HOW TO Fly a Drone - Spatial Awareness (Stop Crashes)

[@joshuamontgomery0]

The single most useful tips for flying since I got my part 107

[@YarosMallorca]

Another trick I use when going through something or during landing is to enable the center + indicator in the DJI app to center the subject and also when landing to see where I'm going to land if I just go straight down. When going through stuff it helps to center the drone too!

[@FedericoLucchi]

Yes, the center cross and the gridlines are quite useful for image composition and navigation

[@GriotDNB]

I have cross, grid and center on by default. EZ Peazy.

[@FastSloW-qt8xf]

The mini 2 is great. In coming from flying acro fpv and the thing im having the most trouble with is my spacial awareness. Mainly the camera remaining still while banking.

[@ianinvancouverbc]

Thanks for the tips shared with my FB groups

[@KenHeron]

Thanks!

[@carlodefilippi6914]

I really enjoy this series! There’s always something to learn…and being amused in the meantime…great Ken: years of solid content.

[@peterfritzphoto]

Flyer over water is fine. It’s flying UNDER water that’s the problem. I’m still looking for that lobster!!

[@lakeliving2013]

I live on a lake so I fly over water all the time. Had a crash of my Mini 1, and was able to retrieve it by magnet.

[@lakeliving2013]

@urlocaljax0101 When your drone is underwater, you do not worry about small metal chips.. I was just hoping to get it back to return for servicing.. I have also learned that a magnet will not pick up a lipo battery, but works fine with with the lithium ion in the Mini One..

[@nullx8]

Very good one ! however there is one more component to "not crashing" and that's, commitment most crashes happen because you doubt and/or make correction mid-flight and that is what most of the time (if not always) cause the actual crash.

[@freez1ngsapper]

I was out at the OR coast this last week and an issue I found with the mini 2 was, getting a shot moving forward down the coast line, it started losing altitude quickly. I was a good 50’ off shore and that water started getting close quickly. It didn’t help it was cold, and of all the coast shots I took, that was the only time it acted up. To the video, these mini refreshers are really useful. I’m comfortable skimming things above, but my sides and top still make me nervous. I enjoy the structure of these tutorials and giving ideas for training. I’ll be practicing a few of the things shown here. Thanks Ken!

[@treybreshears4910]

What part? I was in Seaside last week lol

[@KenHeron]

Glad to help!

[@freez1ngsapper]

@@treybreshears4910 I was everywhere from Astoria to Newport. No stretch left unexplored (minus the millions bird sanctuaries that were off limits).

[@treybreshears4910]

@@freez1ngsapper Weird to think we were so close and didn't see each other. I did briefly talk to an FPV guy in Tolovana who noticed my Multirotor shirt. Maybe we'll run into each other again someday XD

[@randymcneely4983]

I don't know how high above the water you were flying, but I toggle off all downward sensors on both my Mini and EVO 1, especially if I am less than 50' above water.

[@uavGR]

thank you for your kindness to share tips for amateurs like me in order to become better pilots. watching all your videos. greetings from Athens.

[@KenHeron]

🇬🇷🤓👍

[@bp-ob8ic]

Drills are the key to precision flying. Great job breaking down the sight pictures and concerns with each challenge.

[@phillipcoshatt]

Really like the explanation of the trees. Never thought about the backward perspective before, it now makes sense. Thanks Ken!!

[@ivygoode586]

Great tips and tricks. Thanks I also like your simple honesty when you were scared of mucking up on the 2nd head landing. Authentic is always more satisfying to watch.

[@johnkir6539]

Thanks. Always learning from you. Always great to watch all of your videos. They are all educational and entertaining to watch and also funny.

[@KenHeron]

Thanks John.

[@Pyro1776]

Ken, watching your videos is what gave me the confidence to fly my Mini over water for the first time. Love your videos, never stop.

[@morganstout69]

I always learn something about flying my mini 2 when I watch your videos. Thanks!

