How to Plan Your Drone Routes in Litchi App

Why Plan Routes with Litchi Instead of Flying Manually?

While manually flying your drone offers spontaneous freedom, planning an automated flight path with an app like Litchi unlocks a new level of precision, creativity, and safety. By pre-programming a route, you transition from being just a pilot to becoming a true aerial cinematographer, letting the drone handle the complex maneuvers while you focus on capturing the perfect shot. If you’re new to this, our Using Litchi App for the first time: A Complete Guide can help you get started.

The Power of Automated Flight

Automated flight missions are more than just a convenience; they are a tool for achieving results that are difficult, if not impossible, to replicate by hand. The drone’s onboard computer executes your pre-planned commands with flawless accuracy, opening up a world of creative possibilities.

• Achieving perfectly smooth, cinematic camera movements: Manual stick inputs, no matter how skilled the pilot, often result in tiny, jerky movements that can ruin a video clip. An automated mission ensures buttery-smooth pans, tilts, and tracking shots every single time.
• Repeatability for time-lapses or before-and-after shots: Need to capture the same exact shot at different times of the day, or across different seasons? A saved Litchi mission can be flown identically over and over again, which is essential for compelling time-lapses or construction progress videos.
• Executing complex flight paths: Imagine flying a perfect arc around a building while the camera simultaneously tilts up to reveal the sky. Complex, multi-point flight paths that require simultaneous control of the drone’s movement, altitude, and camera are made simple with automated waypoint missions.

Key Advantages Over Standard DJI Apps

While the native DJI apps are excellent for general flying, Litchi provides a suite of advanced features specifically designed for intricate mission planning. It acts as a powerful supplement for pilots who want to push the creative boundaries of their drone.

• Offline, browser-based mission planning: Litchi’s greatest strength is the Litchi Mission Hub, a web-based interface that lets you plan everything on a large desktop or laptop screen. You can meticulously craft your routes from the comfort of your home, without even needing your drone to be turned on.
• Advanced camera control at each waypoint: Unlike basic waypoint modes, Litchi allows you to define specific actions at each point in your route. You can program the camera to change its gimbal pitch, take a photo, or start and stop video recording automatically as it flies the mission.
• Saving, editing, and sharing missions: Every mission you create is saved to your Litchi account. You can easily duplicate a mission to make small adjustments for a new shot, organize them into folders, and even share the mission files with other Litchi users.

What You’ll Need to Get Started

Getting set up with Litchi is straightforward. Before you can start planning your first mission, you’ll just need a few key things in place. Remember to always do your things you should do before any photography trip, including ensuring your gear is ready.

• A Litchi-compatible drone: Litchi supports a wide range of drones from the DJI Mavic, Phantom, Mini, and Inspire series, among others. You should always check the official Litchi compatibility list to ensure your specific model and firmware are supported.
• The Litchi app for iOS or Android: This is the mobile application that you will use in the field to connect to your drone and execute the missions you’ve planned. It is a paid app available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
• A free Litchi account: Signing up for a free account on the FlyLitchi website is essential. This account is what allows you to sync the missions you create in the desktop Mission Hub directly to the mobile app on your phone or tablet.

Getting to Know the Litchi Mission Hub

The heart of Litchi’s pre-flight planning capabilities isn’t in the mobile app itself, but in a powerful, browser-based tool called the Litchi Mission Hub. This is where you’ll design, refine, and save your automated flight paths from the comfort of your computer, using a large screen for precision and detail. Let’s explore this essential tool.

Accessing and Navigating the Web Interface

Before you can build your cinematic masterpiece, you need to know where to find the drawing board. The Mission Hub is a web application, meaning you don’t need to install any software on your computer to use it. If you’re new to Litchi, our guide to using the Litchi app for the first time can help you get started.

• Finding the Hub: Simply navigate to the official FlyLitchi website and look for the “Mission Hub” link, typically found in the main navigation menu at the top of the page. The direct URL is flylitchi.com/hub.
• Logging In: You’ll be prompted to log in. Use the same Litchi account credentials that you use for the mobile app. This is crucial, as logging in links your desktop planning session to your mobile device, enabling the seamless sync we’ll cover shortly.

Understanding the Core Workspace

Once you’re logged in, you’ll be presented with the Mission Hub’s main interface. It might look complex at first, but it’s logically divided into three primary areas that work together to help you build your flight plan.

