Drone follow-me or subject tracking not working

Symptoms

• Drone won't lock onto the selected subject
• Tracking loses the subject partway through
• Drone lags behind or overshoots the subject's movement
• Feature won't activate at all from the app

Likely causes

• CommonWeak GPS signal preventing accurate followingFollow-me relies heavily on both the drone and the tracked device having good GPS.
• CommonLow light or poor contrast making visual tracking unreliableCamera-based subject tracking needs enough light and contrast to distinguish the subject.
• PossibleSubject moving too quickly or erratically for the drone to predictSudden direction changes can confuse tracking algorithms.
• PossibleTracked phone or GPS accessory not held steady or losing signalIf following a phone's GPS, its own signal quality affects accuracy.
• Less commonFirmware bug affecting the tracking featureOccasionally fixed in a subsequent update.

What to do

1. Fly in an open area with a strong, unobstructed GPS signal for both drone and tracked device.
2. Use follow-me or tracking features in good lighting rather than dusk, night, or heavy shade.
3. Select a subject with good visual contrast against the background when using camera-based tracking.
4. Move at a moderate, steady pace rather than sudden sprints or sharp turns while being tracked.
5. Keep the tracked phone or accessory held steady and with a clear view of the sky if it relies on GPS.
6. Update the drone and app firmware to the latest version.
7. If tracking consistently fails in good conditions with strong GPS and lighting, have the camera and tracking system checked professionally.

When to call a pro

If tracking consistently fails under good lighting and strong GPS, a drone repair specialist can check the tracking camera and software.

Safety