Blogs

SKELLIT is a family of wearable, hand-held, console- and deskmount solutions for tablets and smartphones, all based on the same extremely compact active docking technology. Your tablet just snaps into the secure application specific frame, and it can be removed using only two fingers, while it will never come loose from any other force or impact.

Active docking also means instant connection to peripherals like a gamepad or wired LAN and, of course, an external power source. It is essential to anyone using their mobile device regularly for professional purposes, especially outdoors.

We can't always choose the operator location and other conditions of drone missions. That's where such modularity really comes in handy. For most quick flights you can keep the tablet docked in the handheld set with the RF module snapped onto its back. However, if you want to stay seated in your car for a longer mission, the docking RF module can go on the roof, and you're comfortably holding just a handheld unit.

Once you have to hike to your launch point or have to access the controller frequently during the day, a wearable set is the most comfortable solution. Mounting the flat RF box on your shoulder or on a backpack, and only having to hold a small rugged controller keeps everything light for you on the job.

Some of you may have seen our earlier mission control stations, or our various other sUAS system integrations. We've been developing products for all areas of the UAV-USV field for well over a decade now. Most of our customers want rugged IP54-68 grade gear from us, so that's what we do.

The other main equipment feature we concentrate on is portability, which may mean quick field assembly from compact and light modules, or just lean and mean self-contained and instantly usable systems. While we've always tried to design most of our hand-held mission controls with at least some level of wearability in mind, our latest SKELLIT product line surely provides the pinnacle of this feature.

SKELLIT Protean is the full UAV-USV controller package for any given industrial tablet, which may include any combination, or in fact all of these modules:

SKELLIT HH - the handheld controller unit with 2-4 joysticks, 2 toggles and 6-8 pushbuttons

SKELLIT RF - snaps right onto the back of the HH or on the tripod adapter, with a long range digital IP datalink RF module inside, i.e. Microhard, Silvus, Doodle Labs, etc.

SKELLIT RF tripod adapter - you can mount it on top of a mast and powerful magnets can hold it onto your car roof for separation and a better vantage point

SKELLIT body radio - shoulder mount adapter for the RF box

SKELLIT full MOLLE - wearable mount for plate carriers, dungarees, backpacks, etc.*

SKELLIT half MOLLE - wearable mount for zip front vests and life vests*

SKELLIT Bike - handlebar and tube frame mount

* Both the full and the half MOLLE wearable mounts can be turned over at their hinges to serve as a firm desktop stand.

Switching between any of the above docking frames is just a snap, because the flexible CF element is tough enough to hold the tablet in its place, even against high impact forces. Still, despite the fact that there are no moving components here, you only need to snap with your thumb and index finger to remove the tablet from any of them.

Peripherals, accessories:
SKELLIT MHH - rugged gamepad with OPC (deadman's switch)
SKELLIT MHH Light - rugged convertible mini gamepad for one/two-handed operation
SKELLIT PB - rugged power bank, 30-60Wh capacity
any type of external transparent IP RF and MESH module for comms
various IP67 grade body cables, external chargers, wired LAN cable, standard USB cable, etc.

www.skellit.com

The first product in 2023, We're honored to introduce the Pixy S, a handy industrial gimbal supporting Sony A7RIV with multiple drone platforms.

🎯 Compact

🎯 Powerful

🎯 Adaptability

[Introduction] Pixy S | Industrial Handy Gimbal:

🌍 And more about Pixy S: https://gremsy.com/pixy-s

🛒 Place an order: https://gremsy.com/pixy-s-store

🗨 Contact sales: contact@gremsy.com

Drone technology has undeniably transformed the traditional approach to industrial inspections, making them an essential part of their maintenance procedures. Traditional inspection methods, such as scaling cell towers, wind turbines, or scaffolding to examine industrial boilers, are being phased out in favor of drone inspections. Service providers can easily capture all necessary visual data without compromising inspector safety.

‍

Autonomous drone technology has made this process even more simpler & cost-effective. With the help of drone-in–a-box systems, companies can now perform inspections in hard-to-reach areas without the need for specialized personnel to be on site. By a simple push of a button, energy companies can gather accurate information from remote locations, such as gas facilities, solar farms, and remote oil fields.
‍

In this blog post, we will discuss the benefits of using autonomous drone technology in industrial inspections, using case studies and insights shared at a NestGen'23 session by industry experts Kevin Toderel from RMUS Canada and Grant Hosticka from DJI, North America.

‍

‍

^{Phased Approach for Autonomous Drone Operations}

To ensure regulatory compliance and operational safety, Kevin recommends a phased approach to drone implementation for industrial inspections. The approach involves a step-by-step progression in terms of removing human intervention and increasing automation in drone operations. The framework can be tailored to meet the unique needs of each project and it has proven to be effective, particularly in Canada. The four phases of this approach are as follows:

‍

1. Licensed Pilot with a RC and Visual Observer (VO): In the first phase, the drone operation starts with a licensed pilot operating the drone via RC while also acting as a visual observer. This requires no specific licensing and counts as a regular flight. The only difference between this and a regular flight is that the pilot will be operating through the dock, but will essentially be ready to take control with the RC in the event of an emergency.
   
   
2. Dock and Software with VO having Return-to-Home Functionality: The pilot is removed from the drone operation in the second phase, and the drone is piloted remotely using cloud-based software. However, this operation remains within the visual line of sight since a visual observer (VO) is present on the site with a return-to-home functionality to take control of the drone in case of an emergency.
   
   
3. Dock and Software with Complete Autonomy within VLOS: In the third phase, the drone operations are completely autonomous and the dock and the drone are remotely controlled from the command center without a licensed pilot or a VO on site. These operations however are conducted within the visual range and will test the ability of the drone to navigate on its own.
   
   
4. Dock and Software for Fully BVLOS Ops: Drone operations extend beyond the range specified in phase 3 in the final phase, necessitating a waiver from the regulatory authority of the operating geography. These operations require the use of technology such as Detect and Avoid, UTMs, and others.
   ‍

‍

^{Applications of Drones in the Energy Industry}

Let's take a closer look at some of the applications in the power generation industry where autonomous drone operations can generate value or make the most sense: 

‍

Drones in Solar Farm Inspection

The solar industry is constantly looking for ways to streamline solar panel maintenance and reduce the time required for upkeep. A potential answer to this problem is the use of drones. Autonomous operations can make the process more efficient, allowing for faster and more accurate inspection.

‍

"Maintenance personnel still spend far too much time looking for problems rather than maintaining equipment," Kevin points out, "and this is where autonomy and AI applications will provide the most bang for the buck."

‍

‍

The drones can be programmed to autonomously take off from their docks at a scheduled time, follow specific flight paths, capturing images of the solar panels from different angles. The images are then analyzed using AI algorithms to identify any faults or issues, such as damaged panels or vegetation growth. This information is relayed in real time to maintenance teams, who can then prioritize their efforts accordingly. 

‍

Additionally, the same system can be used to track the progress of the solar farm's construction process and conduct security patrols. Designers can identify and correct any issues that may arise during the construction phase. Furthermore, the construction process can be made more transparent by providing regular updates to stakeholders.

‍

‍

Drones in Wind Turbines

The wind energy industry has long recognized the value of UAVs for blade inspections.

Even if you do not consider fully autonomous blade inspections, there are countless applications for drone technology in wind farms, especially if the drone is ready to be deployed at all times. 