• The Map View: This is your digital canvas and the largest part of the screen. It’s a satellite and map view of the world where you will visually plot your flight. You can pan, zoom, and switch between map styles to get a clear understanding of the terrain you’ll be flying over.
• The Mission Settings Panel: Usually located on the right side, this panel contains the global parameters for your entire mission. Here, you’ll set overarching rules like what the drone should do when the mission is complete, how it should handle turns, and its default cruising speed.
• The Waypoint List: Situated on the left, this area provides a detailed, sequential list of every waypoint and point of interest you add to the map. As you build your route, each point will appear here, allowing you to fine-tune its specific settings like altitude, speed, and camera angle individually.

Syncing Missions: From Desktop to Drone

The true power of the Mission Hub lies in its integration with the mobile Litchi app. You do all the detailed planning on your computer, and when you’re ready to fly, the mission is waiting for you on your phone or tablet. Remember to check things you should do before any photography trip to ensure you’re fully prepared.

The process is wonderfully simple: any mission you save in the Mission Hub is automatically uploaded to the Litchi cloud. When you open the Litchi app on your mobile device (connected to the drone controller), it syncs with the cloud and downloads all your saved missions. This means you can plan a complex flight at home, drive to your location, and load the mission with just a few taps.

It is essential to remember that this sync requires an internet connection. You need to be online when you save the mission in the Hub, and your mobile device needs an internet connection (Wi-Fi or cellular) at least once before you head out to the field to ensure it has downloaded the latest version of your flight plan.

Step-by-Step: Creating Your First Waypoint Mission

With the Litchi Mission Hub open, you’re ready to design your first automated flight. The waypoint mission is the most versatile and commonly used mode, offering incredible control over your drone’s flight path and camera actions. Let’s walk through the process from a blank map to a fully planned route. If you’re new to this, our guide on using Litchi App for the first time will be a great starting point.

Starting a New Mission in the Hub

Your first step is to tell the Mission Hub what kind of flight you want to create. In the top-left corner of the interface, you’ll see a dropdown menu for mission modes. By default, it’s usually set to “Waypoint”. If not, simply click it and select “Waypoint” from the list.

Next, you need to navigate the map to your desired flight location. You can use the search bar to find a specific address or landmark, or you can manually pan and zoom the map just as you would in Google Maps. Setting this initial location ensures that when you start adding waypoints, they are placed in the correct geographical area.

Placing Waypoints on the Map

This is where the magic begins. Creating a flight path is remarkably intuitive. To place your first waypoint, simply click anywhere on the map. A numbered marker will appear, representing the starting point of your mission. Click on another spot on the map to create a second waypoint, and a line will automatically connect them, showing the initial flight path.

Continue this process to build a basic route. You can add as many waypoints as you need to define the exact path you want your drone to follow. For your first mission, try creating a simple path with three or four points, moving from a starting location (Point A) to an end location (Point B).

Editing Waypoint Positions and Altitude

Flexibility is key in flight planning, and Litchi makes adjustments easy. If a waypoint isn’t in the perfect spot, you can simply click and drag it to a new location on the map. The flight path lines will update in real-time to reflect the change.

Altitude is one of the most critical settings. When you select a waypoint (either by clicking it on the map or in the waypoint list on the right), its specific settings appear. Here, you can manually input a precise altitude value. Remember, this altitude is relative to your takeoff point, not the ground directly beneath the waypoint. Setting different altitudes for each point allows you to create dynamic ascending or descending shots. Proper planning before any photography trip can save you a lot of hassle, so remember to check our things you should do before any photography trip list.

Setting a Point of Interest (POI)

A Point of Interest, or POI, is a game-changer for creating professional-looking, cinematic video. A POI is a specific point on the map that you designate as the subject of your shot. Once set, you can instruct your drone’s camera to remain focused on it, regardless of where the drone is flying.

To create one, click the “POI” marker at the top of the waypoint list and then click on the map where you want your subject to be (e.g., a building, a statue, a tree). A new POI marker will appear. Now, for each waypoint you want to use this POI, simply click the waypoint and in its settings, select the POI from the “Point of Interest” dropdown. As the drone flies between these linked waypoints, its camera will automatically and smoothly pan to keep the POI perfectly centered in the frame. This creates elegant orbiting or fly-by shots that are nearly impossible to achieve with manual flight controls.

