from behind. The only caveat would be signal issues around the body, so would have to potentially find a creative phone mount option for the top-tube near the seatpost (just using a armband case should work). Maybe I'll give it a whirl tomorrow.

[@justinmacdonald8560]

DC Rainmaker I was wondering the same thing, but I saw your thumb on the joystick. Great shot! Glad to know it was on the spark, I thought maybe you were using the mavic for that shot. Great video, thanks!

[@Everyday-Adventures]

When you use your smartphone and controller does it mess with the connection and range of the quadcopter? Like if your half a mile away will it lose signal

[@Dcrainmaker]

Some people have reported variants of that. Those folks have grabbed a cable instead and then tethered the two together that way. I didn't have too many issues, but then again - most places you fly in Europe or North America put half-mile well over the legal limit (especially for something as small as the Spark and being visible).

[@Everyday-Adventures]

DC Rainmaker what do you mean grabbed a cable what kind of cable and does it connect to the controller to? And that won't mess with the signal whatsoever?

[@Dcrainmaker]

Here ya go: kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGOxq3qHoq12jbc

[@alistairheath]

I've had a flight where I've been flying the Spark on Helix mode from my mobile, it then loses connection from the phone when it goes out of range but it keeps going. Is that right?

[@Dcrainmaker]

Hmm, that's interesting. So it completes the 'move', and then returns? Interesting, I've largely done AutoShot with the remote, and have seen drops, but only in video and not in control.

[@alistairheath]

To be honest I lost connection, it kept going and I legged after it to reconnect after a couple of seconds. Shouldn't it just stop if it looses connection?

[@satanic6stringbender]

How can I set the active track and then throw the controller in my bag and ride down a hill??

[@CAPTAINDRONE798]

A small correction. I don't believe the Mavic Controller has a built in GPS. Your phone or tablet (if cell service enabled) has the GPS that the Mavic or Phantom requires for Follow-Me. Currently, the only popular DJI controller with a built in GPS is the Phantom 4 Pro+.

[@forczekattila]

Hi, CAPTAIN DRONE, This may be a good solution for you: s.aliexpress.com/IBFrEV3M Please note, I didn't try it, so I can't be sure how good it works out.

[@SurvivalDummy]

Great Video! :-) ONE Question: the Video is in 4K on KZbin, the Spark "only" records in HD... so the Spark-Footage we saw in the Video was blown up to 4K, right? - In that Case (and I cant think of another Possibility) the Material of the Spark is stunning good... Greetings from Germany, Chris :-)

[@Dcrainmaker]

Yup, correct. I shot everything else in 4K, so within FCP X it just upconverted that to 4K. Obviously, it's still 1080p source. But yup, looks pretty good.

[@krishnansrinivasan830]

Nice :)