# PHANTOM 3

V1.0

2015.04 

# User Manual

PROFESSIONAL

### 2 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

# Using this manual
Legends

Warning Important Hints and Tips Reference



## Read Before the First Flight Read the following documents before using the Phantom 3 Professional:

1. In the Box 2. Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 3. Phantom 3 Professional Quick Start Guide 4. Phantom 3 Professional / Advanced Safety Guidelines and Disclaimer 5. Phantom 3 Professional / Advanced Intelligent Flight Battery Safety Guidelines
We recommend that you watch all tutorial videos on the official DJI website and read the Disclaimer before you fly. Prepare for your first flight by reviewing the Phantom 3 Professional Quick Start Guide and refer to the User Manual for more detailed information

. 

## Video Tutorials
Please watch the tutorial videos at the link below, which demonstrates how to use Phantom 3 Professional safely: http://www.dji.com/product/phantom-3/video



## Download the DJI Pilot app Download and install the DJI Pilot app before using the aircraft. Scan the QR code to the right to download the latest version. The Android version of the DJI Pilot app is compatible with Android 4.1.2 or later. The iOS version of the DJI Pilot app is compatible with iOS 8.0 or later.© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

### 3 

# Contents
**Using this manual** Legends 2 Read Before the First Flight 2 Video Tutorials 2 Download the DJI Pilot app 2



### Product Profile Introduction 6 Feature Highlights 6 Preparing the Aircraft 7 Aircraft Diagram 8 Remote Controller Diagram 8



### Aircraft Flight Controller 11 Flight Mode 11 Flight Status Indicator 11 Return-to-Home (RTH) 12 Smart RTH 12 Low Battery RTH 13 Failsafe RTH 14 Vision Positioning System 14 Flight Recorder 16 Attaching and Detaching the Propellers 16 DJI Intelligent Flight Battery 17



### Remote Controller Remote Controller Profile 23 Using the Remote Controller 23 Remote Controller Status LED 27 Linking the Remote Controller 28 Remote Controller Compliance Version 29

### 4 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

### Camera and Gimbal

Camera Profile 31 Gimbal 32



### DJI Pilot App Camera 35 Director 38 Store 38 Discovery 38



### Flight Flight Environment Requirements 40 Flight Limits and No-Fly Zones 40 Preflight Checklist 44 Calibrating the Compass 44 Auto Takeoff and Auto Landing 45 Flight Test 46 Starting/Stopping the Motors 46



### Troubleshooting (FAQ)

**Appendix** Specifications 53 Intelligent Orientation Control (IOC) 55 FCC Compliance 56© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

### 5 

# Product Profile

This section introduces the Phantom 3 Professional and lists the components of the aircraft and remote controller.

### 6 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

# Product Profile

Introduction The Phantom 3 Professional represents the next generation of DJI quadcopters. It is capable of capturing 4K video and transmitting an HD video signal out of the box. The built-in camera has an integrated gimbal to maximize stability while minimizing both weight and size. Even when no GPS signal is available, the Vision Positioning System allows the aircraft to hover accurately in place. 

## Feature Highlights
Camera and Gimbal: With the Phantom 3 Professional, you’re shooting 4K video at up to 30 frames per second and capturing 12 megapixel photos that look crisper and cleaner than ever. An enhanced sensor gives you greater clarity, lower noise, and better pictures tha n any previous flying camera.

HD Video Downlink: The low-latency long range HD downlink is powered by an enhanced version of DJI Lightbridge.
DJI Intelligent Flight Battery: The 4480 mAh DJI Intelligent Flight Battery features upgraded battery cells and an advanced power management system.
Flight Controller: The next-generation flight controller has been updated to provide a safer, more reliable flight experience. A newly implemented flight recorder stores critical data from each flight and the Vision Positioning System enhances hovering precision when flying indoors or in environments where GPS is unavailable.© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

### 7 

## Preparing the Aircraft Removing Gimbal Clamp Remove the gimbal clamp by sliding it to the right (when facing the nose of the aircraft), as shown below.



