Frequently Asked Questions

ShotKit turns plain-English shot descriptions into ready-to-fly DJI drone missions. Type something like "slow orbit at 60m facing south, 90s long", set a location on the map, and ShotKit generates a complete waypoint mission as a standard DJI WPML KMZ file you can import into DJI Fly or DJI Pilot 2.

Waypoint editors expect you to place every waypoint yourself. ShotKit understands cinematic intent: orbits, reveals, dolly moves, parallax push-ins, patrols. You describe the shot - ShotKit picks waypoint count, altitudes, gimbal angles, speeds, and camera headings to match. You stay in control: review, adjust, regenerate, or hand-edit before exporting.

ShotKit is currently in private testing. Pricing has not been finalised. Existing test users won't be auto-charged - you'll be told before any paid tier launches and can stay on free use until you opt in.

Both produce identical KMZ output. The web app (shotkit.stewartb.workers.dev) runs in any browser and is good for desk-based planning. The iPad / Android tablet app is field-first - bigger touch targets, GPS-aware location pinning, and a 3D Earth view that previews the shot against actual terrain before you take off.

Yes - an account stores your mission history, saved locations, and preferences across devices. Account creation needs only an email. We don't sell data or share with advertisers - see the Privacy Policy.

ShotKit supports DJI consumer and prosumer drones that accept WPML KMZ waypoint files: Mini 3 / 3 Pro, Mini 4 Pro, Air 2S, Air 3, Air 3S, Mavic 3 / 3 Pro / 3 Cine, and the Inspire 3. Speed, max altitude, payload, and gimbal range are matched to the model you select - generated missions never exceed the drone's published capability envelope.

Not yet. ShotKit's KMZ export targets DJI's WPML format. Autel and Skydio waypoint formats are on the roadmap but not shipped. If you have a strong use case for one of those, please write in - it helps us prioritise.

Three options:

1. DJI Fly: Save the KMZ to your phone's Files app, open DJI Fly > Album > Local > Files > tap the KMZ to import.
2. DJI Pilot 2: Mission Library > Import > choose the KMZ.
3. SD card: Copy the KMZ to DJI/waypoint on your drone's SD card; it appears in the drone's mission list on next boot.

Detailed walkthroughs (with screenshots) are in the User Guide - Download & fly section.

No - ShotKit produces a mission file. The actual flight is executed by your DJI controller using DJI's stock waypoint flight engine. You're always the pilot in command.

ShotKit uses the same SRTM elevation data and DJI flight envelope your drone respects, plus weather data from the operating window you set. The geometry (orbit radius, altitudes, gimbal pitch) is calculated, not guessed. Always do a real-world preview at low altitude on first execution though - GPS drift, local obstacles, and signal coverage are real.

Yes. Drag any waypoint on the map to move it. Click a waypoint to edit altitude, speed, heading, gimbal pitch, or hover time. The "Auto-raise terrain" button bumps any waypoint that would clip into a hill. Full editor docs in Editing waypoints.

The Flight Planning section shows sunrise, sunset, and golden-hour windows for your location and date. The map's sun compass indicates the live light direction; toggling 3D Earth view shows roughly where shadows will fall. The time slider previews any moment in the day so you can plan a sunrise reveal or a late-afternoon back-light.

Yes. Every generated mission goes into your History (sidebar). Open it any time to review, re-export, or remix into a variation - "same orbit but slower", "same path but at sunset", etc.

Yes - the Sequences feature lets you string several missions into one schedule, exported as a single KMZ. Useful for multi-shot scenes or A/B coverage. See Sequences in the guide.

Destructive edits (Hug terrain, Wind-fit speeds, Auto-raise) automatically snapshot the previous state. Open ⟲ Versions on the result card. Each row offers Compare (visual diff modal showing per-waypoint altitude / speed / drift deltas) and Restore. The restore itself is also snapshotted, so Ctrl+Z still works. For inline waypoint moves, Ctrl+Z / Ctrl+Y handle undo / redo.

Open the Account modal (avatar top-right). The 📊 Your flight stats card at the top shows total missions, estimated total airtime, top drone, top shot type, favourite location (within ~1 km cluster, 2+ missions), and this-month vs last-month delta. The card hides itself until you have at least one mission.

The 📤 Export ▾ button beside Download KMZ opens a popover with KMZ / GeoJSON / GPX / CSV waypoints / Brief PDF / Copy text brief / Add to sequence. KMZ goes through the pre-flight checklist; the others download or copy directly.

The minimum needed to run the service: your email, the missions you generate (so you can find them later), and saved locations. Granted location permission is used only to drop a pin on the map; we don't track movement or upload your raw GPS stream. Full details in the Privacy Policy.

On Cloudflare's edge infrastructure (D1 SQL + KV) in encrypted-at-rest databases. Account credentials are hashed; we cannot recover your password if you forget it - we can only let you reset it.

Open the account menu (top right) > Delete account. This removes your missions, saved locations, and email permanently within 30 days. If you're stuck, email us (link below) and we'll process the deletion manually.

Every mission is already a portable KMZ file you can download. For a bulk export (all missions + saved locations as a single archive), email support and we'll send it within 7 days.

Partially. The shell loads from cache so the UI opens offline, and missions you've previously generated are available read-only. Generating a new mission needs internet (the AI runs server-side) and so does loading new map tiles. For a fully offline-friendly field workflow, generate the missions you need at home - they'll be in History when you're at the launch site.

The actual flight uses your DJI controller and the drone's onboard GPS - no internet needed. ShotKit only matters before takeoff (for planning) and after landing (for review). The Field Pack export bundles offline-friendly maps + a printed brief PDF for remote-site flying.

Optional. Granting it lets the "Use GPS" button drop a pin at your current position without you having to type coordinates or scroll the map. Decline it and you can still set the launch site by tapping the map or searching an address. We don't track your movement.

The Airspace overlay (toggle on the map) shows controlled airspace, restricted zones, and known no-fly areas drawn from public OpenAIP data. This is informational only - not authoritative. You're responsible for verifying clearance with your local civil aviation authority and DJI's geofencing system before each flight.

It will warn you when the planned mission overlaps a flagged airspace zone, but it won't block the export - you might be the licensed pilot with permission to fly there. Final authority is your local regulator + DJI's onboard geofence.

Yes. Every waypoint is checked against SRTM elevation data; the altitude chart shows clearance versus the local ground profile. The Auto-raise button on the result card bumps any waypoint that would clip terrain to a safe vertical buffer. See Terrain safety.

ShotKit can plan the mission, but DJI's geofence will refuse takeoff or arming. You'll need to apply for unlock through DJI's standard FlySafe portal - that process is between you, DJI, and your local regulator. ShotKit doesn't bypass geofencing.