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howto:pyduml

DJI Flashing & Rooting FAQ

Flashing your DJI aircraft is bloody simple with the pyduml.py script. This FAQ is based on work by vk2fro, and Dreadwing007.

1. Toolchain

Install your toolchain as per the instructions here. You only need to do this once… but check the instructions to see if there are any new tools that you may need.

2. Get the duml magic

If this is your first time using duml, you will need to checkout the code from git.

cd ~/Documents/
git clone https://github.com/hdnes/pyduml.git
cd pyduml

If you have done this before and you want to make sure you have the latest code, you just need to sync to the most recent version

cd ~/Documents/pyduml
git pull

3. Get some firmware

If you are planning to flash new firmware, you obviously need some firmware files. The primary source is http://github.com/MAVProxyUser/dji_system.bin … or, you can go to firmware for a listing of what is available

NOTE for Spark RC: Firmware for Spark RC have the ending “.tar” as the Spark RC is quite different from the other devices (also how to flash, see below, skip to bottom of (4.) to see next Spark RC note…)

This step will find the TTY for connectivity to your aircraft, and store it in a file /tmp/dji.port for use later.

  • Power on your aircraft
  • Connect USB from your computer to your aircraft
  • If you're using windows, check in device manager for the port (assistant 2 must be installed for drivers) then skip to step 5.
  • Open a terminal window
  ls /dev/tty* | sed -e "s#.*/##g" > /tmp/dji.on
  • Disconnect the USB cable
  ls /dev/tty* | sed -e "s#.*/##g" > /tmp/dji.off
  • Now find what is our tty port for the aircraft
  diff /tmp/dji.on /tmp/dji.off | grep "<" | sed -e "s/.* //" > /tmp/dji.port
  rm /tmp/dji.on /tmp/dji.off
  cat /tmp/dji.port

NOTE for Spark RC: Please skip above and just switch on RC and connect your Mac/PC to its WiFi network as a preparation. Also see notes for Spark RC in section (5.)

5. Flashing

FULLY CHARGE A BATTERY!!! do not try to flash with a depleted battery - itʼll only end in tears and a dead aircraft. If you aren't interested in changing firmware and you just want to get root access, skip ahead to the next step.

  • Put the firmware into the same folder as pyduml.py - ~/Documents/pyduml
  • Open a terminal window/command prompt and go to our directory
  cd ~/Documents/pyduml
  • Prepare our package for delivery - Rename the firmware
  cp <yourfirmwarename> dji_system.bin

NOTE for Spark RC:

  #ONLY do this if flashing a Spark RC
  cp <yourSparkRCfirmwarename.tar> fw.tar
  • For example…
  cp V01.03.0700_Mavic_dji_system.bin dji_system.bin

If your on windows substitute 'copy' for 'cp'

  copy V01.03.0700_Mavic_dji_system.bin dji_system.bin
  • Deliver the package
  python pyduml.py /dev/`cat /tmp/dji.port`

NOTE for Spark RC: No additional Parameters needed, just choose the Spark RC as device when prompted…

  #ONLY do this if flashing a Spark RC
  python pyduml.py

For windows users:

python pyduml.py com#:

where # is the comport number you discovered in device manager.

Flashing takes around 10 minutes. Watch the lights on the aircraft. It may reboot during the procedure but donʼt touch it. Once it chimes and the front beacons stop flashing, its done. Be patient - 10 minutes seems like an awfully long time, but you donʼt get a pretty progress bar like when you flash with assistant.

Do not disconnect the drone when the script says its finished - thats only the upload portion! The flashing process follows and its a good idea to leave it all alone until you hear the chimes.

Want to watch the process? if you have root, you can issue the following commands in a second terminal session:

  • monitor progress with terminal if you already have root:
  adb shell
  busybox tail -f /ftp/upgrade/dji/log/upgrade00.log
  • Remove temporary file from the firmware upload that we created before
  rm dji_system.bin

Windows users can simply del the file

  del dji_system.bin

The optional batteries then can upgraded/downgraded simply by inserting them in the aircraft and connecting to the Assistant, letting it detect and fix any discrepancy in the versions.

6. Rooting

  • Prepare our package for delivery
cp fireworks.tar dji_system.bin

Windows users:

  copy fireworks.tar dji_system.bin
  • Deliver the package
   python pyduml.py /dev/`cat /tmp/dji.port`

Windows users:

python pyduml.py com#:
  • Remove temporary file
rm dji_system.bin

windows users:

del dji_system.bin

7. Open a shell

From your terminal window

  • List adb devices. You should see RedHerring has Fangs!
adb devices
  • Connect to your aircraft via ADB
adb shell

8. Make ADB persistent

To make it easier to get back into your aircraft via ADB next time, you can add a command to the boot init script. Beware. This command is modifying a startup script. If you get it wrong, that could be … well … bad. Don't do this more than once, unless you change your firmware to re-patch the startup script.

mount -o remount,rw /system
echo /system/bin/adb_en.sh >> /system/bin/start_dji_system.sh
reboot

Credits

  • This FAQ was compiled based on work by vk2fro, and Dreadwing007.
  • Of course, we have to thank hdnes for his work, and hostile for all of his work too, not to mention the_lord for all his help as well. hdnes is also our hero for helping out and getting pyduml to work. Not to mention darkwing007 who collaborated with vk2fro to get the linux portion working.
howto/pyduml.txt · Last modified: 2017/08/21 17:52 by nils