### Attaching the Propellers: Mount the propellers with black dots on to motors with black axes and spin counter-clockwise to secure. Mount the propellers with sliver dots on to motors with sliver axes and spin clockwise to secure. Be sure all propellers are securely in place.

Preparing the Remote Controller: The mobile device holder is designed for securing tablet or mobile device. Tilt the mobile device holder to the desired position, then adjust the antennas so they are facing outward. 1. Press the button on the top right side of the mobile device holder to release the clamp, then adjust the

clamp to fit the size of your mobile device. 2. Secure your mobile device in the clamp by pressing down, and connect your mobile device to the

remote controller using a USB cable. 3. Plug one end of the cable into the mobile device, and the other end into the USB port on the back of

the remote controller. Place all propellers onto the correct motors and tighten by hand to lock them in position.

1

3 2

### 8 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

## Aircraft Diagram

Remote Controller Diagram
[1] Antennas Relays aircraft control and video signal. [2] Mobile Device Holder Securely mounts your mobile device to the remote controller. [3] Control Stick Controls the orientation and movement of the aircraft. [4] Return Home (RTH) Button Press and hold the button to initiate Return to Home (RTH). [1] [2]

[4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [3] [1] GPS [2] Propeller [3] Motor [4] Front LED Indicator [5] Landing gear [6] Gimbal and Camera [7] Aircraft Micro-USB Port [8] Aircraft Status Indicator [9] Intelligent Flight Battery [10] Vision Positioning Sensors [11] Antennas [12] Camera Micro-SD Card Slot [13] Camera Micro-USB Port [14] Link Button [1] [2] [3] [4]

[5] [6] [7]

[8]

[11] [9] [10]

4K [12]

[14] [13]© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

### 9 [5] Battery Level LEDs Displays the battery level of the remote controller. [6] Status LED Displays the remote controller's system status. [7] Power Button Used to turn the remote controller on and off. [8] RTH LED Circular LED around the RTH button displays RTH status.

[17]

[19] [18] [9] Camera Settings Dial Turn the dial to adjust camera settings. (Only functions when the remote controller is connected to a mobile device running the DJI Pilot app. ) [10] Playback Button Playback the captured images or videos. (Only functions when the remote controller is connected to a mobile device running the DJI Pilot app.) [11] Shutter Button Press to take a photo. If burst mode is selected, the set number of photos will be taken with one press. [12] Flight Mode Switch Switch between P-mode, A-mode, and F-mode. [13] Video Recording Button Press to start recording video. Press again to stop recording. [14] Gimbal Dial Use this dial to control the tilt of the gimbal. [15] Mircro-USB Port Connect to a SD card reader to upgrade the firmware. [16] USB Port Connect to mobile device or to a USB port for firmware upgrade.

[17] C1 Button Customizable through the DJI Pilot app. [18] C2 Button Customizable through the DJI Pilot app. [19] Power Port Connect to the DJI Phantom 3 Charger to charge the battery of the remote controller. [10]

[11] [15] [16]

[9]

[12] [13] [14]

### 10 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

# Aircraft

This section introduces the features of the Flight Controller, Vision Positioning System, and the Intelligent Flight Battery© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

### 11 

## Flight Status Indicator The Phantom 3 Professional has Front LEDs and Aircraft Status Indicators. The positions of these LEDs are shown in the figure below:

The Front LEDs show the orientation of the aircraft. The Front LEDs glow solid red when the aircraft is turned on to indicate the front (or nose) of the aircraft. The Aircraft Status Indicators communicate the system status of the flight controller. Refer to the table below for more information about the Aircraft Status Indicators: 

# Aircraft
Flight Controller The Phantom 3 Professional’s flight controller features several important upgrades, including a new flight mode. Safety modes include Failsafe and Return-to-Home. These features ensure the safe return of your aircraft if the control signal is lost. The flight controller can also save critical flight data from each flight to the on-board storage device. The new flight controller also provides increased stability and a new air braking feature. 

