'Follow me' issue

[Robertlarbey]

Hi everyone. I have the jjpro x5 Epik and I cannot get the follow me function to work. I have bought a second unit due to damaging the first one (dog took a shine to it) and have found that this second one also has the same issue.

When I select 'follow me' the drone simply stays perfectly still hovering. Doesn't move.

I have 19 satellites if that makes a difference.

My phone is only 4g. The instructions say it should be 5g. Maybe my phone is the reason?

Nothing on the internet and manufacturers in China do not reply.

Any ideas?

Thanks

Robert
UK

 

[wafflejock]

"Follow me Mode.Its camera auto recognition of human figure and follow me functions effciently and continually capture your acitions and activities."

Description from banggood sounds like it is depending on image detection/recognition to some degree or possibly just looking for the "correct" optical flow to detect a person with the camera so I don't think it's using the phone or gps in any way for that but the camera would need to have a clear view of you for it to start tracking. Also make sure the lens is clean and there isn't too much glare basically overcast with light would be best so no hard light for it to deal with.

 

[Robertlarbey]

Thanks chum. I'll let you know next time I'm out

 

[Robertlarbey]

Ok. Been out this morning and tried follow me whilst standing clearly in its line of vision. The camera can see me. But when I confirm the follow me action on my phone it simply straightened up and hovers perfectly still. Not interested in me.

I might try a different phone.

 

[wafflejock]

Can't hurt to try but very likely this doesnt work that well if using just one cam and cheap processeing hardware. See skydio and associated price tag for something that can do this well. Any other tracker will rely on a dedicated beacon. Likely your phone gps and compass/magnometer aren't accurate enough.

 

[Robertlarbey]

Thank you for taking time to look into this for me. If anyone else has the Epik and can throw any light on why I can't get 2 different units to work on 'follow me' it would really help.

Cheers

 

[Bannerman]

I had assumed that any drone's "Follow Me" mode worked by simply homing in on the controller signal. Are there different methods ?

 

[wafflejock]

This one claimed to use the cam. Skydio does actually do object recognition on board but is way more costly and advanced I'm sure. That said there are little pi cameras with object detection built in for basic colors etc. and I've seen some cheaper quads here that use optical flow for position hold so doesn't seem too crazy to also use optical flow to roughly detect a person or large object moving in the view and attempting to roughly match the motion or at least keep it in frame.