Aiming for the Stars: My Aspirations in Aerospace and AI

Hello, dear reader,

Here we are again, ready to dive into the latest twists and turns of our Capstone adventure. Who could have guessed that the quest to control a DJI Mini 3 drone with a GE76 Raider computer would morph into such an intriguing puzzle? If you've been following our journey, you know we've faced two monumental challenges: mastering the drone's control and streaming its live video seamlessly to our computer. 

The heartbeat of our Capstone project lies in streaming the drone’s view to the computer. My initial solution involved a series of intricate wired connections: from the drone to the controller via USB-C, the controller to the HDMI port of a video capture device through a USB-C to HDMI adapter, and finally, the video capture device to the computer via USB-C, making it recognizable as a webcam. The tech gods had other plans. Despite my best efforts, the live-stream connection failed spectacularly. I restarted the controller, rebooted my laptop, and even tested the HDMI connections on a television. Alas, nothing worked. Fail #1.

But fear not! Adversity often begets innovation. Thus, Plan B emerged, promising a new path to success. This time, we aimed to hardwire the controller to my phone, connect the laptop, controller, and phone to the same WiFi network, and download the DJI GO 4 app, which offers an RTMP input that can be linked to the laptop via the IP address. Complex? Yes. Feasible? Absolutely. Was Plan B a success, no. Fail # 2. Comically, Plan B was a grand example of not “checking it twice”.  The lesson learned? Compatibility issues. The DJI GO 4 app is not compatible with the DJI Mini 3 drone (see Figure A for DJI GO 4 compatibilities).

DJI GO 4 Model Compatibility
Mavic 2	Phantom 4 Pro V2.0
Mavic Air	Inspire 2
Spark	Mavic Pro
Phantom 4 Advanced	Phantom 4
Phantom 4 Pro	Matrice 200
Matrice 210	Matrice 210 RTK

Additionally, the DJI RC controller that came with the model is also unsuitable for seamless streaming to a computer (see Figure B). I must admit, I was under the mistaken impression that a more expensive product would offer more advanced and versatile technology. Clearly, this assumption couldn't have been further from the truth.

Fig. B – DJI RC Controller

Thus, here we are, meticulously combing through YouTube videos, cross-referencing information with the automated DJI chat, and gradually gaining a deeper understanding of the concepts. From this rigorous process, Plan C has emerged. I wish I could say it was as simple as jailbreaking the RC controller or discovering a magical cord, but instead, I find myself purchasing a DJI RC N1 controller (see Fig. C). 

Fig. C – DJI RC N1 Controller

This controller will enable me to stream from my phone to my computer. It’s a pricey lesson, but hey even Spiderman had his setbacks—remember, he couldn’t save Mary Jane despite his superpowers.

Stay tuned and SUBSCRIBE. Fingers crossed for Plan C's success.

Warm Regards, ++Yours Truly