DJI Mini 3 Pro: How to Set Up Safety Features (Video)

While the Mini 3 and Mini 3 Pro are similar in many ways, the Mini 3 Pro, with its tri-directional sensor system, does have a few more sensors than the Mini 3 that enable safer flight.

This article and the included YouTube video, will briefly discuss various safety features for the Mini 3 Pro, as well as serve as a step-by-step tutorial showing how to set up obstacle avoidance, RTH (Return to Home) altitude, update your home point, and set the Mini 3 Pros maximum altitude, just to name a few.

The Safety Tab #

To access and modify the safety features of the Mini 3 Pro, we will be in the Safety tab making the necessary adjustments.

To access the safety tab, you’ll need to have both the Mini 3 Pro and DJI RC or RC-N1 on and connected to the DJI Fly app.

In the Live View screen, go into the Fly app menu/options by tapping the 3 dots in the upper right-hand corner.

You should now be in the Safety Tab. If for some reason you are in another tab, simply press the Safety tab.

Obstacle Avoidance Action #

The obstacle avoidance action is broken into three separate options and determines the behavior of the Mini 3 Pro when obstacles are detected.

These three options are:

• OFF – all obstacle avoidance sensors are turned off. In this mode, you can fly through small spaces without the sensors stopping the flight.This mode should be used only if you are confident in your stick control, as you can hit objects that may get in the way of the Mini 3 Pro.

• Brake – the Mini 3 Pro will stop/hover when an obstacle is detected and within a certain distance from the Mini 3 Pro. This option is not the best for when doing Active Track modes.

• Bypass – the more popular choice. The Mini 3 Pro, upon coming to an obstacle, will scan the immediate area to determine the best avoidance course of action and take that route.If there is no possible way around the object, the Mini 3 Pro will then hover.

Display Radar Map #

The Display Radar (which can be toggled on and off) is an on-screen aid used to quickly alert you to how close the Mini 3 Pro is to objects.

This is done through the use of the colors orange or red, depending on how close the drone is to an object.

When close to an object the radar turns orange and gradually turns to red as the Mini 3 Pro flies dangerously close to the object.

The Display Radar is particularly useful for those that turn off obstacle avoidance, so as to fly close to objects in the environment or fly through tight areas and spaces.

At the bare minimum, the Display Radar will give a visual warning of obstacles.

Max (Maximum) Altitude #

If you live in the United States, or any other country that regulates the maximum height you can fly your drone, the Max Altitude option is very important.

With the Max Altitude set to, say, just shy of 400 feet in the US, you are consistently able to fly within the regulatory guidelines without having to take your eyes off the action and check the Mini 3 Pros altitude.

When the 400 feet limit is reached (or whatever you set as the maximum height), you will be alerted that “the Maximum Altitude Has Been Reached”, and the Mini 3 Pro will no longer ascend.

If you are planning on flying within a 400-foot radius of a skyscraper or another tall structure, the FAA does allow you to fly up to 400 feet above the structure.

In this case, you may choose to set the Max Altitude higher than 400 feet, based on what you may be filming.

Auto RTH Altitude #

Although we might not think about it often, setting the Return To Home height is very important, especially when flying in areas with interference that can cause signal loss.

It is advised that prior to each flight, the flight area is visually scanned for the highest obstacle (trees or manmade structure) and then set the return to home height a few dozen feet higher than the highest obstacle.

This will ensure that the Mini 3 Pro is able to clear any objects should RTH be triggered.

Update Home Point #

Updating the home point allows you to change your home point from where it was automatically set in the DJI Fly app upon acquiring a GPS signal, and set it where you want it.

This is especially useful if you find yourself moving from one location to another rapidly while flying, perhaps when on a boat or another moving object.

The home point can only be moved once the drone is in the air and has a full GPS lock.

To update the home point:

STEP 1: While in the air, press the arrow to the right of Update Home Point.

STEP 2: A map of your immediate location will populate the center of the screen. Drag the screen until the yellow H moves to your new desired home point location. When done, simply press OK and the new home point will be updated.

If you’d like to set the home back to where it was, simply do the above steps in reverse.

Signal Lost #

The Signal Lost option, like the RTH settings, is likewise very important and works with Return To Home, to an extent.

To get to the Signal Lost behaviors, scroll all the way to the bottom of the Safety tab. You should see Advanced Safety Options. Choose this.

You’ll see that the three Signal Lost options are:

• RTH – the Mini 3 Pro will initiate the Return To Home process. This can be stopped once the drone is within visual range.

• Descend – when the signal is lost the Mini 3 Pro will descend. Not ideal if flying near water or around buildings.

• Hover – the Mini 3 Pro will stay stationary until the signal is re-established. This option is useful when flying around tall buildings.