How to Hand Launch and Land DJI Mini 4 PRO SAFELY [Drone Hand Takeoff]

[@joeydryer1260]

Short and to the point. So many others would take 15 minutes to explain what you did in under 3 minutes. A perfect video!

[@OttoJulian_]

oh man! I know that feeling when KZbinrs make their videos extremely long for nothing

[@petefarnsworth3916]

It took 90 seconds of skipping to get to instructions on a 3 minute video.

[@OttoJulian_]

@petefarnsworth3916 be glad. Others take 10 minutes and they don’t even know what they are doing. Honestly, I don’t feel like I was talking about something off topic or about my coffee routine, it was all inside the context.

[@GeorgeCee]

Thank You for the correct sand safest method. Everyone else on KZbin is showing how to cut their face with props spinning at face level in front of them. You are correctly raising the had/arm for maximum vertical extension for takeoff and landing. Yours is the best method.

[@OttoJulian_]

Thanks man! Indeed it’s impressive watching some channels not taking a single precaution. I literally see them arching their back because the props get too close to their face!

[@CanadianInPhilipipnes]

I just got the DJI Mini 4 a few days ago. I read the warning in the Manual but also head others say never land/takeoff on the beach because the sand can harm the drone.But I also did the 4 levels of training on the DJI Fly App and the first 2 levels feature a woman on a beach taking off and landing from the sand! Made me laugh that they would do this.

[@OttoJulian_]

Haha very interesting indeed. I remember back in the day some content creators would takeoff from a sandy place to film that in slow motion and others would try to replicate that when they watched it. Not ideal at all if anyone wants their drone to last longer

[@dalibormatejka7624]

She is taking off from wet sand. There is no harm from it.

[@OttoJulian_]

Good for you If you can find wet sand

[@leesmith2798]

Excellent! Short and straight to the point. Thank you.

[@OttoJulian_]

thank you so much!

[@hummerzdca]

Thanks, this is one of the simplest functions I haven’t yet tried, ‘hand launching’… Great post, THANK YOU for the simplest safest method I’ve seen. Thanks!

[@OttoJulian_]

Sure! You are welcome!

[@uwp4604]

klasse, sehr ruhige und zielführende Beschreibung! Vielen Dank!

[@OttoJulian_]

You are welcome

[@Slapshotdaddyo]

Thank-you for your simplified and safe way to launch and land a DJI drone by hand. 👍

[@OttoJulian_]

You are welcome !

[@keepfocus1214]

Thank you! I just managed to sum up the courage to launch my expensive dji mini 4 as a result of your video.

[@OttoJulian_]

Hopefully everything was super smooth!!

[@dgibbsfl]

I agree with the other comments, this was a nice little contribution to the drone flying community. I don't do hand launch/catch but I have been thinking about it in certain (probably rare) instances. That's why I watched your video and I am glad I did. You obviously cannot record your hand as the homepoint for purposes of returning to home so next show a video or explain how to hand catch in an RTH scenario.

[@OttoJulian_]

Thank you so much for your kind feedback! If I use RTH I do let it land on its homepoint, but if I need to hand catch it after I did the RTH, I just cancel it before it lands and proceed with the manual landing :)

[@dgibbsfl]

On the hand catching part....in terms of "being ready to catch while holding the left stick down"....are there scenarios where a person can make some sort of mistake on the being ready part and if so, what happens if you miss the catch while holding the left stick down? Is there any way to avoid the drone ending up on the ground upside down in the sand?

[@OttoJulian_]

I think I can imagine how you are looking at it, but no, you don’t literally “catch” it while it’s falling down and the motors won’t stop mid air and land in your hand. If you remove the hand and you keep holding the left stick down the drone will keep descending until it touches the ground.

[@jimbosander]

Just got my mino 4 pro and glad I found this channel. Great job at being succinct, pragmatic and friendly in your presentations. (where the heck is the microphone on this little device.. I'm disappointed about that bit) edit: typo'ed, meant mini 4 pro

[@easterwheel]

I got the 6 where the heck is the speaker and spotlight

[@OttoJulian_]

Thanks Jimbo!

[@jimbosander]

@@easterwheel heh, I get it. As a poorly practicing privacy advoicate, it's obviously antithetical to wonder about such a feature. Not being a drone enthusiast, was just surprised there was no audio with my video.

[@TonyLuxton]

All you'd hear is the sound of the mini motors, I suppose if you actually wanted to hear something, you'd need to land/be stationary. On some of the larger drones, it is possible to attach a speaker, so you talk into the remote and the voice comes out of the speaker on the drone.

