PPK KIT

Phantom 4 PRO

Centimeter accuracy for your drone

Convert your Phantom 4 Pro/Advance to a PPK system. Easy integration without opening or modifying the drone!

USD$ 199

PPK KIT PHANTOM4

The PPK Phantom4 Kit is a non-intrusive adapter system for connecting a Reach M2 or M+ GNSS receiver (not included) to a DJI Phantom 4 Pro or Advance model drone.

Key Advantages:

Works with Reach M2 and M+ modules
No need to open or modify the drone
Kit attaches and detaches in seconds
No batteries required
Ultra-fast image triggering detector sensor
Lightweight micro electronics: 70 grams
Heat and cold resistant materials for operation in extreme climates

PPK KIT PHANTOM4 PRO & ADVANCE by mettatec on Sketchfab

FOR INTEGRATION IS REQUIRED:

One PPK Phantom Kit
One Drone: DJI Phantom 4 Pro v1/v2 and Phantom 4 Advance (Not included)
One Reach M2 or Reach M+ module with GNSS Antenna (Not included)
One RINEX compatible GPS Base Receiver (Not included)

Download manuals:

KIT COMPONENTS:

Antenna holder and cable
Reach M2/M+ bracket with power regulator and Micro-USB cable for power supply
Sensor for photo shooting capture
3M Synthetic Velcro

A sensor installed externally on the P4P drone detects the triggering of each photograph and registers a…

A sensor installed externally on the P4P drone detects the triggering of each photograph and records a time stamp in the log file of the Reach M2 (Multiband) module.

Timestamps are extracted from the module after flight and combined with the in-flight imagery as centimeter-accurate position geotags (geotagging) using various specialized software options available on the market.

Reach M2 modules are centimeter-accurate multi-band GNSS RTK systems for UAV mapping up to 100km/20km respectively.

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POST PROCESS – PPK

The final PPK (Post Processed Kinematic) mapping workflow can be performed using different software options. Each of them has its own steps to follow and its own degree of difficulty. This is a small list of post process software, from the lowest to the highest degree of difficulty according to our experience:

Toposetter 2.0 Pro | REDtoolbox | RTKLIB y GEOSETTER (Free)

Once the information has been processed, you can import the set of images into any mapping software, such as:

Pix4D | Agisoft Metashape | DroneDeploy

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Does the PPK Phantom 4 Kit have or require batteries?

The PPK Phantom4 Kit does not require batteries. It is powered through a Micro-USB connection to the drone, by means of an electronic card developed by Metta. This allows to minimize the weight of the equipment: approximately 80 grams, which is an important detail when flying. Optionally you can use an accessory that has a battery to avoid turning off the M2 during battery changes in the drone.

Is the shutter synchronization speed accurate? What is the response speed of the LED sensor?

Our photosensor has the following trigger light response speeds: On time: 8 uS (microseconds) Off time: 50 uS (microseconds) This record trigger speed sent and recorded by the M+ or M2 is sufficient to guarantee centimeter accuracy, taking into account the drone’s flight speed margins in a topographic flight mission.

How many minimum ground control points do you recommend when working in PPK mode?

All work in PPK mode must have Ground Control Points. The number of points will be subject to the work area. We recommend placing only 30% to 40% of the control points that would normally be used in a conventional survey. For example: 20 points in conventional mode to 4 points in PPK mode. These points will be used to make a control in x, y, z.

How is the offset from the antenna to the camera calculated?

In some specialized processing programs such as Emlid Studio, Toposetter 2.0 Pro and REDToolbox the x, y, z values can be placed to compensate or correct the offset of the antenna to camera distance before starting post processing.

Does the power consumption of the PPK Kit Phantom 4 affect the flight time of the drone?

When using the Phantom4 PPK Kit during drone flight and with the M2 or M+ module in PPK or “Single” mode, the average power consumption of the PPK system is 200 mA to 300 mA. Because of this, the flight time of the drone can be reduced due to the additional power consumption. In flight missions at sea level, the additional battery consumption can be within a range of 2% to 7%. In flight missions performed above 3000 meters above sea level, the consumption can be in the range of 5% to 10%. As a general rule for high altitude flights, it is recommended for safety reasons to set the internal battery consumption alarm at 30% and return to the take-off point at 25%. Refer to the drone user manual for these settings. Always use good drone batteries.

I am surveying in the desert: does the PPK Kit Phantom 4 withstand operation in high temperature environments?

The materials used for the frame of the PPK Phantom4 kit (ABS-PETG polymers) and all the electronics inside are resistant to very harsh working environments, with outside temperatures from -5°C to 80°C (23°F to 176°F). Please note that the operating temperature range of the Phantom 4 Pro / Advance drone is only 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F).

What recommendations can you give us on drone flight configuration based on the capture speed characteristics of the M2 and M+ modules?

The maximum capture or recording frequency of the modules is as follows: M2: 10Hz (10 records per second). M+: 5Hz (5 records per second, and 10Hz only with GPS GNSS). Based on these characteristics, to achieve maximum accuracy in positioning data capture during drone flights, we can recommend the following: [1] Select the highest possible frequency according to the number of GNSS systems required. For example: In the M+ module: GPS + GLONASS + QZSS, frequency 5Hz. On M2 module: GPS + GLONASS, frequency 10Hz. [2] Flight mode: “Hover & Capture at a Point” (Speed can vary between 3 m/s and 15 m/s). [3] If you are flying in “Capture at the same distance interval/time interval” modes, your speed should not exceed 5 m/s. Remember that the higher the flight speed the accuracy range may decrease, therefore the speed should be as low as possible according to the availability of operating time and the number of batteries. [4] Regarding the flight schedule, it is recommended to fly at times when the height of the Sun above the horizon is ≥45 degrees sexagesimal. [5] Image overlay: According to the type of terrain. Flat terrain: Longitudinal: 60%. Sideways: 20%. Undulating terrain: Longitudinal: 70%. Side: 30%. Mountainous terrain: Longitudinal: 80%. Side: 50%.