Experiences – Life – Inspiration 🇨🇭🇯🇵

While I wholeheartedly love my new FPV hobby, I have to honestly mention my main niggle with the DJI Neo. This post is for anyone considering getting into the drone hobby, specifically with the DJI Neo, which is truly the perfect beginner’s FPV drone for those who do not want to dive into the technicalities of building their own quadcopter.

I started flying and practicing FPV skills outdoors last October, and I can tell you that nothing compares to real-life experience. While simulator practice is still beneficial, the true feel for FPV comes from practicing outdoors.

Now, let’s talk about my main niggle with the DJI Neo: prop wash. If you’re unfamiliar with this term, it refers to the turbulent, disrupted air created by the propellers, leading to instability and unwanted oscillations in flight. This typically happens when a drone descends rapidly or makes sudden throttle adjustments, causing it to get trapped in its own turbulent airflow. The result is visible shaking or wobbling, commonly known as prop wash oscillation.

Causes of Prop Wash in FPV Drones:

1. Descending Too Quickly: Rapid descent can cause the drone to enter its own turbulent air, reducing lift efficiency.
2. Sudden Throttle Cuts: Quick reductions in throttle can lead to interference from previous prop wash.
3. Sharp Turns or Direction Changes: Fast yaw, roll, or pitch movements create unstable airflow around the drone.
4. Loose or Soft Tune: A poorly tuned PID (Proportional, Integral, Derivative) controller might struggle to compensate for turbulent air.
5. Low-Quality or Worn-Out Props: Damaged or inefficient propellers generate more turbulence, exacerbating the issue.

How to Minimize Prop Wash:

✔ Avoid Rapid Descents: Descend diagonally instead of straight down to steer clear of turbulent air.
✔ Improve PID Tuning: Increasing the D-term can help reduce oscillations, just be cautious of motor heat.
✔ Use High-Quality Props: Invest in stiffer, well-balanced propellers to minimize turbulence.
✔ Enable Dynamic Filtering: Many flight controllers support dynamic notch filters to smooth out oscillations.
✔ Fly with Throttle Control: Avoid drastic throttle cuts or rapid throttle-ups during maneuvers.

Prop wash is common in FPV flying, especially when learning freestyle or racing maneuvers. With proper tuning and improved flying techniques, you can significantly mitigate its effects.

Recently, I’ve found myself crashing the Neo more often as I became comfortable flying faster and closer to the ground. Today, during my practice, I lost control several times due to prop wash, resulting in a crash that cracked the propeller frame up to the middle of the body. Fortunately, it is still functional with no major malfunctions. I decided to send it to the DJI Repair Center today since I joined the DJI Care Refresh program when I bought it last year.

If you’re venturing into FPV flying with the DJI Neo, I highly recommend getting the care program from the start. I can assure you that every beginner will crash the DJI Neo at some point. While the Neo is very durable, it isn’t indestructible.

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