‍

One of the most significant advantages of using autonomous drone systems for wind turbine inspections is the ability to perform predictive maintenance and servicing. By regularly inspecting wind turbines, energy companies can detect damages and defects before they become severe, reducing the risk of downtime and increasing the lifespan of the turbine.

‍

Kevin highlights, “Operators often have to suspend maintenance if they suspect there’s ice on the blades. One of the biggest use-case for drone-in-a-box automated operations would be to send drones to check if there is ice on the blades and whether it is safe for the team to go up for inspections.”

‍

Drones for Inspecting Dam Spillways

The use of autonomous drone systems in detecting and responding to dam spillways has been gaining traction in recent years. Energy companies can reduce the risk of personnel injury by monitoring and inspecting the dam spillway from a safe distance.

‍

‍

Kevin shares an account about how they received a BVLOS waiver to conduct drone operations after a fatality occurred during a flood caused by dam water release. Before releasing the water, autonomous drones can perform a quick inspection of the spillway.

‍

He emphasizes that each use-case has its own set of technical requirements. Considerations like whether the drone is below grade or whether an LTE or RF connection is necessary had to be made in the case of the dam spillways.
‍

‍

Drones for Inspecting Site Security

One of the most common use-case of autonomous drone systems is for site security and the power generation industry is no exception. Kevin mentions a case wherein the asset owner had to unfortunately experience an act of vandalism that caused extensive damage to the infrastructure. The damage caused by the vandalism totaled around four million dollars. If there were to be a drone docking station to monitor this frequently and mitigate this, the ROI from installing it would be immediately achieved.

‍

Kevin was able to easily schedule repetitive perimeter patrol missions with high frequency using DJI Dock, even at temperatures ranging from 0 to 6 degrees. Furthermore, with software solutions such as FlytNow, motion detection sensors or existing security systems to trigger drone deployment based on alarms can be easily integrated.  Drone-in-a-box system for site security helps in reducing liability, avoiding repairs, downtime and property loss, making it a critical use case for a wide range of assets.

‍

Drones have rapidly transitioned from being just recreational toys to becoming essential tools across various industries. Their versatility and range of applications have made them crucial in everything from search and rescue missions to agriculture. In recent years, advancements in drone technology have made drone operations safer and more efficient for pilots.
‍

During the NestGen'23 keynote, Freda Peng, DJI Global Solutions Engineering Director, emphasized the importance of drone autonomy and its potential to revolutionize industries such as delivery and search and rescue. In this blog post, we will delve deeper into the exciting advancements made by DJI and how they are transforming the way we live and work.

‍

‍

^{The DJI Dock}

As the first drone-in-a-box solution offered by DJI, the introduction of DJI Dock has been a game changer for the industry and a significant step towards achieving true autonomy in drone operations. Companies looking to establish or expand their drone programs can reduce the learning curve by using the DJI Dock, which allows them to perform fully automated drone operations remotely.

One of the keyfeatures of the DJI Dockis its ability to operate unattended outdoors for extended periods. To accomplish this, DJI engineers implemented a variety of waterproof and dustproof designs that were rigorously tested to achieve the IP55 protection rating. Furthermore, the DJI Dock was subjected to reliability tests to ensure its ability to withstand extreme environmental conditions.

‍

‍

To ensure the DJI Dock operates smoothly in varying environments, terrains, and industries, it underwent beta tests in more than 50 sites. The dock was officially shipped to selected end-users in China once the success rate of these tests was confirmed. It is worth nothing that over 600 DJI Docks have been shipped in less than 3 months, indicating the high demand for this product.

DJI plans to start dock shipment to international markets in Q2 2023. This move is expected to further boost the popularity of the DJI Dock and improve the overall efficiency of drone operations worldwide.

‍

^{Case Study 1: Determining ROI of the DJI Dock for Solar Inspections}

Drones are increasingly being used in the solar sector to aid in every stage of a plant's life cycle, from planning to maintenance. They can assist in topographic surveys during planning, monitor construction progress, conduct commissioning inspections, and perform routine asset inspections for operations & maintenance.

‍

Thermal sensors on drones can detect issues such as hotspots in cells, panels, or strings, while AI can improve the layout of solar fields by considering factors such as transmission lines, shadows from vegetation, and landscape slope. Here is one more case study on BVLOS Inspections of Solar Farms Using Modular Drone Docks in Japan

‍

Introducing autonomy into the equation instantly elevates the entire operation. With the DJI Dock, operators can now double their efficiency and speed in no-time. DJI uses the following scenarios to demonstrate the cost savings of using DJI Dock in the solar industry:

‍

Scenario 1: No Inspections at all

Doing no inspections at all could result in reduced power generation, which could end up costing up to 140K USD per year. This is because undetected faults or damages could cause equipment failure or even safety hazards.

‍

Scenario 2: Manual Inspections

Getting a service team to walk around the site and do manual inspections could cost around 120K USD per year. Moreover, manual inspections can be time-consuming, labor-intensive, and prone to human error.

‍

Scenario 3: Automated Drone-in-a-Box based Inspections

DJI Dock hardware and deployment, plus a 3rd-party operations & analysis software, would cost around 45K USD. While this may seem like a significant investment, it can provide long-term benefits in terms of increased efficiency, accuracy, and safety.

‍

The solar inspection system developed by third party software developers such as SNEGrid enables processing drone imagery with AI analysis to create accurate reports. This not only saves time and effort but also enables predictive maintenance and optimized performance.

‍

DJI Dock can inspect the solar power plants for a minimum of 12 times per year, and even more if needed. This means that the system can provide regular and timely feedback on the status of the solar PV system, allowing for proactive measures to be taken. Drone autonomy can be a part of the IOT network and create a synergy with other smart devices.

‍

For example, the data collected by drones can be integrated with weather forecasts, energy demand forecasts, and other relevant information to optimize the overall energy management system.

‍

This would enable real-time monitoring and control of the solar PV system, as well as seamless communication among different components.

‍

‍

^{Case Study 2: Power Grid Inspections with DJI Dock}

In Jilin, a city in northeastern China, powerline inspection crews from Jilin National Grid are responsible for restoring power after snowstorms. However, with a winter that lasts six months and temperatures plummeting to -20 degrees Celsius, the crews are susceptible to frostbite and snow blindness, which poses significant risks to their safety and effectiveness.

‍

To address these challenges, the DJI Dock has been deployed to conduct inspections that are too hazardous for human workers. With just a few clicks, an operator at the operations and maintenance center, located 60 kilometers away from the Dock, can remotely select a Dock device and conduct immediate inspections of substations and connecting lines.

‍

The DJI Dock (powered by FlytNow) offers fully automated drone operations, allowing companies to schedule and plan activities without requiring physical presence at the worksite. This has made inspections more efficient, accurate, and safe, while also reducing labor costs. Furthermore, the data collected by the drones can be integrated with weather and energy demand forecasts to optimize energy management systems.

‍

The successful implementation of the DJI Dock in Jilin demonstrates the potential for drone autonomy to revolutionize power grid inspection and maintenance. Companies can leverage the DJI Dock to prevent equipment malfunction, increase efficiency, and save on labor costs while keeping their workers out of harm's way.

‍

‍

^{DJI’s Collaboration with FlytNow Software Solution}

DJI has been working closely with other third-party software solutions, including FlytNow to enable drone operators to easily automate their drone operations. FlytNow is a cloud-based software that allows users to remotely control their DJI drones and automate their drone operations. The solution is designed to be customizable and scalable, making it suitable for use in a wide range of industries, including inspection, surveillance, operations & maintenance.