[@ivygoode586]

The cylindrical lines of the huge pipe at the end are awesome. If you trim and speed up that portion of the video and then duplicate it 100x you will get a really cool optical illusion video

[@BirdzEyeViewAV]

After watching so many crash videos, it's Very clear that a LOT of drone pilots do nothing as far as pre-flight safety checks or surrounding area research. Btw, helipad or Heli-Hat lol!! Thanks, Ken!

[@Helderhugo]

HAHAHA the hat! Training on the drone racer simulators and flying drone racers helps a LOT to! After training in the drone racer simulator and pilot a drone racer then flying gps drones become much much more easy and the perception of the spacial awareness become much much better.

[@thomasslack1118]

Thanks for that little tutorial. I'm a new drone rec user and am nervous flying around, up or under things. I've been practicing but watching this video has helped in understanding.

[@marcsangiuliano4273]

Another amazing educational video! I don’t know how you do it, everywhere I go with my mavic mini it’s a authorization area and it won’t let me fly! Even in my own backyard!

[@KenHeron]

Move away from the airport?

[@marcsangiuliano4273]

@@KenHeron you’re right! But it’s a tiny airport (no commercial airlines) but the zone spreads long and wide. Every park and open area is in it. Your videos are a blast to watch and I laugh so much , you’re the best!!!

[@dougcooper4917]

Awesome Video Ken!! Thank You For Training #2. I'm Really Enjoying This Series Of Videos!!

[@baggszilla]

Hahaha I'm coming from the FPV side and I kinda want one of these. Also the landing on the hat was hilarious! Thanks Ken.

[@KenHeron]

Thanks Bobby!

[@WindWalkerDrones]

A lot of times on jobs I fly forward and reverse the footage, it works great. Being in the mountains and forest you learn to adapt.

[@My_Alchemical_Romance]

I know you’ve done a video on this same topic before; also at this amazing bridge I think it was, too! This message never gets old… this is always something at least I find myself needing a refresher on. I very much appreciated this! Another great video, Ken!

[@My_Alchemical_Romance]

Really loved the dimensions/car/width comparison!

[@mr89firebird]

Most favorite channel I've found in a while! LOOOOVE the humor! And, yeah, still a FIAT; can't buff that out!

[@derekpirie9188]

Some excellent tips, Ken. Flew my Mini2 earlier today. Need to get more stick time.

[@quantumdigitalVFX]

Good stuff Ken! You bring something other people dont to the table - a sense of humor and smart and easy ‘hacks’. Good stuff! - Ken T.

[@KenHeron]

🤓👍

[@BobHerres]

Unbelievable and Well Done! That's why I Subscribe, and keep my Notification Bell turned "ON" :-))) Thank you Ken!

[@KenHeron]

Much appreciated Bob!

[@idrone5218]

DJI needs to put in the rear back up camera grid like the cars. You should be able to turn it on and off when you approach tight spaces. Great stuff Ken!

[@dji1tommy29]

I was literally just thinking about this the other day lol

[@RobertGlazier]

The name really fits that hotel Ken. LOL!!!! Great as always. Thanks.

[@slwsmokin4205]

Great video as always Ken!!

[@MrFzzt]

Important safety tip, thanks, Egon!

[@spikester]

Good video even for experienced builders/pilots. I never realized how badly those little mavic air's actually flew in the air and how much IS/gimbal is used. Our FPV quads fly so ridiculously stable in the wind while we complain about the smallest propwash wobble on a punchout and try to tune it out. LOL That said, I never realized a tiny mavic air could do so much damage in a minor mishap even on landing. I keep the props off usually on the bench and have yet to have any major accident with my high powered FPV quads, I use a smoke stopper too when flashing ESC firmwares with props on. I care less about things blowing up more than needing serious stitches and/or losing hand function should a motor engage!

[@73nicke73]

Thanks Ken for another good and informative video. I just bought a mini 2 and I own a Mavic 2 zoom, but the mini and your advices are what’s pushing me too my and the mini limits 😊 so thx again and keep posting those great vids 👍

[@DIOSKAZE]

This is such a useful video Ken. Thank you so much. 😀

[@KenHeron]

You bet.

