Firmware Update Roundup - Early February

One of the coolest things about the drone industry is how quickly the technology advances.  Even cooler, your drone's capabilities aren't set in stone at the time of purchase.  That's why keeping up to date with the latest firmware upgrades is so important.

Firmware updates can improve performance and add new features, enhancing your drone's performance and your flying experience. However, if you don't update your firmware regularly you may not be taking advantage of everything your drone can do.

DJI's firmware updates are easy to install and often include big improvements, but sometimes it can be hard to keep up with all the changes. and make sure you've got the latest version. 

No worries! Our team at Dronefly has compiled a few of those firmware updates on this page for your reading convenience. We’ll also give you a rundown of any features or functionality introduced with each update, as well as some of the steps you could follow to ensure you’ve got that latest firmware on your drone. Without further ado, let’s get to it.

 

Firmware Updates for the Mavic Air 2 and Air 2s

• Mavic Air 2 - v01.01.07.10
• Mavic Air 2 - v04.11.00.32
• Air 2s Firmware - v02.04.21.30
• Remote Controller - v04.12.00.55

This January, DJI’s popular consumer drones, Mavic Air 2 and Air 2S, received a new firmware update. DJI continues the trend of previous firmware updates for these drones; the latest version fixes several bugs and improves performance rather than adding any new features.

In the first updates of 2022, the Mavic Air 2 aircraft firmware will be updated to version 01.01.07.10, and the remote controller will be updated to version 04.11.00.32. Meanwhile, DJI Air 2S aircraft firmware can now be updated to version 02.04.21.30, while the remote controller can be updated to version 04.12.00.55.

While this firmware update only focused on miscellaneous bug fixes, you should nonetheless keep your DJI drones updated to the latest firmware version for the best flying experience. Pilots can use both DJI Assistant 2 and DJI Fly to update the firmware of the Mavic Air 2 and Air 2S drones.

Ensure your drone has a battery level greater than 40% before updating the firmware. Turn on the drone and the remote controller to update using the DJI Fly app. Be sure to link the remote controller to the aircraft. Next, make sure you have Wi-Fi access on your smartphone. The DJI Fly app will automatically check for firmware updates. Tap “Start Update” when prompted for a new update. Remember - do not power off the device or exit the app during the update. Your aircraft will automatically restart after the update is completed.

You can also opt to update the aircraft and remote controller separately with DJI Assistant 2. You must first power on your aircraft and connect it to your computer with a USB cable. Open the DJI Assistant 2 application, log into your DJI account, and click on the device you wish to connect. From the left-side menu, select “Firmware Update,” wait until the firmware list appears, select the latest version, and then tap “Upgrade.” During the update, do not disconnect from the internet, power off the aircraft, or exit DJI Assistant 2. The aircraft will restart automatically once the update is complete.

It’s pretty much the same with the remote controller. Connect the drone remote controller to your computer via USB cable and turn it on. Start the update by selecting the connected device and the latest firmware version. Please ensure that you don’t turn off the aircraft, exit DJI Assistant 2, or disconnect from Wi-Fi while the update is running. If the update fails, restart the aircraft, remote controller, DJI Fly, or DJI Assistant 2, and try again.

What's New in the Latest Firmware Update for the DJI Phantom 4 RTK?

The recent P4 RTK firmware update released by DJI is v02.02.0607. You should look for this number when updating the aircraft as well as the remote controller and D-RTK 2 Mobile Station, if you have one. Unless they are all updated, they will not work together. While you're at it, your DJI GS RTK app should be updated to version 2.2.0.GSP.

DJI Phantom 4 Firmware v02.02.0607 Updates:

Manual timed shooting added in DJI GS RTK to allow for continuous shooting with certain time intervals.

• Support has been added to group manually shot photos in DJI GRS RTK. If “Manual Photo Organization” is enabled in the app, manually shot and manually timed photos will be located in the survey folder, as well as the PPK data.
• Added a prompt in DJI GS RTK to recommend RTK positioning use when performing terrain-following operations or functionality.
• Added aircraft status prompts in DJI GS RTK.
• Settings UI optimizations added in DJI GS RTK.
• Fixed the issue of Cloud PPK not being activated through activation code in some scenarios.
• Fixed the rare issue of the customized RTK network connection failing in some scenarios.

Following this firmware update, you will not be able to downgrade to v02.02.0503 or a lower version. DJI also recommends not to use this firmware with any version of DJI Terra that’s older than v2.0 as some functionality may not work properly.

How to Perform the DJI Phantom 4 RTK Firmware Update

You can use DJI Assistant 2 to update the firmware for the P4 RTK.

