Infrastructure Inspection

The LR1 and A7R4 can easily be configured to perform inspections on power lines, wind turbines, and other infrastructure!

How to use LR1 + Astro for inspection

Sample Inspection Image (75mm Lens)

Cropped detail section of above photo

Gimbal Setup

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.

The Samyang 75mm may need a lens firmware update to work well in autofocus mode with the LR1

After changing the lens, make sure to balance the gimbal, covered in this section:

https://github.com/freefly-systems/wiki-public-ecosystem/blob/main/lr1-payload/lr1-lenses-and-expansion/changing-lenses/README.md

Camera Setup

We recommend the following camera settings for sharp, detailed images:

Name	Setting Range	Explanation
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

Precise Control

For inspection work with longer lenses, use Position Slow Mode with Pilot Pro's rate knobs to get smooth, precise control over aircraft and gimbal movement.

Rate Controls

#protips

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