A Deep Dive into Mission and Waypoint Settings

Configuring Global Mission Settings

Before you dive into placing individual waypoints, it’s crucial to define the overall behavior of your mission. These “global” settings, found in the Mission Settings panel, act as the default rules for your entire flight plan. Getting them right from the start saves a lot of time and ensures your mission behaves as expected. For a comprehensive understanding of how to get started with this powerful tool, check out our guide on Using Litchi App for the first time.

• Heading Mode: This setting dictates where the front of the drone (and by default, the camera) points during the mission. You have several powerful options. “Toward Next Waypoint” (TNW) keeps the drone facing its direction of travel, which is great for journey-style videos. “User Controlled” gives you manual control over the yaw (left/right rotation) during the automated flight, allowing for creative pans. You can also lock the heading to a Point of Interest (POI), or set a custom heading angle.
• Finished Action: This tells the drone what to do once it has reached the final waypoint. The most common and safest option is “Return to Home” (RTH), which will bring the drone back to its takeoff point. Other options include “Land” at the final waypoint’s position, “Hover” in place, or even “Back to 1” to create a continuous loop.
• Path Mode: Here you choose the personality of your flight path. “Straight Lines” creates a point-to-point flight where the drone stops or makes a sharp, angular turn at each waypoint. This is ideal for grid patterns or architectural shots. For cinematic, flowing video, you’ll want “Curved Turns.” In this mode, the drone flies through waypoints in smooth, continuous arcs without stopping.
• Cruising Speed: This sets the default flight speed for the entire mission. Think of it as your baseline. It’s best to set a moderate speed here, as you can always override it for specific segments of the flight at individual waypoints.

Customizing Each Waypoint for Full Control

While global settings define the mission’s framework, the real creative power of Litchi lies in the ability to customize every single waypoint. By clicking on a waypoint on the map or in the list, you open a menu of options that give you granular control over the drone’s flight and camera actions at that specific point. Remember to prepare thoroughly for any photography excursion by following these essential things you should do before any photography trip.

• Altitude: This sets the drone’s height above the takeoff point when it reaches the waypoint. You can create dramatic ascents and descents by varying the altitude between consecutive points.
• Speed: Want to slow down for a dramatic reveal or speed up over a less interesting area? This setting allows you to override the global “Cruising Speed” for the leg of the journey leading up to this waypoint.
• Curve Size: When using the “Curved Turns” path mode, this parameter is your key to beautiful, smooth arcs. A larger value creates a wider, more gradual turn, while a smaller value results in a tighter turn. Experimenting with curve sizes is essential for achieving a professional, cinematic feel. When selecting a workshop, understanding how to evaluate them is key, and you can learn more about Photography tours Reviews.
• Gimbal Pitch: This controls the camera’s vertical angle, from pointing straight down (-90°) to straight ahead (0°) or even slightly up. You can program smooth camera tilts by setting different gimbal pitches at successive waypoints. For example, starting with the camera down and tilting it up to reveal the horizon.
• Actions: This is where you can program specific events to happen when the drone reaches a waypoint. It’s like having a robotic director on board. You can add one or more actions at any point, including:
  • Take Photo: Commands the drone to capture a still image.
  • Start Recording: Begins video recording.
  • Stop Recording: Ends video recording. This is useful for capturing specific clips along a longer route.
  • Wait for X Seconds: Makes the drone hover at the waypoint for a specified duration, perfect for a stable shot or time-lapse.
  • Tilt Camera: A more direct way to set the gimbal pitch to a specific angle at that point.

Beyond Waypoints: Planning Other Mission Types

While waypoint missions are the heart of Litchi, the app offers several other intelligent flight modes designed for specific creative shots. These modes provide automation for complex maneuvers, allowing you to focus on capturing the perfect scene rather than wrestling with the controls. If you’re new to the app, our Using Litchi App for the first time: A Complete Guide can help you get started.

Planning a Perfect Orbit Mission

The orbit, or “point of interest,” shot is a staple of professional drone videography. It involves flying a perfect circle around a subject, keeping the camera smoothly pointed at it the entire time. Litchi makes this incredibly simple to plan and execute.

