This section provides an overview of how to plan a survey pattern.
A Survey Pattern is a pre-planned flight path designed to systematically cover a specific area, essential for missions such as aerial mapping, inspections, and agricultural monitoring. In Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations, using survey patterns offers several key benefits:
Maximized Coverage: Survey patterns like grid or spiral paths ensure that all areas of interest are fully covered, leaving no gaps in data collection. This is crucial in ISR operations for monitoring large areas, tracking enemy movements, or surveying infrastructure.
Improved Efficiency: Pre-programmed flight patterns optimize the UAV’s flight time, allowing for efficient data collection over large areas without unnecessary overlap. This ensures quicker intelligence gathering, which is vital in time-sensitive ISR missions.
Accurate Intelligence: By maintaining consistent flight paths, UAVs can collect high-resolution imagery and sensor data. This enhances situational awareness, enabling decision-makers to assess threats, gather battlefield intelligence, or monitor border areas with precision.
Reduced Human Error: Automated flight patterns reduce the need for constant manual control, minimizing the risk of human error during data collection. This is particularly beneficial in high-risk ISR missions where focus on data analysis is critical.
Adaptability: Survey patterns can be adapted for different terrains or mission needs, such as contour-following for topographic analysis. This versatility is crucial in ISR operations, where varied environments and mission parameters are common.
In ISR missions, the systematic, automated coverage offered by survey patterns ensures comprehensive surveillance, rapid intelligence collection, and enhanced operational decision-making, contributing to mission success.
Payload-specific survey patterns are discussed in their respective sections within this manual.
Once the Mission Start Action has been created, a Survey Pattern can be placed anywhere on the map to autonomously cover an area by flying a predefined path. To do this, click on the Pattern Tool in the Plan Tools located on the right side of the screen and choose Survey.
A Survey item will be created and the Mission Editor on the right side of the screen will display the Survey Settings.
For ISR operations, it is recommended to choose Manual (no camera specs) as this provides direct access to the Survey Altitude and Spacing without the need to set the Overlaps.
Survey settings for specific mapping payloads are covered in their respective chapters.
The Survey area selector offers predefined shapes for the Survey Pattern.
Creates a rectangular survey on the map. Use the outer vertices to shape the form and the green vertex in the middle of the pattern to reposition it. Clicking the plus sign on the survey edge adds additional vertices.
Creates a circular survey on the map. Use the outer vertex to expand or contract the shape, and the green vertex in the middle of the pattern to reposition it.
The Trace Tool lets the operator draw a survey form by clicking anywhere on the map. Use the outer vertices to shape the form and the green vertex in the middle of the pattern to reposition it. Clicking the plus sign on the survey edge adds additional vertices.
Click on a vertex with the left mouse button to remove it or enter geo-coordinates for that specific point.
During tracing, the map can be dragged by holding down the Ctrl key on the keyboard and dragging the map with the right mouse button.
Once tracing is complete, confirm by clicking the Done Tracing button in the Mission Editor.
This provides the option to import KML or SHP files for the survey pattern.
Altitude sets the altitude of the Survey Pattern, which is usually relative to the Home Position.
Spacing determines the distance between the transects (trajectories within the green survey area). Spacing on the left side is 50 meters, and spacing on the right side is 150 meters.
The Trigger Distance can be ignored. Payload-dependent survey planning will be discussed in the dedicated chapters.
Pattern Options provide additional settings for the Survey.
Set the Pattern angle by moving the slide or entering a value. On the left side, the Pattern angle is 90 degrees, and on the right side, it is 180 degrees.
The Turnaround Distance refers to the horizontal distance the drone travels beyond the survey area's edge at the end of a transect before making a turn to start the next parallel transect. This buffer provides the drone with enough space to turn, and align itself accurately for the next pass, ensuring smooth transitions between flight lines. Set the Turnaround Distance by moving the slider or entering a value. On the left side, the Turnaround Distance is 50 meters, and on the right side, it is 300 meters.
Rotate Entry Point determines the vehicle's entry and exit locations for the survey. Click the button to toggle through all possible positions.
The Options tab provides four additional options for the survey item.
Refly at a 90-degree offset adds vertical trajectories to the horizontal ones. This is typically used for mapping missions, as it collects twice the amount of data, which is useful for creating a 3D map, for example. This tool can also be useful for ISR operations, as it covers the area in question twice.
The Images in turnarounds option is important for survey missions using a mapping payload, such as the Sony A7R Mark IV. This option will be discussed in the dedicated payload chapter and is not relevant to ISR operations.
Fly alternate transects - When not selected the vehicle is flying the exact pattern line after line.