‍

The key benefits of using a software such as FlytNow includes:

‍

Designed for BVLOS ops

FlytNow’s uniqueness lies in the fact that the software has been designed with long-range Beyond-Visual-Line-of-Sight (BVLOS) operations in mind.

‍

BVLOS-approved

‍Numerous customers and partners have received waivers to conduct beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) drone operations with FlytNow. This approval has been granted by various regulatory bodies, such as the FAA, EASA, JCAB, CAAM, and GCAA. For instance, afterFIT in Japan received approval for automated drone operations, including night-time flights. Read more: https://dronedj.com/2022/05/27/bvlos-drones-night/
‍

Integrations for BVLOS enablement

FlytNow offers comprehensive software and hardware integrations to facilitate large scale BVLOS operations. These integrations include:
‍

• Detect and Avoid (DAA) technology like Casia-G, which can detect cooperative and non-cooperative aircraft in your operational environment,
• ADS-B technology like PingUSB, which provides real-time aircraft status updates,
• UTM systems such as Altitude Angel and Involi to enhance airspace awareness,
• Connectivity (5G/LTE) technology like Elsight Halo for uninterrupted communication for remote operations,
• Parachute Recovery systems like AVSS-PRS and DRS for safe landings during emergencies, among others.

‍

Built for Enterprise users

FlytNow is backed by advanced collaboration workflows and enterprise-grade security and scalability. Here’s how:

‍

Scalable

FlytNow is a scalable software solution for remote drone operations. It can manage one or multiple drones, as well as one or many docking stations. Its hosting infrastructure and enterprise-grade capabilities ensure uninterrupted drone operations at any scale.

‍

‍

Existing Workflow Integrations

With FlytNow, enterprises can easily integrate their existing security solutions, such as VMS or alarm systems, for a seamless experience. For example, to ensure the clearance of pipeline ROW, third-party alarms that detect mechanical digging or heavy machinery over the pipeline can be integrated with FlytNow. When an intrusion alert is triggered, FlytNow autonomously dispatches a drone to the geolocation of the alert. The drone relays a live HD video feed back to the command center, allowing operators to quickly inspect the asset and respond to the incident.

‍

‍

Ensures Operational Safety & Reliability

Operational safety and reliability are crucial for successful autonomous solutions. FlytNow offers numerous checks to detect issues in real-time and activate necessary fail-safes. Its workflows can be configured to make safer decisions by using data and events from multiple layers. For instance, users can set weather failsafes to trigger a "return to home" action, with a dynamically computed route based on UTM data that avoids no-fly zones. In case the drone can't land at the docking station, it would be automatically rerouted to a safe alternate location. 

‍

‍

FlytNow's architecture addresses several challenges with remote and automated operations, including splitting operational context between edge and cloud systems to enable safe and reliable operations despite sporadic network connectivity.

‍

Secure to its Core

In FlytNow, security is not an afterthought. The software platform is secured by token-based authentication and end-to-end encryption to ensure safe access and use. Designed to comply with industry standards, the platform ensures high availability with 24/7 monitoring and automated incident response systems.

‍

With a reliable hosting infrastructure and functionalities such as access control, SSO sign-in and DDoS protection, FlytNow enables you to conduct your drone operations with a peace of mind.

‍

Architected to be Hardware-Agnostic

FlytNow is designed to support a wide range of hardware, such as 

• drones including DJI and other custom-built drones on PX4/Ardupilot,
• over 16 docking stations such as the DJI dock, Heisha Nest Series, Hextronics, IDIPLOYER Nexus, Omnidock, DBOX, Aerieport among others,
• Payloads such as thermal cameras, loudspeakers, spotlights, parachute systems among others,
  ‍

‍

Based on the customer requirements, in terms of application or geography, the system-integrators can mix and match appropriate modules and create a full-stack solution that is optimal for the needs of that enterprise.

‍

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t41IL5Fv47w

The latest resistance welding technology of T-MOTOR drone motors

The benefits of resistance welding are:
-High degree of automation means high production efficiency and no harmful gases since the welder does not need to worry about fumes or thermal radiation
-Environmentally friendly, generating little waste or pollution
-Different types of metals can be welded, and the heating time is shorter while the heat is concentrated, so the heat-affected zone as well as the deformation and stress are small. Usually, there is no need to arrange calibration and heat treatment procedures after welding
-Does not require filler metals or exotic materials, is environmentally friendly, and generates little waste or pollution

T-MOTOR specializes in motors, ESCs, and propellers used in industrial applications, we have always been confident to bring the most advanced technology and strive to be responsible for the quality of each product.

The FPV Brushless Motor SZ2207  is the best FPV motors for your first drone build. Here’s my top pick of FPV motors, and everything you need to know about choosing the FPV Brushless Motor SZ2207.

What FPV motor is right for your drone?

There are many drone motor products on the market, some are expensive and some are cheap. Expensive motors may not be right for your drone, and cheap motors aren't necessarily bad either. So, how to choose the right drone FPV motor for you？

A good drone motor can generate thrust that is at least 10 times the weight of the drone. Small UAVs require large KV motors and small stators, while larger UAVs require small KV motors and large stators. High thrust is critical for speed, while high torque increases acceleration. Extend flight time with high-efficiency motors.

What are the features to check when shopping for the best drone motor?

Know the dimensions of your drone

First you need to know the size and weight of your drone.
The drone weight should include the batteries, wiring, the motors themselves, and everything else on the drone!
It is better to overestimate your weight than underestimate it. If you underestimate the weight, your drone may not be powered enough to fly properly.
A drone with a small frame may not be suitable for a large motor. Excessive power makes the drone difficult to operate. Also, a small motor is not suitable for powering a large drone, as it may not generate enough thrust to keep your drone flying.

The new propulsion design in born with agility and extreme corner shifting speed, Which helps you operate Your drone with ease whether in straight-line speeding or corner shifting.

Texture of FPV Brushless Motor SZ2207 Material

N52SH Arc Magnets With Excellent Balance and High Stability.

12.9-Grade Hexagon Socket Screws With Strong Impact Resistance.High Stability

FPV Brushless Motor SZ2207 thrust

After determining the size and weight of the drone, the next step is to determine how much thrust is needed to get the drone flying fast enough.

The motors should produce a total of at least 10 pounds of thrust for every pound of the drone's weight.

Since you have 4 motors, this means each motor weighs 2.5 lbs.

The higher the thrust-to-weight ratio the faster the speed, the downside of a high thrust-to-weight ratio is that it can be difficult to control as your drone will be moving at high speed. On top of that, higher thrust also means higher current draw.

You need to make sure the battery is good enough to support the current draw and the flight time long enough.

So the next question is, how do I know how much thrust the motor is generating? Here is FPV Brushless Motor SZ2207 thrust data

 

Motor Size Selection

A brushless motor has a part called the “stator,” and this is the part that is referred to by the size classification of brushless motors, usually indicated as a 4-digit number, XXYY. XX, or the first two digits, refers to the diameter or width of the stator, and YY, or the last two digits, refers to the height of the stator.

The general rule for the size selection is if it has a taller stator, your drone will have greater power even at higher rotations per minute (RPM), aka max speed. On top of that, the motor becomes more responsive.

