Switching control modes (American hand/Japanese hand/Chinese hand) may seem simple, but throughout the entire process from setup to test flight, problems can easily arise due to operational negligence, equipment compatibility, or muscle memory conflicts – at the very least, flight loss of control; at worst, a crash that damages the equipment. The following are high-frequency problems and targeted solutions, suitable for both beginners and professional pilots.

First, Before and During Switching: Basic operation issues (most easily overlooked), such as incorrect or confused Mode selection, leading to errors throughout the subsequent entire process. Problem manifestations: Wanting to switch to the Japanese hand but choosing the Chinese hand, or reversing the mode number (for example, mistakenly misting Mode1= Japanese hand for an American hand), and the functions after switching completely fail to meet expectations.

High-incidence scenarios: Novitiate are not familiar with the mode definition, or when switching between multiple devices (such as when the default mode of the backup remote control is different).

Solution:

Before switching, be sure to check the “Mode Menu” (corresponding functions for the left/right joystick), take a screenshot of the phone memo and save it. Check it against it when switching.

The mainstream drone mode numbers are unified as follows: Mode1= Japanese hand, Mode2= American hand, Mode3= Chinese hand. Priority should be given to choosing based on the numbers rather than just the names.

The problem of setting failure or equipment malfunction caused by not power-off switching: The drone did not land, the motor was not turned off, and the mode was directly switched in the APP.

After setting and taking off, it was found that the original mode was still there, or the signal between the remote control and the drone was interrupted. The core reason is that when switching in the air, the drone is in operation, and the signal transmission priority is higher than the set synchronization, which easily leads to the parameters not taking effect.

Solution:

strictly follow the “ground power-off switching process” : land → turn off the motor → disconnect the remote control from the UAV→ switch modes → reconnect → start up for testing; After switching, confirm “mode saved” in the APP (for example, DJI Fly will pop up “Control mode updated” prompt), and then start the motor.

The problem of the remote control /APP setting being “invalid” and the mode remaining unchanged after switching is as follows: When a new mode is selected and saved in the APP, the joystick function remains in the original mode during the test flight (for example, if you want to cut the Japanese hand, it is still the lift logic of the American hand).

High-incidence causes: ① The APP cache has not been cleared; ② The remote control is not rebound to the drone. ③ The old remote control requires manual parameter synchronization.

Solution:

Basic troubleshooting: Log out of the APP and log in again. Disconnect the remote control power for 30 seconds and then restart. Enter the Settings again to confirm.

Advanced operation: If it still fails, find “Restore Remote Control Default Settings” in the APP (note: all custom keys will be cleared), re-pair and then switch modes;For older remote controls (such as the old DJI FPV model) : After switching, you need to hold down the “binding key” for 2 seconds. If you hear a “beep” sound, it indicates that the parameter

synchronization is successful.

Second, test after switching: Function Mapping Issues (the most dangerous) . Joystick function “mapping error”, key operations reversed. Problem manifestation: After switching testing, it was found that a certain joystick function did not

match the Settings (for example, when setting the American hand, it was found that the right hand was up and down instead of forward and backward), or the “turn” and “pan” functions were reversed.

Core risk: Directly causing flight loss of control (such as attempting to ascend but pushing the front and rear poles, or the drone diving and crashing to the ground).

Solution:

After the switch, a “full joystick test” must be conducted: on a ground without obstacles, turn on the machine and slowly push each joystick to observe the response of the drone (such as pushing up with the left hand → whether it rises, pulling left or right with the left hand → whether it turns);

Use the “marking method” to assist: stick small stickers on the remote control joystick to indicate the functions in the new mode (for example, pushing up with the left hand = up and down, moving up and down with the right hand = forward and backward), to avoid confusion. The sensitivity of the remote control was not adjusted, and the problem of excessive force and loss of control occurred: After switching modes, when the joystick was pushed as usual, it was found that the drone responded too quickly (for example, when the steering lever was slightly pulled, the body rotated rapidly) or too slowly (when the throttle lever was pushed, the ascent was sluggish).

Reason: The operation logic of different modes is different, and the original sensitivity setting does not match the new muscle memory.

Solution:

immediately reduce the sensitivity after switching: in the APP, set the “joystick sensitivity” to 50%-70% (50% is recommended for beginners), and set the “steering speed” to “slow”. Enable “joystick dead zone” : Set a dead zone of 0.1-0.2 (to prevent accidental movement caused by slight finger shaking), and gradually increase it after the test flight according to the adaptation

situation.

Third,actual Flight: Muscle Memory & Scene Adaptation Issues (Frequent Occurrence) Muscle memory conflicts, “reverse operation” problem manifestations: During the test flight, the consciousness operates in the original mode (for example, previously using the American hand, after switching to the Japanese hand, attempting to ascend but pushing the left front and rear poles), causing the drone to suddenly lose control.

High-incidence scenarios: Frequent mode switching, beginners just getting started with non-default modes (such as the American hand switching to the Chinese hand).

