Poster for Symposium

(Figure 59: The finalized CRM Poster made for the poster symposium.)

We diverted from our original plan with the poster of comparing drone log book and measure. We instead focused on relating Crew Resource Management to any and all applications we have used this semester in our Capstone. I feel like we pulled a good amount of information into the poster but also had great visuals to capture our audiences attention. We first explained what exactly CRM is and how it is used in an industry. We then talked about how exactly CRM was used in our AT419 Capstone, and then related all of our applications and how we used them. We wanted to talk heavily about our applications so that future classes could use this poster to review, and learn some of the techniques that we used this year, and adapter them to their own classes in the future. 

Processing and Pix4D Notes

Pix4DMapper and Data Processing Notes

For this class we have used Pix4DMapper for the majority of our data processing.

(Figure 53: The home page for Pix4D)

Use CORS maps on ngs.noaa.gov website to get GPS L1 and L2 and our GLO. This website then sends us the correct files that are needed for our data processing. This also sends us an Antenna Reference Point and coordinate location.

(Figure 54: CORS website needed for gathering files needed for data processing.)

You also have to use the system that you used to plan the flight and fly the flight, so in this instance the C-Astral application. In this application there is a post processing section where you must upload your rover log and set a fixed point for the data. you then add the G,N, and O files into the application as well, and check options before completing post processing.

The CORS website also has NGS data sheets with known coordinate benchmarks. If we were not within 7 miles of a core station, we would need to establish our own fix location for every flight. Using these known benchmarks makes it faster and easier to establish our location. There are other ways to get the correct location files but it takes hours or even days to get the information.

After getting the files and information that is necessary for processing, we open Pix4DMapper and upload it. You first want to open your images folder and go through all of them to ensure you only have the images you want for processing.

(Figure 55: Images from the mission flown shown in folder.)

When creating a new project make sure to go to your GCP folder, and save it as a text file for later use. When in Pix4D you save the project name, choose a folder to where you want to save the processed data, and continue to upload the images you have gotten from the flight. Pix4D will automatically check to see if the images are geotagged or not.

The image properties settings in Pix4D are usually correct but do a quick skim to make sure they are correct. The next thing you need to do is set up the Output Coordinate System. On this page you can set up your known coordinate system, which we upload, and then continue on to the processing options template. From these templates you can optimize your project to get the output data you desire.

After finishing optimization for your project Pix4D will show you the data that is has so far, and you can look at all the images you are about to process again. In the bottom left you can see there are 3 processing options you can choose from, including initial processing, point cloud and mesh, and DSM or orthomosaic and Index.You can then go into processing options to optimize your processing even more. There are plenty of cool things you can choose to do within these options like checking GeoTIFF to make a Raster DTM. There are many other additional outputs that you can choose from in these options. 

(Figure 56: The Pix4D application after narrowing down what photos need to be processed.)

After setting the options to your liking, you use the project tab to get to your GCP/MTP Manager. You need to ensure the GCP Coordinate System's Datum is set to where you want it, and then import your GCPS as the text file we made earlier.

(Figure 57: GCP and MTP Manager, where you upload your GCP as a text file.)

Now that your GCPS are uploaded you can see them in the data you have so far, marked by a blue plus symbol. 

(Figure 58: The map after uploading GCP's and customizing options, ready to process!)

It is now time to process! Click start and wait for your data to process!

First Flight with C-Astral

C-Astral Flight

The first flight with the C-Astral went very well! The entire group was there for the mission. Early Wednesday Morning on 3/27/18 we met at the airport and folded the parachute 

 (Figure 45: The per-planned mission flight we used for our mission.)

 (Figure 46: The checklist we used to pack our equipment.)

(Figure 47: Fresh parachute folding by Ian and Todd.)

Once the planning and parachute packing was done we headed out to the Amphitheater. 

(Figure 48: Setting up the C-Astral for it's first flight.)

 (Figure 49: Checking the propeller and the free movement of the ailerons and flaps.) 

(Figure 50: C-Astral ready for take off.) 

As you can see from the picture above, we took off in an open field to give the C-Astral plenty of room to climb. The take off went perfectly and our mission was a success! 

 (Figure 51: The C-Astral in flight.)

 (Figure 52: The C-Astral Returning to home)

(Field Notes 2: The notes taken before, during, and after the flight.) 

There were a few things I wrote down in my notes that we needed to improve before the next flights. The camera settings were weird because we dont have a checklist for our actually camera, just one that is close to ours. We need to make a new checklist for our specific camera. The REACH system we wanted to use does not work. We did set up GCP's around the initial takeoff area to set up an initial fixed base. We also forgot lenses cleaner which we would need for multiple flights because the lenses becomes dirty on landing.  We also need to adjust the rally point and the parachute popping point because we did not account for drift.