Aircraft 

This section introduces the features of 

the Flight Controller, Vision Positioning 

System, and the Intelligent Flight Battery 

10 

~~ 
Aircraft 

Flight Controtl 

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 retum 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 onfy 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. 

.O, Use the Flight Controller mode switch to change the flight mode of the aircraft, refer to the "Flight 

Mode Switch" on Paae 26 for more information. 

tatus tndicator t ,d,~; 0 

The Phantom 3 Professional has Front LEDs and Aircraft Status Indicators. The positions of these LEDs 

are shown in the figure below: 

0 

m 

Front LED 

Aircraft Status Indicator 

The Front LEDs show the orientation of the aircraft. The Front LEDs glow solid red when the aircraft is 

tumed 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: 

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Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

Aircraft Status Indicator Description ~ ~~ 

Normal 

R: 'G,Y ...... Red, Green and Yellow Flash 

Alternatively 

G' v-•... Green and Yellow Flash Altematively 

G" • • • • • . Green Flashes Slowly 

D GX2 ...... GreenFlashesTwiee 

0 

~ Y • • • • • • Yellow Flashes Slowly 

Warning 

Y, ...... FastYellow Flashing 

R _ ...... Slow Red Flashing 

R ..••••FastRedFlashing 

A • • • -. . Red Flashing Alternatively 

^~ n —Solid Red 

R Y ...... Red and Yetfow Fiash Alternatively 

Turning On and Self Diagnostic Testing 

Warming Up 

Safe to Fly (P-mode with GPS and Vision 

Positioning) 

Safe to Fly (P-mode with Vision Positioning but 

without GPS) 

Safe to Fly (A-mode but No GPS and Vision 

Positioning) 

Remote Controller's Signal Lost 

Low Battery Warning 

Critical Battery Warning 

IMU Error 

Critical Error 

Compass Calibratidn 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. 

Q] GPS Description 

If a strong GPS signal was acquired before takeoff, the Home Point 

is the location from which the aircraft was launched. The GPS signal Home Point ~ il = strength is indicated by the GPS icon ( R,ul',: ). 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 initiate Smart RTH. The aircraft will then automatically retum 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. 

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Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

~~ 

Low Batte ry R~"H ~ 

The low battery level failsafe is triggered when the DJI Intelligent Flight Battery is depleted to a point that 

may affect the safe retum of the aircraft. Users are advised to retum 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 retum 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 wamings 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: 

Critical Low battery level Sufficient battery 

warning(Red) Ievel(Green) 

Low battery 

level warning(Yellow) Remairing fight time 

Power requires 

to return home 

Battery Level Remark Aircraft Status 

Warning Indicator DJI Pilot app Flight Instructions 

Low battery The battery 

level waming 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 Iand 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. 

me D,II Pilot app display wilt Gritical Low The aircraft Aircraft status Allow the aircraft to flash red and the aircraft will battery level must land indicator blinks descend and land start to descend , The remote waming immediately. RED quickly. 

controller will sound an alarrn. 

automafically. 

Estimated Estimated 

remaining flight 

remaining based on current N/A N/A N/A 

flight time 

battery level. 

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Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

.~, • When Critical battery Ievel waming 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 iocation 

and status. 

