I am a bit concerned about the energy spent and fuss about the Simple feature, so I will post my considerations, hoping it will help someone understand better this feature.
The simple mode (feature) is nice, allowing one to control the copter with the roll/pitch sticks as if they were a joystick. Up is forward, down is back, left and right are same whatever the copter is pointing at.
It has another interesting feature. Let's say we want to film an object while moving, we switch on the simple mode (hmmm not any more now.... let's say we program a stabilize mode with simple feature) and while going forward we slowly rotate the copter to keep the subject in the view. Nice!
This is the good part, it allows every noob (and not) to control the copter in an easy and intuitive way.
BUT...
Let's say I'm new to flying and I start in simple mode...
What happens when we (pilots) rotate a little and we are not in the same exact facing position?
What happens if the copter flyes over us or is on our side?
We usually follow the copter rotating our head towards the copter, and in most cases we also rotate our body.
Well if you have Simple mode, you have to remember that when you(pilot) rotate from yuor original position, the commands will rotate with you.
In simple(hehe) words:
If the copter flyes over you and you turn 180° to look at it, your command will be inverted.
Up will be back,
down will be forward,
left will be right and
right will be left.
If you turn 90° right
Up will be right,
down will be left,
right will beforward and
left will be back.
Now what is simple about this?
I sometimes read about "keep the simple mode switch ready for emergency". Well.. don't!
If you are in a completely different position from start your simple mode will be as much complicated as your stabilize.
A good recovery option will be that of having your copter face opposite of where you are (home position) so you will be able to get it back by tilting back (facing tail) as when you practice hover with the copter in front of you.
Sorry for this complaint, but I think beginners should be aware of this....
or did I miss something?!?
Chhers,
Emile
Replies
Yeah, I also crashed once in simple mode in my earlier days because I turned around and walked the copter through the garden, then accidently switched to simple. Before I realised what was going on it crashed in the meadow behind me.
Thing is to learn new 'panic' behaviour. When panic, first thing is to keep the copter in the air, so switch to stabilise or simple and throttle up a bit (if too low). Then removed the panic, even if the copter is driftiing away from you, and decide on using stabilise or simple to bring it back, based on if you can still see its orientation.
The real key is to remove the panic as quickly as possible and start thinking rationally again.
Yeah, I think you're missing the noob experience. I have never lost or crashed a copter in Simple mode while yawing. New pilots do all the time!
Once I lost a copter because it was too high to see the orientation and too windy to hold Yaw. Simple mode would have kept an 800 (and don't consider the time...) investment from flying away!
If it flies over you , don't panic, just fly it back. I don't even bother to turn around anymore, I just send it back over my head.
I love it so much, I haven't flown normal Yaw in months.