Difference between revisions of "At-field- Pre-Flight Checklist"
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:: '''1.3.1 Camera settings (Based on Canon PowerShot S100/S95/S110 Point & Shoot cameras)''' | :: '''1.3.1 Camera settings (Based on Canon PowerShot S100/S95/S110 Point & Shoot cameras)''' | ||
| − | ::: → General recommendations for aerial imagery: | + | ::: → '''General recommendations for aerial imagery''': |
| − | ::: ❏ Keep the camera focal length fixed throughput the mission. | + | :::: ❏ Keep the camera focal length fixed throughput the mission. |
| − | ::: ❏ Shoot in RAW since the RAW format retains maximum scene details and provides greater flexibility during post-processing. | + | :::: ❏ Shoot in RAW since the RAW format retains maximum scene details and provides greater flexibility during post-processing. |
| − | ::: ❏ Use faster shutter speeds to avoid blur due to vehicle speed and vibration. | + | :::: ❏ Use faster shutter speeds to avoid blur due to vehicle speed and vibration. |
| − | ::: ❏ Use gimbal to get maximum nadir shots of the scene and to avoid image blurring. | + | :::: ❏ Use gimbal to get maximum nadir shots of the scene and to avoid image blurring. |
| + | :::: ❏ Set the Manual Focus (MF) setting to infinity for above 5 meter altitude flights. | ||
| − | |||
| − | ::: ''' | + | ::: → '''Choose one of the following camera shooting modes''': |
| − | :::: | + | :::: '''1. Shutter Priority (Tv) mode''': |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | ::: | + | ::::: ❏ In Tv mode, only shutter speed needs to be adjusted, ISO and F-number are automatically adjusted by camera based on scene conditions. |
| + | ::::: ❏ Shutter speed: fastest or close to fastest (for S100 canon, 1/1250, 1/1600, or 1/2000 would work, depending upon the light conditions). Tip: faster the shutter less light hitting the sensor. | ||
| + | ::::: ❏ Optional: Ev (exposure): 0, -1/3 or -2/3 (again adjust based on ambient light conditions) | ||
| − | :::: ❏ Shutter speed: fastest or close to fastest (for S100 canon, 1/1600 or 1/2000 would work, depending upon the UAV speed and weather conditions) | + | :::: '''2. Manual (M) mode''': |
| − | :::: ❏ ISO: ~80-250 (adjust based on ambient light). Hint: Higher ISO, brighter image but higher noise. | + | |
| − | :::: ❏ Aperture (f-number): 4.0-5.6. Note: Small f-number means wider apertures and shallow depth of field. In our experience, F-number of 4-5.6 is a sweet spot. It is recommended that you play around with the manual settings to setup your camera to suit your specific requirements. | + | ::::: ❏ Shutter speed: fastest or close to fastest (for S100 canon, 1/1600 or 1/2000 would work, depending upon the UAV speed and weather conditions) |
| − | :::: ❏ Ev (exposure): -1/3 or -2/3. Again, adjust based on ambient light conditions. | + | ::::: ❏ ISO: ~80-250 (adjust based on ambient light). Hint: Higher ISO, brighter image but higher noise. |
| − | :::: ❏ Additional note: Use the vertical bar with moving pointer to adjust the camera settings to get proper exposure (not too bright and dark). The pointer should point at or below the mid-mark. | + | ::::: ❏ Aperture (f-number): 4.0-5.6. Note: Small f-number means wider apertures and shallow depth of field. In our experience, F-number of 4-5.6 is a sweet spot. It is recommended that you play around with the manual settings to setup your camera to suit your specific requirements. |
| + | ::::: ❏ Ev (exposure): -1/3 or -2/3. Again, adjust based on ambient light conditions. | ||
| + | ::::: ❏ Additional note: Use the vertical bar with moving pointer to adjust the camera settings to get proper exposure (not too bright and dark). The pointer should point at or below the mid-mark. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ::: → '''Under MENU option, change the default settings to''': | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | |||
:::: ❏ GPS ON | :::: ❏ GPS ON | ||
:::: ❏ MF-point ZOOM OFF | :::: ❏ MF-point ZOOM OFF | ||
:::: ❏ Safety MF OFF | :::: ❏ Safety MF OFF | ||
:::: ❏ Wind Filter OFF | :::: ❏ Wind Filter OFF | ||
| − | + | :::: ❏ Image format: Camera raw (CR2) | |
| − | + | ||
| − | + | ||
| − | :::: ❏ | + | |
| − | + | ||
| − | : | + | |
| − | + | ||
::'''1.3.2 UAS In-field Pre-flight''' | ::'''1.3.2 UAS In-field Pre-flight''' | ||
Latest revision as of 16:24, 28 April 2016
1. Flight Checklists
- 1.3. Preflight Checklist – At field before arming
- 1.3.1 Camera settings (Based on Canon PowerShot S100/S95/S110 Point & Shoot cameras)
- → General recommendations for aerial imagery:
- ❏ Keep the camera focal length fixed throughput the mission.
