3p Operation
The information produced by your SLANTRANGE system relies upon airborne measurements from imaging and other sensors combined with a mix of data processing tools. The system is designed to provide reliable and accurate measurements over a wide range of conditions. This document introduces the factors related to mission planning and data collection that can affect system performance, and provides guidance on best practices for obtaining reliable high quality results. Remember to check your region's drone flight regulations!
Unboxing
3p Field Sensor
All measurements shown in millimeters
AIS, data cable, microSD card
As a general rule, insert a memory card into the sensor and connect your AIS (ambient illumination sensor) to the 3p before startup, and do not disconnect either until after shutdown. The white connector on the data cable plugs into the field sensor, and the black connector plugs into the AIS. The system will boot up as soon as power is connected to the field sensor.
All measurements shown in millimeters
Procedure
Upon powering the sensor, wait approximately 10 seconds for the cylon sequence of green, yellow, and red lights. This indicates the system is checking memory card status.
If there is a problem with your memory card, a solid red light will appear. If you see the solid red light, first make sure a memory card is inserted in the field sensor. If there is a memory card, run the Format SD card tool in the 3p Toolbox app as described on the 3p Calibration page of this guide.
If your memory card is working properly, the cylon sequence will change to solid green, yellow, and red lights. At this stage, you can connect to the sensor WiFi if running any of the 3p Toolbox operations, or you can begin a data collection by pressing the AIS button.
To begin a data collection, press the button on the AIS. DO NOT shade the calibration sensor after pressing the button. If the aircraft is on the ground, make sure no one is standing over the aircraft or otherwise shading the AIS. The AIS MUST have an unobstructed view of the sky.
After pressing the AIS button, you will see a solid, then blinking yellow light, indicating pre-flight checks are being performed.
The blinking yellow light will give way to a solid green light indicating GPS lock. The boot up is complete, and you do not have to worry about shading the AIS on the ground. Make sure antennas or other aircraft components will not cast a shadow on the AIS in flight.
Once the solid green light turns to blinking green, data is being collected and sensor is ready for flight.
Upon landing, press the AIS button, and a solid yellow light will appear briefly. Then solid green, yellow, and red lights will appear indicating a completed data collection.
Once you see the solid green, yellow, and red lights on the AIS, you can power down the aircraft (or disconnect the external battery powering the sensor). When the lights on the AIS go out, the sensor is shut down, and you can remove the memory card to transfer data.
The sensor will store approximately 3.5 hours of data before the AIS LED begins to blink red, indicating the sensor memory is close to capacity. After starting to blink red, the memory will reach maximum capacity after one more hour of data collection. To ensure the sensor memory does not reach capacity mid-flight, transfer and delete data from the memory card before you see the blinking red light.
