Missions

Owned by Bryan Cubbins
Last updated: Jun 11, 2024 by Nathan Howe
4 min read

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 must be paused in order for it to take effect. 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.

How does Terrain Follow work?

  • Terrain Follow uses global terrain data to direct the elevation adjustments of the drone based on the information it receives from the terrain tiles that are downloaded. A conversion occurs based on local position in relation to the reference point, which takes into account the Earth’s curvature during this process.

    • As a result of this process, this form of terrain follow is only considering the geography of the terrain on a larger scale, and often may not include structures that are present, though this isn’t always the case.

      • When using terrain follow in this fashion, the drone pauses for a few seconds on the first waypoint of each turn, but will swing into the next line of the survey as usual when motion resumes. This currently is a byproduct of the conversion process that occurs.

What is the Terrain Altitude overlay emblem shown in the bottom left when planning a mission?

The Terrain Altitude emblem conveys the difference in land and start altitude in terrain follow. This has no bearing on your mission if you’re not using terrain follow for the operation.

 

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 will need to install an APK File Extension app onto your controller to save the KML files in. Once you have that installed in your apps you can now upload the KML files you have created and uploaded to that folder.

  • You may also connect the smart controller to your computer, using a USB to micro-USB cord, and copy the file from your computer. You may then upload the mission directly from WISPRGroundControl to the drone.

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.

Hot-swap Cable Provided by Wispr

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.

 

What is a structure scan?

A Structure Scan allows you to create a grid flight pattern that captures images over vertical surfaces (e.g. walls of a building) around a structure.

When should I use the structure scan option?

You may use a structure scan any time you like. The most useful cases are for visual inspection or making 3D models of a structure.

To be taken to the QuickStart video for more info please visit this link : Structure Scan using WISPR Ground Control