A wider stator will produce more torque at a lower RPM. Torque is essentially the factor that determines how fast your drone will reach your desired speed, aka acceleration – making it a factor that is crucial for precision and easier turning.

On top of that, wider stators dissipate heat faster due to larger surface area. This allows the motor to perform consistently without overheating. It is also more efficient, smoother, and lasts longer. However, wider stators are less responsive and less powerful.

Having said that, you shouldn’t always go for the biggest motor. As mentioned earlier, the size of frame and props play a role in deciding the size of your motor.

KV Selection

So, what exactly is a motor KV rating? Why is it important to look at motor KV when selecting motors for your drone?

KV in drone motors stands for velocity constant. It tells you roughly how fast (in RPM, revolution per minutes) the motor runs per volt when it is unloaded (without props). For instance, a motor with a KV of 2100 supplied with 4.2V runs roughly at 4.2 x 2100 = 8820 rpm.

Do know that the KV value does not tell you the efficiency, power, or even current capacity of the motor. In fact, you don’t even need to know how fast your motor can theoretically spin in order to build your own drone!

In a nutshell, high KV means higher speed but lower torque. FPV Brushless Motor SZ2207 have three KV Options Available (1750, 1950, 2750) - Different KVs match different batteries and propellers for different flying styles.

Higher speed is not necessarily good. Beginners may have issues adapting to the speed from high KV motors. Don’t chase after high KV motors if you are still new in this hobby.

On the other hand, lower torque is bad. This means the motors need to draw more current to start rotating the props. If you put a big prop on a high KV motor, it struggles even more to rotate the props. This causes overloading, which leads to overheating, and ultimately motor damage.

Due to that reason, lower KV motors are usually paired with larger drones (with larger props), while higher KV motors are utilized for smaller drones.

Battery voltage can also affect your decision on motor KV. 4S drones use higher KV motors to achieve the desired speed. On the other hand, the 6S equivalent uses lower KV motors to improve the torque, achieving the same speed.

The table below shows the recommended combination of frame size, prop size, stator size and KV. This is merely a recommendation and it is not casted into stone.

[caption id="attachment_654" align="alignnone" width="512"] Common motor, frame and props combinations[/caption]

Weight of Motor

Obviously, FPV motors come with weight. The 4 motors make up quite a substantial proportion of the drone’s weight. In fact, it is the heaviest part besides the battery. Hence, getting a lightweight motor can improve the overall speed of your drone.

Because the motors are located at the edges of the frame, changing the flight direction when turning requires additional force to offset the existing momentum. Heavier motors mean higher momentum.

Since a lighter motor results in lower momentum, less force is required to change the movement, resulting in faster acceleration and deceleration. In races, it makes your drone turn  faster and exit a corner quicker. However, it is not as durable to crash as a heavier motor.

Motor Efficiency

Motor efficiency basically measures how much thrust a motor generates per watt or amp at different throttles. The higher the value, the more efficient the motor.

Certain motors are more efficient at medium throttle while some are more efficient at full throttle. When you are looking into this stat, you should consider your play style so that you choose one that fits your play style.

But why does it matter? A highly efficient motor makes the most out of your battery in terms of both flight times and battery life. Essentially you can fly longer and  don’t need to buy new batteries as often.

 

Torque

A motor with a wider stator has higher low end torque, which makes it accelerate faster and hence respond faster when changing directions. Traditionally, drone racers often look at the stator size when choosing FPV motors so that they can get those with the highest torque.

However, with the advancement of technology, stator width is no longer the major factor that affects the torque.

Things like N54 magnets, curved magnets, thinner stator lamination, better flux ring design and tighter clearance between magnet and stator allow generation of high torque even by smaller stators. FPV motors with those designs should be prioritized.

[embed]https://youtu.be/Pv6VTFwZKO8[/embed]

Pampa Energía, Argentina's largest independent energy company, specializes in the electricity, oil, and gas value chains. Headquartered in Buenos Aires, it engages in intense oil and gas exploration and production activities. It has a presence in 13 production areas and 5 exploration areas in the most significant basins of the nation. 

‍

Through its power plants, the company has attained the capacity to generate about 5,000 barrels of oil and 9 million cubic meters of gas per day. In addition, it produces 4,970 MW of electricity through wind, hydroelectric, and thermal power plants. Listed on the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange (BCBA) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), it thrives on the vision of becoming an emblematic company known for its commitment, growth, and operational excellence.

‍

^{How Pampa Energía Conducted Thermal Power Station Inspection with Drones}

In 2017, Pampa Energía integrated drones into their asset inspection operations and have since expanded to a fleet of nine different drones to assist in their large-scale operations. During inspections, they primarily use the Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced and Matrice 200 series drones for photo imaging and analysis.

‍

These drones enable them to quickly cover large areas and capture tens of thousands of photographs, which are then stitched together into an orthomozaic to create an accurate representation of the plant. Pampa Energía conducts three types of inspections:

‍

1. Periodic

Pampa requires periodic inspections of their pipelines, docks, tanks, chimneys, high-voltage towers, boilers, and electric grids, for example, every week. These inspections are crucial to ensure that assets are functioning correctly, as issues like corrosion or lateral structures near the pipeline often go unnoticed during a manual inspection.

‍

2. Planned

Conducted once a year, these inspections primarily consist of land surveys of electric grids, roads, and terrain and are necessary for new construction and infrastructure development.

‍

3. Triggered

Triggered inspections are only carried out when there is a specific problem that needs to be assessed, such as the surveillance of oilfields and pipelines.

‍

‍

^{Challenges Faced by Pampa Energía with Manual Drone Inspections}

As the demand for energy in Argentina grew, continuous monitoring and preventive maintenance of the Genelba Thermal Power Plant (CTGEBA) became critical to ensure uninterrupted operations. With a total capacity of 1,253 MW, representing 2.9% of the nation's installed capacity, the plant required frequent inspections to maintain safety and efficiency. However, as the plant expanded, manual inspections became increasingly challenging and time-consuming, leading to two major difficulties:

‍

1. Increase in drone inspection rounds

‍

As the Genelba Thermal Power Plant grew in size, it required a large number of manual visual inspection rounds to be carried out to cover the new equipment. This gradually increased the time required to cover the entire power plant for thermal inspection. The available inspectors were no longer able to cover the entire power plant in a single shift, resulting in a significant gap in the inspection timeline.

‍

‍

2. Difficulty in conducting perimeter security tours

‍

The site, which is located in the province of Buenos Aires, is more than 970,000 square feet in size, making it one of the country's largest thermal power plants.

‍

Because the team had to constantly set up their base station, replace drone batteries, and transfer data manually after a certain distance, conducting security tours throughout the plant became much more difficult and time-consuming.

‍

^{Optimizing Inspection of Thermal Power Plants with Drone-in-a-Box Solution}

As part of its Digital Transformation strategy, Pampa Energía sought to optimize the inspection routes at the Genelba power plant. Rather than hiring additional employees and drone pilots, they decided to explore the use of autonomous drones to simultaneously carry out maintenance planning, inspections and security operations.

‍

Phased Implementation Process

‍

The deployment has been carried out in several stages, as follows:

‍

• First, a proof of concept test was conducted to evaluate various docking stations, battery recharge technologies, and control software.
  ‍
• The selected technologies were then purchased, and a highly thorough series of tests were run to ensure that the equipment's functionality and how it interacted with one another were both verified.
  ‍
• A determined and tested set of paths were determined for the drone.
  ‍

Additionally, the present and upcoming team members also received training on how to use this technology to carry out drone missions.

