DJI Drone IMU, Compass And Gimbal Calibration (Step-By-Step)

The IMU (inertial measurement unit), Compass, and Gimbal are important components of a DJI drone. The IMU combines inertial sensors gyroscopes and accelerometers to provide acceleration and orientation data that can be used to calculate position and velocity. The compass allows the drone to know its heading or direction in space. Gimbal stabilizes camera payloads.

These components need to be calibrated to perform properly. Because these components are so important to DJI drones (especially the IMU and compass) if they miscalibrated the drone would start to malfunction. In this article, we would talk more about how to calibrate DJI drone IMU, compass, and gimbal calibration.

When Should You Calibrate DJI Drone IMU, Compass, and Gimbal?

If you just unboxed the drone and want to fly the drone first time, you need to calibrate the IMU and compass first.

If you are moved to a new location, which is 31 miles (50 km) from where the drone was last flown.
When the compass interference warning appears in the DJI app.
If your drone crashed recently, you might need to calibrate the IMU.

Calibrate the gimbal if issues regarding the camera such as shake, horizon off, and shutter.

How to Calibrate DJI Drone IMU & Compass.

Requested DJI Drones.

DJI Mavic 3.
DJI Mavic Pro / DJI Mavic 2 Pro / DJI Mavic Pro Platinum.

DJI Mavic Mini / Mini 2.
DJI Mavic 2 Zoom.
DJI Mavic Air 2.

DJI Air2s.
DJI Spark.
DJI Inspire.

DJI Phantom 4 / DJI Phantom 4 Pro / DJI Phantom 4 Advanced.
DJI Phantom 3 / DJI Phantom 3 Advanced.
DJI Phantom 4 / DJI Phantom 4 Pro / DJI Phantom 4 Advanced.

Before Calibrating DJI IMU & Compass.

Go to an open wide place to calibrate the drone. Avoid environments with power towers, electricity lines, and huge buildings which can cause a calibration failure.
Don’t bring metal, electronics, or other ferromagnetic devices near the drone when calibrating. Especially if you are wearing jewelry or a watch, remove them before calibrating the compass.
Remove Propellers Before calibrating IMU.

Steps to Calibrate DJI Drone IMU.

Place the DJI Aircraft on a dry flat surface.
Power on the aircraft. If your DJI drone is foldable like the DJI Mavic series, power on the aircraft with its arms closed in.
Open the DJI App (DJI GO / DJI Fly) and connect to the aircraft.

Then 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.
If you are using the DJI Fly app 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.
Once the above steps are done, the IMU calibration process would start.

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%.

The below video would demonstrate will all the steps we talked about above.

Steps To Calibrate DJI Drone Compass.

Connect the DJI remote controller to the smartphone.
Power on the DJI aircraft and remote controller.
Open the DJI App (DJI GO / DJI Fly) and connect to the aircraft.

Then click on the three dots at the top left corner and click on the drone icon go to Main Controller Settings > Advanced Settings > Sensors > Compass and hit the “Calibrate Compass” button.
If you are using the DJI Fly app 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 ”Compass normal” under the “Sensors” section. Then click on the “Calibrate” button. And hit start.
Once you have done that, the compass calibration process will start. Put the remote controller away where you can see the app screen.

Take the aircraft into your hands and hold it horizontally and about 4 feet away from you. DJI aircraft’s indicators should be light yellow right now. Then spin around 360 degrees until those indicators turn to solid green.
After that, hold the drone vertically and spin again around 360 degrees until indicators turn to solid green.
Then place the DJI drone down and you are ready to go.

If the DJI drone indicator lights blink red and yellow alternatively after calibration, this means that it has failed. There could be a high level of magnetic interference. Change location and try the calibration again.