Path Mission
Guide on how to make a Path mission using Waypoints on the FlytBase dashboard.
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Guide on how to make a Path mission using Waypoints on the FlytBase dashboard.
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A Path Mission refers to a predefined flight operation where the drone follows a specific route mapped out using waypoints. The drone can perform certain actions at waypoints, and adjust speed and altitude while traveling between them. This mission type is essential for tasks that require precise movement along a designated path, offering control over the drone's flight pattern.
Inside the Navigation Drawer, select the Missions tab under the Planning section.
An operator can plan a Path Mission using two methods:
Create a mission
Under the Path Mission section, select + Create mission tab.
Provide a name for the new mission.
Select the Site you want the mission to be a part of. Only members of the site selected will have access to the mission for drone operations. Refer to the following documentation to know more:
Assign Tags to your mission for better mission management.
To learn about mission management, please refer to the following documentation.
Left-click on the map to add a waypoint for the mission.
You can configure the following Path Mission Route parameters on FlytBase:
This is the default altitude at which the mission will be conducted. There are three types of route altitude references that you can select:
Relative Take-off Point (RTL) Altitude is set relative to the Reference Take-off Point as marked on the map while planning a mission. Additional care should be taken when planning close to ground in uneven terrain. Route/waypoint altitude needs to be adjusted based on terrain height.
Above Ground Level (AGL) Altitude is set relative to the ground level. Reliable ground elevation data is essential for using this option safely. This mode is best suited to follow the terrain automatically to maintain a specific elevation above ground at any point in the mission.
Take-off altitude settings allow you to specify a height for the drone to reach during take-off, ensuring it ascends safely before proceeding with its mission. Once the designated take-off altitude is achieved, the drone will move diagonally towards the first waypoint. There are two methods to set the take-off altitude:
Default Take-off Altitude The drone will achieve the first waypoint's altitude and then approach the first waypoint.
Safe Take-off Altitude The drone will achieve the Safe Take-off altitude and then diagonally proceed to the first waypoint.
The speed set here will be the default speed at which the mission will be executed. However, if a different speed is required between two or more waypoints, it can be configured in waypoint-specific settings.
This allows you to set how the drone will approach each waypoint, and consequently what the path would look like. There are five options to choose from:
Linear Route The drone takes a straight path and stops at each waypoint.
Transit before Waypoint The drone takes a curved path before reaching each waypoint and flies through it.
Curved path, stops at waypoint The drone takes a curved path and stops at each waypoint.
Curved path, moves smoothly The drone follows a curved path and moves steadily at a constant speed without stopping at any waypoint.
Controlled radius The drone will turn before the current waypoint such that the radius of turn is the controlled radius.
The drone will only respond to waypoint actions on routes where it reaches the waypoint. These routes include linear, curved with stops, and curved with smooth movement.
You can choose between the following drone yaw modes while flying between mission waypoints:
Along Route: The drone heading will match the mission path after every waypoint. It will reset the yaw angle while leaving the waypoint to match that of the path.
Lock Yaw Axis: The drone heading will be locked at the last position from the previous waypoint and will maintain this angle while flying toward the next waypoint.
Manual: The drone heading will align with the path toward the next waypoint by default unless changed via the remote controller.
You can set between the following modes for gimbal pitch while flying between mission waypoints:
Waypoint specific - The gimbal pitch can be set for every specific waypoint to approach the next waypoint. After performing all the waypoint actions, the drone will reset its gimbal to the specified angle.
Manual - The gimbal will retain its last position from the previous waypoint, unless changed via the remote controller.
You can select which imaging sensors should be used during the mission from the following options:
Zoom
Wide
IR Mode / Thermal Mode
Refer to the following documentation to learn more about payload controls.
Choose the Here are the different positioning accuracy options you can configure:
GNSS : Relies solely on satellite positioning to guide the drone. Suitable for operations where centimeter‑level precision is not critical. The accuracy range is as following:
Horizontal: ± 1.5 m
Vertical: ± 0.5 m
RTK : Switches to Real‑Time Kinematic corrections for ultra‑precise navigation Recommended for applications requiring ultra‑precise station‑keeping (e.g., high‑resolution inspections or mapping) where the drone must remain exactly at a fixed point. The accuracy range is as following:
Horizontal: ± 0.1 m
Vertical: ± 0.1 m
Choose the finish action for the drone when it reaches the last waypoint of the mission. Here are the different finish actions you can configure:
Return to the docking station (RTDS) - The drone goes back to the docking station.
Exit Mission and Hover - The drone hovers at the last waypoint.
Return to the docking station (RTDS) - The drone goes back to the docking station.
Exit Mission and Hover - The drone hovers at the last waypoint.
Go to First Waypoint and Hover - The drone moves to the first waypoint and starts hovering.
If the operator has a Drone-in-a-Box setup, it is highly recommended that the operator set the Mission Finish Action as Return to Docking Station (RTDS).
Once all settings have been done, click on Save Mission. The mission will then appear in the Missions tab on the FlytBase dashboard.
To learn how to plan a Grid Mission, please refer to the following documentation.
Click onicon to add mission.
Recenter the map to the location of the mission using the Recenter iconand delete the mission using the delete icon.
Operators can efficiently plan complex path missions with multiple waypoints using .
Above Sea Level (ASL) Absolute altitude of the drone as represented in the model. Use ASL for missions that require global altitude measurements, since the reference is set to the sea level.
You can also set the Route Altitude/Flight Altitude by going to -> Flight Configuration -> Flight Altitude. The Route altitude set during mission planning will take precedence over the value specified for Flight altitude in the Settings.
You can set a device-specific Take-off Altitude / Safe Altitude by going to -> Device Settings -> Drone Safety. The safe take-off altitude set during mission planning will take precedence over the one set in Device Settings.
The option to select the follow route speed comes while specifying waypoints. Refer to the following to know more.
To configure the Waypoint parameters, please refer to the following .
Add Waypoint: To insert a new waypoint before the selected one, click on theicon.
Recenter Waypoint: To recenter the map to the location of the waypoint, use the Recenter icon.
Delete Waypoint: Click on the icon to delete the selected waypoint.
Smart Selection Mode: Clicking on the icon enables Smart Selection Mode, which allows for the selection of multiple waypoints and the configuration of their settings at once. This can be done using either the Single Click tool or the Sequential Selection tool.
Single click: The operator can click the button to randomly select multiple waypoints as needed and simultaneously customize the waypoint actions, speed, altitude, and radius.
Sequential selection: The operator can click the button to select multiple waypoints in sequence. First, select the initial and final waypoints. All waypoints between these will be automatically selected. This feature allows the operator to efficiently customize multiple waypoints at once, streamlining the mission planning process.
Copy previous waypoint settings: The operator can configure the settings of an individual waypoint and then enable copy previous waypoint settings by clicking on the icon. Once enabled, adding subsequent waypoints on the map will have the same waypoint settings as the previous one.