• Define the Center Point: In the Mission Hub, select Orbit mode. You’ll first place a pin on the map that represents the center of your circle—this is your subject. It could be a building, a statue, or a group of people.
• Set Radius and Altitude: Once the center is set, you can define the parameters of the circle. Adjust the radius to determine how far the drone will be from the subject and set the flight altitude. You can even set an entry point for where the drone will begin its circular path.
• Configure Speed and Direction: Finally, set the speed for the orbit. A slower speed often yields a more cinematic and graceful shot. You can also choose the direction of flight (clockwise or counter-clockwise) and the number of circles to complete.

Using Focus Mode for Dynamic Subject Tracking

Focus Mode offers a brilliant hybrid between automated and manual flight, giving you the best of both worlds. It’s designed to keep a subject perfectly framed while you retain full manual control over the drone’s movement.

To use it, you simply select a subject on your screen (like a moving car or a person walking). Litchi then takes over full control of the gimbal and the drone’s yaw (rotation) to keep that subject in the center of the shot. You are then free to fly the drone up, down, left, and right, creating dynamic, sweeping shots without ever worrying about losing your subject.

Important: It’s best to think of Focus Mode not as a pre-planned route, but as a powerful, assisted manual flight plan. You don’t plot a path beforehand; you fly in real-time with the app acting as a dedicated camera operator.

Quick Guide to Automated Panoramas

Capturing the dozens of photos required for a stunning, high-resolution panorama can be tedious and prone to error. Litchi’s automated Panorama mode handles the entire process with precision, ensuring perfect overlap between photos for easy stitching later.

The process is straightforward: you fly your drone to the desired vantage point, open the Panorama settings in the Litchi app, and choose the type of panorama you want to create. Litchi will then automatically rotate the drone and tilt the gimbal, capturing every image needed for the sequence. Your only job is to start the mission and wait. Common options include:

• Horizontal Panoramas: Captures a wide, single-row vista.
• Vertical Panoramas: Stacks photos vertically, ideal for tall subjects like waterfalls or skyscrapers.
• Spherical (360-degree) Panoramas: Takes photos in every direction to create a fully immersive “tiny planet” or VR-compatible image.

Once Litchi has captured all the photos, you can download them and use third-party software like Adobe Lightroom, PTGui, or Microsoft ICE to stitch them into a final masterpiece. Remember to check out our guide on things you should do before any photography trip to ensure you’re fully prepared.

Best Practices for Safe and Successful Missions

Planning a mission is only half the battle. Executing it safely and effectively requires a thoughtful approach that bridges the gap between the digital plan and the real world. Adopting a set of best practices will not only protect your drone but also ensure you capture the incredible footage you envisioned.

Pre-Flight Planning Checklist

Before you even think about packing your gear, a thorough digital pre-flight check can prevent most potential issues. Treat the Mission Hub as your first line of defense.

• Use Google Earth’s 3D View: The satellite map in Litchi is great, but it’s flat. Export your mission as a KML file and open it in Google Earth. Use the 3D view to “fly” your route virtually. This is the single best way to scout for hidden obstacles like tall trees, power lines, or towers that might not be obvious from a top-down perspective.
• Check Airspace Regulations: Your planned route might look clear, but it could be in restricted airspace. Use an app like the FAA’s B4UFLY (or the equivalent for your country) to check for airport proximity, temporary flight restrictions (TFRs), and other advisories for your specific flight location and altitude.
• Verify Mission Time vs. Battery Life: Litchi provides an estimated flight time for your mission. Always compare this to your drone’s realistic battery performance, factoring in wind conditions. A safe rule of thumb is to ensure the mission time uses no more than 60-70% of a full battery, leaving you a generous buffer to return home and land safely.

Avoiding Common Route Planning Mistakes

A few simple oversights in the Mission Hub can lead to disastrous results in the field. Here are the most common pitfalls to watch out for.

