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Mapping Mission Ride Along

Posted by Matt Gunn on May 18, 2013 at 10:00pm

Here's my 1st mapping test flight with a Skyhunter twin-boom pusher. Im running Arduplane 2.73. Mapping camera is a Canon s95 running an intervalometer script via chdk. Its suspended from a single axis gimbal that keeps the camera pointing down regardless of aircraft bank angle. Video shot from a GoPro 3 Black Edition.

It took 120 photos during the 10 minute flight, and stitched with PT GUI. I need to refine my grid spacing and polygon locations relative to the target area, and intervalometer timing. The generated map is a little rough, but its a great start.

 I gave up on using the APM trigger at 3m from waypoint function as I couldn't get it to work and there's just no documentation on it.

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Comments

  • Matt Gunn May 19, 2013 at 8:34pm

    Altitude was 327 feet (100 meters). Total time was around 10 minutes.

  • Developer
    Antonius Lourenço Kasbergen May 19, 2013 at 8:30pm

    Could you share altitude and total area mapped? And flight time.

    Thanks

  • Moderator
    Dwgsparky May 19, 2013 at 5:38pm
    Congrats Matt, great picture. Glad everything word for you
  • Matt Gunn May 19, 2013 at 1:30pm

    I'm just using a standard hitec HS 65 HB. Yes its on the roll axis.

     

    For the question about the airframe and electronics:

    4s 5000mah 20c pack
    T-Motor 2820 830kv
    12x6 APC prop
    60amp esc

    I have not done a duration flight, but its very efficient. After a 10 minute mission I've got about 80% battery left. It only pulls 4-5 amps during the cruise.

  • Peter May 19, 2013 at 11:33am

    Very interesting. Are you using a gyro servo for your 1 axis (roll?) gimbal?? I'm going to be assembling a mapping plane soon so am interested in what you have done.

  • FPV Quads May 19, 2013 at 11:21am

    Really nice operation. Love the airframe. 

  • Matt Gunn May 19, 2013 at 11:11am

    Nice to hear. Ive been controlling mine through the APM via CHDK as well, but just cant get the waypoint triggering down. I can, however, take single pictures by clicking "trigger camera now" on the main page map. Its good for single photos but I would love to automate it through waypoint triggers soon.

  • 3D Robotics
    Chris Anderson May 19, 2013 at 10:37am

    Matt, 

    Great job! We're working on a whole tutorial series on controlling CHDK cameras with APM (it's the main way the 3DR team does aerial imaging), so stay tuned for better documentation on that. 

  • Martin Poller May 19, 2013 at 7:44am

    Thanks for the gimbal photo, adapting an existing one seems a better option than trying to make one from scratch, I might try one of the el cheapo Chinese kits as a starting point.

  • Matt Gunn May 19, 2013 at 6:19am

    Martin, I have not used the geotagging feature yet, but I will explore it once I get the photo stitching dialed in.

This reply was deleted.