DJI Pilot L1 Mission Planning

While there are many software choices available to mission plan/execute with the M300RTK and L1, we find DJI Pilot/DJI Pilot 2 to be more than adequate for topographic mapping needs.

The easiest way to plan missions using DJI Pilot 2 is to use a KML or KMZ file uploaded to a micro sd card you insert into the top of your controller.

To do this, simply create a kml/kmz in Google Earth, and put it onto a microSD card, then insert the microSD card into the top slot on your DJI Smart Controller. When planning your mission, select the option to import a kmz and then select the correct directory.

Once you have the kml/kmz imported, tap on the tile to open it for further mission planning.

DJI Pilot / L1 Recommended Settings:

  • Select "Zenmuse L1" for payload, and LIDAR for mission type

    •  this will collect both lidar and photogrammetry data.

  • Calibration Flight ON (drone will fly back and forth 6 times prior to beginning the mission to better calibrate the IMU)

  • Flight Altitude - 200'-300’

  • Speed - Default (fly slower in low lighting conditions, only fly max speed in bright/sunny conditions)

In Advanced Settings:

  • Side overlap 68% (75% visible)

  • Front overlap 75% visible

  • Shooting Mode - Timed Interval Shooting

  • Adjust course angle as desired

  • Margin - as desired for mission needs

Back out of Advanced Settings and tap "payload settings"

In payload settings:

  • Echo Mode - Triple

  • Sample Rate - 160hz

  • Scan - Non Repeat

General Best Practices:

  • Single back and forth flight pattern (no crosshatch)

  • Nadir Imagery only (Straight down, negative 90-degree gimbal angle)

  • Fly at least 1 flight line beyond your GCPs and flight boundary

M300RTK/L1 Tips:

**Allow the L1 IMU to warm up fully before flying. The HMS screen should indicate whether or not the L1 is ready to go, this can take up to 10 minutes to warm up after first turned on.

** To avoid having to wait for the L1 to warm up each time you swap batteries, hot-swap them. You can remove one flight battery and leave the drone on, replace it with a new one, and then swap the other battery out after the first battery has been replaced. This will keep the L1 from having to go through its IMU initialization and warm up again.