Drone Meteorite Searching Documentation

Day/Survey start

  • Set up RTK basestation (needs time to get a lock).
  • Reset position in the basestation RTK web interface. Trimble_configuration (needs to be done every time the RTK basestation moves †)
  • Deploy landing pad, >5 m from any gear and obstacles.
  • Set up drone. All arms properly locked?
  • Install batteries.
  • Set up camera (M300: use 50mm lens). Lens cap off. Lens is clean?
  • Controller power. Check both interal and external batteries are well charged.
  • Configure WiFi connection to RTK base station or NTRIP. RTK configuration
  • Drone power.
  • Drone IMU/Compass calibration:
    • Camera view, Flight controller settings, Sensor status - IMU/Compass - calibrate both as per instructions.
    • Camera gimball calibration - Camera, Gimball settings - calibrate.
    • Restart drone.
  • Go through flight parameters checklist.
  • Select flight plan.
  • Assess whether lighting conditions are okay (sun angles if sunny, enough light for good picture quality if cloudy).

†: the Drone will complain about RTK only when the RTK position changed by a lot (many kilometres). Otherwise, there will be a systematic offset error, typically worse than if RTK was not used at all

Drone Meteorite Searching Documentation

Between flights pit stop

  • Hot-swap batteries. Batteries locked?
  • Swap SD card; need >20 GB free on memory card.
  • Lens looks clean?

Housekeeping (after the flight has taken off)

  • Check drone surveying altitude, to make sure it matches the original plan.
  • Cycle batteries: drone -> cool down (shade or fridge) -> charging station.
  • Download data: SD card -> computer.
  • Check image focus using 100% zoom level on a computer.
  • Stage images, and monitor upload progress.
  • make decision on whether there should be a next flight: sun angles -> too long shadows? low light -> too high-ISO?
  • Check RTK station batteries.
  • Check controller battery.

End of day

  • Recharge drone batteries.
  • Recharge controller batteries.
  • Turn off RTK station (do not move it!).
  • Recharge RTK station batteries.
  • Pack drone and camera.