The DJI GS RTK app can likewise be used to update the firmware of not just the aircraft but also the remote controller. See our step-by-step guide on how to do this:

• Turn on the remote controller and the aircraft. Make sure the remote controller has internet access.
• Use a USB-C OTG cable and a Micro USB cable to connect the Remote Controller's USB-C port to the aircraft's Micro USB port.
• If new firmware is available, the DJI GS RTK app will prompt you in the lower right corner. Tap the text to reach the firmware download page.
• Tap the Update option to enter the firmware information page after selecting the desired firmware.
• Download the firmware package for all devices by tapping Download v02.02.0607.
• After the download has completed, tap Update v02.02.0607 under each device to enter the update page for each corresponding device, then tap Install and then wait until the update has completed.
• You may need to restart the remote controller and aircraft manually after the update has been completed.
• If you are updating the firmware, make sure your battery level is above 30%.

The remote controller and the aircraft may restart automatically during the firmware update process. Be sure to keep the connection active between the remote controller and the aircraft. Avoid operating them manually until the app shows that installation is completed.

Take note, the remote controller may become unlinked from the aircraft after the firmware update. Relink the remote controller and aircraft as necessary.

The DJI Mavic Mini’s 2021 Year-Ender Update

DJI Mavic Mini - v01.00.0600

DJI's Mavic Mini drone, which weighs less than 250 grams, received a firmware update in Q4 2021. What’s great about updating to firmware v01.00.0600? According to DJI's official release notes, this firmware update optimizes your drone's flight safety. Even though firmware updates sometimes contain significant feature additions or updates, they are most commonly used to fix bugs and improve performance. DJI is still providing system updates for the original Mavic Mini, which is a good indication that it's still going strong, and not about to reach end-of-life just yet.

How To Update The Firmware on Your DJI Mavic Mini Drone

The DJI Fly App or DJI Assistant 2 can be used to update the firmware on your Mavic Mini. Here's a video from DJI showing how to do it. There's a possibility that the firmware update will reset various settings on the main controller, such as the RTH altitude and maximum flight distance. Make a note of your preferred DJI Fly settings before hitting the update button, and readjust them after the update if necessary. You may need to restart your aircraft, remote controller, DJI Fly app, and DJI Assistant 2 if the update fails.

DJI Mavic 3 Firmware Update - Dec 2021

• DJI Mavic 3 - v01.00.0400
• Remote Controller - v04.13.0400
• RC Pro - v01.00.0400

 DJI dropped an awesome firmware update for the Mavic 3 before 2021 ended. Several new, desirable features are included in the firmware update, which weren't available when the drone was launched.

The firmware you have to download is v01.00.0400, and the controller firmware should be v04.13.0400. If you have the RC Pro, DJI put out update v01.00.0400 for that as well. “This version contains important updates. It is recommended to update the remote controller,” according to DJI.

In order to use the new features, you must update your DJI Fly app to the recently-released v1.5.4 version.

Get Much-Needed Features With This Firmware Update

 DJI previously said that Mavic 3's missing features would not arrive until January 2022. This particular firmware is sure to make flying more enjoyable for Mavic 3 users, even though some features are still to be added.

1. FocusTrack

FocusTrack is an intelligent flight mode that allows you to create amazing content with the Mavic 3. It's one of the most anticipated features of the new Mavic 3. FocusTrack flight modes include:

2. Spotlight 2.0

When this mode is selected, you can manually control the aircraft while the camera remains on the subject. Both stationary and moving subjects, such as boats, people, and vehicles, can be captured with this mode.

3. Point of Interest (POI) 3.0

The POI 3.0 feature allows the drone to track the subject in a circle based on the radius and flight path. In addition to static subjects, this mode also supports moving subjects, such as vehicles, boats, and people.

4. ActiveTrack 5.0

POI 3.0, Spotlight 2.0, and ActiveTrack 5.0 aren't new features of DJI, but ActiveTrack 5.0 is. Mavic drones were previously able to track a subject as it moved directly toward and away from the aircraft using ActiveTrack. With ActiveTrack 5.0, your Mavic 3 will be able to follow the subject as it moves forward, backward, left, right, and diagonally, and fly alongside as well as around each moving subject.

Additionally, if the subject moves too fast and temporarily escapes the frame, the aircraft's visual sensors will continue to track and frame the subject intelligently and pick it up as soon as it reappears.

5. MasterShots

When you select a subject, your Mavic 3 will execute 10 different maneuvers in sequence while keeping the subject in the center of the frame. At the end, you will have a short cinematic video perfect for sharing on social media!

