Astro SB008 – Doodle Radio Delay

Date Released: November 22, 2024

Subject: Astro Doodle Radio Control Delay

Effectivity: Immediate

Required Action: Install hotfix in the Pilot Pro app and re-bind your radio

Affected Part Numbers: Astros with Doodle Radios

• 950-00141-05
• 950-00142-03

INTRODUCTION

We have identified the potential for delay in drone control signals using the Doodle Radio Module. In cases of high spectrum load, users may see control losses and potential for stick motions on the controller to be delayed for up to several seconds. This delay could be dangerous as it would be easy to get into pilot induced oscillations, or cause unexpected movements of the drone after the control command was issued.

DISCUSSION

The delay issue arises when the radio is operating at long range or with high interference, or any time the link utilization is very high. Freefly experienced this delay during testing when 3 other Astros were operating in close proximity to the doodle aircraft which saturated the RF environment.

It was discovered that the packet prioritization settings that ensure that control packets are transmitted at maximum priority and without buffering delay were not being properly applied by the Pilot Pro App when pairing. 

A hotfix for the Pilot Pro App has been released which will resolve this configuration issue. It is important that users update to the latest Pilot Pro App version 2.0.23, and then rebind Astro to the controller to properly set these settings.

RECOMMENDATION

Install the latest Pilot Pro App version 2.0.23 using the Freefly Updater app on Pilot Pro, then rebind Pilot Pro to Astro following these directions.