- ❏ Shoot in RAW since the RAW format retains maximum scene details and provides greater flexibility during post-processing.
- ❏ Use faster shutter speeds to avoid blur due to vehicle speed and vibration.
- ❏ Use gimbal to get maximum nadir shots of the scene and to avoid image blurring.
- ❏ Set the Manual Focus (MF) setting to infinity for above 5 meter altitude flights.
- → Choose one of the following camera shooting modes:
- 1. Shutter Priority (Tv) mode:
- ❏ In Tv mode, only shutter speed needs to be adjusted, ISO and F-number are automatically adjusted by camera based on scene conditions.
- ❏ Shutter speed: fastest or close to fastest (for S100 canon, 1/1250, 1/1600, or 1/2000 would work, depending upon the light conditions). Tip: faster the shutter less light hitting the sensor.
- ❏ Optional: Ev (exposure): 0, -1/3 or -2/3 (again adjust based on ambient light conditions)
- 2. Manual (M) mode:
- ❏ Shutter speed: fastest or close to fastest (for S100 canon, 1/1600 or 1/2000 would work, depending upon the UAV speed and weather conditions)
- ❏ ISO: ~80-250 (adjust based on ambient light). Hint: Higher ISO, brighter image but higher noise.
- ❏ Aperture (f-number): 4.0-5.6. Note: Small f-number means wider apertures and shallow depth of field. In our experience, F-number of 4-5.6 is a sweet spot. It is recommended that you play around with the manual settings to setup your camera to suit your specific requirements.
- ❏ Ev (exposure): -1/3 or -2/3. Again, adjust based on ambient light conditions.
- ❏ Additional note: Use the vertical bar with moving pointer to adjust the camera settings to get proper exposure (not too bright and dark). The pointer should point at or below the mid-mark.
- → Under MENU option, change the default settings to:
- ❏ GPS ON
- ❏ MF-point ZOOM OFF
- ❏ Safety MF OFF
- ❏ Wind Filter OFF
- ❏ Image format: Camera raw (CR2)
- 1.3.2 UAS In-field Pre-flight
- ❏ Place the UAV on a flat surface, plug-in the battery and close the lid. Note: Avoid any disturbance to the UAV during initial few seconds as the UAV performs automatic sensor-calibrations.
- ❏ Lock the SD card and insert it in camera.
- ❏ Switch-on the camera by pressing the preview button.Half-press the shutter to let the lens out.
- ❏ Set the camera parameters by following the instructions given in section 1.3.1.
- ❏ Attach the camera to the gimbal mount and plug-in the wire.
- ❏ Load and run CHDK script by half-pressing the camera shutter button.
- ❏ Open mission planner on field laptop and connect mission planner to UAV Autopilot using telemetry radio link. Use a correct COM PORT Number and 57600 Baud rate from the drop down menu on top right corner of mission planner software. Then hit connect.
- ❏ Check flight parameters (see parameter section below for detailed parameter list)
- ❏ Load proper mission waypoint file and write the waypoints into the Autopilot through radio link. Note: You can read back the WP from UAV to double check the correct WayPoints are written to the UAV.
- ❏ Make sure the GPS signal is good (3D fix: number of satellites > 7 and hdop < 2) and there is no error message flashing on the mission planner main window.
- ❏ Check if the camera trigger is working properly by walking the UAV. Note: Make sure the UAV safety light is flashing to avoid accidental arming.
- ❏ Check battery voltage.
- ❏ Turn the radio controller (RC) transmitter on.
- ❏ Check to make sure the RC switch positions are set to:
- ❏ Stabilized Mode [ON], RTL [OFF], Throttle [All the way Down].
- ❏ Depending upon how the other RC switches are mapped, make sure the switches are set to a mode that is safe for take-off.
- ❏ Check the trims are zero (offsets to stick positions that can be set with small slide switches).
- ❏ Make sure no one is close to UAV and survey area.