## Flight Mode Three flight modes are available. The details of each flight mode are found below: P-mode (Positioning) : P-mode works best when GPS signal is strong. There are three different states of P-mode, which will be automatically selected by the Phantom 3 Professional depending on signal strength of GPS and Vision Positioning sensors : P-GPS: GPS and Vision Positioning both are available. The aircraft is using GPS for positioning. P-OPTI: Vision Positioning is available but the GPS signal strength is not sufficient. The aircraft is using only the Vision Positioning System for positioning. P-ATTI: Neither GPS nor Vision Positioning is available. The aircraft is using only its barometer for positioning, so only altitude can be stabilized. A-mode (Attitude): GPS and Vision Positioning System are not used for stabilization. The aircraft only uses its barometer. The aircraft can still automatically return to the home point if the control signal is lost and the Home Point was recorded successfully. F-mode (Function): Intelligent Orientation Control (IOC) is activated in this mode. For more information about IOC, refer to the IOC section in the Appendix.

Use the Flight Controller mode switch to change the flight mode of the aircraft, refer to the “Flight Mode Switch” on P age 26 for more information.

Front LED Aircraft Status Indicator

### 12 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

### Aircraft Status Indicator Description

Normal Red, Green and Yellow Flash Alternatively Turning On and Self Diagnostic Testing
Green and Yellow Flash Alternatively Warming Up
Green Flashes Slowly Safe to Fly (P-mode with GPS and Vision Positioning)

X2 Green Flashes Twice Safe to Fly (P-mode with Vision Positioning but without GPS) Yellow Flashes Slowly Safe to Fly (A-mode but No GPS and Vision Positioning) Warning Fast Yellow Flashing Remote Controller's Signal Lost Slow Red Flashing Low Battery Warning Fast Red Flashing Critical Battery Warning Red Flashing Alternatively IMU Error

— Solid Red Critical Error Red and Yellow Flash Alternatively Compass Calibration Required


## Return-to-Home (RTH) The Return-to-Home (RTH) function brings the aircraft back to the last recorded Home Point. There are three types of RTH procedures: Smart RTH, Low Battery RTH, and Failsafe RTH. This section describes these three scenarios in detail. GPS Description

Home Point If a strong GPS signal was acquired before takeoff, the Home Point is the location from which the aircraft was launched. The GPS signal strength is indicated by the GPS icon ( ). The aircraft status indicator will blink rapidly when the home point is recorded.



## Smart RTH Use the RTH button on the remote controller (refer to “RTH button” on page 26 for more information) or tap the RTH button in the DJI Pilot app and follow the on-screen instructions when GPS is available to ini

tiate Smart RTH. The aircraft will then automatically return to the last recorded Home Point. You may use the remote controller’s control sticks to control the aircraft’s position to avoid a collision during the Smart RTH process. Press and hold the Smart RTH button once to start the process, and press the Smart RTH button again to terminate the procedure and regain full control of the aircraft.© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

### 13 Battery Level

Warning Remark Aircraft Status Indicator DJI Pilot app Flight Instructions

Low battery level warning The battery power is low. Please land the aircraft. Aircraft status indicator blinks RED slowly. Tap “Go-home” to have the aircraft return to the Home point and land automatically, or “Cancel” to resume normal flight. If no action is taken, the aircraft will automatically go home and land after 10 seconds. Remote controller will sound an alarm. Fly the aircraft back and land it as soon as possible, then stop the motors and replace the battery.

Critical Low battery level warning The aircraft must land immediately. Aircraft status indicator blinks RED quickly. The DJI Pilot app display will flash red and the aircraft will start to descend. The remote controller will sound an alarm. Allow the aircraft to descend and land automatically.

