The LR1 and A7R4 can easily be configured to perform inspections on power lines, wind turbines, and other infrastructure!
For inspection use cases, we recommend using a long lens to maintain a safe distance from your subject. We have found that both the Sony FE 50mm F1.8 and Samyang 75mm F1.8 (LR1 only) work well.
After changing the lens, make sure to balance the gimbal, covered in this section:
We recommend the following camera settings for sharp, detailed images:
Shutter Speed
1/4000 to 1/100th
A faster shutter speed reduces motion blur
Aperture
F5 or higher
Higher the aperture makes more parts of the image in focus
ISO, White Balance
Auto
Auto for these usually work well
JPEG Size
Large
More detail = better!
Image Storage
External USB
Images are geotagged when saved to the external USB. This allows images to be associated with specific assets like power line poles
All of these parameters can be setup in AMC, accessed by the 3 lines under the shutter button Additional settings we recommend:
Focus: Auto or Tap-to-focus
Focus mode: Center or Zone (if not using tap to focus)
Overlay: Reticle
DIU Blue Astros come with stealth logging enabled, which stops GPS data from being written to imagery and logs. Stealth logging must be disabled to allow GPS data to be written to photos
Download the offline maps for the area you will be flying in
Check the vibration isolators are in good condition before each flight
Check the gimbal is balanced and the thumbscrews are tight
Astro is resistant to electromagnetic interference created by high voltage power lines with our Compassesless algorithm! Make sure Astro is updated to 1.6 or later
Pilots should still be careful when flying close wires and towers as these can often be difficult to see
Be careful when flying under structures! Astro can lose GPS signal and drift
Be careful when flying near wind turbines! Astro can fly in winds up to 12m/s (27mph), above this Astro will trigger RTL.
The current estimated windspeed is displayed in the lower right-hand corner of AMC in flight