[@wwdagger]

I agree with your excellent video and this is how I have always launched and caught all of my drones. I must say that the Mini 4 Pro gives me a much harder time than my Mavic 3 Pro or other drones I have had. It often takes a few tries.

[@OttoJulian_]

Nice! I learned the hard way many years ago so I feel obligated to pass that to other fellow pilots so everyone stays on the safe side

[@Piratepoilet]

Great video buddy. You couldn't have made it simpler than that, thanx

[@OttoJulian_]

No problem 👍

[@abdullahkawser8480]

Clear instructions thank you very much.

[@OttoJulian_]

Glad it was helpful!

[@campbellstanford8794]

Exceptionally great video. Presentation very clear and not full of unnecessary clutter like most other examples. Well done. When practising in a park, I have got hand catching to work, but sometimes I switch off obstacle avoidance and it works. I will now practise the methods you explained, especially having hand in clench position well before pulling the drone down. My main use is on a boat, usually catching whilst stationary. However often the boat is moving about and difficult to catch. I have already sent one drone to the bottom of the sea! It seems essential to turn off obstacle avoidance and keep the catching hand well out from the boat. I would love to see if you have a video off catching from a boat. Cool but clear sky with no wind today in Auckland, New Zealand. Heading out for more practice shortly.

[@OttoJulian_]

oh man, lucky you! I've been getting cloudy days and rain, so much that I'm about to go to the same location where I shot this video (San Diego) to make other videos that I'm working on. I'm going to be honest, I have far too many hours flying drones, but never hand landed on a moving boat, or at least not without help. Enjoy your nice weather!

[@jasonchurchyvr5651]

Hello! Again, a great video on hand catching, thank you for creating great videos that are sweet, short and to the point. Happy flying! 🤘

[@OttoJulian_]

Happy flying!

[@SteveMartinUSA]

I’ve had a variety of drones and this hasn’t always worked, but it does work now. I’ve had a few landings on moving boats where I’ve had to apply some stick to match that movement. I’d love to hear your thoughts on how to best land the drone in those situations because it took several minutes for the drone to finally land the last time. Actually, none of those have been smooth on boats for me, though I haven’t lost one yet…

[@OttoJulian_]

I haven't done lots of landing on a moving boat and I'm still looking out for the best way, until then I really don't have any recommendations that I'd would dare to share with everyone else until I'm 100% confident that it works

[@JohnnyProfit13]

Well done on this video. Quick to the points, easy to follow. Great job with letting folks know this is a last resort option and if you are going to do it anyways, do it safe. Cheers brother.

[@OttoJulian_]

Thank you!

[@artslr]

Itry to landing on hand grab and flip, I feel so danger, So I did it one-time, You VDO Help full for Me Tank A Lot,

[@OttoJulian_]

@@artslr yeah you are welcome!

[@MarioDiaz-co3px]

I don´t know why my drone motors don´t stop when landing on my hand even when pulling the left stick down. Is there a setting that I should change? Thanks.

[@khmericanzrcs]

Awesome tips bro...Thanks for sharing👍🏾👊🏾

[@OttoJulian_]

Sure thing! Thanks for watching!

[@PicturesofNewYork]

On the hand launch, do you let it hover a bit so it can set the homepoint properly?

[@OttoJulian_]

No, I always wait for the gps signal to be locked (it sets the home point at that moment) before taking off

[@NtDroneShots]

Thankyou great info just got my drone and always good to learn

[@OttoJulian_]

That’s right! Enjoy it!

[@FishJustGotReel]

Awesome video, I plan on ordering my drone soon. I’ll come back here and say thanks when i use your advice 😂

[@OttoJulian_]

great! good luck!

[@loddensmith7940]

Great job on the video my man !

[@OttoJulian_]

Thank you so much !!

[@devalonian]

Good video. Quick and informative. Thank you!

[@OttoJulian_]

You're welcome!

[@jellybelly19601]

Thank you

[@OttoJulian_]

You're welcome

[@TNOCV]

Landing on hand would still work even if obstacle avoidance is active?

[@OttoJulian_]

that's how I use it all the time (I never turn on obstacle avoidance). If I'm not mistaken there is a new option to do disable the downward sensor

[@Inpreesme]

I live in the southwest desert of the USA, plenty of sand and grit to get into gimbal and engines. I have done that in the past when not using the landing pad, my first recommendation is always use the landing pad. The damage those props can do combined with the availability of medical help do not make it a good idea to use your bare hands. I would suggest you use a pair of gloves that are meant to be used when cutting things with knives because that’s basically what those props are when they’re spinning. I know it’s not always possible to land on the landing pad, with the few times when you must land somewhere else far outweigh the inconvenience of having one of those props, strike your body parts, so please first use the landing pad, second get a pair of gloves it’s not worth the pain and suffering.