6. Hyperlapse

You can create striking Hyperlapses with your Mavic 3 just like you can with previous DJI drones. You can choose between Free, Circle, Course Lock, and Waypoint shooting modes.

When the drone is in Free mode, it automatically takes photos and generates a time lapse video; in Circle mode, it takes photos as it circles the selected subject. On the other hand, the Course Lock feature can be used in one of two ways. The orientation of the aircraft is fixed in the first, but the subject cannot be chosen. The second method involves the plane flying around a subject with its orientation fixed. Lastly, in the Waypoint mode, the drone takes photos and generates a timelapse video automatically based on a flight path of two to five waypoints.

7. RAW Only Format Enabled For Photos

The DJI drones typically allowed users to take RAW and JPEG images together, or only JPEG images. So, professional users have been requesting the ability to shoot only in RAW for quite some time, and it's finally available in the Mavic 3.

In addition, the new DJI Mavic 3 firmware update also comes with several improvements and optimizations to enhance both the flying and filming experience. These include:

• Mavic 3 Cine's ProRes video recording noise has been reduced
• Reduced the vibration of aircraft arms in some situations
• Performance improvements in RTH
• Performance improvements in obstacle avoidance
• Hover stability improved
• Issue Fixed: Some computers were unable to connect to aircraft via USB
• Issue Fixed: In some scenarios, the color appeared abnormal
• Issue Fixed: Remote controller bugs

Watch this video if you need guidance on how to update the Mavic 3.

DJI Mavic 3 Firmware Update - January 2022

•  DJI Mavic 3 - v01.00.0500 
• Remote Controller - v04.13.0500
• RC Pro - v03.01.0500

 The firmware update in January 2022 makes the DJI Mavic 3 the true imaging powerhouse that DJI promised at launch.

The Mavic 3 brings together the legendary Hasselblad imaging systems with DJI's award-winning flight technology to produce DJI’s most powerful folding camera drone. Users were disappointed to find that the much-anticipated aircraft did not come with all the features when it first hit the markets in November 2021.

After promising to add the missing features in January 2022, DJI surprised users with a firmware update last month that quickly added key improvements to the flying experience. That particular update included features like time lapse modes, cinematic video presets (MasterShots) subject-tracking, and the crucial ability to shoot in RAW format.

With that being said, DJI's flagship drone is only just now reaching its full potential with firmware v01.00.0500 and v04.13.0500 for the remote controller. The DJI Fly app requires an updated to v1.5.8 (for iOS and Android devices) in order to use the latest features. For RC pro users, ensure that you update your DJI RC Pro to the just-released firmware version 03.01.0500.

Here’s everything that this latest firmware update for DJI Mavic 3 drone brings:

• Adds QuickShots such as Asteroid, Boomerang, Dronie, Rocket, Circle, and Helix 
• Added Panorama mode capable of capturing high-resolution images ­­
• Burst shooting is now available
• Adds digital zoom to normal video mode
• D-Log now has Color Display Assist
• Added 4K/60fps and manual Exposure Index (EI) adjustment for MasterShots
• QuickTransfer is added
• Included zoom and D-Log for FocusTrack when recording video
• Included support to set RTH altitude for Advanced RTH
• Mavic 3 Cine now comes with USB mode for copying data
• Optimization for additional color correction accuracy
• Increased Tele Camera image sharpness during high magnification shots
• Image area optimizations for Timelapse photos
• Provides support for DJI RC Pro to output clean HDMI footage
• Adds the ability to cache and download videos from DJI RC Pro to an external SD card

As you may have noticed, the new update includes not only the promised features, but also improvements based on user feedback, a great indication that DJI takes its customers' feedback seriously. This is a great time to get that wallet open if you’ve been holding back on getting the new Mavic 3!

After updating the firmware, the USB mode may be disabled. Use the DJI Fly app to enable it again.

How to Update the Firmware on Your DJI Mavic 3 Drone

The Mavic 3 drone's firmware can be updated either via the DJI Fly app or through a computer using DJI Assistant 2. Ensure that your drone's battery is above 20% before you update.

 You must first power on the Mavic 3 and remote controller, as well as make sure they are linked, before updating the aircraft with the DJI Fly app. The app will automatically scan for firmware updates for the remote controller and the aircraft when the remote controller is connected to the internet. When a firmware update notification appears, tap it to enter the update screen, and then tap "Update."

Remember - do not power off or exit the app during the update process. The aircraft will automatically restart after the update has been completed.

On the other hand, if you opt to update the Mavic 3 firmware with DJI Assistant 2, you'll first need to turn on the aircraft and connect it with a computer via a USB data cable. After that, launch DJI Assistant 2 and click in the top right corner to login with your DJI account.

