I'm in EXACTLY the same boat/situation as you - paid preorder with DroneWorks. If we purchase this Smart Controller I feel like we should be entitled to a very low cost upgrade to the next Controller while being allowed to KEEP the v1 Controller- since I will need it to fly my current drone. I doubt that will happen. This is extremely unfair to loyal (to this point) customers.
Notice From Autel About Controllers and Compatibility in the Future
- Thread starter Eagle928
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mshmovie
Well-Known Member
They should produce a single smart controller that works with both versions, delay release, accept a slightly reduced profit margin, proceed with v2 production based on the new chip, do warranty and insurance support of v1 owners with whatever version they choose to stock. Two versions of the controllers that don't deliver the promised feature of v1 and forward compatibility is not a solution; it's decalring a solution half way through brainstorming the problem.
mshmovie
Well-Known Member
Understand that prices could be driven by demand but my thought was those who ordered early are clearly Autel ‘s “ hardcore” base and to give them a product with much promos and fanfare to now be changing the “ deal” after the orders are placed Autel clearly screwed up here and to provide a discount on this controller to the Autel devotees who pre ordered on the promise for future compatibility the value has diminished if not the cost of the unit. Autel should take the loss and provide some sort of “compensation “ for this late change in the future viability of the unit
mshmovie
Well-Known Member
Please do email [email protected] (CEO) and [email protected] (so a ticket is registered). I don't think Autel means to destroy their client base and likely made a panicked decision that felt smart (or one would hope).
PingSpike
Well-Known Member
I wonder if they'll sell a kit?
Just a new "standard" v2 remote contoller (not the SC) plus a v2 airframe with no props, no battery, no gimbal, no cables, no case, no nothing - but at a reduced price, so people can upgrade from what is now an end of life drone?
Just a new "standard" v2 remote contoller (not the SC) plus a v2 airframe with no props, no battery, no gimbal, no cables, no case, no nothing - but at a reduced price, so people can upgrade from what is now an end of life drone?
mshmovie
Well-Known Member
As a DJI owner with the Smart controller, I was pleasantly surprised to see the release of the Air 2s bring 1) Smart Controller compatibility despite it using Occusync 3 (the Smart Controller was invented and released during Occusync 2's lifecycle - I have no issues with it at all) and 2) Battery compatibility with the Air 2. These were very Customer Centric decisions and were beyond my expectations. Autel Robotics needs to always differentiate itself in the market to maintain the market share it has and gain more of DJI's. This Smart Controller, chip supply mitigation debacle will not do either. I can envision Autel Robotics meeting 3DR and Yuneec in terms of relevance and market share if they proceed with this strategy.
For the life if me, I cannot fathom why as DJI works to make their Smart Controller compatible with MORE models/versions of their drones, Autel is doing the EXACT OPPOSITE by fragmenting their product compatibility whilst charging considerably more for their controller. To top it off, they are making the decision BEFORE shipping the product - when the issue could be corrected with a change in strategy/design. Can you imagine how you'd feel as a Dragonfish/high end customer? It doesn't take much intelligence to know this is a POOR decision on Autel's part. As a software engineer (32 years experience) that works at an engineering firm - I KNOW there are ways to work around the chip shortage - it may cut into their short term profit margin. A redesign with backwards compatibility is definitely feasible. The chip shortage seems to me to be a convenient excuse. If they can't make better of this situation I will move to a different brand and use my 5 month EVO 2 as an expensive throw away / training excersise / backup drone.
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mshmovie
Well-Known Member
Thank you. That's a pragmatic idea to propose to Autel. [email protected] (to get it ticketed and on the record) and [email protected] (the CEO) so the C-Suite hears great ideas from the community. Again, thank you.
UasDriver
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When I bought my EVOII Pro, I made the "assumption" it was an orphan outta the box, so I'll skip the cool new controller, keep flying and wait for the stupid future to shake itself out, maybe pick up some crashed sales to keep flying since warrantee/service is a useless concept in CCP language
mshmovie
Well-Known Member
Our background is identical; I've been doing the software engineering thing since 1979.
We're obviously well aligned and I view this as our opportunity to make noise and save a company with a great product, a promising product and a challenge poorly mitigated from making a bad decision for the good of them and their consumers. DJI is not perfect, but I do enjoy every drone of theirs I fly (except my Spark which is now very outclassed). If DJI supported the Mini 2 on their Smart Controller it would be complete, but it's convenient as can be and it'll fly my M2P, M2Z and Air 2S (damn good and handy - worth the $).
This is Autel Robotic's chance to pull ahead with a product that supports many airframes, build more platforms and then sell them to their happy customers. They're about to blow it in a very big way.
Emailed both emailed Autel yesterday and Randall today
mshmovie
Well-Known Member
Consider that @advexure is not the root cause of this issue; they're another type of victim that could not control their destiny. I'm afraid they, an other resellers, will take a hit in ways we can't envision and that's unfair to them. What I think the resellers, such as @advexure and @Empire Drone , should do it make statements of fact to Autel Robotics sharing the impact and providing alterntive ways forward. If they just sit there and accept it, they will have product on the shelf that will just sit there until sold at a loss; not fair to them either.
I also suspect the resellers are in the process of getting bombarded (which is understandable).
Please be noisy and don't take this. Make your noise at [email protected] (it'll create a ticket categorized with the largest issue of concern) and [email protected] (CEO) so he can reevaluate the decision and influence a better way forward - if he's a thoughtful executive.