‍

The biggest benefit that drone-in-a-box systems provided was the dual functionality. The team at Pampa intended to deploy these systems across their power plants for inspection as well as security. The inspection team could use the docking station to do monitoring and maintenance of the plants during the daytime and in the nighttime they use the same devices for security.

‍

^{Why Pampa Energía Chose FlytNow as their DiaB Operations Software}

As Marcelo Lopez, Pampa Energía's Project Manager, pointed out “We wanted to optimize inspection routes at the Genelba power plant since the area was too large for inspectors to cover in a single shift. We decided to employ the FlytNow-powered autonomous drone-in-a-box solution due to its superior unattended flight technology and affordable price. The FlytNow customer success team has been dedicated to resolving customer issues. They are aware of industry developments, are attentive to their customer's needs, and capable of handling challenges.”

‍

Here’s how they benefited from autonomous drone-in-a-box systems powered by FlytNow:

‍

1. Improvement in inspection rounds:

‍

FlytNow enabled Pampa Energía's operations team and inspectors to schedule and execute repeatable drone missions along pre-established routes, stopping at specific points of interest to view assets remotely.

‍

The remote control of the drone's camera payload allowed for efficient zooming to detect faults or abnormalities in the power plants. Compared to manual inspections, FlytNow resulted in faster and more efficient rounds, significantly reducing the time and effort required to inspect large areas like the Genelba plant. 

Here’s how an inspection routine looked like:

Furthermore, the team utilized drone docking stations to perform security patrols at regular intervals, effectively monitoring the premises for any potential intrusions. By deploying drones to the site prior to security personnel, the team was able to proactively prepare for incidents, while simultaneously saving time and resources in terms of fuel and personnel typically required for routine patrols. The image below depicts a typical security patrol mission:

‍

‍

2. Reduction in accidents:

‍

Given that, in a thermal power station the potential for devastating mishaps due to high pressures and temperatures is very high, it is crucial to ensure the safety of workers while maintaining the smooth operation of the plant. With the ability to send drones autonomously at a click of a button, the team can now access hard-to-reach or dangerous areas with ease, without having to send the local team in harm’s way.

‍

By remotely monitoring the plant's critical infrastructure and systems, the team can quickly identify and address any issues before they escalate into major accidents, thereby reducing the risks associated with human error.

‍

‍

Additionally, FlytNow with a host of security features enabled the safety of the drone & the dock as well. With features such as:

‍

• Failsafes: FlytNow is equipped with various failsafe mechanisms that provide assistance in case of emergencies. For instance, in the event of a lost RC link or internet connectivity, the drone can either pause until the connection is restored or perform a controlled emergency landing at a predetermined safe location in case of low battery alerts. These failsafe mechanisms and timeout settings can be easily customized and configured by the team to ensure optimal safety during drone operations.

‍

• Geofence: The operators also have the ability to create virtual fences around the area of their operation and prevent the drone from entering restricted zones by taking specific actions if the fence is breached.

‍

• Collision avoidance: FlytNow enables collision avoidance by constantly scanning the drone's surroundings for potential obstacles. A real-time radar map with red, yellow, and green indicators is displayed on the operator's screen, allowing them to safely maneuver the drone around obstacles. This feature provides an additional layer of safety and helps prevent accidents, making it easier to navigate through challenging or unknown environments.
  ‍

3. Better precise documentation:

‍

The advanced video and image capture capabilities of FlytNow provide operators with a clear and accurate view of the plant in real-time. Moreover, the cloud media sync feature enabled operators to conveniently upload media from their drone's SD card directly to a pre-configured private cloud storage (AWS S3), without any disruption in their workflow. The archived data can be stored, organized, and shared across various stakeholders directly from the FlytNow dashboard to increase operational efficiency and situational awareness.

‍

‍

4. Real-time guest share:

‍

By using FlytNow, remote inspections can be conducted from a centralized command center and shared in real-time with stakeholders both inside and outside the plant. With role-based access, security officers can access the video feed on their preferred device and take action as needed. The "Video Streaming Optimization" feature allows for optimization of the video stream for better FPS or picture quality even in areas with limited or poor bandwidth connections. The video below demonstrates a typical operation conducted at the Genelba Power Plant. 

‍

‍

In recent years, with the rapid popularity of drones, more and more agricultural drones have appeared in farmland. However, due to the high price of the finished drone, many people turn their attention to the assembled drone when purchasing.

For startups or DIY enthusiasts, there are currently two options to save money. The first option is to buy parts from traders, such as frames, flight control remotes, batteries, etc. You can choose different configuration models according to your budget.

This way is cheap, but you should study the configurations and find the proper components, as well as a long time to assemble and debug. You may also face the problems of scattered parts, single function, poor fit and much after-sale problems, which saves money but laborious.

The second option is to choose holistic system solution,which can refer EFT' Z series , It is full set with higher configuration ,but shipping in CKD which is friendly for duty, easier to operate and can get comprehensive technical support. The performence is close to DJI, but the price is about 30% cheaper than finished same level drone.

Watch the video below for details.

https://youtu.be/-sFJy_NDLas

Advantages of using variable pitch compared to fixed pitch:
1. The flight speed range of the aircraft is larger compared with the fixed-pitch blades.
2. The aircraft can be adjusted to a higher power efficiency performance at the corresponding flight speed within a larger flight speed range

one study has shown that a variable pitch propeller design can increase the maximal takeoff weight of the aircraft and improve power efficiency in hover, especially if the load varies for different missions......

For more info please switch to T-MOTOR'S Linkedin article: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/why-you-may-need-variable-pitch-propeller/?trackingId=oLrMlAi3WbATH8D98HE%2F%2Bw%3D%3D

TF-Luna can be used with PixHawk1 for the purpose of obstacle avoidance and Altitude Hold. But because it’s a short range sensor so in most cases it is used for obstacle avoidance.

1. TF-Luna Settings:
2. Note: If there are any spikes while using the LiDAR as obstacle avoidance sensor then it is advised to change the frame rate to 250Hz, see the command details having command ID as 0x03 in the manual and for the sake of convenience configuring other parameters (like setting frame-rate, changing address etc.) in UART mode is recommended if you don’t have IIC-USB converter. A simple UART-USB adapter or board should work.

At the time of writing this document latest firmware was 3.3.0. For firmware upgrade please contact our technical support.

The default communication of TF-Luna is UART. LiDAR comes with a single cable. In order to use IIC, the cable needs a little modification, details are mentioned in the coming paragraph. Please see TF-Luna IIC communication pin details as below:

If we look at the pin configuration of TF-Luna, IIC can be set by grounding pin-5 in addition to the other four pins. For this purpose a customized cable is needed because in IIC mode we need to connect both pin-4 and pin-5 to the ground.

The modified cable is shown below. I have connected green wire (pin-4) and blue wire (pin-5) to single pin which will go to the GND pin of the source. Leave pin-6 connected. Please ignore the color standard in this case as black wire represents RXD/SDA while yellow wires represents TXD/SCL, just follow the pin numbering according to the user-manual.   

TF-Luna, TFmini-S, TFmini-Plus and TF02-Pro can be interfaced with IIC port of PixHak1 flight controller. Their settings are almost same. We take two TF-Luna LiDARs as example and set the address 0x08 and 0x09 separately.

