Starting point orbit
Learning to create missions :) I created a path, at the end of that path I want to start an orbit and after the orbit has finished I want to start a second path. Now I am looking for a way to let the orbit start at the exact end of the fast path. However I, as far I can see it is only possible to enter latitude and longitude of the center of the orbit. That makes it difficult to make a smooth transition from path1->orbit->second path.
How does an experienced pilot do this ?
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Johank This quick video should give you what you need
https://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/c3n1bHVDmUn
Let me know if still have questions.
https://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/c3n1bHVDmUn doesn't play video for me. I thought maybe I needed to create an account, but everything I try says "password must be 8 characters" regardless of how long it is.
Anyway, concerning the OP question, I could never find a good way to do that, so instead I just curve a path around the target and add a POI marker. You can get a pretty smooth circle with 8 or 10 waypoints, if a circle is what you really want, but there are cases where an ellipse works better than a circle, and whether it's an ellipse or circle, a nice effect is to make one side higher than the other and/or put the POI off center.
I'd still like to know how to smoothly add an orbit, but this is just something to consider as an alternative that works 100% smoothly, and with a lot more flexibility.
Johank That link definitely works - I can use it without logging in on my PC and on my phone. Just click the play button.
Doesn't work for me in Chrome, Firefox, or Edge -- I see the play button, and it looks a link, but nothing happens.
Barry Houldsworth The call that the link did not work did not come from me :) . I could start it without problems, appreciate it very much. In your tutorial you talk about a little hop. Am i right that the drone jumps a little to the start of the orbit, so is there is a little gap ? And during that little hop, does it still record a video?
If there is a little gap indeed, than it's not a smooth transition.
When I preview my one mission, flying stops a moment at the end of path 1, and continues then with the orbit. So thats not smooth either.
Hi Johank. Barry’s video should help.
I’ve sent this link before buy here it is again. Run the mission.
preview and you will see how great it works. With Barry’s and my assistance I’m sure you will be able to figure out how to create them.
Path to Orbit with a almost perfect transition. Not only smooth to start Orbit but also at the same gimbal pitch. I have found the easiest way is to keep the approach fairly short and add the marker with gimbal pitch which is the same as the Orbits. Moving the last waypoint closer or farther away with the marker at the end works great once you figure it out. It’s basically the same going from an Orbit to path. Just make sure when Orbit is done it’s pointing in the direction of the new path. It takes a bit of practice and patience but well worth it. There is no such thing as perfect but overall my plan looks amazing.
Good luck, Mike……
https://app.dronelink.com/wyldwestaz/sonoita-area/plan/liYrgeo5nRAwV1nQONJ6/ff0qatYftOpJzyWL3uDS
Thank you too Mike (Arizona Wyldwest). I think I understand how to do this now. What I learned from your explanation now :
1. It is not possible to suppress a pause between the transition between path and orbit.
2. It is not possible to enter latitude and longtitude for the start of an orbit
Correct ?
Would it make any change to do a succesfull feature request for point 2 ? I suppose the coordinates are allready stored somewhere.
You can add a disengage or wait command but I’ve never used them so I’m not sure how they work. Maybe someone else can help with that.
You can input coordinates on an Orbit, destination or waypoint. Just click on any of them and you will see what they are and change if needed.
There are Dronelink 101 tutorials on YouTube. A lot of good information. Here are a couple links which may help. There are many other links within these threads/ posts. Good luck.
https://support.dronelink.com/hc/en-us/articles/360025878173-Getting-Started
https://support.dronelink.com/hc/en-us/sections/360004742493-Tutorials
Johank For point 2. Click on the orbit and then expand the panel that opens by clicking on the bottom:
You should now have lat and long fields that you can type into
If it is the approach you want to adjust, you can do that by clicking on the approach line (above the lat long highligted) and that also gives fields you can enter into.
Does that give you what you need there?
Also - for continuous video, turn off auto capture on the paths and the orbit, then include a component before those run that starts the video, and then one after everything that ends the video.
Thank you all for your extended explanation, I will try to use these tip with my own mission. Waiting for better weather to try things in the real world.
The problem with the youtube videos is to find the answer for the one problem you are facing
Dronelink has a ton to offer and it does take time to learn all the functions, features and settings. Time, patience’s and testing will give you great results eventually. Good luck.
Here's an example of just using a curved path to do an orbit. To make it as much like a plain orbit as possible, I first added an orbit, then put the path waypoints directly on top of that orbit path, then deleted the orbit. If 8 to 10 waypoints are equally spaced -- which really isn't hard to do -- the path is nicely circular. With a centered POI, I don't believe you could tell the difference between that and an orbit, except that it is smoothly integrated with the path -- no transitions to worry about -- and it's much more versatile.
https://app.dronelink.com/roger-harris/mini1/plan/5iJeJxyWLRqltyth4UCf/vY3wtzCQsTzXCZ8OXfjj
Edit: Here's an example of a more interesting "orbit" IMO. (If you preview it in Earth, the structures and trees are 3D).
https://app.dronelink.com/roger-harris/mini1/plan/ubiqoI6V9TTLIjFt4Lgv/vF48yEr0eRo5s5vvN3h1
I’ve tried using a path too and works well. Overall my Orbits have been smooth so much easier to use the Orbit template for me. I think his biggest issue was getting a smooth transition from a path to Orbit or vice versa and starting a new destination point to and from either.
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