What happens if the drone takes off without acquiring a GPS signal?

[AdminForo]

What happens if the drone takes off without acquiring a GPS signal: If the DJI Mavic 4 Pro takes off without having acquired a stable GPS signal, the flight will be in ATTI mode, meaning the drone will not have access to satellite positioning systems or be able to hover automatically. In this mode, the drone hovers using only its inertial and barometric sensors, making it more vulnerable to wind currents, as it cannot compensate for its position on its own. This condition requires greater skill on the part of the pilot to manually control the device.

Taking off without a GPS signal means that a home point for automatic return to home is not recorded. If the remote controller signal is lost during flight or a battery failure occurs, the drone will not be able to return to the takeoff location on its own and will either hover or slowly descend without location control, increasing the risk of losing the equipment. This is one of the main reasons why DJI recommends not flying until sufficient satellite acquisition is confirmed on-screen.

ATTI mode also disables intelligent functions that require positioning, such as automated flights, object tracking, or programmed trajectories. If the pilot attempts to perform any of these functions without GPS, the app will display warnings that the action cannot be completed. This drastically limits the drone's capabilities, transforming it into a completely manual vehicle that requires experience and constant attention to avoid accidents or unintentional deviations.

Therefore, you should always wait for the drone to acquire a strong and stable GPS signal before beginning a flight. This process may take a few seconds, especially if the drone has recently been powered on or is in a new location. Flying without GPS should only be considered in controlled situations and by experienced operators. The integration of GPS into the Mavic 4 Pro is one of its main technological advantages, and taking advantage of it properly guarantees safer, more precise flights with fully activated advanced functions.