DJI Mini 3 Pro hits school bus showing the limits of ActiveTrack and APAS 4.0

Check out this video in which a DJI Mini 3 Pro hits an approaching school bus. Luckily, nobody got injured in the making of this video, except the DJI mini drone, which suffered a broken arm and gimbal.

The video was uploaded to Youtube by Airbazoo and demonstrates the limitations of the DJI Mini 3 Pro FocusTrack suite which includes, ActiveTrack 4.0 and APAS 4.0.

The video also shows the need for people to fly their drones safely and responsibly. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) considers flying a small UAS while purposely distracted by another task to be careless or reckless.

At the beginning of the video, Airbazoo mentions that he lives in Canada and not in the US, so we will assume that that’s where the video was recorded.

ActiveTrack 4.0 on the DJI Mini 3 Pro

“So yeah, my DJI MINI 3 PRO GOT WRECKED BY A SCHOOL BUS 🙁 – I was testing out the new tracking features on the DJI Mavic Mini 3 Pro using ActiveTrack and the sensors using APAS 4.0 and unfortunately things did not go as planned…” Airbazoo said on Youtube. “Let me know what your thoughts are on the new tracking features on this drone, I personally thought the drone did an AMAZING job of tracking me, it was just an unfortunate situation that I may have put the drone in which could have made it difficult for it to succeed.”

The DJI Mini 3 Pro comes with FocusTrack, which among other things includes ActiveTrack 4.0. The drone also comes with Advanced Pilot Assistance Systems (APAS 4.0) which enables the drone to avoid and fly around obstacles (but clearly not moving obstacles).

DJI states on their website that APAS 4.0 detects objects in the aircraft’s flight path in real-time. This allows the DJI Mini 3 Pro to avoid obstacles, even in complicated environments. However, APAS 4.0 is not available while recording 4K/48fps, 4K/50fps, 4K/60fps, 2.7K/48fps, 2.7K/50fps, 2.7K/60fps, and 1080p/120fps video.

When you look closely at the video you can see that it was shot in N(ormal) mode at 4K30fps and that ActiveTrack was enabled. However, it seems that the forward motion of the drone in combination with the rapidly approaching school bus was too much for the DJI Mini 3 Pro to recognize in time and the drone was unable to avoid the obstacle.

The DJI Mini 3 Pro hit the school bus, but it seems that only the drone suffered any damage.

On the DJI RC the following warning message was displayed:

“Navigation system error. Aircraft impact detected. Ensure current environment is safe before continuing operation.”

Please keep your environment in mind when you fly a drone, and please be sure to take the required TRUST exam from the FAA to learn more about safe and responsible drone flying in the US.

Apart from hitting the school bus, the DJI Mini 3 Pro seemed quite capable avoiding trees, and other signs. At times the footage was a bit jerky, but it is impressive for such a small and lightweight drone to have flying capabilities as shown in this video.

DJI Mini 3 Pro hits school bus video

Let us know in the comments below, what you think about the DJI Mini 3 Pro and the drone’s ability to avoid obstacles. Click here for more drone incidents.

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