Worst design decision ever, every review on the Evo II I have seen mentions that they get pressed constantly based on their position.
That is an excellent idea and partial solution to this issue! - Assuming the price would be reasonable.
mshmovie
Well-Known Member
They're going to have an interesting start to their work week; it's not going to go as planned - a very good thing. Thank you.
Sorry to hear you are in the same boat, I've been looking forward to receiving any day now but now this! There is no way I can spend 1,200 on a smart controller that is not forwards compatible, that's more expensive than the drone itself.
Complete madness if this is not rectified, it seems our only get out option is to simply wait for several more months for the smart controller to be available that is forwards compatible and isn't a major cock up.
I have also had bad experiences with their support team who never gave me any fix after upgrading to the latest firmware. Thankfully I had a fly away and got a new Evo II Pro through my drone insurance, every time I switch it on it tells me a firmware upgrade is available...no way I am doing that for a long time, you also cant even roll back the newer firmware versions.
Well if this a strategy to increase sales I can't think of anything more stupid, obviously the complete opposite will happen.
i prefer to look at it from a positive point of view. mostly because we still have a great drone and it's the best on the market....despite the issues. don't get me wrong, this is nothing short of a disaster. but instead of looking at the big picture horror show, i'm going to focus on MY situation. i will keep my pre-order. yes it should be discounted because i am basically paying for obsolete technology that will hit a dead end; it's basically doa. it simply isn't worth $1200 but to me....it kinda is because when i fly, i will get $1200 worth from it today....regardless the v1/v2 roadmap. however, when i reach it's usefulness, i see two options: sell it for $2000 because there are fleets of v1 equipment on the market with scarce v1 availability. that's not a guarantee which leads me to option 2. autel should allow you to trade-in your equipment for v2 or autel3 upgrade for fair market value. pretty sure autel will be able to retrofit and/or they could turn around v1 equipment for warranty repair, etc.
like many others here, i've been part of the business and these things happen...more often than you think. back then, the situation was mostly out of your control because we were professional and at the top of our game.; we knew how to run a business and our life was centered around making the customers happy. can't say that for sure today because you never know what people are thinking, how long they knew about it, or even if they planned for issues. while there are still experts and professionals in the game, the entire chain is NOT, so there's that. i.e. not everybody cares anymore. too many factors to deal with so i guess that's the excuse. i choose to roll with this because in the end, i just fly and have fun. somebody will buy your v1 controller and your v1 drone and you will get a fair price and that's the situation whether there is a v2 or not. would it have been nice to keep using v1 sc for years and years to come? sure but for me, that's the only loss. in reality, i have a dji sc and it has a perpetual life but not so much. if it were to die today, i would bury it and move on. if o3 launches on the m3 and sc, googles, and nothing from the past works.....
my v1 drone has a warranty and so will my future v1 sc. i also have autel care. if something happens, why would i care how it gets fixed...as long as it gets fixed and that's on autel. agreed after one year, we have a problem. for me, i'm just going to be happy this happened now instead of later this year. believe me, we are lucky to be getting v1 sc which in many places would have been cancelled and you would be waiting until 2022 to get v2 sc or autel3. i think we all knew that all this fancy equipment would be worthless one day and unfortunately that day arrived sooner than later and without warning. love my livedeck but really how much did i use it? as long as i can donate it to someone who can use it, let the market decide. i take all of this back if the v2 arrives with double the range, a lower price, and a ton better performance.
like many others here, i've been part of the business and these things happen...more often than you think. back then, the situation was mostly out of your control because we were professional and at the top of our game.; we knew how to run a business and our life was centered around making the customers happy. can't say that for sure today because you never know what people are thinking, how long they knew about it, or even if they planned for issues. while there are still experts and professionals in the game, the entire chain is NOT, so there's that. i.e. not everybody cares anymore. too many factors to deal with so i guess that's the excuse. i choose to roll with this because in the end, i just fly and have fun. somebody will buy your v1 controller and your v1 drone and you will get a fair price and that's the situation whether there is a v2 or not. would it have been nice to keep using v1 sc for years and years to come? sure but for me, that's the only loss. in reality, i have a dji sc and it has a perpetual life but not so much. if it were to die today, i would bury it and move on. if o3 launches on the m3 and sc, googles, and nothing from the past works.....
my v1 drone has a warranty and so will my future v1 sc. i also have autel care. if something happens, why would i care how it gets fixed...as long as it gets fixed and that's on autel. agreed after one year, we have a problem. for me, i'm just going to be happy this happened now instead of later this year. believe me, we are lucky to be getting v1 sc which in many places would have been cancelled and you would be waiting until 2022 to get v2 sc or autel3. i think we all knew that all this fancy equipment would be worthless one day and unfortunately that day arrived sooner than later and without warning. love my livedeck but really how much did i use it? as long as i can donate it to someone who can use it, let the market decide. i take all of this back if the v2 arrives with double the range, a lower price, and a ton better performance.
If they can’t get the chips for v1 compatibility, they can’t… that’s possibly not in their control. BUT, how they handle the transition is. Seems like the easiest would be to not sell a dead end Smart Controller for $1200 at all… and offer a discounted board upgrade so a v1 airframe can be upgraded to a v2 for SC compatibility.
To just orphan a relatively new product and sell a very expensive piece of hardware knowing it doesn’t meet the promise is… not a good look.
To just orphan a relatively new product and sell a very expensive piece of hardware knowing it doesn’t meet the promise is… not a good look.
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