[@OttoJulian_]

Great tips indeed!!

[@samsonn25]

Great info, thanks for the pro hints

[@OttoJulian_]

Hi. You are welcome!

[@vdeosdiversos9226]

A thank you from Brazil!👍

[@OttoJulian_]

hello there!!

[@G.Y.ANIMAL]

This video help me as a beginner to land and take of my drone from my hand.

[@OttoJulian_]

nice! be safe always

[@cantankerousoldman8941]

Great tutorial. Thanks.

[@OttoJulian_]

😊 you are welcome

[@alexzarco1983]

Thank you! Just to the point 🎉

[@OttoJulian_]

You're welcome!

[@WidyaAsoka]

straight forward! thank you Otto,,,

[@OttoJulian_]

You are welcome 🙏

[@kinocchio]

Thanks, will try it out.

[@OttoJulian_]

sounds good! good luck!

[@timduran2629]

Hello and thanks for the awesome tips!! They are appreciated.

[@OttoJulian_]

Hi. You are welcome!

[@bradfowler2991]

A big thankyou from down under, (Western Australia) Just what I was looking for.👌

[@OttoJulian_]

You're very welcome!

[@sonic2312]

Well explained. Many thanks 😎

[@OttoJulian_]

You're welcome!

[@arontravel1307]

Thanks for this video! Great and short💪

[@OttoJulian_]

To the point! Thanks!!

[@Estipi18]

Hello and thank you, also wish you rich day !

[@OttoJulian_]

Same to you!

[@saranoncloud]

Another gem Thanks

[@OttoJulian_]

Thanks for your kind feedback on both videos!! ;)

[@matthammond5480]

Exactly what I was looking for

[@OttoJulian_]

that's great!

[@rcallumto5627]

Thanks for this help

[@OttoJulian_]

Happy to help

[@josearmandoalonsoarenas3005]

Very good advice.

[@OttoJulian_]

Thanks !! 😊

[@lillylegerwhite7534]

Hello, thanks for the videos!! Very helpful

[@OttoJulian_]

You are welcome!!

[@OGGDAD]

Great video.Thanks

[@OttoJulian_]

Glad you liked it!

[@manstom]

Short and useful vid. Thanks!

[@OttoJulian_]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@3lfiestas]

thnx for the clear explanation

[@OttoJulian_]

Any time

[@RayHutchings-w5y]

Nice explanation thank you.

[@OttoJulian_]

You are welcome!

[@gudendk]

Very informative, thanks!

[@OttoJulian_]

You're welcome!

[@KwokKaySzeto]

Great tips

[@OttoJulian_]

Glad it was helpful!

[@dverns]

nice tips, thanks

[@OttoJulian_]

You are welcome !!

[@hristohristov7303]

Very helpful! Thanks for the video.

[@OttoJulian_]

Glad it was helpful!

[@karlkeating2803]

I see you shot this video near the Hotel Del in Coronado. I hope your time in (my) San Diego area was fruitful!

[@OttoJulian_]

Yeah. Will be back in a few weeks

[@88Nick8]

I am finally selling my Phantom 4 pro and getting the mini 4 pro. It is going to such a relief to get the obstacle avoidance.

[@OttoJulian_]

Phantom 4! You are going to love this 😄

[@99zxk]

There's a mode other than sport mode?

[@OttoJulian_]

Cine. Normal. Sport

[@patrikprosko1417]

Hello, Thanks a lot! So I must have switch on "Landing paw" and when it will automaticly landing I will catch it in the hand right? Because otherwise the dron automaticly flying away when I put my hand near to dron. The sensors saying to dron that my hand is some obstacle and he flying higher. I can not take it without automatic landing.

[@OttoJulian_]

your hand should be placed in position before, if it flies up it means your hand placement was too late.

[@saKura-pu7vw]

this is great!!!

[@OttoJulian_]

Thank you !!

[@junaidiabdullah1320]

thanks

[@OttoJulian_]

You're welcome!

[@Nam3Iess]

I will try/learn this. Thanks!

[@OttoJulian_]

You can do it!

[@Nam3Iess]

@@OttoJulian_ I did learn it yesterday and love to hand launch and land it :)

[@OttoJulian_]

@Nam3Iess it’s very useful to do this and I didn’t want to say it in the video but makes you look more pro as well 😅

[@brandon9689]

I just ordered my Mini 4 pro and when it arrives my first move will be to learn a safe hand launch/catch. To each their own, but it seems mandatory to me. Its my first drone, and I'd rather protect it from ground debris. Also it should help with building awareness and skill in general.