The DeltaQuad Evo has less space between the two lines to perform the turnaround and re-enter the survey area. When Fly alternate transects is enabled the vehicle will fly constantly skipping one line. When reaching the end, the DeltaQuad Evo will fly back and follow the lines it previously skipped. This option will be discussed in the dedicated payload chapter and is not relevant to ISR operations.
Relative altitude: When enabled, altitudes are relative to the home point. When disabled, altitudes are measured above mean sea level (AMSL).
Be cautious and always double-check ground elevation.
The Survey item can be deleted by clicking the Red Trash Bin in the lower right corner of the Mission Editor window.
By clicking the Three Dashes in the lower left corner of the Mission Editor window, the option Edit Position appears. Insert the values for the coordinate system of your choice and click Set to confirm the coordinates.
Always verify the ground elevation using the Terrain Altitude Indicator. A ground collision is indicated when the orange line turns red in the Terrain Altitude Indicator.
The Vehicle follows terrain option allows the aircraft to maintain a constant distance from the ground. If the ground elevation changes, the vehicle adjusts its altitude accordingly. This option will be discussed in the dedicated payload chapter and is not relevant to ISR operations.
A fixed-wing aircraft has limited capabilities to follow ground elevation due to its need for constant forward movement to generate lift. This continuous motion restricts its ability to make quick altitude adjustments. Additionally, fixed-wing aircraft have a limited climb and descent rate, meaning they cannot rapidly adapt to sudden changes in terrain elevation, unlike multirotor drones that can hover and change altitude more quickly.
The Presets tab allows you to save settings as a preset for frequent use and load existing presets.
This section explains how to plan a mission that facilitates the stealth switch.
The Stealth Switch is a feature that allows the DeltaQuad Evo to turn off all radio emissions, making it undetectable to interception systems. When activated, the vehicle disables all radio transmissions, ensuring it operates in complete stealth mode.
The operator can plan missions with predefined stealth operation phases using Auterion Tactical Stack Avionics. The drone autonomously executes these stealth phases and then reconnects with the operator at a designated point in the mission.
To ensure a successful stealth operation, the settings for the Data Link Loss Failsafe Trigger are always ignored and set to disabled by default during mission plan execution. This prevents the stealth mission from being aborted (e.g., by initiating Return-to-Launch) if radio transmission is cut.
To use the Stealth Switch, a mission plan must be created. Plan a VTOL Takeoff and Transition, along with Intermediate Waypoints, up to the location where you wish to engage the Stealth Switch. Please review the instructions for planning a VTOL Takeoff, Transition, and Intermediate Waypoints.
To engage the Stealth Switch, an additional waypoint must be planned, which will be set as a Custom Action Command.
Create a waypoint at the location and altitude where the Stealth Switch should be engaged. In the example below, the Stealth Switch should be engaged at waypoint 3.
Create a waypoint anywhere on the map.
In the Mission Editor, on the right side of the screen, click on the Waypoint type (Waypoint).
A menu will open, allowing you to Select a Waypoint Type, choose Action.
As soon as the Waypoint Type is set to Action, Waypoint 4 will be attached to Waypoint 3 as a Custom Action.
In the Mission Editor, the Action tab is available on the right side of the screen. When you click on it, a drop-down menu will appear. Select Turn radio off.
We have now planned for the Stealth Switch to engage at Waypoint 3. From that point onward, all subsequent waypoints will be flown without any radio emissions, meaning no radio connection to the GCS. Now, let’s plan the next waypoint where the Stealth Switch will disengage. We will place this at Waypoint 4, just beyond the riverbed.
If we now click on the Waypoint Summary at the top of the Mission Editor, the Custom Action attached to Waypoint 3 is listed as Action.
Since Custom Actions are not displayed on the map, the only way to access and change their settings is through the Waypoint Summary.
We create another Waypoint anywhere on the map, which will be set as the Custom Action to disengage the Stealth Switch. In the Mission Editor, on the right side of the screen, click on the Waypoint type (Waypoint).
A menu will open, allowing you to Select a Waypoint Type, choose Action.
As soon as the Waypoint Type is set to Action, Waypoint 5 will be attached to Waypoint 4 as a Custom Action to disengage the Stealth Switch.
In the Mission Editor, select Turn radio on from the drop-down menu in the Action tab.
After a few seconds, the Radio Connection with the GCS should be re-established. From this point, the mission can continue with another Stealth Switch activation or a landing at the home position.
In fixed-wing UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), the acceptance radius refers to the radius around a waypoint within which the UAV considers itself to have reached that waypoint and can proceed to the next. It’s a tolerance value, typically measured in meters, that allows for slight deviations due to wind or other factors affecting flight path accuracy.
