At what altitude should missions be conducted?
Missions should not be conducted below 164 feet. This is for the safety of you, anyone else present, and the drone itself. The only exception is if you are running a bathymetry payload over open water. If not, you should be flying at or above 164 feet in any missions you conduct.
Can you change mission speed while a mission is already in progress?
Yes. Mission speed can be adjusted, but the mission should be paused as it will not change otherwise. Once you pause the mission, you may enter the general settings tab by tapping the WISPR logo in the top left, and change the speed of the mission using the dropdown.
Can KML files, such as a mission you already have planned, be uploaded to WGC?
Yes! You can upload KML files onto Wispr Ground Control in a couple of ways.
You can copy the KML file from the SD card inserted into the SD card slot on the smart controller into the WGC/Missions folder found on the smart controller. You may do this by using the Android OS file manager on the smart controller.
You may also connect the smart controller to your computer and copy the KML file from your computer to the mission folder.
If I need to stop a mission while it is in progress and return to launch, do I have to start the mission over completely from the first waypoint on the next launch?
No, the mission does not need to be restarted. A pause feature exists that allows you to pause the mission in order to land, power down (or hot-swap if using one) the batteries, repower, and resume the mission from the most recent waypoint before the pause. Below are the steps to achieve this:
Select the pause button on the left toolbar (typically, try to pause immediately after the drone has just passed a waypoint in the mission).
Return the drone to launch and land.
Once landed, a “Flight Plan” menu will appear on the right side of the screen. You will see a few options, one being “Resume Mission From Waypoint X?” Select this option to resume from the last waypoint the drone reached in the mission when relaunched.
Give this video below a watch for a visual reference on the steps listed above:
Continuing a Mission from the Previous Waypoint
WISPR offers a hot-swap cable option included in all packages.
An important part of Wispr drone packages is the hot-swap cable, which is inserted into the front of the drone where the battery is usually plugged in. The hot-swap cable is not necessary for every flight, but is used when the drone is returned to launch to allow the pilot to replace a depleted battery without shutting down the drone.
This is done by connecting the fresh battery to the unoccupied XT90 plug, and unplugging the depleted battery from the occupied plug. This switch needs to be done rather quickly. When the plug swap is complete, remove the depleted battery from the drone in order to load the fresh one.
Please note that when performing hot-swaps while using any Inertial Labs or RESEPI LiDAR payload (such as the Avia Livox or RESEPI Hesai XT32), the time from when the LiDAR begins recording data to the time the LiDAR stops recording data should never exceed 50 minutes. This is a limitation of the LiDAR’s computer and is not limited by the WISPR Ranger Pro. Typically, this means the Lidar should be rebooted every two flights if the user is to include two 20 minute flights and allow time on the ground for hot-swapping.
Basic Photogrammetry Mapping Mission using WISPR Ground Control
This video will show you everything you need to know to get started with survey mission planning, the standard for photogrammetry operations.
Planning a LiDAR Mission using Wispr Ground Control
This video will walk you through the necessary steps required to plan and conduct a survey mission using a LiDAR payload. The LiDAR featured in the video is the Avia Livox AA450.