Estimated remaining flight time Estimated remaining flight based on current battery level. N/A N/A N/A 

## Low Battery RTH The low battery level failsafe is triggered when the DJI Intelligent Flight Battery is depleted to a point that may affect the safe return of the aircraft. Users are advised to return home or land the aircraft immediately when prompted. The DJI Pilot app will display a notice when a low battery warning is triggered. The aircraft will automatically return to the Home Point if no action is taken after a ten-second countdown. The user can cancel the RTH procedure by pressing the RTH button on the remote controller. The thresholds for these warnings are automatically determined based on the aircraft’s current altitude and distance from the Home Point.
The aircraft will land automatically if the current battery level can only support the aircraft long enough to descend from its current altitude. The user can still use the remote controller to alter the aircraft’s orientation during the landing process.


### The Battery Level Indicator is displayed in the DJI Pilot app, and is described below:

Battery level Indicator Critical Low battery level warning(Red)
Low battery level warning(Yellow) Sufficient battery level(Green)

Remaining flight time

Power requires to return home

### 14 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. The aircraft cannot avoid obstruction during the Failsafe RTH, therefore, it is important to set an suitable Failsafe altitude before each flight. Launch the DJI Pilot app and enter “Camera” and select “MODE > Advanced Settings > Failsafe mode” to set the Failsafe altitude. The aircraft will stop its ascent and return to the Home Point immediately if the throttle stick is moved during the Failsafe RTH procedure. 

## Failsafe RTH If the Home Point was successfully recorded and the compass is functioning normally, Failsafe RTH willbe automatically activated if the remote controller signal is lost for more than three seconds. The Returnto-Home process may be interrupted and the operator may regain control of the aircraft if the remote controller signal connection is re-established.


### Failsafe Illustration When Critical battery level warning is triggered and the aircraft begins to land automatically, you may push the throttle upward to make the aircraft hover at its current altitude, giving you an opportunity to navigate to a more appropriate landing location. The colored zones and markers on the battery level indicator bar reflect the estimated remaining flight time. They are automatically adjusted according to the aircraft’s current location and status.

Height over HP<=20m



## Vision Positioning System
The DJI Vision Positioning System uses ultrasound and image data to help the aircraft maintain its current position. With the help of Vision Positioning, your Phantom 3 Professional can hover in place more precisely and fly indoors or in other environments where a GPS signal is not available. The main components of the Vision Positioning System are located on the bottom of your Phantom 3 Professional; they include [2] two ultrasonic sensors and [1] one monocular camera.

[1] [2] 5 RTH (adjustable altitude)

Fast Blinking Yellow 1 Record Home Point

Blinking Green 3 Remote Controller Signal Lost

Fast Blinking Yellow 2 Confirming Home Point

Blinking Green 6 Landing (after hovering for 5 secs)

Fast Blinking Yellow 4 Signal Lost Lasts (after 3 sec.)

Fast Blinking Yellow Height over HP>20m
Elevate to 20m 20m >3S × ×

× ×© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

### 15 Using Vision Positioning Vision Positioning is activated automatically when the Phantom 3 Professional is turned on. No further action is required. Vision Positioning is typically used in indoor environments, where GPS is unavailable. Using the sensors that are built into the Vision Positioning system, the Phantom 3 Professional can hover precisely even without GPS.

The performance of your Vision Positioning System is affected by the surface over which it is flying. The ultrasonic sensors may not be able to accurately measure distances when operating above sound-absorbing materials. In addition, the camera may not function correctly in suboptimal environments. The aircraft will switch from P-mode to A-mode automatically if neither GPS nor Vision Positioning System are available. Operate the aircraft with great caution in the following situations:

