Missions

A guide for the operator to plan a mission with advanced functionalities to streamline their experience

A mission is a pre-defined flight path set by the operator prior to launching the drone for autonomous flights. One can create a mission by setting waypoints (Path Mission) or defining an area for the drone to perform parallel sweeps (Grid Mission), adding actions at each waypoint, and defining other mission parameters like altitude, speed, gimbal orientation etc. The mission can be saved and executed when required.

This provides a simple and efficient way to plan and execute complex drone missions for various use cases such as security and surveillance, construction, asset inspection, public safety etc.

Plan a Path Mission

During a Path mission, the aircraft will travel between waypoints, perform actions at those waypoints, and adjust speed and altitude between them. These physical locations are referred to as waypoints, and creating a series of them will program a flight route for the aircraft to follow. Waypoints can also have actions configured, which will be executed when the aircraft reaches the particular waypoint.

FlytBase also allows operators to use Smart Selection Tools to plan complex path missions with several waypoints in an efficient manner.

An operator can plan a Path mission using two methods:

  1. Creating a mission

To create a mission on the FlytBase dashboard:

Under the 'Path mission' section, select '+Create mission'.

  • While creating a mission the operator has to configure the Mission Route:

    1. Name the mission: Add a name to the mission.

    2. Mission Speed: Set the default mission speed to adjust the drone's movement speed from the take-off point to the last waypoint.

    3. Mission altitude: Define the default mission altitude to adjust the drone's altitude from take-off point to last.

    4. Mission Radius: Adjust the mission radius to enable curved path movement of the drone past all waypoints. (Note: enabling radius cancels waypoint actions if set)

    5. Finish action: Set the finish action for the drone when it reaches the last waypoint of the mission: Return to Docking Station, Return to Home/Return to Safe Location, Land, or Hover.

  • Left-click on the map to add a waypoint for the mission. Efficiently plan the path mission using the following options:

    1. Use route default: Tick the check box to set the waypoint speed, altitude, and radius to the same values as the mission route.

Smart Selection Mode

This allows the operator to select multiple waypoints and configure them at once through two different tools: the Single click tool and the Sequential selection tool.

When using the Smart Selection Mode to plan a mission, if an operator switches from the Single click tool to the Sequential selection tool, the next waypoint that is selected will be automatically set as the first waypoint in the sequence.

Waypoints Configuration:

  • Waypoint Speed: When configured for a particular waypoint, the drone will adjust to the waypoint speed at the respective waypoint and will continue at the same speed till the next waypoint.

  • Waypoint Altitude: When configured for a particular waypoint, the drone will adjust to the waypoint altitude at the respective waypoint and will continue at the same altitude till the next waypoint.

  • Waypoint radius: Configuring this will enable the drone to take a curved path when it passes through the particular waypoint. (Note: The waypoint actions will not be accepted when the waypoint radius is set).

  • Adding waypoint actions:

    1. Hover: When selected, the drone would hover at the waypoint for the duration set by the operator. The operator can set the duration for hover between 1-30 seconds.

    2. Gimbal Pitch: This instructs the aircraft to automatically adjust gimbal angles ranging from -90° to 0°. Downward pitch angles are represented by -90° and upward pitch angles by 0°.

    3. Capture Image: This allows the aircraft to capture an image on arrival at the waypoint. This waypoint action will not work if video recording is already in progress.

    4. Start Video Recording: This instructs the aircraft to start video recording on arrival at the waypoint.

    5. Stop Video Recording: This instructs the aircraft to stop video recording on arrival at the waypoint when the operator had set start video recording action at a previous waypoint. If not selected, the drone will continue to capture video footage till it lands.

    6. Aircraft yaw wrt flight path: When configured for a particular waypoint, the drone will oscillate about a vertical axis (perform yaw) at the given angle and continue in the same position till the next waypoint. The operator can define the yaw angle while selecting this action.

    7. Capture image on time interval: This allows the aircraft to capture an image at a set time interval. When selected, the drone will capture images at the respective waypoint until the next one while obeying the set time interval.

    8. Capture image on distance interval: This allows the aircraft to capture an image at a set distance interval. When selected, the drone will capture images at the respective waypoint until the next one while obeying the set distance interval.

Waypoint actions will not be executed when:

  1. Waypoint radius or Mission radius is also set.

  2. When attempted to add a waypoint action for the last waypoint

If the operator has a Drone-in-a-Box setup, it is highly recommended that the operator set the Mission Finish Action as Return to Docking Station (RTDS).

  • Click on Save Mission to save the mission. The mission will then appear in the 'Missions' tab on the dashboard.

Executing the Mission

There are two ways to execute a mission :

  1. Launching the drone

  2. Starting the mission from the drone card

Ensure that the operator has the required airspace regulatory permissions to fly the drone.

1. Launching the drone from the control panel

  • Navigate to the operation drawer, click on Drone and select a drone for the mission.

  • Click on the Launch button in the bottom right corner of the Dashboard.

  • Set the mode of flight to Mission and click on the Start button.

  • Select the desired mission name and click on the Start button.

  • Check all safety checklist parameters.

2. Starting the mission from the drone card:

Create and perform fully autonomous missions on FlytBase now!😎

To fly the first mission navigate to:

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