[@OttoJulian_]

Good way to think about it. Hope you have a lot of fun with it

[@muratertekin4536]

Thanks for the video although, everytime I try this, the drone just won't land. I send it back up then back down as instructed and it just won't land.

[@OttoJulian_]

Hard to know what’s wrong, but you might be extending your arm/hand a bit too land when the drone already began the last phase for landing, so it thinks that you are an obstacle

[@ksopel]

Just a question, since I noticed you made part of the video at the Coronado beach - is it acceptable to fly there?

[@OttoJulian_]

This is a complex topic but, there are some sectors that don't have restriction and you have to follow the regular laws from the FAA

[@3cx000]

Thnx for sharing!!!

[@OttoJulian_]

You are welcome!

[@PorkPieDrone]

im a new pilot thanks for tips

[@OttoJulian_]

Glad to help!

[@leandrovergara61]

Thanks 😊

[@OttoJulian_]

You are welcome!

[@dwgreenberg]

Well done. Thanks

[@OttoJulian_]

Hi. You are welcome

[@LIVINGINFARGO]

Good tips!

[@OttoJulian_]

Glad it was helpful!

[@LIVINGINFARGO]

@@OttoJulian_ I tried it yesterday, wow what a difference. The raising the arm part was helpful as I was oblivious to the danger and luckily haven’t got hurt.

[@OttoJulian_]

Yeah I’ve seen some accidents in the past and even today I see how some pilots risks themselves. Thanks for your feedback!

[@dannylozano3153]

Hello 😶 I said this before I hit the like button...

[@OttoJulian_]

thank you

[@WayneLian]

Thanks for sharing :)

[@OttoJulian_]

You are welcome!

[@BestOfsC]

I have a question if i try this, my drone flight instantly away from my hand how can i do ?

[@OttoJulian_]

Hi. Raise your hand earlier, not when the drone is close to you

[@stastny1]

Good video:-) Thanks

[@OttoJulian_]

Thank you too!

[@chriscapune7873]

Hello 👋 thanks for this information 👍🐈‍⬛🐾👏

[@OttoJulian_]

No problem 👍

[@mvakleko]

can you do one catching it while moving on a boat like sailboat

[@OttoJulian_]

That's way trickier than this :)

[@Liron.Luminol]

Tnx❤

[@OttoJulian_]

you are welcome!

[@kimoliverespedido3579]

Salamat.

[@OttoJulian_]

You are welcome!

[@leswop3626]

Hello from Australia 👍🏾

[@OttoJulian_]

Hello there!

[@organikproductionz9347]

I wish I saw this video yesterday, I tried landing today on my lunch point but it missed the spot by about 2 feet and landed a little bit unstable and one of the propellers hit the rock, not doing that anymore I’m hand landing for now on.

[@OttoJulian_]

Be safe!

[@DigiDriftZone]

I just got the mini 4 and holding the stick down doesn’t work if there is an obstable, it’s very annoying! This was never a problem on my spark. My hand is under the drone, it detects it and raises up a bit, I press and hold down and… nothing. Takes several attempts moving away and coming back, putting the hand slightly in front and under neath before it listens to the stick down. Any solution to that to force it down?

[@OttoJulian_]

yeah, this is a common "problem", if you move your hand into position "too late" when the drone is already closer to you, then it will think it's an obstacle. Try positioning your hand before. The other trick is that once it goes up, bring it down again but keep your arm up while doing so

[@DigiDriftZone]

@@OttoJulian_ it's just so temperamental! - I captured it happening here, after a few attempts I gave up as the battery was low: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKvFgWqIbpd9b6M

[@Stanislav-Milkovski]

hello :P thanks for the advice it works :)

[@OttoJulian_]

You are welcome!

[@doronsieradzki192]

Great vid. Thanks a lot! oh and hello!

[@OttoJulian_]

haha hello!!! You are welcome! :D

[@chadaornindot]

Otto, thank you. 😊 let me grab my mini 4 pro and practice. Hope I will still have a complete set of fingers after. 😂❤

[@OttoJulian_]

You can do it! Let us know how it goes

[@roninr8199]

In follow on mode how do we land drone where we are or where controller is without going back to home? I have seen this as a common mistake for biggeners where they let drone to follow your car and when it is out of battery it initiates return to home which might be few km away and people have to rush back. Can we abort return to home?

