Your drone loses GPS signal during flight. How do you navigate this unexpected challenge?

3 Visual Cues

Use visual cues from the environment to navigate. Landmarks, roads, and other identifiable features can help you orientate yourself and the drone. If you're flying over a featureless area, look for any movement on the ground that might indicate wind direction and use this information to judge the drift of your drone. Keeping the drone in line of sight is crucial; if you can't see it, you can't control it.

4 Emergency Prep

Before you ever take off, always prepare for emergencies like GPS signal loss. Know your drone's fail-safes and how they behave. For example, some drones are programmed to land immediately or hover in place if they lose a signal. Familiarize yourself with these protocols and practice manual flying regularly so you're prepared to take over if necessary. Also, always ensure your drone's firmware is up to date, as manufacturers often release updates that improve reliability in such scenarios.

5 RTH Feature

If your drone has an RTH feature, understand how it works without GPS. Some drones can use a combination of other onboard sensors and algorithms to approximate a return path. However, without GPS, this may not be precise, and obstacles could pose a risk. Always set an appropriate RTH altitude to clear any obstacles in the area before you start flying. If GPS signal is lost, activate RTH if possible, but be ready to take manual control if it fails.

6 Final Checks

Finally, conduct regular checks during flight. Keep an eye on the GPS signal strength through your controller's interface. If you notice it weakening, be proactive and either bring the drone closer or prepare to switch to manual control. Regularly scanning the drone's systems can give you a few crucial seconds to react if something goes wrong, such as a sudden GPS signal loss.