• Misunderstanding Altitude: This is the most critical concept to grasp. All waypoint altitudes in Litchi are relative to your takeoff point, not the ground directly below the waypoint. If you take off from a valley and set a waypoint at 50 meters to fly over a 60-meter hill, your drone will crash. Always analyze terrain elevation along your flight path and set altitudes accordingly.
• Creating Unflyable Maneuvers: For smooth video, physics is your guide. Setting a very high cruising speed and then programming a sharp turn with a small curve radius is a recipe for jerky, unappealing footage. The drone will have to slow down dramatically to make the turn, ruining the shot’s flow. Use wider, more gradual curves and match your speed to the complexity of the path.
• Forgetting to Set a Safe RTH Altitude: Your drone’s Return to Home (RTH) altitude is a crucial safety setting. Do not leave it at the default. Before you fly, identify the tallest obstacle (trees, buildings, hills) in the entire operational area and set your RTH altitude well above it. This ensures that if the drone loses signal, it will safely climb above all dangers before flying back to you.

How to Save, Load, and Organize Your Missions

As you create more flight plans, good organization becomes essential for an efficient workflow. A tidy Mission Hub saves you time and makes it easier to replicate or modify your best shots.

• Use Descriptive Names: “Mission 1” and “Test 2” won’t help you in a month. Get into the habit of giving your missions clear, descriptive names. Include the location, subject, and type of shot. For example, “Lighthouse Point – Sunset Orbit” is infinitely more useful than “New Mission.”
• Organize with Folders: The Litchi Mission Hub allows you to create folders. Use them! You can organize your work by location (“Coastal Flights,” “Mountain Hikes”), by client (“Smith Real Estate Project”), or by shot type (“Orbits,” “Time-lapses”). This simple step makes finding, editing, and reusing a specific flight plan effortless.

Executing Your Plan: From Mission Hub to the Sky

You’ve meticulously planned your route, scouted for obstacles, and configured every setting. Now it’s time for the most exciting part: translating your digital plan into a real-world flight. This final phase is all about careful execution, from loading the mission on-site to safely managing the flight from takeoff to landing.

Loading the Mission in the Litchi App

The bridge between your desktop planning and your drone in the field is the Litchi app on your mobile device. Thanks to your Litchi account, this process is seamless, but it relies on one key ingredient: an internet connection. Before you leave a location with Wi-Fi or good cellular service, make sure your mission is synced. For a comprehensive walkthrough of getting started, check out our guide on Using Litchi App for the first time.

• Ensure Connectivity: Open the Litchi app on your phone or tablet while connected to the internet. This allows the app to sync with the Litchi Mission Hub and download any new or updated missions you’ve saved.
• Open the Mission: Once on-site and connected to your drone, tap the flight mode selector and choose “Waypoint”. From there, look for a folder or “Load Mission” icon. You will see a list of all your synced missions. Simply tap the one you just created to load it onto your screen.

On-Site Pre-Flight Checks

A mission that looks perfect on a 2D map can sometimes face unexpected real-world challenges. Before you launch, performing a few quick on-site verifications is a critical step for a safe and successful flight. Remember to complete all essential preparations by reviewing the Things you should do before any photography trip.

• Verify the Route in Person: With the mission loaded, look at the flight path on your screen and compare it to the environment around you. Does the path correctly avoid that tree you couldn’t see clearly on the satellite view? Is the altitude high enough to clear a newly constructed building or power line? This is your last chance to make small adjustments by dragging waypoints directly in the app.
• Check Drone and Controller Status: Perform your standard pre-flight checks. Ensure you have a strong GPS lock, the home point is recorded correctly, batteries are fully charged (both for the drone and controller), and there are no warning messages from the drone.

Starting, Monitoring, and Stopping the Mission

With all checks complete, you’re ready to fly. Litchi makes executing the automated flight straightforward, but your role as the pilot-in-command is to actively monitor the entire process. Adhering to proper Photography Tours Etiquette will ensure a smooth experience for everyone involved, especially when operating in shared spaces.

To begin, simply press the “Play” button on the screen. The drone will take off (if it’s on the ground) and proceed to the first waypoint, beginning its automated journey. As it flies, the app provides a wealth of real-time information. You can monitor its progress along the path, watch the live video feed, and keep an eye on critical telemetry like altitude, speed, and distance from home.

Most importantly, you are never locked into the mission. You always have ultimate control. At any point, you can use the on-screen controls to Pause the mission, causing the drone to hover in place. You can then choose to Resume or stop it entirely. To immediately cancel the mission and take back full manual control, simply flip the flight mode switch on your remote controller. Knowing how to do this instantly is the most important safety skill when flying automated missions. Always be prepared to intervene if weather conditions change or an unexpected obstacle appears.