Failsafe RTH 

~ ~ ~~ 

~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ > 

~ ~ 

~~~~~~ ,;, ~~~~ ~~~ _,~r.~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~., ,.. M~~.~~,. ~°.. 

If the Home Point was successfully recorded and the compass is functioning normally, Failsafe RTH will 

be automatically activated if the remote controller signal is lost for more than three seconds. The Return0 Dto-Home process may be interrupted and the operator may regain control of the aircraft if the remote 

iB controller signal connection is re-established. 

Failsafe Ilfustration 

i Record Home Point 2 Confirming Home Point 3 Remote Controller Signal Lost 

~ ~R~Ilii 

Blinking Green Blinking Green Fast Blinking Yellow 

4 Signal Lost Lasts (after 3 sec ) 5 RTH (adjustable altitude) 6 Landirig (after hovering for 5 secs ) ; " ~ 

-- ~ 

~ ~. 

- :---- ~ 

x 

1 

Fast Blinking Yellow Fast Blinking Yellow Fast Blinking Yellow 

, i • The aircraft cannot avoid obstruction during the Failsafe RTH, therefore, it is important to set an 

suitable Failsate 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. 

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 Professfonal; they include [2] two 

ultrasonic sensors and [1] one monocular camera. 

[ll 

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Phantom 3 ProfessionalUser Manual 

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. 

k _ 

- D 

•~~ c~ 

sv 

Follow the steps below to use Vision Positioning: P 

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 pattem 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. 

~i The performance of your Vision Positioning System is affected by the surface over which it is 

~ flying. The uitrasonic 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 automafically 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). 

• Fiying 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 Iighting 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 pattems or texture. 

• Flying over surfaces with identical repeating pattems or textures (e.g. files 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 the 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.. 

© 2015 DJI. AII Rights Reservr.aa. 15 
Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

~ 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. 

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 Iaunch the DJI Pilot app. 

Attaching and Detaching the Propellers 

D _ 

~ 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 pot Black Dot 

Figure 

Attach On Motors with a grey axes Motors with a black axes 

Legends e) Lock : Turn the propellers in the indicated direction to mount and tighten. 

b) Unlock : Tum the propellers in the indicated direction to loosen and remove. 

Attaching the Propellers 

1. Be sure to remove the waming 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. 

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Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

~i • 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. 

, i • Check that the propellers and motors are installed correcUy and firmly before every flight. 

• Ensure that all propellers are in good condition before each fiight. 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. D 

0 

• ONLY use original DJI propellers for a better and safer flight experience. i 

DJI Intefligent Flight Battery, 

The DJI Intelligent Flight Battery has a capacity of 4480 mAh, a voltage of 15.2 V, and a smart charge/ 

discharge functionaiity. It should only be charged using an appropriate charger that has been approved 

by DJI. 

Intelligent Flight Battery 

Charger 

A 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. 

=Q= 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. 

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Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

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. 

D i, Refer to Phantom 3 Professional /Aduanced lntelligent Flight Battery Safety Guidelines before 

use. Users take full responsibility for all operations and usage. 

., D 

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Using the Battery 

~ 

L~.~~° 

~ =~_ LEo., ,,_'Dl 

® Ri t on IBt11it !r U=D; 

B_;i',er, =vr':lni?,_atOrs 

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 tow temperature (< 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 Ievel 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 Waming" in low temperature 

environments. 

4. Keep the battery indoors to warm it before flying in low temperature 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 ). 

i 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. 

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Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

[3 The Battery Level Indicators wili also show the current battery Ievei during charging and 

discharging. The indicators are defined below. 

Q: LED is on. 0: LED is flashing. 

Q : LED is off. 

Battery Level 

LED1 LED2 LED3 LED4 Battery Level 

Q Q Q Q 87.5%-100% 

Q Q Q -.0 75%-87.5% 

Q Q Q Q 62.5%-75% 

Q Q {(€ 0 50%A-62.5°/a 

Q Q Q Q 37.5%-50% 

Q ~ Q Q 25%w37.51% 

Q Q Q Q 12.5%-25% 

~ Q Q Q 0%--12.5% 

Q Q Q Q =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 tumed off, press and hold the Power Button for 5 seconds to check the 

battery life. The Battery Level Indicators will light up andlor blink for two seconds, as shown below: 

Battery Life 

LED1 LED2 LED3 LED4 Battery Life 

Q Q 0 Q 90%-100% 

Q Q Q Q 80%-90% 

70%-80% 

Q o 60%-70% 

Q Q Q Q 50%-60% 

Q ~? Q Q 401/.-50% 

Q Q Q Q 30%-40% 

~ 0 Q Q 201/.-30°io 

Q Q Q Q below 20% 

~ When battery life reaches 0%, it can no longer be used. 

MA For more intormation about the battery, launch the DJI Piiot app and check the information that is 

listed under the battery tab. 

D 

0 

w 

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Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

Charging the Intelligent Flight Battery 

1. Connect the Battery Charger to a power source (100-240 V 50/60 Hz). 

2. Open the Protection Cap and connect the Intelligent Flight Battery to the Battery Charger. If the battery 

level is above 95%, tum on the battery before charging. 

3. The Battery Level Indicator will display the current battery level as it is charging. 

4. The Intelligent Flight Battery is fully charged when the Battery Level Indicators are all off. 

5. Air-cool the Intelligent Flight Battery after each flight. Allow its temperature to drop to room temperature 

before storing it for an extended period. 

i, • We do not recommend charging the Intelligent Flight Battery and remote controller with the 

D standard charger at the same time, otherwise the charger may overheat. 

~ • Always turn off the battery before inserting it or removing it from the Phantom 3 Professional. 

a Never insert or remove a battery when it is turned on. 

aoo ~= ~,

I

~ 

~k -- 

Intelligent Flight Battery Charger Pawer Outlet 

Battery Level Indicators White Charging 

LED1 LED2 LED3 LED4 Battery Level 

Q 0 0 0 0%-25% 

[~ 0" ~ Q 25 % -50% 

50%--75% 

75%-100% 

0 D 0 0 Fully Charged 

Battery Protection LED Display 

The table below shows battery protection mechanisms and corresponding LED pattems. 

Battery Level Indicators while Charging 

LED1 LED2 LED3 LED4 Blinking 1'attern Battery Protection ttem 

0 D 0 LED2 blinks twice per second Over current detected 

p Q Q LED2 blirtks three times per second Short circuit detected 

0 0 D LED3 blinks twice per second Over charge detected 

0 0 LED3 bfinks three times per second Chver-voltage charger detected 

LED4 blinks twice per second Charging temperature is too low 

0 LED4 blirtks three times per second Charging temperature is too high 

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Phantom 3 Professional User Manual 

After these issues are resolved, press the Power Button to tum off the Battery Level Indicator. Unplug the 

Intelligent Flight Battery from the charger and plug it back in to resume charging. Note that you do not 

need to unplug and plug in the charger in the event of a room temperature error; the charger will resume 

charging when the temperature is within the allowabfe range. 

& DJI does not take any responsibility for damage caused by third-parry chargers. 

How to discharge your Intelligent Flight Battery: 

Slow : Place the Intelligent Flight Battery into the Phantom 3 Professional's Battery Compartment 

and tum it on. Leave it on until there is less than 8% of power left, or until the battery can no 

longer be turned on. Launch the DJI Pilot app to check battery levels. 

Rapid : Fly the Phantom 3 Professional outdoors until there is less than 8% of power left, or until ~ 

the battery can no longer be turned on. ~ 

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