(Android) Pix4Dmapper Capture App - Getting startedUpdated:May 29, 2015 20:52This guide explains how to get started with Pix4Dmapper Capture App.In order to use your drone to acquire optimal images for accurate 3D models you first have to:1. Plan the mission.2. Capture the images.3. Synchronize the images with the device.You can then get a Quick Cloud 3D preview as well as advanced outputs on your computer.

(Android) Pix4Dmapper Capture App getting started System requirements Download and install Step 1. Prepare the drone Step 2. Prepare the mission Prepare a Grid Mission Prepare a Free Flight Mission Step 3. Start the mission Step 4. Synchronize the mission with the device Step 5. Get a quick 3D preview Step 6. Edit the 3D model and get advanced outputs(Android) Pix4Dmapper Capture App getting started

System requirements

Mobile device with Android 4.0 or later with at least 500 MB of free space to store the images. DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ (optimal, recommended) or DJI Phantom 2 Vision (compatible).Download and install

1. Download and install the Android App either fromhereor via Google play (click below for direct access):

Note: It is recommended to always use the latest version of the App.

2. Once the App is installed, open it.3. In the login page, enter theEmailandPasswordof your Pix4D User Account. If you don't have a Pix4D User Account, sign up for an account by following the instructions here:204000599.4. ClickLog in.

Step 1. Prepare the drone

Warning:Know your drone and how to fly it manually.Before using Pix4Dmapper Capture App, it is required to first learn how to fly the drone manually. Manual control of the drone is the only way to avoid obstacles or get back a drone that flies away due to GPS interferences.For more information have a look at the drone's user manual:DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ User Manual

The DJI Phantom 2 Vision+ is an autonomous and self-driven drone. The App is connected to the drone through Wi-Fi. Before takeoff, the App sends to the drone the GPS position of a predefined number of waypoints. During flight, the drone will follow these waypoints. The App sends a signal to the drone using the Wi-Fi each time an image should be taken. Wi-Fi connection with the drone is required. If the Wi-Fi connection is broken, images are not taken anymore. However the drone continues the mission as the waypoints are saved on the drone before takeoff. Good GPS signal is required. If the drone misreads the GPS coordinates internally, it might fly away in a random direction. This happens when the drone is flying in an environment where the GPS signal gets interferences. For example it may happen if the drone flies close to large metallic structures or in areas where the GPS signal bounces back on objects such as high buildings. Manual control is required to get back the drone. Obstacles: Ensure that no obstacle is between the drone home/takeoff point and the flight altitude during takeoff or landing. Battery: As the battery lifetime depends on multiple factors such as wind, altitude, temperature, etc., it is impossible to predict the lifetime of the battery. If the App is connected to the drone through the Wi-Fi and the battery is under 20%, the drone flies home. Manual control might be required at that stage.Important: Choose a clear takeoff/landing zone of at least 10x10 meters that can get easily GPS signal. Before taking off, check that: The drone, remote controller and range extender batteries are charged. The propellers are correctly mounted. The propellers/engine are functioning. Do not fly over crowds. Respect your regional and national flight regulations.

Step 2. Prepare the mission

There are 2types of missions: Grid Mission: Recommended for most of the environments. It ensures that the images are taken with the optimal overlap required to get accurate 3D models and maps. Free Flight Mission: Recommended to map more difficult objects (e.g. sides of houses, towers, pylons, bridges, etc). It requires to pilot the drone and to understand how to fly an optimal flight path.Prepare a Grid Mission

The grid mission is well suited for most of the environments. It ensures that the images are taken with the optimal overlap required to get accurate 3D models and maps. To prepare a grid mission:

1. Open the App.2. (optional) In the home screen, clickSettingsand change the overlap between the images as well as the angle of the camera.

For more information about the settings:203873435.3. In the home screen, clickGrid Mission.TheMap Viewis loaded.

Tip: If you are connected to the Internet, a background map is displayed.

The mission can also be prepared in your office. The displayed map is cached and will be available when starting the mission in an area without Internet connection.

4. (Optional) On the left of the screen, select the desired flight altitude.5. Place the grid over the area of interest. To move the grid, press with the finger in the middle of the grid and drag it. To rotate the grid, press with the finger on one of the arrows on the border of the grid and rotate it. To resize the grid, press with the finger on one of the small squares on the grid border and drag it.Note: Grid size: The default grid settings (50x50 meters) define a small flight of about 5-10 minutes that works in almost all conditions. By increasing the grid, the flight time is increased as well. Ensure that you have enough battery if you increase the grid size. The battery lifetime depends on many factors such as wind, temperature, age of the battery, etc. Grid color: The grid is displayed in green as long as the size is optimal to perform a flight with a fully charged battery. If the grid size becomes slightly too large such that there might be not enough battery to perform the whole mission, the grid is displayed in yellow. If the grid is too small to ensure good quality 3D models and maps it is displayed in yellow as well. If the grid is too large to be flown with a fully charged battery, it is displayed in red. In this case it is recommended not to fly and to give the grid a better size.6.Start the missiononce it is prepared.Prepare a Free Flight Mission

For advanced users: Free flight missions are recommended to map more difficult objects (e.g. sides of houses, towers, pylons, bridges, etc). It requires to pilot the drone and to understand how to fly an optimal flight path. For more information on how to prepare and start a free flight mission:203081219.Step 3. Start the mission

Once the grid mission has been prepared, it can be started.1. Place the drone in a clear area of at least 10 by 10 meters that can get easily GPS signal.2. Turn on the Wi-Fi range extender of the remote control.3. Turn on the remote control.Warning: TURN ON THE REMOTE CONTROL before flying. If it is not turned on you cannot go back to manual control of the drone. Manual control of the drone is the only way to recover a drone that flies away or to avoid obstacles.