[@DIOSKAZE]

@@KenHeron if you see my latest video on my channel, you’ll see why I needed to watch your video first!! 😂😂

[@El_Smeghead]

These videos have helped me so much... ..to be funnier 😁

[@JoeBob79569]

I just recently got a Fimi X8 Mini, first drone, and I'm after crashing it a bunch of times already. First time I just went straight into sport mode and did a flyby on myself, and then pulled down on the stick to go up, even though I knew that up was up. I'm fine with up and down when the drone is relatively still, but when it's moving forwards fast my brain goes into aeroplane mode and thinks that down is up on the controls. I've also clipped a bunch of trees and crashed into a wall. I'm fine when I'm taking it slow but after a few minutes I start to get adventurous, and careless, and I usually end up crashing. For me, I think, it's more about self control rather than drone control, and when I get better at controlling it I'll probably still be attempting stupid stuff, just more elaborately. But, it's damn good fun all the same!

[@BobCaseyAerial]

Good video Ken. Some things I need to work on. Glad you did this video. You can nvr be reminded enough of the basics. #KeepFlying #StayUp

[@VengeFulHemi]

Mr Heron, many thanks for these basics videos. I'm so new to drones. I have an air 2s that I purchased in April. And started out around my neighborhood. Now I go to the beach fairly often. I want to start flying thru, under, and over stuff but I'm freightened.

[@morgidvmw0mdv]

That's great Ken, great tutorials. I have been flying drones for many years now starting with the Blade 350 QX BNF and graduating to the Yuneec Typhoon H, I have just bought my first DJI drone, the Air 2S and I'm loving it (my wife wont let me sleep with it though! There's time there's time). I bought it with the smart controller. So far I have only flown it on a friends property a couple of times which has lots of antennas, cables, masts etc ( we both are Radio Hams) and I love how all the cables and anything you might fly into shows up red on the smart controller monitor. I'm looking forward to the next tutorial. Regards. Dave M.

[@hawkeye19531]

G'Day Ken, I fly my MM2 with the crosshairs on and found that if the crosshairs go in between objects your pretty much going to miss the object. I did learn a lot of good information from your video though.

[@jameslawrence3669]

Another awesome and informative video

[@dronereviewman9580]

I want one of these little camera drones! Looks like so much fun!!!!! Nice flying & nice landing LoL

[@JosephValentinetti]

great video, thanks Ken.

[@stewartbladensb]

You said that metal structures don’t interfere with the controller signal. I’ve had my mini 2 absolutely freak out and smash the props to bits trying to fly through what can only be described as a wire mesh tunnel. It’s an old train line over a bridge that the local council converted into a bike track and put a large steel mesh enclosure over to stop people having an accident as the bridge is about 80 feet above a road and a river. I was walking behind the Mini and it went haywire about 20 feet in to the cage.

[@KenHeron]

That's essentially a Faraday cage. You're going to have some problems there of course, but most bridges, buildings or other structures won't cause any problems.

[@ernieschatz3783]

I really never stopped long enough to think about that, but yeah, if you have an unobstructed view to the far edge of something you will clear it if you're steady on the controls. No starting and stopping in the middle if it's close quarters.

[@KenHeron]

🤓👍

[@wmp75]

Thanks for the info very informative

[@mullinsgerry1]

Ken, you never fail to TRILL us 😂 Great information as usual.

[@bluegrassdroneguy3495]

Very informative tutorial Ken👍💪

[@DaltonDroneZone]

Good info Ken. Thanks.

[@BrockKane]

Love your stuff brother!

[@Aerosnapper]

All good information - and humorously presented - a winner.

