SMARTNAV Field Tests
Tests we realized with Drotek RTK GNSS.
Comparison between L1 and L2 systems :
- Kinematic mode
- L1 base : Drotek, patch passive antenna, located in a rugby field
- L1 rover : Drotek, Tallysman active, located on a car
- L2 base : Trimble NetR9 + Trimble TRM59800.00, CNES
- L2 rover : Septentrio AsterX 3 + Novatel geodesic antenna, located on the same car
Thirty minute static test in open-sky environment, blue is L2, green is L1 :
SMARTNAV RTK was mounted on a drone for an aerial inspection of solar panels. A thermal camera was used to detect hotspots (defective cells). The were two main problems for this mission :
- drone has to fly close to the ground (more or less 5 meters), otherwise camera resolution is not good enough to detect hotspots efficiently. So the trajectory has to be precise enough so the gimbal is always oriented towards the panels. This cannot be done with a classical GPS because of its bigger deviation.
- solar panels fields are big. Once you detect a hotspot, you have to be capable of locating it precisely to avoid another on foot inspection.
The following data has been collected during a flight plan over the solar panels. Navigation was provided by a classical GPS. Then RTK position was post-processed.
As you can see the deviation with a classical GPS is quite big and was pratically impossible to aim at the panels constantly with the gimbal.
This problem is solved by replacing the classical GPS with SMARTNAV RTK for real time precise navigation. Some pictures of the setup :
This test consisted of reproducing a square table shape with real time RTK. This was the setup :
Data link between base and rover was a USB radio. SMARTNAV RTK was moved along table's border continuously. As you can see, the result is quite impressive :
Have a look at : Urban areas 1 Urban areas 2