Solution:

After switching, do “empty practice” for 5 minutes first: hold the remote control and silently recite the new mode mnemonic (for example, Japanese hand: right hand up and down = up and down, left hand up and down = front and back), and simulate the operation; Simulator forced adaptation: Practice for at least 2 hours in software such as DJI Fly Simulator, with a focus on “hovering + four-way steering”, and then conduct real aircraft test flights; real aircraft test flight “three restrictions” : height limit (1-2 meters), distance limit (within 10 meters), and movement limit (only hovering + slow translation), to avoid complex operations.In low-altitude or windy conditions, the manifestation of the “brain crash” problem in emergency response: After switching, when encountering crosswinds or obstacles during the test flight, if one wants to quickly correct but is not familiar with the mode, the brain’s “translation” action is delayed

(for example, if one wants to turn to avoid obstacles but mistakenly pushes the lifting pole). The core reason is that the operational logic of the new model has not formed a conditioned reflex, and it relies on “old memories” in emergencies.

Solution:

Select a “windless environment” (wind speed < 2m/s) for the first test flight to avoid increased wind resistance and operational difficulty; Enable “auxiliary safety functions” : GPS mode (P mode), low height limit (3 meters), out-of-control return, and quickly stop losses even in case of noncooperation; Prepare “emergency brake” in advance: Set a certain function key on the remote control to “one-key hover”. In case of emergency, press the brake first and then gradually correct it.

Fifth,Equipment compatibility & special scenario issues (easily overlooked) Switching between older/professional remote controls requires removing the cover, voiding the warranty.

Problem description : Some older remote controls (such as early Sky-fly and Fusion) or professional FPV remote controls require removing the cover and adjusting the internal jumpers to switch modes.

If you do this yourself, the manufacturer will no longer provide warranty service.

Solution :

First, check the instruction manual: confirm whether the remote control supports “software switching” to avoid blindly opening the cover; If you need to remove the cover, please contact the brand’s after-sales service or a professional repair

shop for assistance, and keep a record of the repair. Prioritize replacing remote controls with those that support software switching (such as DJI RC Pro or Fr-sky Taranis X9D) to avoid the risks associated with hardware modifications.

Open source flight controller/DIY drone: Parameter conflicts cause mode failure. Problem Description : After switching modes, DIY drones (such as Autopilot and PX4 flight controllers) exhibit “unresponsive joystick” and “abnormal flight attitude” (such as tilting the fuselage and being unable to hover).

Cause : The “channel mapping” and “mixed control parameters” in the flight controller conflict with the new mode, or the flight controller was not restarted to take effect.

Solution :

✅Switching steps: Modify “Joystick Mode” in the ground station software (Q Ground Control) → Save parameters → Restart the flight controller → Re-calibrate the remote controller;

✅Verify channel mapping: Ensure that the flight controller’s “throttle, pitch, roll, yaw” channels correspond one-to-one with the joystick functions of the new mode on the remote controller;

✅During testing, first turn off the “automatic stabilization function” (such as self-stabilization mode), confirm that the response of each channel is normal in attitude mode, and then turn on the auxiliary function.

In team collaboration, inconsistent working methods can lead to misoperations.

Problem description : Multiple people share one drone. Some people cut off the Japanese hand, while others thought it was an American hand. After getting their hands on it, they accidentally pushed the joystick, causing the flight to go out of control.

Solution :Establish a “mode registration system”: After each switch, attach a sticky note to the drone body to indicate the current mode (“Current: US Hand Mode 2”); Team-wide default setting: Prioritize US hands (global mainstream) to avoid frequent switching; Always confirm before flying: Regardless of whether you have switched modes before, ask “What mode are you currently in?” and do a 10-second ground test before flying.

Fifth，Core Principles for Avoiding Pitfalls When Switching Modes

Ground-based switching, never mid-air switching : Switching must always be done after landing and power loss; mid-air switching equals immediate loss of control.

Test before flying, do not skip the testing steps : After switching, you must perform a “full joystick response test” to confirm that the function is correct before taking off;

Fixed pattern, no frequent switching : Choose one pattern (American hand is the first choice for beginners) and use it for a long time. Frequent switching will only confuse muscle memory.

Beginners should be cautious when attempting to switch from a Chinese hand to an American

hand : switching from an American hand to a Japanese hand carries a medium risk, while switching from an American/Japanese hand to a Chinese hand carries an extremely high risk; beginners are strictly prohibited from attempting this.

The core risks of switching modes are essentially “mismatch between operating logic and muscle memory” and “settings not taking effect.” As long as you strictly follow the process of “power off switching → verifying functions→simulator practice→low-altitude test flight,” 90% of the problems can be avoided.If you are a beginner, it is recommended to stick with the American hand position directly and not worry about switching. For professional users, after switching, be sure to allow sufficient adaptation time; safety is always more important than “quick mastery”!