3. PixHawk Connection:

 We take PixHawk1 flight controller as an example:

Figure 1: Schematic Diagram of Connecting TF-Luna to I2C Interface of PixHawk

Note：

1. Default cable sequence of TF-Luna and PixHawk are different, please change it accordingly (SDA and SCL wires need to be interchanged). Look at the pinout of controller, pin configurations are starting from left to right:

2. IIC connector should be purchased by user
3. If TF-Luna faces down, please take care the distance between lens and ground, it should be larger than TF-Luna’s blind zone (20cm)
4. If more TF-Luna need to be connected (10 LiDARs are supported), the method is same.
5. Power source should meet the product manual demands:5V±0.5V, larger than 150mA (peak current)*number of TF-Luna
6. Parameters settings:

Common settings:

AVOID_ENABLE= 2 [if 3 = UseFence and UseProximitySensor doesn’t work in IIC then choose 2 = UseProximitySensor]

AVOID_MARGIN=4

PRX_TYPE=4

Settings for first TF-Luna:

RNGFND1_ADDR=08 [Address of #1 TF-Luna in decimal]

RNGFND1_GNDCLEAR=25 [Unit: cm, depending upon mounting height of the module and should be larger LiDAR than non-detection zone]

RNGFND1_MAX_CM=400 [It could be changed according to real demands but should be smaller than
effective measure range of LiDAR, unit is cm] 

RNGFND1_MIN_CM=30 [It could be changed according to real demands and should be larger than
LiDAR non-detection zone, unit is cm] 

RNGFND1_ORIENT=0 [#1 TF-Luna real orientation]

RNGFND1_TYPE = 25 [TF-Luna IIC same as TFmini-Plus IIC]

Settings for second TF-Luna:

RNGFND2_ADDR=09 [Address of #2 TF-Luna in decimal]

RNGFND2_GNDCLEAR=25

RNGFND2_MAX_CM=400

RNGFND2_MIN_CM=30

RNGFND2_ORIENT=25 [#2 TF-Luna real orientation]

RNGFND2_TYPE=25 [TF-Luna IIC same as TFmini-Plus IIC]

Upon setting of these parameters, click [Write Params] on the right of the software to finish the process.

If the error message “Bad LiDAR Health” or “Bad Proximity” appears, please check if the connection is correct and the power supply is normal.

How to see the target distance from the LiDAR: press Ctrl+F button in keyboard, the following window will pop out:

Click button Proximity, the following window will appear:

The number in green color means the distance from LiDAR in obstacle avoidance mode（the number only refresh when this window opens, closes, zooms in or zooms out, it doesn’t mean the real time distance from LiDAR and will not be influenced in Mission Planner The mission planner version at the time of writing this tutorial was v1.3.76.

TF03 standard version comes with CAN interface and can be interfaced with PixHawk1 CAN port or any flight controller which has Ardupilot firmware flashed and having CAN interface. Support for CAN protocol has been added to Ardupilot firmwares, starting from Copter 4.2.0 for the purpose of obstacle avoidance and Altitude Hold.

1. 1.  TF03-CANSettings:

It should be noted that TF03 has two different hardware versions for 485/RS232 and UART/CAN. So when  buying  LiDAR,  please  pay  attention  to  buy  LiDAR  with  CAN  interface  (standard  version). Multiple LiDARs can be interfaced to a single CAN bus. We need to assign different CAN IDs to each LiDAR just like we do for IIC communication. The baud-rate of each LiDAR needs to be set to the same value. On LiDAR side we have two types of CAN IDs:

    Send ID (Transmit CAN ID): it becomes Receive ID on CAN bus side (we need to set this ID

to a new value ifwe are connecting multiple LiDARs.)

    Receive ID: it becomes Send ID on CAN bus side

I will consider three LiDARs example but Ardupilot supports up to  10 sensors. The commands are mentioned in details in the manual of LiDAR but I will add them here for convenience. It is still advised to read the manual of LiDAR carefully there are important points.

5A 08 50 04 00 00 00 B6 [CHANGE SEND ID TO 04]

5A 08 50 05 00 00 00 B7 [CHANGE SEND ID TO 05]

5A 08 50 06 00 00 00 B8 [CHANGE SEND ID TO 06]

5A 05 45 02 A6 [CHANGE INTERFACE TO CAN]

5A 04 11 6F [SAVE SETTINGS]

5A 08 50 03 00 00 00 B5 [CHANGE RECEIVING ID BACK TO 03]

Some details about terminating resistor on LiDAR: Terminating resistor on LiDAR is connected by default, utilizing this resistor helps in reducing equivalent resistance of transmission wires, because adding more resistors in parallel will reduce the equivalent resistance. I have tested with total five LiDARs with all LiDARs having resistors enabled.

For sending the above commands, in case you don’t have CAN analyzer and only have TTL-USB adapter, it is suggested that first configure the IDs and then switch the interface from UART to CAN because if you first switch interface then you can’t use UART interface of LiDAR. In that case you have to use CAN analyzer to set different IDs. 

Once you are done with above settings then it’s time to move to physical connection and Ardupilot firmware settings.

We take three TF03-CAN as an example in this passage and set the addresses to 0x03 and 0x04 and 0x05 separately. The default sending ID of LiDAR is 0x03 so leave it for one LiDAR and configure for other two LiDARs to 0x04 and 0x05.

2. 2.PixHawkConnection:

The following diagram shows how to interface TF03-CAN with PixHawk flight controller.

Figure 1: Schematic Diagram of Connecting TF03 to CAN Interface ofPixHawk1

Note：

1. 1.   Pleasepayattention to connect correct wire to correct pin of flight controller. Look at the pinout of controller, pin configurations are starting from left to right:

Figure 2: Pin details of CAN Interface ofPixHawk1

2. 2.   Relatedconnectorsneed to be purchased by user, LiDAR connector is 7-pin JST with25mm pitch.
3. 3.   IfLiDARfaces down, please take care the distance between lens and ground, it should be larger than LiDAR’s blind zone ( 10cm).
4. 4.   IfmoreLiDARs need to be connected ( 10 LiDARs can be connected), the method is same.
5.   Powersourceshould meet the product manual current and voltage requirement: 5V to 24V, larger than 150mA*number of LiDAR. I used 12V supply just for reference.
6. 3.  Parameterssettings:

Common settings for obstacle avoidance :

AVOID_ENABLE = 3 [if 3 = UseFence and UseProximitySensor doesn’t work in IIC then choose 2 =

UseProximitySensor]

AVOID_MARGIN = 4

PRX_TYPE = 4

Settings for CAN-1 port:

CAN_P1_DRIVER = 1

CAN_D1_PROTOCOL = 11

CAN_P1_BITRATE = [Baud-rate: For TF03 the baud-rate needs to be set to 1000000.]

In case of pixhawk1 we only have one CAN interface but if there are more than one interfaces then configure the parameters for CAN-2 interface. 

Settings for CAN-2 port:

CAN_P2_DRIVER = 1

CAN_D2_PROTOCOL = 11

CAN_P2_BITRATE = [Baud-rate: For TF03 the baud-rate needs to be set to 1000000.] 

Settings for first TF03:

RNGFND1_RECV_ID = 3 [CAN Transmit ID of #1 TF03 in decimal]

RNGFND1_GNDCLEAR=15 [Unit: cm, depending upon mounting height of the module and should be larger LiDAR than non-detection zone. This parameter is required to be configured for altitude hold, it is the installation height of LiDAR from ground.]

