The Autel Evo 2 Pro, released in 2019, garnered significant attention. While many YouTube reviews praised its features, some users reported persistent GPS issues. This article examines these reported problems, drawing upon user experiences and feedback documented in 2019 YouTube reviews.
One common complaint revolved around consistently weak GPS signals. Users frequently reported receiving “GPS signal weak” warnings during takeoff and Return-to-Home (RTH) procedures. Even in ideal conditions – clear skies, open fields, and altitudes exceeding 400 feet – the Evo 2 Pro often struggled to acquire more than three out of five bars of GPS signal strength.
This weak signal translated into several operational challenges. RTH accuracy was significantly affected, with the drone frequently attempting to land 25 to 150 feet away from the designated home point. During descent, the drone would often incorrectly indicate a distance of zero feet from the home point, leading to unpredictable and potentially dangerous landing behaviors. Erratic movements of up to 25 feet horizontally during the final 20 feet of RTH descent were also observed.
Furthermore, the “GPS signal weak” error consistently prevented users from utilizing the Smart Orbit feature. Attempts to engage this function invariably resulted in failure messages. Some users attempted troubleshooting steps like replacing the GPS PCB, but these efforts often proved futile.
Autel Robotics acknowledged these GPS issues in 2020, attributing them to potential firmware problems in version 2.5.0. They suggested allowing the drone ample power-on time to acquire sufficient satellite connections. However, users reported that even extended warm-up periods of up to seven minutes failed to yield any noticeable improvement in GPS performance.
In conclusion, while the Autel Evo 2 Pro boasted impressive specifications and capabilities, early users documented significant concerns regarding its GPS functionality. These issues, highlighted in various 2019 YouTube reviews, impacted core features like RTH and Smart Orbit, ultimately hindering the drone’s overall reliability and usability. Autel’s acknowledgement of the problem and subsequent efforts to address it through firmware updates underscored the need for ongoing improvements to ensure optimal performance.