[@KenHeron]

🤓

[@-hastatus-]

You have a really extraordinary eye for good shots. Most of them just fly high and higher. the perspective can be interesting at times, but things im really interesting Area, the ones that are difficult to reach. They are rare. Thanks for your crazy kind. 😀👍

[@jerseyshoredroneservices225]

Good work Ken! When flying close to things in contrasty lighting, like under a bridge with sky in the background, be careful about illusions that can be created. What looks like an open space might not be :-( Sometimes there's cables and wires hanging under bridges too... A few people have lost their drones when it tried to return to home after losing connection, it climbed into the bridge :-(

[@ivygoode586]

Yes he said that on this vid and others

[@lesskinner8588]

Some helpful info . . . I thought you might be turning on the camera gridlines though . . . like this # If the gimbal is straight ahead, it's a general that having the centre square on the target you are flying through will be perfect. You can use the cross hair if preferred, but the gridlines like a hash are great for composing shots too. Note, should be trialed first while watching the drone to be sure where in the grid you should aim, but centre is generally it.

[@pwidmayer]

Excellent tips

[@todd-makes-videos]

I haven't found any rules/laws that say you can't fly over cars. People do it all the time just flying over their neighborhood. Love your videos!

[@epsonexxon1088]

Yes, and using the cross hair in the app would help a lot in centering like passing through pipes or tight spaces...

[@josericardojaquinto1255]

Great tips!!!

[@jlutz63]

I own a DJI mini 2 and I love it, it is one of the easiest drones to learn to fly, I pretty experience already, but still these videos help to make me a better flier, nobody is perfect

[@niltons.spagnuolo]

Congratulations on your skill and also on your courage.

[@KenHeron]

🤓👍

[@bodywise007]

This quite a good video. You actually show how to visualize attitude. How to aim for above and below the true obstruction. If you are flying perfectly level and using the central "crosshair" as your guideline, that should indicate your true bearing. There are not enough videos that specifically illustrate true bearing. I was a surprised you were able to park your car on a overpass without being hassled.

[@mmgoodwings3981]

Thanks Ken!!

[@Bill14886]

You crack me up. Love your channel. Love to meet you some day. Maybe next time I’m out in Tennessee. Till then keep these videos coming. Makes my morning coffee hr a blast. God bless

[@TaterRogers]

Great video. That perspective one you did with the P4 way back was good. The fire tower orbit was good too. That might be a good one to re-visit if possible. :) YEEE HAW! I like 'at hat! :)

[@leviconnelly79]

Ken, this video was awesome!!! Thank you for being so entertaining ☺️. (damn! It's still a Fiat!! 😂😂😂) You rock man 👏🏻

[@tonyfourpaws4511]

This was excellent 👍

[@MVMTV4Videos]

lol, well done ken, I enjoyed that video, double thumbs up

[@KenHeron]

🤓👍👍

[@the4dudleys]

Great video Ken! 😎

[@plasrobin]

I realy like these perspective vids

[@JackBeasleyMedia]

Great video, Ken!

[@filipsaprkin]

Awesome... Learned a lot... By the way i am coming back. I am filming a TV Series once is done i'm coming back to US and hopefully moving either to Florida keys or Bahamas! Hopefully if i survive corona no vacancies yet!

[@KenHeron]

Hey that's wonderful! Email me when you get here!

[@toddz8579]

Those are swallows flying around your UAS. They love to nest on the undersides of bridges, hence their presence in abundance as you fly underneath.

[@Al-Kwadrone]

Nice one! Thx for posting. 👊👍

[@OneOfTheRobs]

Very entertaining Ken!! 👍👍

[@ColinLeyUK]

I always found it hard to keep a straight line when trying to fly towards me or even away from me, so if your trying to fly between something like a two walls or a pipe, it will always drift to one side.

[@PatrickHoesly]

Fantastic Video! Thank you!

[@KenHeron]

You bet.

[@cyberspace276]

Sir I'm your big fan from India

[@TheEviling]

6:11 to 6:14 is that rolling shutter being visual or gimbal misbehaving ?

[@KenHeron]

Shutter

[@jerseyshoredroneservices225]

Good catch. Yeah just yesterday I was experimenting with my phone camera as I drove past light poles and things trying to see how the distortion would change at different shutter speeds.

[@randysmith6493]

Glad the Helipad Graduation Hat worked, I was concerned I might get a measure of bad Karma if you hurt your other finger :) Thanks for perspective flying points, I still hit trees, and got one swing set the other day.