For fixed-wing UAVs, the acceptance radius is usually larger compared to rotary-wing UAVs because fixed-wing aircraft can’t make sharp turns and require a smoother, more gradual transition between waypoints.
Typical acceptance radius values for fixed-wing UAVs range from 5 to 50 meters, depending on factors like mission type, aircraft speed, and waypoint precision required. If the UAV enters this radius, it will consider the waypoint achieved and adjust its heading toward the next one.
This section provides an overview of how to plan a survey pattern.
A corridor Scan is a flight pattern designed to survey or monitor a long, narrow area, such as roads, pipelines, coastlines, or borders. In ISR operations, Corridor Scans are particularly useful because they can efficiently cover vast stretches of terrain while maintaining a high altitude. This allows for continuous monitoring of infrastructure, moving targets, or environmental changes over long distances, with minimal fuel or energy consumption.
For mapping, Corridor Scans are valuable when creating detailed maps of linear features like roads or utility lines, where precision and consistency over narrow, extended areas are required.
Payload-specific corridor scans are discussed in their respective sections within this manual.
Once the Mission Start Action has been created, a Corridor Scan can be placed anywhere on the map to autonomously cover an area by flying a predefined path. To do this, click on the Pattern Tool in the Plan Tools located on the right side of the screen and choose Corridor Scan.
A Corridor Scan item will be created and the Mission Editor on the right side of the screen will display the Corridor Scan Settings.
For ISR operations, it is recommended to choose Manual (no camera specs) as this provides direct access to the Corridor Scan Altitude and Spacing without the need to set the Overlaps.
Survey settings for specific mapping payloads are covered in their respective chapters.
The Survey area selector offers tools to create shapes for the Survey Pattern.
Creates a rectangular corridor on the map. Use the vertices to shape the form and to reposition it. Clicking the plus sign in the green survey area adds additional vertices.
The Trace Tool lets the operator draw a Corridor Scan by clicking anywhere on the map. Use the vertices to shape the form and to reposition it. Clicking the plus sign in the green survey area adds additional vertices.
Click on a vertex with the left mouse button to remove it or enter geo-coordinates for that specific point.
During tracing, the map can be dragged by holding down the Ctrl key on the keyboard and dragging the map with the right mouse button.
Once tracing is complete, confirm by clicking the Done Tracing button in the Mission Editor.
This provides the option to import KML or SHP files for the survey pattern.
Altitude sets the altitude of the Corridor Scan, which is usually relative to the Home Position.
Spacing determines the distance between the transects (trajectories within the green survey area). Spacing on the left side is 180 meters, and spacing on the right side is 50 meters.
The Trigger Distance can be ignored. Payload-dependent survey planning will be discussed in the dedicated chapters.
The Corridor tab provides additional settings.
Set the Width of the Corridor Scan by using the slider or entering a value. On the left side, the Width is 200 meters, and on the right side, it is 50 meters.
The Turnaround Distance refers to the horizontal distance the drone travels beyond the survey area's edge at the end of a transect before making a turn to start the next parallel transect. This buffer provides the drone with enough space to turn, and align itself accurately for the next pass, ensuring smooth transitions between flight lines. Set the Turnaround Distance by moving the slider or entering a value. On the left side, the Turnaround Distance is 50 meters, and on the right side, it is 300 meters.
The Options tab provides two additional settings for the Corridor Scan.
The Images in turnarounds option is important for Corridor Scans using a mapping payload, such as the Sony A7R Mark IV. This option will be discussed in the dedicated payload chapter and is not relevant to ISR operations.
Relative altitude: When enabled, altitudes are relative to the home point. When disabled, altitudes are measured above mean sea level (AMSL).
Be cautious and always double-check ground elevation.
Rotate Entry Point determines the vehicle's entry and exit locations for the Corridor Scan. Click the button to toggle through all possible positions.
The Corridor Scan can be deleted by clicking the Red Trash Bin in the lower right corner of the Mission Editor window.
By clicking the Three Dashes in the lower left corner of the Mission Editor window, the option Edit Position appears. Insert the values for the coordinate system of your choice and click Set to confirm the coordinates.
Always verify the ground elevation using the Terrain Altitude Indicator. A ground collision is indicated when the orange line turns red in the Terrain Altitude Indicator.
This section explains how to properly plan waypoints.
Waypoints are pre-set GPS coordinates that guide the aircraft along a specific path. Each waypoint includes information like altitude, action commands, and other flight parameters. As the DeltaQuad Evo flies autonomously, it follows these waypoints in sequence, adjusting its position to stay on course. This allows for precise navigation during missions such as surveying, mapping, inspections, and cargo drops.
