Flying with KP-Index above 5

Hi all,

Do you have any experience flying with dangerous Kp index (above 5 I would say) WITHOUT using GPS, so in Alt Hold or Stabilize?

Is it safe to fly with strong solar storms if I exclude GPS and possibly magnetometer?

I both use APM or PX4.

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  • Moderator

    The Kp index is quite often above 5 as geomagnetic storms come and go and yet there are very few drone pilots who even know it exists or of it's implications, if any.

    Note: 5 is considered a minor storm, 6 a moderate storm and 7 a strong storm (https://www.spaceweatherlive.com/en/help/the-kp-index).

    I've heard unverified reports of DJI Phantom 4's having flyaways' with the Kp above 5 yet DJI has no reference to it or warning about it.

    Here's a great post from someone who knows what he's talking about: https://phantompilots.com/threads/solar-flares.35796/#post-331319 and I quote: "wouldn't expect any effects until a MAJOR K=8 or 9 geomagnetic storm"

    There's also an excellent FAQ here: https://blog.flyte.ie/blog/k-index-faq

    The Kp-index | Help
    Real-Time solar activity and auroral activity data website
  • Thanks Clifton for your confirmation.


    Clifton Hipsher said:

    You cannot fly in Loiter, or ANY GPS dependent flight mode with out valid GPS and compass data.

    If the Kp index is "high" flying in a GPS mode would be foolish.

    As for solar storms, if they can mess with satellites, the power gird,  and other electronic devices, logic would dictate that flying in ANY mode be it GPS dependent or not is foolish.


  • Clifton,

    Thank you for the correction.

    Chris

  • You cannot fly in Loiter, or ANY GPS dependent flight mode with out valid GPS and compass data.

    If the Kp index is "high" flying in a GPS mode would be foolish.

    As for solar storms, if they can mess with satellites, the power gird,  and other electronic devices, logic would dictate that flying in ANY mode be it GPS dependent or not is foolish.



  • Chris Hardwick said:

    Can you tell us what you mean by "Kp index"?

    At a glance, this sounds to me like a KK P-gain parameter. As for APM/Pixhawk P-gains, my aircraft routinely autotune with P-gains over 5. I don't think that this is dangerous at all. The gains that provide stability and best performance are unique to each aircraft.

    The Kp index is a measure of changes is the Earth's magnetic field:  Kp Index

  • Can you tell us what you mean by "Kp index"?

    At a glance, this sounds to me like a KK P-gain parameter. As for APM/Pixhawk P-gains, my aircraft routinely autotune with P-gains over 5. I don't think that this is dangerous at all. The gains that provide stability and best performance are unique to each aircraft.

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