[@pdtech4524]

Cool Fiat 500 Abarth. I can relate to your Fiat 'clown car' anxiety, mine is the Panda, the 500's cousin, although mine is the 4x4 variety so it does redeem itself somewhat, being a proper little mountain goat 🐐 😁 Just got to find some mountains...😊.

[@HarleyAssi]

I was a bit taken aback by thei intro making me watch a car wash.. But the conclusion made me snort my rum. Well done sir... well done.

[@KenHeron]

🥃🤓👍

[@TheRealCFF]

Ken, another thing that can help you there is to display the crosshairs in the app. If the CAMERA GIMBALL IS PROPERLY ALIGNED AND CALIBRATED and centered, and an obstacle is not located in the crosshairs, the drone will not collide with the structure. Just like with a manned aircraft, you do need to do a proper preflight of the drone prior to a flight. This includes a thorough survey of the area and a proper risk management assessment of the environment, including structures, obstacles, foliage (because trees eat drones), wire strike avoidance, etc. And always, always, ALWAYS, do modest test flights carefully flying around obstacles and a subject making careful notes of issues and risks not perceived on the ground prior to attempting full scale action shot.

[@raptordc5]

Ken I'm extremely impressed and curious just how that renesis is still running.

[@RidiFPV]

Ill come back later to read the comments, but ill watch first

[@rdrglpzcnt]

8:16 the way he unfolds the drone makes me anxious af

[@TootTootUSA]

Can you please do some kind of a PSA about not flying your drone near emergencies or in particular wild fires? I've been seeing some worrying reports of fire fighting planes/helis having to be grounded because of stupid drone operators recently, in particular up in BC, Canada. A channel with your reach has a good chance of preventing more tragedy.

[@freez1ngsapper]

This needs to get pinned. Between EMS, Fire crews, and legitimate police cordons, these people need be left clear. I’m hoping in the future, as more drones integrate GPS, mobile geofencing will become more available for the first line workers.

[@KenHeron]

Thanks for the suggestion! I do mention that kind of stuff all the time on my live streams. 👍

[@TootTootUSA]

@@KenHeron Yeah just consider it. Thanks.

[@JonR35]

Crosshair seems to help as well, great video!

[@goflyfpv2798]

I suppose its a good idea to set signal loss settings to hover when flying under structures

[@mto_aerial]

Yes!

[@prodbydramatic]

uncle ken thanks again lots of good tips

[@KenHeron]

Glad to help! 🤓👍

[@franks.jr.7236]

Nice job

[@pdtech4524]

The Shite Hotel looks nice, how much per night? 😯⚠️🤔😁

[@mlunden11]

Thanks ken I’ve learned so much frm ur vids. And again ir real good at this. John

[@thegman7523]

Always good advice on spatial awareness. BUT VERY disappointed that you didn’t do any pun on “spatial” cmon Ken! 😄

[@KenHeron]

Well, you know you're very spatial to me. 😜

[@thegman7523]

@@KenHeron awww shucks ☺️

[@My_Alchemical_Romance]

Audio was extra great on this one!

[@erice.1636]

Best quote of the video... 12:56

[@JamesMerle-qi3uz]

ROTFLMAO!!! Great lesson and love your comical applications!! Variety is the spice of Life!!!

[@KenHeron]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@johncarold]

Hey Ken I just purchased a mini a bit ago but I really don't like it. I keep getting warnings on the props spinning to fast , I just don't fly it. It's to slow. Thanks again for the video.

[@KenHeron]

Turn it into DJI for a replacement. 👍

[@johncarold]

I purchased it from Joshua Bardwell, not new , but I have tried several times to get a hold of DJI support. They never return my call or text

[@gogfpv]

The Shitay Hotel looks like it could be a great freestyle spot as well, Great vid. 👍

[@KenHeron]

🤘😎🤘

[@danielson101]

hi Ken i had a mini 2 for a couple months and is mint" lol im getting a little brave and bought the fpv goggles from DJI thinking both units from DJI would be compattible!!!! well LOLOLOL