4. Turn on the drone.5. Verify that you can start and stop the propellers manually.6. Set the S1 switch to the top position.7. In the App, click.Note: The drone will not take off at this point.

8. Read carefully the safety instructions that are displayed and clickNext.

9. Check that the App is connected to the drone through Wi-Fi. If yes, clickNext.If not, clickWi-Fi Settingsand go to the Wi-Fi settings of your device. Select the drone's Wi-Fi and go back to the App and clickNext.

Note: If you were already connected to this drone in the past, the App will connect automatically.

10. Verify that all security checks that are displayed are green. If yes, the drone can take off. If not, solve each security issue until it becomes green. For more information on how to solve the security issues:204113219.

11. Press 3 seconds on the button. The drone iconnext to the button goes up. When it reaches the top of the pop-up, the drone will take off within a few seconds.Note: There are 2 ways to start a mission:

1. Place the drone on the ground and start the mission.2. Fly the drone manually and when it is less than 150m from the center of the grid, start the mission.When the drone is takes off, it flies vertically up to the altitude of the mission and then goes to the first waypoint.

12. During the mission: Keep your hands on the remote control. Keep visual control of the drone.Warning: In case of danger, flip down the S1 switch of the remote control. This will switch to manual mode and you can take back control of the drone using the remote control.

Note: During the mission:

The map view displays the current position of the drone. It allows to keep track of the mission.

When the drone reaches the mission altitude, check that the camera is pointing down. It can happen that the gimbal is not properly initialized and that the camera is not looking down. If the camera is not looking down, the results will not be optimal. The gimbal can be manually changed during flight by going to the camera view and pressing the down arrow. For more information about the camera view:203873435. The waypoints are uploaded to the drone at the start of the mission. The signal to take a picture is send from the App during the mission. If there is an issue with the App or the device, the drone finishes its mission by following the waypoints. However, no images are taken and the mission has to be redone.

13. At the end of the mission, the drone comes back to the home pointand lands automatically. When the drone touches the ground, it stops after some seconds.Warning: Due to the GPS inaccuracy, the drone might land a few meters away from the starting point. If the drone is landing in a place where it should not land, put the S1 switch down and land the drone manually.

Tip: When the drone is landing, you can catch it from the bottom and hold it in a steady position. The propellers will turn off automatically after a few seconds.

Step 4. Synchronize the mission with the device

1. At the end of the mission, when the drone comes back and lands, the images on the drone are synchronized with the App. During this process, accurate image geolocation is written into the image EXIF data. Do not turn off the drone and the range extender until the synchronization is completed.2. (optional) Image synchronization can be aborted and restarted later. To abort synchronization, close the synchronization window. For more information on how to restart the synchronization later:204716225.Step 5. Get a quick 3D preview

Once the mission is synchronized to the device, it can be uploaded to your Pix4D User Account to get a quick 3D preview.1. In the home screen, open theMission Managerby clickingMissions to 3D models/maps.

2. Select the mission to upload. Missions that are synchronized, but not yet uploaded are marked with the logo:.

3. ClickUpload to Pix4Dcloud.

Important:By default, the optionReduce images for quick previewis enabled and uploads half resolution images with lower JPG compression quality. This option reduces the image size from 5MB to 1MB and thus the upload time is 5 times faster. The visual quality of the mesh is slightly lower. For measuring applications, it is advised to use the full size images.4. When the upload is finished, you will receive an email informing you that the project has been uploaded and that processing started.5. When processing is finished, an email informs you that the 3D preview is available. Click on the link of the email to go to the project page on your Pix4D User Account on the Cloud.Note:If half sized images have been uploaded the project name is of the form*_half.6. 3 Previews are available: 3D Mesh: It displays a simplified low resolution 3D Mesh and can be directly viewed in the browser. It uses WebGL and to view it you need a WebGL enabled browser such as the latest version of Android Chrome.If you visualize it from your device, drag to rotate, use 2fingers to translate and pinch to zoom.If you visualize it from a computer you also need a WebGL enabled browser. Use the left mouse button to rotate the model and the right mouse button to pan the model.

Orthomosaic and DSM: It displays a low resolution preview of the orthomosaic and DSM.

Map view: It displays a low resolution orthomosaic, overlayed on Google Maps.

Step 6. Edit the 3D model and get advanced outputs

For advanced outputs and editing, transfer your images to your computer and use Pix4Dmapper. For more information:204068019.

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