DJI IMU Calibration error is one of the typical errors, that any DJI drone user could face. Every series of DJI drone users are asking for solutions for this error in forums (including DJI forums), social media posts, and also in youtube videos.
So as an active troubleshooting member of the drone community, I decided to give every possible solution to troubleshoot the error according to my experience and collected data related to the error. Hope this article would help with fixing your drone error.
Causes Of DJI IMU Calibration Error-50.
Let’s have a brief talk about the causes of DJI IMU calibration error -50.
1. Calibration Surface.
If you are trying to calibrate the DJI drone’s IMU while placing the aircraft on a tilted surface, it could cause IMU miscalibration. So the system would refuse the IMU calibration process and throws the “IMU Calibration Error-50”.
2. Low Battery Power.
When calibrating the aircraft while having low battery power, the power won’t be sufficient to calibrate the IMU. So the IMU calibration process would be refused and error would be thrown.
3. Calibration Surrounding (Electromagnetic Interference).
If you calibrate the aircraft’s IMU near a metal, electronics, or any kind of electromagnetic interference, it also could miscalibrate the aircraft’s IMU. Therefore the system prevents the IMU calibration in that kind of surroundings. That’s why DJI advises keeping electronics and metal structures away from the aircraft before calibrating the IMU.
4. Outdated firmware and firmware glitches.
Firmware is so important in IMU calibration because the firmware is in charge of managing operations in almost every component of the aircraft, including IMU calibration. All the scripts and programs related to IMU calibration are included in the firmware. So if the firmware is glitched it could mess up the IMU calibration and cause the IMU Calibration error -50.
5. Faulty IMU data and settings.
Faulty IMU data and settings are another reason for the IMU calibration error. When the system detects those faulty IMU data and settings, the system stops the process because that could affect the IMU calibration.
6. Damaged or Faulty IMU.
If your aircraft’s IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) is damaged or faulty, it would be unable to get calibrated.
7. Faulty DJI mobile application (DJI GO/ DJI Fly).
As you know, users use DJI mobile applications (DJI GO/DJI Fly) to execute the IMU calibration. So if the DJI mobile app is glitched or outdated that could affect to the process.
How To Fix DJI IMU Calibration Error -50.
Let’s follow the step-by-step process of fixing the DJI IMU calibration error. Following this process would fix all the reasons for the IMU calibration error and ultimately fix the IMU calibration error.
1. Restart the aircraft.
If you are having the IMU calibration error just because of temporary IMU data or settings, the error could be easily fixed by erasing those data and settings. To erase those data and settings you just need to restart the aircraft. So before going to other steps, restart the aircraft and check whether the error is gone.
2. Check whether you are calibrating the IMU properly.
The improper procedure of calibrating the IMU also could cause this error. So follow the below steps and calibrate the IMU properly.
Before Calibrating the IMU,
- Charge the aircraft full or to a sufficient level.
- Update or Install the latest DJI GO/ DJI Fly app.
- Keep electronics, metals, and any kind of electromagnetic stuff away from the aircraft. if you are wearing jewelry or a watch, remove them before calibrating the IMU.
- Choose a flat surface to place the aircraft when calibrating the IMU.
- Remove Propellers Before calibrating IMU.
How to Calibrate the DJI IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit).
- Place the DJI Aircraft on a flat surface.
- Power on the aircraft. (If the drone is foldable, power on the aircraft with its arms closed in.)
- Open the DJI App (DJI Fly/ DJI GO) and enter the camera view.
DJI GO/ DJI GO 4 users,
- Click on the three dots at the top left corner and click on the drone icon go to Main Controller Settings > Advanced Settings > Sensors > IMU and hit the “Calibrate IMU” button.
DJI Fly Users,
- Click on the three dots at the top right corner and open the menu bar. Then click on “Safety” and scroll down until you found the ”IMU normal” under the “Sensors” section. Then click on the “Calibrate” button. And hit start.
Then follow the below steps to calibrate the aircraft’s IMU in different positions.
- Start with the DJI Aircraft on its belly and wait until the DJI app drone model turns onto its right side.
- Next, move the Aircraft onto its right side and wait until the DJI app drone model turns onto its left side.
- Then Change the DJI Aircraft over to the left side and wait until the DJI app drone model stands on its back.
- Then Stand the Aircraft on its back ends and wait until the DJI app drone model turns upside down.
- Then Turn the Aircraft upside down so that it’s the camera is pointing upwards and wait until the calibration process goes to 100%.
After following those steps the IMU calibration would complete successfully. If you are still getting the error, let’s go to the next step.
3. Update/ Refresh the firmware using DJI Assistant 2.
As I mentioned before, glitched or outdated firmware could affect the IMU calibration process. So let’s update the firmware and give it another try on IMU calibration. When updating the firmware, I highly recommend updating the firmware through DJI Assistant 2 PC application.
- Download and install DJI Assistant 2 from the DJI Download center.
- Connect the aircraft to the PC using the USB cable and power on the aircraft.
- Open DJI Assistant 2 application on the PC and log in to your DJI account.
- Then select your DJI Drone and click on the “Firmware Updates” on the left panel and click on the “Upgrade” option.
- Click on “Start Update”.
- Wait until the firmware is downloaded and installed. Then restart the aircraft.
- Go through the same steps with connecting the remote controller and update its firmware too.
- Then try calibrating the IMU as explained in step 2.
4. Factory reset the aircraft.
If the IMU calibration error is caused by stored faulty IMU data or settings, factory resetting the aircraft fixes the issue. Because resetting the aircraft back all the data and settings to default.
- Download and install DJI Assistant 2 from the DJI Download center.
- Connect the aircraft to the PC using the USB cable and power on the aircraft.
- Log in to your DJI account and choose your DJI drone.
- Then hit “Factory Restore Defaults” and wait until the process completes.
- Then try calibrating the IMU as explained in step 2.
5. Contact DJI support or professionals.
Read the detailed article: How to get DJI Support to repair/fix your DJI drone issue.
If you are still unable to fix the IMU calibration error, something is wrong with the hardware IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) or the aircraft. So the only option to fix this error at this stage is to replace or repair the IMU or aircraft. Get in touch with DJI Support and get help with repairing or replacing the unit.
If it’s not possible to contact DJI, meet professionals and get help with repairing the hardware. Also if you suspect that the IMU is damaged, you can buy it online and replace it yourself. There are many videos about IMU replacement on youtube and you can follow those demonstrations and replace the IMU. Below the video is the IMU replacement of DJI Mavic Pro.