RNGFND1_MAX_CM = 400 [It could be changed according to real demands but should be smaller than effective measure range of LiDAR, unit is cm]

RNGFND1_MIN_CM=30 [It could be changed according to real demands and should be larger than LiDAR non-detection zone, unit is cm]

RNGFND1_ORIENT=0 [#1 TF03 real orientation]

RNGFND1_TYPE = 34 [TF03 same as TF02-i and TFmini-i CAN] 

Settings for second TF03:

RNGFND2_RECV_ID = 4 [CAN Transmit ID of #2 TF03 in decimal]

RNGFND2_MAX_CM=400 

RNGFND2_MIN_CM=30

RNGFND2_ORIENT = 6 [#2 TF03 real orientation]

RNGFND2_TYPE = 34 [TF03 same as TF02-i and TFmini-i CAN] 

Settings for third TF03:

RNGFND3_RECV_ID = 5 [CAN Transmit ID of #3 TF03 in decimal]

RNGFND3_MAX_CM=400 

RNGFND3_MIN_CM=30

RNGFND3_ORIENT = 4 [#3 TF03 real orientation]

RNGFND3_TYPE = 34 [TF03 same as TF02-i and TFmini-i CAN] 

Upon setting of these parameters, click [Write Params] on the right of the software to finish.

If the error message “Bad LiDAR Health” appears, please check if the connection is correct and the power supply is normal. Please turn-off completely the flight controller after configuring the parameters, otherwise changes will not take place. If your battery is connected to your flight controller, please disconnect it as well.

How to see the target distance from the LiDAR: press Ctrl+F button in keyboard, the following window will pop out:

 Click button Proximity, the following window will appear:

The number in green color means the distance from LiDAR in obstacle avoidance mode the number refreshes when the distance changes or window opens, closes, zooms in or zooms out, and this distance will not be influenced in Mission Planner, the version used at the time writing this tutorial is v1.3.72.

Altitude Hold using CAN Interface:

Let say we use fourth LiDAR for the purpose of Altitude Hold. Connect the flight control board to mission planar, Select [Full Parameter List] in the left from the below bar-[CONFIG/TUNING]. Find and modify the following parameters:

PRX_TYPE = 0 [on equal to 4 also gives the value if RNGFND4_ORIENT = 25]

RNGFND4_RECV_ID = 6 [CAN Transmit ID of #4 TF03 in decimal]

RNGFND4_GNDCLEAR = 15 [Unit: cm, depending upon mounting height of the module and should be larger LiDAR than non-detection zone. This parameter is required for Altitude Hold.]

RNGFND4_MAX_CM = 400 [It could be changed according to real demands but should be smaller than effective measure range of LiDAR, unit is cm]

RNGFND4_MIN_CM = 30 [It could be changed according to real scenario and should be larger than LiDAR non-detection zone, unit is cm]

RNGFND4_ORIENT = 25 [#4 TF03 real orientation]

RNGFND4_TYPE = 34 [TF03 same as TF02-i and TFmini-i CAN]

Upon setting of these parameters, click [Write Params] on the right of the software to finish.

If the error message “Bad LiDAR Health” appears, please check if the connection is correct and the power supply is normal.

Select option sonarrange, see following picture:

The altitude distance from the LiDAR will be displayed in Sonar Range (meters), see the following

picture:

We're pleased to release the kit for industrial missions with the Pixy SM. The new Pixy SM Advanced Kit can enhance the camera stability in the air, reduce the resonance vibration that gives better images and videos and serve well for inspecting structures like buildings, windmills, bridges, etc.

The new damping also can work flawlessly for mapping missions, meaning the system can be used for inspection & mapping mode without changing others.

💬Contact us at contact@gmail.com for further discussions.
🌏PIXY SM - ADVANCED KIT FOR INDUSTRIAL MISSIONS

Note: This document is applicable to Cube Orange and Cube Black flight controllers. The IIC interface available that can be used to connect multiple TF-Lunas is the same on both flight controllers. TF-Luna can be used with PixHawk Cube for the purpose of obstacle avoidance and Altitude Hold. But because it’s a short range sensor so in most cases it is used for obstacle avoidance.

1. TF-Luna Settings:

Note: If there are any spikes while using the LiDAR as obstacle avoidance sensor then it is advised to change the frame rate to 250Hz, see the command details having command ID as 0x03 in the manual and for the sake of convenience configuring other parameters (like setting frame-rate, changing address etc.) in UART mode is recommended if you don’t have IIC-USB converter. A simple UART-USB adapter or board should work.

At the time of writing this document latest firmware was 3.3.0. For firmware upgrade please contact our technical support.

The default communication of TF-Luna is UART. LiDAR comes with a single cable. In order to use IIC the cable needs a little modification, details are mentioned in the coming paragraph. Please see TF-Luna IIC communication pin details as below:

If we look at the pin configuration of TF-Luna, IIC can be set by grounding pin-5 in addition to the other four pins. For this purpose a customized cable is needed because in IIC mode we need to connect both pin-4 and pin-5 to the ground.

The modified cable is shown below. I have connected green wire (pin-4) and blue wire (pin-5) to single pin which will go to the GND pin of the source. Leave pin-6 connected. Please ignore the color standard in this case as black wire represents RXD/SDA while yellow wires represents TXD/SCL, just follow the pin numbering according to the user-manual.   

TF-Luna, TFmini-S, TFmini-Plus and TF02-Pro can be interfaced with IIC port of PixHak Cube Orange flight controller. Their settings are almost same. We take two TF-Luna LiDARs as example and set the addresses 0x08 and 0x09 separately.

2. PixHawk Cube Connection:

We take PixHawk Cube Orange flight controller as an example:

 Figure 1: Schematic Diagram of Connecting TF-Luna to I2C Interface of PixHawk Cube

Note：

1. Default cable sequence of TF-Luna and PixHawk Cube are different, please change it accordingly (SDA and SCL wires need to be interchanged). Look at the pinout of controller, pin configurations are:

1. IIC connector should be purchased by user
2. If TF-Luna faces down, please take care the distance between lens and ground, it should be larger than TF-Luna’s blind zone (20cm)
3. If more TF-Lunas need to be connected (10 LiDARs are supported), the method is same.
4. Power source should meet the product manual demands:5V±0.5V, larger than 150mA (peak current)*number of TF-Luna
5. Parameters settings:

Select [CONFIG/TUNING] and then click on [Full Parameter List] in the left from the below bar. Find and modify the following parameters.