You can refresh the firmware list by selecting Mavic 3 from the menu and clicking “Firmware Update” on the left. Click on v01.00.0500 to begin the firmware update. During the firmware update, keep your drone powered on. Following the update, exit DJI Assistant 2 or disconnect your aircraft from the software. Once the update is complete, the drone should automatically restart.

Connect the remote controller to the computer using a USB data cable after it is powered on. To update the firmware here, you must also select the connected device and the latest firmware version, just as you did for the drone. Close DJI Assistant 2 or disconnect the remote controller from the software after the update is finished. The remote controller should also restart automatically once the update is complete.

DJI Mobile SDK Has Added Support for the Air 2S, Mini 2, and Mini SE Drones

Android Mobile SDK v4.16

The DJI Mobile SDK has finally been updated to work with DJI Mini 2 and DJI Mini SE drones, in addition to DJI Air 2S. Third-party app developers had been eagerly awaiting this update since it would allow them to add features not natively present on these drones.

As a result, you may see popular automated flight planning apps like Maven, Litchi, Dronelink, and Drone Harmony announce that they are now compatible with DJI's Mini 2, Mini SE, and Air 2S drones.

Developers can take advantage of the tech giant's drone capabilities with the DJI Mobile SDK (MSDK). By handling lower-level functionality such as signal transmission, battery management, and communication, the SDK simplifies application development.

So, third-party developers can focus on the application that the drone is being integrated into without having to worry about robotics and embedded systems.

Android was the first platform to receive the new Mobile SDK (version 4.16) but iOS should follow soon. Highlights of this update include:

Support for DJI Mini 2

Main features include: remote controller function, gimbal function, flight controller function, camera function, etc.

MSDK does not, at this time, support panorama photo mode. This will be added in a future update. Additionally, the DA2 simulator is not supported due to hardware limitations. For debugging purposes, developers should use the MSDK built-in simulator module.

Support for DJI Mini SE

Main features include: remote controller function, gimbal function, flight controller function, camera function, etc.

Support for DJI Air 2S

Main features include: remote controller function, gimbal function, flight controller function, camera function, etc.

DJI has clarified that the MSDK cannot get the gimbal altitude data in this version because of a firmware issue, but a fix would be provided in an upcoming version. The MSDK does not support "FlyZoneManager" either because of DJI's unlock server problem.

New SDK Features - Matrice 300 RTK

DJI's flagship enterprise drone, the Matrice 300 RTK, receives a host of new features in the new SDK update. These features include:

• Super-resolution shooting mode, just like DJI Pilot's high-resolution grid shooting mode
• ActiveTrack mission support
• PinPoint and LookAt support
• Maintaining positioning accuracy mode with RTK

Additional improvements:

• Support for taking off without GPS has been added to the Mavic Mini
• Support for getting the IMU preheat status has been added to Zenmuse L1 payload - data from the point cloud is more accurate after the preheat
• Support for flight control compact logs has been added
• Support for Android 11 and Android 12 adaptations has been added
• MSDK error code added
• Waypoint missions error code added
• Fixed a number of crash bugs

DJI Fly App Update Drops New Features for The New Mavic 3

In tandem with the v01.00.0500 firmware update for the Mavic 3 aircraft, DJI has released the Fly app version 1.5.8. To take advantage of all the new features the Mavic 3 is getting, DJI Mavic 3 owners will also need to update the fly app. These updates include QuickShots, Panorama Mode, QuickTransfer, burst shooting, Color Display Assist for D-Log, and much more.

I think it's safe to say that these updates turn the already impressive Mavic 3 into a true aerial powerhouse. If you’ve been holding out on your purchase because of the missing flagship features, now is a good time as any to pick up the Mavic 3.

Nevertheless, the latest updates to the Fly app aren't confined to the Mavic 3. 

The latest Fly app also includes UI tweaks to make the camera settings such as white balance, ISO and shutter speed more accessible and easier to adjust. These tweaks should be welcome additions for DJI Air 2S and Mavic Air 2 users.

Furthermore, the Android app adds support for DJI RC Pro to save files on a microSD card and output live view with HDMI only. For these features to work, you will need the latest version of the remote controller firmware.

DJI also says version 1.5.8 improves the overall quality of the Fly app, while fixing certain bugs.

Users have responded positively to this update so far.

Final Thoughts

So there you have it - Dronefly’s beefy rundown of a few of the significant firmware updates for the last few months. Remember to keep your device firmware updated to ensure the best flying experience for your drones. In addition, if you need help picking out the right drone for your projects, our team at Dronefly is here to help. Click here to contact us today.