Geo Fencing Coming To Autel In Conflict Regions

[lmccaskill4wildlife]

Geofencing coming to Autel products

I have it on good authority that this is a valid statement, probably an update to avoid from Autel for everyone (GM). I have reached out for a response from Autel but nothing yet. DJI must have rec…

www.suasnews.com

To ensure that Autel Robotics products and services are not used in violent conflicts, no-fly zones have been established for sensitive areas, including: all of Palestine, all of Israel, all of Russia, all of Ukraine, all of Myanmar,Taiwan, Aruna Char Region, Kashmir Region.

Why is Australia a no-fly zone? Does Autel know something the rest of us don't know?

 

[lmccaskill4wildlife]

I do not think Autel will implement geo fencing as long as there is inventory to sell left. That is one of their selling points, however I do the see the possibility that it will be required later if the FAA decides in the future it will be necessary just like RID, but I do not see that happening for atleast a couple of more years and by then all of consumer Autel drones by then will not supported by Autel and will become "legacy" items. Just like the Autel Xstar and Autel Evo 1. I have both 2 old Autel 1 evo drones, one still brand new and a Evo LIte Plus and the last firmware update for the Evo 1 was almost 3 years ago. I am starting to think that the old legacy drones like the evo 1 and Xstar will be more valuable as time goes on because of the fact they do not have the ability to have geo fencing on them since atleast with the Evo 1 you can fly the drone without a phone .

Geo fencing has already been implemented

 

[lmccaskill4wildlife]

It's not an issue in non war torn areas like the USA.

It is in Australia. Should Australia be worried?

 

[G_G]

Why is Australia a no-fly zone? Does Autel know something the rest of us don't know?

No, Autel just lies about their geofencing, just like DJI did initially, in telling everyone GEO was optional, so that you could turn it off if you didn't want it, until you couldn't anymore, when the toggle was removed!

Autel's mandatory geofencing is now at their whim. Apparently, in their infinite wisdom, they decided to make it compulsory in Australia. Australia's criminal ancestry of 162,000 transported British prisoners between 1788 and 1868 must have Autel worried. 20% of the Australian population today are descended from people originally transported as convicts! "Be verry afraid!" LOL!

 

[Lmccaskill]

I do not think Autel will implement geo fencing as long as there is inventory to sell left. That is one of their selling points, however I do the see the possibility that it will be required later if the FAA decides in the future it will be necessary just like RID, but I do not see that happening for atleast a couple of more years and by then all of consumer Autel drones by then will not supported by Autel and will become "legacy" items. Just like the Autel Xstar and Autel Evo 1. I have both 2 old Autel 1 evo drones, one still brand new and a Evo LIte Plus and the last firmware update for the Evo 1 was almost 3 years ago. I am starting to think that the old legacy drones like the evo 1 and Xstar will be more valuable as time goes on because of the fact they do not have the ability to have geo fencing on them since atleast with the Evo 1 you can fly the drone without a phone .

They already have implemented geofencing

 

[Lmccaskill]

They already have implemented geofencing

They already have implemented geofencing

 

[Lmccaskill]

Cost me thousands of dollars in travel money to demonstrate their Evo Max N at an international crocodile conference only to fail in the field. I guess attendees learned what dron not to use! Customer service offered me discounts on future purchases of Autel equipment. Why would I purchase any more equipment from Autel?

 

[Lmccaskill]

No, Autel just lies about their geofencing, just like DJI did initially, in telling everyone GEO was optional, so that you could turn it off if you didn't want it, until you couldn't anymore, when the toggle was removed!

Autel's mandatory geofencing is now at their whim. Apparently, in their infinite wisdom, they decided to make it compulsory in Australia. Australia's criminal ancestry of 162,000 transported British prisoners between 1788 and 1868 must have Autel worried. 20% of the Australian population today are descended from people originally transported as convicts! "Be verry afraid!" LOL!

At least DJI has a process to unlock geofencing and responds in minutes to customer requests or issues. Autel was 2 days past the time of my planned use! Total failure of support and customer service

 

[Lmccaskill]

I was at the Texas Robotics Summit in March with 400+ in attendance and one of the common topics discussed was the poor service and customer support from Autel drones. It’s really a shame since Autel seemed to be really moving up in popularity especially in the conservation field where I work mostly. Their response to issues is no response, late response or shallow discounts in upgraded or new equipment. Why would I buy new equipment or recommend anyone to buy Autel drones?

 

[Lmccaskill]

Unless Australia has law prohibiting drone flight, it shouldn't be. Is that where you are now?

I was there to demonstrate the drone to crocodile biologists from around the world. It wouldn’t fly or connect with satellites anywhere I went. Had to cut my trip short because of the failure to perform

 

[Eagle928]

I was there to demonstrate the drone to crocodile biologists from around the world. It wouldn’t fly or connect with satellites anywhere I went. Had to cut my trip short because of the failure to perform

That is so weird. I can't imagine why it couldn't connect to satellites unless they don't use the kind that work in Australia.
Okay, this got me curious so I looked it up. Autel uses the GNSS (Glonass) and GPS satellite systems for use where those satellites cover, like the USA. Australia uses something different so my guess is the drones sold for use in AU are configured to use a different system that wouldn't work in the USA. That makes sense. It's not Autel's fault your USA drone would not access Australia's GRAS satellite system.

This took me all of 5 minutes to work out. I'm sure you could have done it in half the time.

 

[BadMadEd]

Warning! In the new Lite and Nano firmware, Russia and Ukraine are now included in the no-fly zone. If you plan to fly in these countries, do not install the update dated 2024-07-11.

 

[Bob.EVO.Lite]

Warning! In the new Lite and Nano firmware, Russia and Ukraine are now included in the no-fly zone. If you plan to fly in these countries, do not install the update dated 2024-07-11.

Thanks for that update. Have you had any issues with the new firmware?

 

[BadMadEd]

Thanks for that update. Have you had any issues with the new firmware?

Luckily for me, I have an iPhone, and the Apple appstore still has an old version of the application that does not allow me to update my Lite+ and Nnano+. But friends who have Android phones downloaded the Autel Sky application v.1.4.100 from the official website of Autel and updated their drones, as a result, now at startup a message appears that flights are prohibited in the country, and accordingly, the drone does not take off. Although I looked in the new Android application, only Crimea is in the no-fly zone, and Russia and Ukraine are in the warning area, but even in these "warning areas", Autel drones can't fly now.

 

[TheChudPH]

Yes, and it was very controversial. It was also always initially advertised as an optional safety feature, and it could also be turned off in the DJI Go app settings, until it suddenly couldn’t, about 18 months later, when the toggle was quietly removed! Autel quietly installed their NFZ databases about 3 years ago with on screen warnings over the FPV view that cannot be removed, unlike DJI Geo permissions that can be unlocked.

In any event, Autel is slowly emulating DJI, by first installing the NFZ maps and then now changing how they are being used, to the detriment of the user. They decide where and when you can fly the drone.

Basically, with either drone brand, you don't own the drone. You are buying a limited license from them to use their aircraft, which use they continue to control into perpetuity through ever changing FW and app updates!

Add Philippines to the list of "war torn" areas now subject to Autel NFZ restrictions. I updated my drone and now the ENTIRE country of the Philippines is a No Fly Zone. I assume the PRC and South China Sea controversy is the root cause. I contacted Autel for an explanation but they neither confirmed nor denied what obviously was the case.

 

[TheChudPH]