After the Mission Start Action has been planned, Waypoints can be added by clicking anywhere on the map. Select the Waypoint Tool from the Plan Tools on the left side of the screen.
Click anywhere on the map to designate a location for the waypoint.
After placing the Waypoint on the map, the Mission tab in the Mission Editor on the right side of the screen will open.
When clicking on the waypoint number, the Waypoint Summary opens, where all planned waypoints, survey and corridor items, and custom actions are available. Click on any of them to jump to the selected item.
Waypoint type changes the waypoint command. The following Waypoint Commands are available in AMC's Normal Mode.
The vehicle will fly to the User-specified Location and Altitude, and once there, continue on to the next mission item. If there is no mission item after the waypoint, the vehicle will orbit in place at the waypoint’s location.
The vehicle will travel to the User-defined Orbit Location and Altitude. Once it arrives, the vehicle will Orbit the area until the specified orbit time expires, then it will proceed to the next mission item.
If the altitude of an Orbit (time) or Waypoint mission item is different from the vehicle’s current altitude, the vehicle will fly directly to the mission item in a straight line. It will not first ascend or descend to match the mission item’s altitude before proceeding forward.
If the vehicle’s climb or descent rate isn’t sufficient to reach the destination mission item on a direct path, it will orbit at the mission item’s horizontal position until it completes the climb or descent to the required altitude.
Orbit Time defines the duration of the Orbit Command, while Orbit Radius determines the size of the Orbit. Exit orbit from provides two choices for where within the Orbit the vehicle will exit.
The vehicle will fly to the Orbit (altitude) point at its current mission altitude. Only after reaching the horizontal location of the Orbit (altitude) will the vehicle begin climbing or descending to the user-specified altitude. This behavior differs from that of the other mission items described above. When using Orbit (altitude), be especially cautious about terrain collisions.
Orbit (altitude) is suitable for reaching a specific altitude before the flight path continues. This is necessary to avoid terrain collisions if the vehicle cannot achieve the required climb or descent rate directly on route.
Altitude defines the final height of the Orbit Command, while Orbit Radius determines the size of the Orbit. Exit orbit from provides two choices for where within the Orbit the vehicle will exit.
A waypoint that becomes a Custom Action attaches itself to the former Waypoint. This Custom Action can be used, for example, to enable or disable the Stealth Switch or to plan a Cargo Drop. The Stealth Switch and the Cargo Drop will be discussed in a later chapter in this manual.
The Altitude Frame is set to HGT by default. For standard operation, it is recommended to leave this setting as it is.
Set the Altitude of the Waypoint using the Altitude Slider or by typing in the desired value. The Default Waypoints altitude is set in the Mission Start Action and can be adjusted for each Waypoint individually. The following Waypoint automatically inherits the altitude of the previous Waypoint.
Always verify ground elevation using the Terrain Altitude Indicator. A ground collision is indicated when the orange line turns red in the Terrain Altitude Indicator and is also visible on the map.
The Waypoint can be deleted by clicking the Red Trash Bin in the lower right corner of the Mission Editor window. By clicking the Three Dashes in the lower left corner of the Mission Editor window, Geographic Coordinates can be inserted for the Waypoint. Insert the values for the coordinate system of your choice and click Set to confirm the coordinates. Set From Vehicle Position will set the Waypoint to the current vehicle position.
Select the POI Tool from the Plan Tools on the left side of the screen. Click on the map where you want to set the POI location. The camera gimbal will automatically point towards the most recently created POI.
In the Mission Editor, located on the right side of the screen, the POI menu displays the following settings.
For the POI the Altitude Frame is set to AGL by default. It is recommended to leave this setting as it is.
The altitude of the POI can be set using the Altitude Slider. In most cases, it is recommended to leave this value at 0 m.
The POI can be deleted by clicking the Red Trash Bin in the lower right corner of the Mission Editor window. By clicking the Three Dashes in the lower left corner of the Mission Editor window, Geographic Coordinates can be inserted for the POI. Insert the values for the coordinate system of your choice and click Set to confirm the coordinates. Set From Vehicle Position will set the Waypoint to the current vehicle position.
To cancel the POI, select the Cancel POI tool from the Plan Tools.
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
HGT
Height (Heights are referenced to the takeoff location)
MSL
Mean Sea Level (Altitude Above Mean Sea Leve)
AGL
Above Ground Level (Altitude Above Ground Level)
HGT
Height (Heights are referenced to the takeoff location)
MSL
Mean Sea Level (Altitude Above Mean Sea Leve)
AGL
Above Ground Level (Altitude Above Ground Level)
