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Frequently Asked Questions

Check most frequently asked questions here, if you still need help then please contact us at yellow@hello.com. This text can be changed by going to Design & Settings > Global Settings > Intro Text.

Pricing

AKL is supported across a variety of drones, mobile devices and operating systems. See list below.

It can be a resource intensive application (learn more). For the best experience and results, we recommend using modern hardware whenever possible, meaning mobile devices released within the last year or two. If you use an older device, you will probably encounter performance issues.

Don't see your platform? Let us know and we will do our best to add support.

Important: When DJI releases a new drone, it can take several weeks or months before they update the DJI SDK to support the new hardware. Once DJI releases an update, AKL typically adds support within a few days or weeks.

The Mavic 3 and the DJI RC PRO are not supported yet.

Sign up for product updates to get notified of new releases.

Browsers

Mobile Devices

AKL is built on the DJI Mobile SDK, which does not always include support for DJI's latest drones. DJI does not usually reveal specific timelines for new hardware support, but in the past we have seen it range from days to months. If you don't see a specific drone on our system requirements page, it means that the DJI SDK does not support it yet.

Click here to sign up for product updates and get notified when new drones are supported.

Click here to see the full list of hardware that the Mobile SDK supports 

Yes, the best way to get support is by posting to the forums (free user registration required):

AKL team members, including the developers, actively monitor the forums on a daily basis and we typically respond to unanswered threads within 24-48 hours.

If you need a private conversation, we do offer email support for Business accounts, but the preferred method is the forums since the answers will be publicly available to help other users (this is how we are able to offer free support). The quality of the support is the same regardless of the method because it is the same team members that respond to both channels.

NOTE: We also offer email support for questions related to billing. 

Most flight automation apps are limited to uploading missions to the drone for execution. This approach is called onboard waypoints, and it is the reason why most apps are essentially clones of each other - they rely on the same underlying flight controller.

AKL supports both onboard waypoints and an alternate approach to running missions called virtual stick.

Virtual Stick (default)

Virtual stick missions send commands in real-time as a human pilot would using the sticks on a remote control. While this approach does require a constant connection to the drone, it unlocks many features in AKL that are not possible with onboard waypoints, such as the advanced settings on Map, Facade, and Inspection components.

The virtual stick approach also unlocks automated missions for drones that do not support onboard waypoints, such as the Mavic Mini and Mavic Air 2.

Onboard Waypoints

Unlike virtual stick missions, onboard waypoint missions run on the drone and this allows these types of missions to continue even while the drone is disconnected. This behavior can be desirable for certain use cases and regulatory environments, and AKL has several unique features that partially mitigate the inherent limitations of DJI's onboard flight controller:

Multiple Components

AKL mission plans can effectively run multiple DJI Waypoint missions without requiring the user to manually open and upload each new mission. Each DJI waypoint mission is just another component of the same mission plan.

Unlimited Waypoints

AKL effectively supports unlimited waypoints because missions that go over DJI's 99 waypoint limit can be split into multiple components. Each set of waypoints does need to be uploaded after the previous waypoints finish, so you do need to have a connection between components.

Powerful Converter

AKL allows you to convert any normal mission plan into a DJI waypoint mission plan, meaning that you can take advantage of many of the great features of the AKL mission planner (estimates, mission preview, etc) and there are even some optimizations for specific types of components such as:

  1. Path - handles bezier curves - not just straight segments between waypoints
  2. Map - uses waypoint actions with distance-based triggering
  3. Inspection - takes full advantage of waypoint actions for single-gimbal drones

Smart Mission Resuming

AKL supports resuming anywhere along the path of a DJI waypoint mission, not just from specific waypoints, and it automatically remembers this location (it doesn't need to ask you to enter a waypoint to resume from). Like virtual stick AKL missions, you can resume across batteries, devices, drones, users, etc. 

Open https://ids.hdcircles.tech in a browser on the target device, and then open the More menu by tapping the icon in the top left (hamburger button). Next, tap Fly and you will be presented with a choice to download the iOS or Android version.

Click here if you are looking to install the native app on a DJI monitor. 

Download and install the APKs for your device.

Please keep in mind that DJI's monitors are effectively low performance, outdated Android devices, which may cause performance limitations for AKL (more discussion here). For the best user experience, consider upgrading to a more capable and modern Android or iOS device that has been released within the last two years.

IMPORTANT: You must allow all of the permissions that the app asks for, otherwise the app will not function. See this article for more information.

Smart Controller

CrystalSky

Phantom 4 Advanced / Pro V1 Screen

NOTE: Do not try to install AKL from the Google Play store after installing the Google Play APK - It will not work! Also, Google Play Services may show display error notifications periodically. Tap Settings > Apps > Swipe Left (to view all apps) > Google Play Services > Force Stop. 

You should be ready to take control of the drone at any point during a mission in case of an emergency. The quickest way to take control is to flip the flight mode switch out of P (to sport or another mode) or use the hardware pause button on the remote controller. Either option will instantly pause the mission and immediately give you control of the drone. You can also tap the pause button on the screen or hold down the RTH button on the remote controller.

Important: Some remote controllers, such as the Mavic Mini, do not have a flight mode switch or a pause button. In this case, you can press the RTH button and once RTH activates, press it again to deactivate RTH and take control. 

The AKL web app is a progressive web application that provides account and repository management and mission planning user interfaces. The primary focus of the web app is pre-flight and post-flight activities (mission planning and review).

The AKL mobile native app is a free application on iOS and Android that provides account selection and mission execution user interfaces. The primary focus of the native app is flight (starting, running, and resuming missions). 

AKL stores mission plans and flights on the cloud under secure user accounts. All the online devices you are logged into are cloud connected and synchronized real-time. Use multiple computers, tablets and mobile devices with 1 account or in multi-user Growth accounts. 

When you create or edit a mission on the web planner, the plan will become available or will be updated immediately on any online logged-in mobile devices. There is no need to "transfer" or "upload" any mission to the mobile device.

Similarly, if you are online and flying a mission, activity is synchronized real-time. Once a flight has been started or completed, the activity is immediately available on the web browser. This enables other useful features, such as allowing a user at home to monitor an active mission, or allowing a user to finish a mission with a different mobile device if they have ran out of battery on their primary mobile device.

If a device is offline, any synchronization mentioned will not be performed until that device is connected back to the internet.  

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