Flying over monochrome surfaces (e.g. pure black, pure white, pure red, pure green). Flying over a highly reflective surfaces. Flying at high speeds(over 8 m/s at 2 meters or over 4 m/s at 1 meter). Flying over water or transparent surfaces. Flying over moving surfaces or objects. Flying in an area where the lighting changes frequently or drastically. Flying over extremely dark (lux < 10) or bright (lux > 100,000) surfaces. Flying over surfaces that can absorb sound waves (e.g. thick carpet). Flying over surfaces without clear patterns or texture. Flying over surfaces with identical repeating patterns or textures (e.g. tiles with the same design). Flying over inclined surfaces that will deflect sound waves away from the aircraft. Keep the sensors clean at all times. Dirt or other debris may adversely affect the effectiveness of the sensors. Vision Positioning is only effective when the aircraft is at altitudes of 0.3 to 3 meters. The Vision Positioning System may not function properly when th e aircraft is flying over water. The Vision Positioning System may not be able to recognize pattern on the ground in low light conditions (less than 100 lux). Do not use other ultrasonic devices with frequency of 40 KHz when Vision Positioning system is in operation. Vision Positioning System may not be able to stabilize the aircraft when flying close to the ground (below 0.5 meters) at fast speeds.. Follow the steps below to use Vision Positioning: 1. Toggle the flight mode switch to P-mode. 2. Place the aircraft on a flat surface. Note that the Vision Positioning system cannot work

properly on surfaces without clear pattern variations. 3. Turn on the aircraft. The aircraft status indicator will flash green two times, which indicates the Vision

Positioning system is ready. Gently push the throttle up to lift off and the aircraft will hover in place.

### 16 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

## Flight Recorder Flight data is automatically recorded to the internal storage of the aircraft. This includes flight telemetry, aircraft status information, and other parameters. To access these data, connect the aircraft to the PC through the Micro-USB port and launch the DJI Pilot app. 

## Attaching and Detaching the Propellers Use only DJI approved propellers with your Phantom 3 Professional. The grey and black nuts on the propeller indicate where they should be attached and in which direction whey should spin. To attach the propellers properly, match the nut color with the motor axis color

.

Propellers Silver Dot Black Dot Figure
Attach On Motors with a grey axes Motors with a black axes

Legends Lock : Turn the propellers in the indicated direction to mount and tighten. Unlock : Turn the propellers in the indicated direction to loosen and remove.



### Attaching the Propellers 1. Be sure to remove the warning stickers from the motors before attaching the propellers. 2. Attach the propellers with silver dots onto the motors with silver axes and spin the propellers clockwise

to secure them in place. Attach the propellers with black dots onto the motors with black axes and spin the propellers counter-clockwise to secure them in place. Be sure to tighten each propeller by hand before flight. Keep the animals away from the aircraft when Vision Positioning system is activated. The sonar sensor emits high frequency sounds that are only audible to some animals.© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

### 17 Ensure propellers are attached to its corresponding motors, otherwise the aircraft cannot take off. Wear gloves when handling propellers. Hand tighten each of the propellers on the corresponding motors to ensure it is attached firmly.



### Detaching the Propellers Hold the motor in place with one hand, then spin the propeller in the indicated unlock direction. Check that the propellers and motors are installed correctly an d firmly before every flight. Ensure that all propellers are in good condition before each flight. DO NOT use aged, chipped, or broken propellers. To avoid injury, STAND CLEAR of and DO NOT touch propellers or motors when they are spinning. ONLY use original DJI propellers for a better and safer flight e xperience.



## DJI Intelligent Flight Battery The DJI Intelligent Flight Battery has a capacity of 4480 mAh, a voltage of 15.2 V, and a smart charge/ discharge functionality. It should only be charged using an appropriate charger that has been approved by DJI.

Intelligent Flight Battery Charger
The Intelligent Flight Battery must be fully charged before using it for the first time. Refer to "Charging the Intelligent Flight Battery" for more information. Be aware that the output power of the supplied Phantom 3 Professional charger is 100W.



