Lab #10: Measure Ground Control for UAS Operations

Introduction

Preparing for a UAS mission properly is a crucial step when conducting a flight. Preparation allows you to avoid mistakes during the flight and create back up plans when things may go wrong. The Measure Ground Control App allows you to prepare for a UAS flight efficiently and effectively. In this lab, I will be diving into this app and going over its key features. This application a must when it comes to UAS mission planning.

Figure 1: Measure GC - Home Screen

Overview

This application can be downloaded via phone, tablet, and or computer. You can bring this application with you anywhere you intend to fly. In this lab, I will mainly be going over the Airspace map, settings, flight viewing, and flight planning.

The Airspace Map

Figure 2: Airspace Map Search

Figure 3: Airspace Rules and Advisories 

Figure 4: Airspace Flight Authorization

The airspace map allows you to see any rules and advisories that would disrupt your mission or flight path.

-There are controlled airspace advisories. To be specific it is the Lafayette Class D Airspace, with an automated authorization at or below 200 ft/400 ft.

-To fly near Purdue wildlife, you need a part 107. There are 2 Class D controlled airspace restrictions. And a Purdue University Airport advisory. However, Martell Forest is free of rules and advisories.

-To use LAANC you need to download Air Map and the MGC Mobile App. LAANC is important to UAS operations because it provides access to controlled airspace near airports below approved altitudes in real-time. LAANC also checks airspace authorization requests against several airspace data sources.

-LAANC will help you legally get permission to fly in a restricted area quickly and efficiently. This allows you to prep for the mission ahead of time. After the mission, you can submit your mission and it can be approved or denied depending If it is lacking details required.

Settings

Figure 4: Measure GC - Settings

Figure 5: Measure GC - Calibration Settings

When creating your next UAS flight mission it is crucial you have the correct settings. These settings let you see your altitude, distance, camera/imagery, mapping, RC customization, gimbal calibration, IMU calibration, and compass calibration.

Being able to change and calibrate these different settings allows for an easy and successful mission. While using this application you can make sure all your equipment is working the way you want it too before the mission starts.

When creating a preflight checklist, it is crucial you check every piece of equipment. Calibrating gimbals, IMU, and compasses should be one of the top things on your checklist. This ensures you are efficient and that your mission will be a safe one. Malfunctioning equipment could lead to injuries, incompletion of the mission, or even a broken UAS.

Fly

Figure 6: Measure GC - Fly Screen

The fly screen is mainly used for manual flight operations. This screen allows you to check your sensors data, altitude, distance, battery levels, MPH, direction via compass, and allows you to take photos/videos. This allows you to use this app only during flight, removing the need for other flight control applications. This is an all-in out mission planner and flight overview tool.

Flight Plan

When opening the flight plan tool in the application it gave me two options. I could either choose a waypoint or grid. I went with a grid layout, after that, I was able to name my flight plan and select the drone camera I wanted to use. There was an abundance of different cameras you can choose from, but I went with the Zenmuse XT2 13mm 640 x 512.

Figure 7: Measure GC - Flight Plan Details

After selecting and name and camera it brought up a map where I could search for my flight area. I chose my apartment complex. While on this same map screen it gives you many different settings such as speed, direction, altitude, and resolution. I picked my desired settings and then went to Terrain Following.

Figure 8: Measure GC - Flight Location

Figure 9: Measure GC - Flight Area and Settings

Terrain Following allows you to set an altitude that the drone will keep no matter how high or low the ground elevation gets.

Figure 10: Measure GC - Terrain Following

Conclusion

This lab was very useful in letting me learn about the amazing application that is Measure Ground Control. This app has everything you could possibly need while creating a UAS mission. I plan on using this application more in the future when I start planning my own UAS missions and checklists. This application will ensure you have a successful UAS mission if you use it correctly.