Calibration is essential because it establishes a baseline for your drone’s internal sensors, such as the gyroscope, accelerometer, and compass. Calibrating the compass and IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) on a drone helps to ensure that the drone’s flight controls are accurate and stable.
Here’s what each calibration does:
Drone Compass Calibration:
The compass on a drone is used to determine the drone’s orientation and heading. If the compass is not calibrated correctly, the drone’s flight controls may become erratic or unstable. Compass calibration involves rotating the drone around all three axes (yaw, pitch, and roll) while the drone’s GPS and compass sensors detect the magnetic field. This allows the drone’s flight controller to accurately determine the drone’s orientation and heading.
Drone IMU Calibration:
The IMU on a drone is a set of sensors that measure the drone’s linear and angular acceleration, as well as its rotational rate. IMU calibration involves placing the drone on a level surface and allowing the sensors to detect the gravity and other forces acting on the drone. This allows the drone’s flight controller to accurately measure the drone’s position and movement.
Calibrating the compass and IMU is important for ensuring the accuracy and stability of the drone’s flight controls. A properly calibrated drone will be able to fly & hover more smoothly and accurately, reducing the risk of crashes or other accidents. It is recommended to calibrate the compass and IMU on a regular basis, especially if you have traveled to a new location or if you notice any issues with the drone’s flight performance.
Note:
- In most cases, you’re expected to calibrate your drone when you change your location (long distance) from one state or country.
- Don’t calibrate your drone close to metal objects (it will be difficult to calibrate successfully).
- Always check your calibration settings before flying, most especially flying a drone with RTK enabled (it might not warn you) but it won’t connect to RTK until you calibrate successfully