[@OttoJulian_]

You have to land it manually without the RTH Function, or in the settings you can update the Home location

[@roninr8199]

@@OttoJulian_ manually means should we have line of sight with the drone and bring manually towards us? What happens if we press return to home button on controller? Does it go to where controller is or it goes to take off location? Very sorry if I ask weired questions. This is going to be my first drone so have very little knowledge of it.

[@OttoJulian_]

@@roninr8199 no worries!! Manually means landing the drone by yourself at your current location. If you press return to home (RTH) it will return to the designated home location. This is automatically set when you take off at that location. If you press it, it can be cancelled. The home point can also be changed after takeoff, for example if you already drove 2 miles away from the takeoff location, you can set the new home in your controller while the drone is still flying

[@roninr8199]

@@OttoJulian_ thank you sir. So basically we should be watchful on battery that it doesn't go below 15 or 20% before it initiates itself to return to home. Once I get it probably I will try to figure it out myself but definitely I wouldn't have know that it would fly back home by default when it looses battery or controller turns off. Thanks for the reply.

[@yoochem]

Great vid! Hand launching is easy peasy to be honest, tried it for my 3rd flight with the mini 4 pro and it's a breeze. Hand landing on the other hand... I'm a little hesitant to stand under the drone and 'command' it to come down right into me/my hand. Something about having to react quick or eating props ;-) Any tips to practice this safely?

[@OttoJulian_]

when the drone lands it will be at a low speed. I don't like to use the hand as a platform because it can tilt and fall down and your first reaction will be to grab it and stick your fingers out. Just have your hand ready as a clamp and grab the main body. If you are not sure that you can grab it release the left stick and get your hand out of there

[@ennoschriewer2329]

Sehr schöne Erklärung. Ich habe noch nie vom Boden gestartet. Immer aus der Hand beim Starten und Landen. Dann ist der Untergrund egal.Wenn man es einmal gelernt hat, möchte man es nicht mehr missen.

[@OttoJulian_]

Agreed. Same here! Thank you

[@willieayubojr]

Why mine is not launching above it stays where near my hand on take off

[@OttoJulian_]

use the altitude stick to make it go up

[@himalayannomad17]

Can you tell me why my drone is showing 0'0" for all three RTH parameters under the battery percentage tab..

[@OttoJulian_]

If it’s not flying it will be all zeros

[@himalayannomad17]

@@OttoJulian_ I checked it when the drone was in air. That's why I was curious to know if there is any setting I must do.

[@OttoJulian_]

@@himalayannomad17 no settings at all. It should appear automatically. Did you keep flying and those numbers never changed from 0?

[@himalayannomad17]

@@OttoJulian_ Indeed. They are zero all the time.

[@chainbenwa2713]

Hola!

[@OttoJulian_]

Hola !

[@Finsterling]

Good Boy

[@OttoJulian_]

😄😄

[@johncarlosalarosan6363]

hello

[@OttoJulian_]

hello

[@DrGivagogo]

@Otto Julian Launching no problem....landing no so good...he see my hand as obstacle and refuse to sit between my finger...any clue?

[@OttoJulian_]

So step number 1 is done! Awesome! To land, the hand can be seen as an obstacle. It is important not to move it around and position it on the path of the drone. Sometimes going up a bit and retrying with your hand in the same position will “reset” the view. The other option is to extend your palm so the drone thinks it’s the landing spot, and after a couple of seconds it will initiate the regular descend. As soon as you see that movement change your hand from flat to a “claw” or grabbing position. Also when you do the palm trick, make sure to raise it as much as you can in the air. It’s not safe to do that at face level.

[@KeeshSk]

Every time I try to land on my hand with mini 4 the obstacle system doesn’t let me!

[@OttoJulian_]

raise your hand sooner and not when it's close to you

[@secretmagic331]

Thing is injuries heal, expensive drones don't 🥲🥲so thanks for the tips

[@OttoJulian_]

You are welcome!!

[@SumPixelz]

Hello!

[@OttoJulian_]

Hello!

[@juricavidakovic2762]

Helo!

[@OttoJulian_]

hello!

[@3kdn]

The drone boom is over in the UK. And DJI contributed to it. After the mini 2 the price got ridiculous and for very little extra. Add to that new regulations and it was over and out.

[@OttoJulian_]

Yeah I feel that eventually only a handful of people will be able to fly. It’s a shame, but this is also due to irresponsible “pilots” doing what they are doing

[@youtubecatalin74]

hi

[@OttoJulian_]

Hey!

[@christophgschnaidtner1955]

Hello 👋

[@OttoJulian_]

Hi

[@Jona-gs7ye]

Hello❤❤❤❤

[@OttoJulian_]

Good morning!

[@playnatethegreat]

Hello

[@OttoJulian_]

Hello!!!