### DJI Intelligent Flight Battery Functions 1. Battery Level Display: the LED indicators display the current battery level. 2. Battery Life Display: the LEDs display the current battery power cycle. 3. Auto-Discharging Function: To prevent swelling, the battery automatically discharges to below 65% of

total power when it is idle for more than ten days. It takes around two days to discharge the battery to 65%. It is normal to feel moderate heat being emitted from the battery during the discharge process. Discharge thresholds can be set in the DJI Pilot app. 4. Balanced Charging: Automatically balances the voltage of each battery cell when charging. 5. Overcharge Protection: Charging automatically stops when the battery is fully charged. 6. Temperature Detection: The battery will only charge when the temperature is between 0°C (32°F) and

40°C (104°F). 7. Over Current Protection: The battery stops charging when high amperage (more than 8 A) is detected. 8. Over Discharge Protection: To prevent over-discharge damage, discharging automatically stops when

the battery voltage reaches 12 V. 9. Short Circuit Protection: Automatically cuts the power supply when a short circuit is detected.

### 18 © 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

### Using the Battery

Turning ON/OFF Turning On: Press the Power Button once, then press again and hold for 2 seconds to turn on. The Power LED will turn red and the Battery Level Indicators will display the current battery level. 

### Turning Off: Press the Power Button once, then press again and hold for 2 seconds to turn off. The battery power LED will flash when powering off the Phantom to allow automatically stopping of a recording during the event recording wasn’t stopped.



### Low Temperature Notice: 1. Battery capacity is significantly reduced when flying in low temp erature (< 0°C) environments. 2. It is not recommended that the battery be used in extremely low temperature (< -10°C) environments.

Battery voltage should reach the appropriate level when operating environment with temperatures between -10°C and 5°C. 3. End the flight as soon as the DJI Pilot app displays the “Low Battery Level Warning” in low temperature

environments. 4. Keep the battery indoors to warm it before flying in low tempera ture environments. 5. To ensure optimal performance of the battery, keep the battery temperature above 20°C. 6. The charger will stop charging the battery if the battery cell’s temperature is not within the operating

range (0°C ~ 40°C ).

In cold environments, insert the battery into the battery compartment and allow the aircraft for approximately 1-2 minutes to warm up before taking off.



### Checking the Battery Level The Battery Level Indicators display how much power remains. When the battery is turned off, press the Power Button once. The Battery Level Indicators will light up to display the current battery level. See below for details. LED1 LED2

Battery Level Indicators LED3 LED4 Power Button (Bulit-in LED) 10. Battery Cell Damage Protection: The DJI Pilot app displays a warning message when a damaged battery cell is detected. 11. Battery Error History: Browse the battery error history in the DJI Pilot app. 12. Sleep Mode: To save power, the battery enters sleep mode after 20 minutes of inactivity. 13. Communication: Information pertaining to the battery’s voltage, capacity, current, etc. is transmitted to

the aircraft’s main controller.

Refer to Phantom 3 Professional / Advanced Intelligent Flight Battery Safety Guidelines before use. Users take full responsibility for all operations and usage.© 2015 DJI. All Rights Reserved. 

### 19 The Battery Level Indicators will also show the current battery level during charging and discharging. The indicators are defined below.

: LED is on. : LED is flashing. : LED is off.
Battery Level LED1 LED2 LED3 LED4 Battery Level 87.5%~100% 75%~87.5% 62.5%~75% 50%~62.5% 37.5%~50% 25%~37.5% 12.5%~25% 0%~12.5% =0%



### Battery life Battery life refers to how many more times the battery can be discharged and recharged before it must be replaced. When the battery is turned off, press and hold the Power Button for 5 seconds to check the battery life. The Battery Level Indicators will light up and/or blink for two seconds, as shown below:

Battery Life LED1 LED2 LED3 LED4 Battery Life 90%~100% 80%~90% 70%~80% 60%~70% 50%~60% 40%~50% 30%~40% 20%~30% below 20%

When battery life reaches 0%, it can no longer be used. For more information about the battery, launch the DJI Pilot app and check the information that is listed under the battery tab.