Last year I was searching how to fly at safe low altitude to take the higher resolution photos that possible, to identify weeds and insects in crops and trying to know if a laser altimeter can do the task, first I bought a Lidar lite but looks unstable over rought terrain perhaps bad installed or configured and no more support to ask, but, in the way, Laserdeveloper offer me to test the SF11 and send me one, I was little nervous because I'm not have much electronic knowledge, I couldn't make Lidar work yet, and SF11 looks more professional with PC connection and configuration capable, but results an RTF tool, very easy to install, Pixhawk configuration I use as instructions said, I use serial connection http://ardupilot.org/copter/docs/common-lightware-sf10-lidar.html?highlight=sf10 and SF11 configuration I don't change nothing but have many things for different tasks, standard ones looks nice for me.
It have an intuitive software to test with the pc too, you plug to USB with provided cable, open the program and look readings, I them took a ruler and measured the SF11 with the floor and looks near perfect :O ; many rainy days them (I'm in winter :( ) I did a first little fly with strong wind, the wind hit the copter but altitude didn't change, a better day I can fly more to test and take this video flying over a rought terrain; I'm going to test over different crops with different stages, and different slopes to see what happend.
Thank's to Laser developer to give me the opportunity to test this great altimeter :D
Now I test the SF11 over dry corn and, as Laserdeveloper explain here: http://diydrones.com/group/agricultural-uavs/forum/topics/testing-sf11-altimeter-over-soybean the laser reads the floor instead dry plants so, no issues when little spaces between plants appears, wind isn't a complication too.3 Nov: Now time to fly wheat, searching for insects and diseases, windy, as always, is present
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2o7SXrW6KU
It's curious to compare sonar altimeter with Baro
Comments
@ Cala
Thank you, I appreciate. Well there are also some controversy discussions going on here in this place about the board.
Most of them argue that it does bring in more complexity in a system and other argue that a reals redundancy can only performed when you use at least three autopilots, what is correct.
On the other hand, one can also say that using 4/6/8 engines and ESC's to fly a multicopter is also very complex and the number of failures can increase in a system. In comparison to a helicopter with one engine but with the capacity to do an autorotation just in case the engine quits it is also a lack of safety.
Fact is, that it is given law in Austria to use at least two autopilots in a multicopter, when you go commercial.
It is not only a safety feature but it is also good for doing flight tests with new setups and software-updates on the second autopilot.
Regards, Robert
That is really superb Robert,
I have an SF30B and am very interested in doing much the same thing.
I notice your response is simply to back up.
Are you tracking at all the direction of the Lidar when the object is detected or are you simply backing up if any object is detected anywhere as LIDAR freely sweeps?
To use this for navigating through a group of objects you would need to know the direction of the detected object then choose an appropriate response.
Best Regards,
Gary
Thank's guys.
Nice test Robert, just for curious I saw your redundancy board and looks very interesting too.
Great job, I appreciate...even in a higher speed, very nice.
We have done some tests earlier this year with nearly the same LIDAR (it was SF33 T/B) but this time sweeping and forward looking as a distance control or collision avoidance device. It worked great.
Check: https://youtu.be/V_Ymoxf4XOE
Cheers, Robert
I just completed a forensic test flying at 20 mts. Got 1mm resolution pics. I have a SF11. Will give it a shot. Send me ur mail address and I will send you some of the work I did
3.2 mts low fly and 19mts higher fly
Hi Cala
What was your Altitude.
Don't worry, you aren't alone in this world, time to time I make the same mistake. ;)
@Cala - Ah yes I had even commented on that topic! I'm getting old, memory is fading :(
Fnoop: here is the topic: http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/agl-measurement-in-conservation...
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