Continuing to take interval photos when Orbit is paused in On The Fly mode.
Hello, I'm flying the Mavic 3 Enterprise. I'm doing several orbits around a tower while taking 1 sec. interval photos. I pause the orbit at the end of one revolution to drop to a lower altitude for the next orbit (not a helix). Can dronelink keep taking photos even when the orbit is paused? I'd like to continue taking photos during the transitions to different altitudes between orbits. Remember, this is an On The Fly mission so no preplanning is involved.
Thanks in advance.
Comments
32 comments
Yes this is possible, just set auto capture on the start settings of the second orbit, check out here to see what I mean
https://app.dronelink.com/martin-reading/public-test/plan/m4omCSK51kzhA9EWJc4d
Thanks, I'll check it out. What about the photos between the 1st orbit and the 2nd lower orbit? I need Dronelink to keep taking photos through the whole flight... not just starting at the 2nd orbit. Thanks in advance.
Also, how do I add orbits to this mission plan you've shared we me? Thanks again, Martin.
Hi Peter, yeah if you click on the arrow by orbit start, and set auto capture in there
this will then cause it to carry on capture while the drone moves to start of the second orbit
Perfect, Thanks! To set an "Auto Capture" just set auto capture to photos?
Also, how can I set the interval time for the photos? I'd like to take 60 photos at a 20' radius.
the easiest way assuming you want them at the same position but different altitude is to click on duplicate then change the altitude
Yes, I did get that much. Thanks!
Looking back after some experience with Dronelink's On-The-Fly Orbit feature, these tips don't work. They are for preplanned missions. I arrive at a tower and must do an on the fly orbit mission. When I stop the orbit and descend to the next one, I want to keep shooting interval photos during the transitions between orbit elevations. Other than manually restarting the photos when I stop orbiting, I don't see a way to keep the photos coming continually unassisted. Anyone know how to do this?
This might help...
https://youtu.be/1jFcaTKxuA8
Barry, this does not address my problem. Didn't even mention continuous photos during a paused orbit.
Them I'm missing something because if you start flying on the fly and start the photos, you can move up/down and in and out (e.g. reposition) and the photos will continue to be taken while you are doing that.
I'm obviously missing something.
Yes, you're missing the fact that photos stop coming when the orbit is paused.
But...you don't need to pause. Just reposition.
I want to stop the orbit. That requires pausing the orbit, right? I don't want to fiddle with the speed and change direction that way. The lag to the stick input is horrible.
What are you doing when the orbit is paused.
Stopping the orbit rotation to descend to a lower orbit (Cell Tower)
So why not just keep it orbiting while you decend? That's what everyone I know that run towers does.
The work flow does not allow for a helix. Only separate orbit at different altitudes while capturing photos during the descent between orbits. Can't deviate from that.
It's looking like I'll just have to exit Orbit mode, restart it with updated position to the next orbit (including the right speed).
Then I would suggest you each out to support.dronelink.com and ask them about scanlink.
That allows you to set up all the orbits at each rad level and run them as one.
This is preplanned? Can that be done on the fly?
All done on site
That sound really appealing :). Thanks, I'll look into that.
Turns out that scan link has its own work flow and shoots at different gimbal angle than I need. Can I change the amount of orbits with their own altitudes, gimbal angle and quantity of photos?
Hi Peter. This may not be what you want but this is one way to utilize the DL On the a Fly missions. If you weren’t aware any On the Fly mission plans can be edited in the Web app which can then be set up the way you want. After setting up the On the Fly Orbit all you will need to do is start the mission even if for a brief amount of time then just pause it. The mission file will be saved and does not need to be flown to completion. Then go into the Web app under your flown missions and select that mission and save it as a plan. Now it can be fully edited just as any other plan. Then set an arrival component with photo intervals at the start of the first Orbit which will then capture continuously thought the entire mission to include descending or ascending which is basically the approach. Would not take much time at all once you understand how to set up the arrival component. Again, this may but be what you want to do but it is possible without much more time involved. If you are interested and want assistance on how to edit that mission as I mentioned and set it up to capture throughout the entire mission then someone can help further. Sharing the mission would be the best way to help.
But how do I know the different altitude of each orbit if I don't fly all of it up front?
Not sure I understand the question. Yes, you fly the drone to set it up with On the Fly Orbit as I mentioned just like any other On the Fly mission. So setting the altitude, speed, gimbal etc needs to be set up. Once you set it up you must then at least start the mission but it does not need to be flown to completion. The reason you need to start the mission is so the file can be created and then saved in the cloud. This way it will be in your DL account and available in the Web app. Unless something has changed this is the way it saves so it can be accessed in the Web app. You can execute the mission once it’s set up and fly fully to completion if wanted but not necessary. If you already created an On the Fly Orbit then you can access it by clicking on the mission tab which is the little icon just right of the Home icon at the bottom of the card. It looks like a clock to me. Any On the Fly missions can be accessed and saved as a regular mission which can then be edited.
I really appreciate you sharing this. I'm still stuck on how will I know the altitude for each orbit if I don't fly it first? This flying partially and then editing on the web seems like guess work to me.
Yes, You fly it manually to set it up just like with any On the Fly mission. Once you completely created (set up) the On the Fly mission just as you want it to run then you click to execute the mission to run it. Once it has been executed meaning it has been started you can then pause it. This is the way the DL app works. There is no guess work. The entire mission file as you set it up will be available. All you need to do is check any of the On the Fly mission you have created and you will see them in your account.
Is there a video tutorial on this process?
Please sign in to leave a comment.