Common settings:

AVOID_ENABLE= 2 [if 3 = UseFence and UseProximitySensor doesn’t work in IIC then choose 2 = UseProximitySensor]

AVOID_MARGIN=4

PRX_TYPE=4

Settings for first TF-Luna:

RNGFND1_ADDR=08 [Address of #1 TF-Luna in decimal]

RNGFND1_GNDCLEAR=25 [Unit: cm, depending upon mounting height of the module and should be larger LiDAR than non-detection zone]

RNGFND1_MAX_CM=400 [It could be changed according to real demands but should be smaller than
effective measure range of LiDAR, unit is cm] 

RNGFND1_MIN_CM=30 [It could be changed according to real demands and should be larger than
LiDAR non-detection zone, unit is cm] 

RNGFND1_ORIENT=0 [#1 TF-Luna real orientation]

RNGFND1_TYPE = 25 [TF-Luna IIC same as TFmini-Plus IIC]

Settings for second TF-Luna:

RNGFND2_ADDR=09 [Address of #2 TF-Luna in decimal]

RNGFND2_GNDCLEAR=25

RNGFND2_MAX_CM=400

RNGFND2_MIN_CM=30

RNGFND2_ORIENT= 6 [#2 TF-Luna real orientation]

RNGFND2_TYPE=25 [TF-Luna IIC same as TFmini-Plus IIC]

Upon setting of these parameters, click [Write Params] on the right of the software to finish the process. After writing the parameters you need to power off the controller and then turn it on to apply the setting changes. If the error message “Bad LiDAR Health” or “Bad Proximity” appears, please check if the connection is correct and power supply is normal. How to see the target distance from the LiDAR: press Ctrl+F button in keyboard, the following window will pop out:

And click button Proximity, the following window will appear:

The number in green color means the distance from LiDAR in obstacle avoidance mode（the number only refresh when this window opens, closes, zooms in or zooms out, it doesn’t mean the real time distance from LiDAR and will not be influenced in Mission Planner. The mission planner version at the time of writing this tutorial was v1.3.76.

我们鼓动您与可能需要的人分享这些
以外，更多关于T-MOTOR ALPHA ESC

1.优酷： 如何  通过DATA LINK连接电脑导出无人机飞行数据(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tcmIDrKZnE&t=4s)

2.优酷： 如何使用T-MOTOR DATA LINK 更改电机版本？(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWvu5Rqgi-w&t=15s)

Drone technology and Pokemon powers unite! 🚁💪

Make sure to register here to know more on how drones can be used as first responders: https://flyt.link/nestgen-feb-2023

TF02-Pro can be used with PixHawk for the purpose of obstacle avoidance and Altitude Hold.

1. TF02-Pro Settings:

Note: If there are fluctuations in readings then set the frame rate to 250Hz, see the details in chapter 6.2 for “frame rate” and changing the communication interface in table-8.

The default communication of TF02-Pro is UART. IIC and UART uses the same cable, so please set TF02-Pro to IIC communication first, see detail commands in product manual.

We take two TF02-Pros as an example in this passage and set the address 0x10 and 0x11 separately.

2. PixHawk Connection:

See the connection details in PixHawk manual and TF02-Pro manual; we take the example of PixHawk1 for connecting LiDARs.

Obstacle Avoidance:

Figure 1: Schematic Diagram of Connecting TF02-Pro to I2C Interface of PixHawk

Note：

1. Default cable sequence of TF02-Proand PixHawk is different, please change it accordingly (SDA and SCL wires need to be interchanged). Look at the pinout of controller, pin configurations are starting from left to right:

2. IIC connector should be purchased by user
3. If TF02-Profaces down, please take care the distance between lens and ground should be larger than TF02-Pro’s blind zone (10cm)
4. If more TF02-Prosneed to be connected (10 LiDARs can be connected), the method is same.
5. Power source should meet the product manual demands:5V±0.5V, larger than 200mA (peak is 300mA)*number of TF02-Pro
6. Parameters settings:

Common settings for obstacle avoidance:

AVOID_ENABLE= 2 [if 3 = UseFence and UseProximitySensor doesn’t work in IIC then choose 2 = UseProximitySensor]

AVOID_MARGIN = 4

PRX_TYPE = 4

Settings for first TF02-Pro:

RNGFND1_ADDR = 16 [Address of #1 TF02-Pro in decimal]

RNGFND1_GNDCLEAR = 15 [Unit: cm, depending upon mounting height of the module and should be larger LiDAR than non-detection zone]

RNGFND1_MAX_CM = 400 [It could be changed according to real demands but should be smaller than effective measure range of LiDAR, unit is cm] 

RNGFND1_MIN_CM = 30 [It could be changed according to real demands and should be larger than
LiDAR non-detection zone, unit is cm] 

RNGFND1_ORIENT = 0 [#1 TF02-Pro real orientation]

RNGFND1_TYPE = 25 [TF02-Pro IIC same as TFmini-Plus IIC and TFmini-S IIC]

Settings for second TF02-Pro:

RNGFND2_ADDR=17 [Address of #2 TF02-Pro in decimal]

RNGFND2_GNDCLEAR=15

RNGFND2_MAX_CM=400

RNGFND2_MIN_CM=30

RNGFND2_ORIENT = 4 [#2 TF02-Pro real orientation]

RNGFND2_TYPE = 25 [TF02-Pro IIC same as TFmini-Plus IIC]

Upon setting of these parameters, click [Write Params] on the right of the software to finish.

If the error message “Bad LiDAR Health” appears, please check if the connection is correct and the power supply is normal. Please turn-off completely the flight controller after configuring the parameters, otherwise changes will not take place. If your battery is connected to your flight controller, please disconnect it as well.

How to see the target distance from the LiDAR: press Ctrl+F button in keyboard, the following window will pop out:

Click button Proximity, the following window will appear:

The number in green color means the distance from LiDAR in obstacle avoidance mode the number refreshes when the distance changes or window opens, closes, zooms in or zooms out, and this distance will not be influenced in Mission Planner, the version available at the time writing this tutorial is v1.3.72.

Altitude Hold using IIC Interface:

Connect the flight control board to mission planar, Select [Full Parameter List] in the left from the below bar-[CONFIG/TUNING]. Find and modify the following parameters:

PRX_TYPE=0 [on equal to 4 also gives the value if RNGFND1_ORIENT = 25]

RNGFND1_ADDR = 16 [Address of #1 TF02-Pro in decimal]

RNGFND1_GNDCLEAR = 15 [Unit: cm, depending upon mounting height of the module and should be larger LiDAR than non-detection zone]

RNGFND1_MAX_CM = 400 [It could be changed according to real demands but should be smaller than effective measure range of LiDAR, unit is cm] 

RNGFND1_MIN_CM = 30 [It could be changed according to real demands and should be larger than
LiDAR non-detection zone, unit is cm] 

RNGFND1_ORIENT = 25 [#1 TF02-Pro real orientation, this parameter is must for altitude hold]

RNGFND1_TYPE = 25 [TF02-Pro IIC same as TFmini-Plus IIC and TFmini-S IIC]

Upon setting of these parameters, click [Write Params] on the right of the software to finish.

If the error message “Bad LiDAR Health” appears, please check if the connection is correct and the power supply is normal.

Select option sonarrange, see following picture:The altitude distance from the LiDAR will be displayed in Sonar Range (meters), see the following picture:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKIYuEGFKxQ

Take you to visit well-known motor manufacturers T-MOTOR, how they do Wire Hand-wound Motor.
More info: jessica@tmotor.com

The industry’s only virtual summit entirely dedicated to drone autonomy is back and bigger than ever!

To help the industry accelerate its transition to BVLOS ops, NestGen 2023 will bring together experts in BVLOS technology, autonomous drone operations, regulatory consultants and adopters of drone-in-a-box systems.

What to expect at NestGen 2023

The single-day, 11-hour virtual only event will include keynotes, sessions from some of the most prominent proponents and leaders of the commercial drone industry, deep dives into cutting-edge, modular drone docking stations, product updates and announcements, application-specific breakouts, and a plethora of virtual networking and engagement opportunities.

NestGen 2023 dates and times

9:30am – 8:30pm February 23rd 2023

Registrations to the event are free till 31st January 2023.

Go ahead and register now! https://flyt.link/nestgen-feb-2023