- Power on. Make sure the camera and gimbal are not obstructed by anything (grass, soil, snow) and the camera can rotate freely in all directions. Switch on the DJI Matrice 300 / 350 RTK and wait for the camera and the TOPODRONE UAV PPK Upgrade Kit receiver to initialize.
- Launch the software. Open DJI Pilot 2 and make sure the payload named TOPODRONE is shown.
- Open the camera view. Go to the payload menu and open the camera view in full screen.
- Unlock the camera settings. Tap the AF / MF icon several times. The TOPODRONE P24 image settings can be changed only after this procedure!
- Open the image settings menu. Press the mechanical Fn button on the TOPODRONE P24 body once to open the image settings menu.
- Set the shutter speed. The TOPODRONE P24 is configured to shoot in shutter priority mode (S). ISO and aperture may change depending on how well the ground is lit. Set the shutter speed with the control wheel and its central button. For more on camera setup, see the TOPODRONE P24 user manual, «Setting the shooting options with the Smart Controller»
For example, at a flight speed of 10 m/s and a shutter speed of 1/1000 s, the drone moves 1 cm during the exposure. So for the best results at such speeds and shutter values, fly the TOPODRONE P24 with a GSD greater than 1 cm/pixel, for example 1.5-3 cm/pixel.
Specific shutter speeds depend on lighting conditions, flight altitude and speed and are selected individually. - Compass calibration. Calibrate the drone compass if this is the first flight at the site.
- Take-off to working altitude. Take off manually to the working altitude, or upload the mission to the UAV and press "Start", then press "Pause" when the working altitude is reached
- Lowering and centering the camera. Lower the TOPODRONE P24 with the left dial of the remote controller to the 90-degree limit. If the camera tilts more than 90 degrees and starts looking backward, enable the camera tilt limit in «Gimbal settings» in DJI Pilot 2. Then select "Center the camera on the pan axis" in the drop-down menu on the left side of the DJI Pilot 2 interface. This aligns the TOPODRONE P24 with the course if the right dial of the remote controller was accidentally touched.
- Focusing the camera. Tap the AF / MF icon to switch to AF autofocus. Tap the middle of the screen or half-press the "Photo" button on the remote controller. The camera will focus on the ground.
- Switching focus to manual. Switch the camera from AF autofocus to fixed MF focus. Do not touch the virtual focus wheel on the screen. All photos taken during the flight will then have the same focal length, which simplifies post-processing and improves the accuracy of aerial triangulation.
- Starting the route. Upload the route to the drone and press "Start" if the take-off to the working altitude was manual, or press "Resume" if the route was already uploaded.
- In-flight monitoring. During the flight, monitor the TOPODRONE P24 image for sharpness and exposure. If the image is clearly unsatisfactory (focus lost, image too dark or too bright), it is recommended to stop the flight and return to step 6 to adjust the shutter speed.
- Safe landing. Protect the TOPODRONE P24 camera during landing. Raise the camera with the left dial of the remote controller so as not to damage the lens. Provide a flat, firm and clean landing surface.
It is recommended to land DJI Matrice 300 / 350 RTK drones into the hands of the pilot's assistant. This greatly reduces the dust raised, reduces impacts and extends the service life of the product.
When using the TOPODRONE P24 together with TOPODRONE LiDAR, disable the downward vision positioning sensors, as they are blocked by the laser scanner.
Aerial photography with TOPODRONE P24 on a 3-axis gimbal
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