I was using VLM and noticed a large discrepancy between the mission duration times in Litchi Hub and the VLM in Google Earth.
Investigating, I created a two waypoint mission of 1km (ok, 999m - to ensure it wasn’t 1.5km with the .5 not being displayed.), and speed of 30km (specified as cruise speed and waypoint speed so there could be no “interference”) … and simple maths says this should be 2 minutes.
But no, Litchi Hub reports this as 3 minutes!
Perhaps they have a built in “safety battery reserve”? No idea … but at least it’s overstating the times and not understating it.
I think the latter. That’s a large margin … almost 50%.
And it’s the same on a mission that’s planned to return to WP1. It’s still near 50% on the time to get back to the start … and wind should (semi) cancel itself out.
I don’t know enough about itchy litchie Is it possible that it’s getting miles and kilometres mixed up. I’m sat in McDonalds at the moment and my head is hurting trying to figure it out. Lol
I will ask my mate tonight, I think he’s on the same shift as me, he uses litchie a lot for his MA.
Supposed 20 minute missions taking 10-12 minutes. Nipped in to stick the kettle on only for my M2P to have done the mission and was hovering and looking at me begging for a biscuit after being a good boy!
Guess its a good thing so as not to over extend the missions and therefore the batteries!?!
I have some missions I want to do, when conditions are right, that will be pushing the limit. I’m using Virtual Litchi Mission to check these and that gives an accurate time.
Yes - you still do the planning in Litchi Hub (either raw as you’ll be doing already, or via the exact same thing that’s embedded in VLM) … and then it creates the Google Earth data that enables you to fly the mission in 3D.
It’s Windows only - but there is a very similar plugin for Chrome browser on Mac.
Viewing it in GE is instant … rendering a video like that (from GE) takes ages, since it has to ensure all data (3D and imagery) for each frame is fully downloaded before it renders them.
But - yes - one can imagine flying all kinds of places that are either illegal or in places you’ll never manage to travel to.
Limited only by where there’s 3D data in GE, of course, which is quite extensive … and can be hit an miss. Some 3D is satellite/aerial image derived - some are where people have uploaded 3D models of buildings.
Either way - it’s quite a bit of fun.
Two of the forts (you may have seen my flights to and pics of) have 3D models that have been uploaded by someone …
)
