Flying with KP-Index above 5

Posted by ActionDrone on July 15, 2017 at 2:40am

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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Replies

  • Moderator
    Graham Dyer July 23, 2017 at 9:33am

    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
  • ActionDrone July 20, 2017 at 2:55pm

    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.

  • Chris Hardwick July 20, 2017 at 2:21pm


    Clifton,

    Thank you for the correction.

    Chris

  • Clifton Hipsher July 17, 2017 at 2:38pm

    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 Hipsher July 17, 2017 at 2:38pm



    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

  • Chris Hardwick July 17, 2017 at 8:35am

    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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