Bramor Training C3P Assignment (Week 3)
Our third week of AT209 involved the in-depth engagement and learning of the C3P software. C3P is the software used for mission planning and overall training. This was our first time as a class using this program and it helped greatly with overall efficiency amongst designated pilots in future flights with the Bramor.
First activity was to set home, rally, takeoff and landing waypoints. Sensors were then initialized and altitude was set to Relative. Altitude was set to 125 meters with 80% frontal overlap and 75% side lap (lateral). The camera was switched to the RX1R II 35mm with the overshoot to 150m
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C3P Figure 1: PWA Mission Boundaries |
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C3P Figure 2: Mission Settings for flight 1 |
For flight plan two, the same area was being flown, however, this time, altitude to was set to Relative to Terrain, set GSD to 2.5 cm/pixel with 80% frontal overlap and 75% sidelap (lateral). Lastly, set the camera to the RX1R II 35mmSet the overshoot to 120m.
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C3P Figure 3: Settings for Mission 2 |
Based on the second flight it was found that a higher GSD makes the overall altitude higher. Furthermore, as you move up in altitude the flight line spacing becomes smaller because less waypoints are being flown. I also monkeyed with the size of the area being flown, and noticed that the overshoot expands the area size of the mission because the Bramor, being a fixed wing craft flying in a linear manner, has to bank into a larger turn instead of being able to cut in multiple directions in a small area.
Being mindful of GSD settings and adjusting the area of flight is important for not only efficiency of a flight, but also safety and legal reasons. If you are flying at too high of an altitude for a given location then you run the risk of suspension or permanent loss of any Part 107 certificate. The same goes for flying over an area not previously being determined legally as an area for operations.
Next we looked at the various different "Draw" functions.
- “measure” allows you to measure the distance waypoints
- “street points” allows the bramor to follow in a direct path, the waypoints marked
- “area points” allows for waypoints to be placed, and will automatically fill in the area in between the points of which the bramor will make passes in.
- “draw” simply allows the bramor to follow point to point it can be in a relatively straight line or in a shape.
The third flight had the following parameters, an altitude 300m / Relative altitude mode, overlap 80%, sidelap 75%, overshoot at 100m and the selected camera RX1R.
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C3P Figure 4: Settings for Mission 2 |
For this mission we changed the direction and strength of wind to see how the path of flight changed. Below depicts the predicted landing area accounting for parachute drift, given the wind direction and strength.
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C3P Figure 5: Settings for Mission 3. Landing zone marked by purple zone |
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C3P Figure 6: Mission 3 (Increased windspeed up to 10 m/s) |
The takeoff with the Bramor is manually activated when clicking the Take Off icon, then the Bramor will engage into a spiral climb until it is at the mission altitude. Engaging the Loiter icon will send the Bramor into an automatic loiter (a maintained flight radius) which can be helpful when incidents arise. The Rally point is where the Bramor will fly to after completion of the mission, where it will descend in a spiral fashion down to the landing altitude to engage this press the Land icon.
Turning the camera on brings up a series of overlaid triangles that represent each picture captured during Bramor's flight. This is depicted below in C3P Figure 7.
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C3P Figure 7: Bramor Mission 3 Screenshot |
The C3P software is mandatory for understanding the Bramor system and be proficient in the use of unmanned systems as a whole. Understanding mission planning involved in UAS work and the different technology that exists as of now in the UAS world gives Purdue students enrolled in AT209 a great deal of experience which can be translated into the workforce.
Assessment
This activity was a great introduction into how the guts of the Bramor work. Learning the basic flight control functions of the Bramor prevents later confusion and possible accidents.
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