Solutions

How you benefit

Resources

About

Solutions

How you benefit

Resources

About

/

Aerial Thermography Ops — Drones

/

Solar PV Inspection Drone Flight Guidelines

Solar PV Inspection Drone Flight Guidelines

Solar PV Inspection Drone Flight Guidelines

Solar PV Inspection Drone Flight Guidelines

Solar PV Inspection Drone Flight Guidelines

Solar PV Inspection Drone Flight Guidelines

Drone-based aerial thermography flight guidelines to meet data requirements.

Drone-based aerial thermography flight guidelines to meet data requirements.

Drone-based aerial thermography flight guidelines to meet data requirements.

Drone-based aerial thermography flight guidelines to meet data requirements.

Drone-based aerial thermography flight guidelines to meet data requirements.

Drone Terminology + Acronym Glossary

Pre-Flight Checklist:

  1. All inspection data must be captured during ≥600 W/m2 POA (plane-of-array) irradiance

  2. Do not capture data within 120 minutes of local sunrise/sunset

  3. Site(s) must be energized during inspection in order to detect anomalies

  4. Capture “Oblique” images in addition to inspection-level data

  5. Use mobile phone to take a photo of your pyranometer reading at approximate POA as proof of sufficient irradiance - Include this when uploading inspection data, find more detail here


Recommended Drones

(2X data-capture rates compared to other supported drones)

DJI

Mavic 3 Thermal (M3T)

DJI

Mavic 4 Thermal (M4T) guidelines to come

Other Supported Drones:

DJI

M300 + ZH20T

DJI

M30T

DJI

M2EA (Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced)

DJI

M200 + XT2

Skydio

X10

Supported drones must support a pixel resolution of 640 x 512 or higher. 
Ask us about any emerging supported hardware options via
support@raptormaps.com


Flight Path + Heading

  • Front Overlap Ratio: 70%

  • Side Overlap Ratio: 20%

  • File Format: JPEG


Rows horizontal in each image and heading should remain consistent throughout flight as shown above

To avoid data-gaps and the need to re-fly, establish FOV using IR sensor. RGB sensors are wider than IR, so if RGB is used as a reference when mission planning, modules are cut-off in the imagery

Same image in RGB and IR as an example here:

Note that some modules are not fully visible in IR - This will require re-flight.


Gimbal Pitch

Perpendicular to plane-of-array as shown here


Trackers

If you are flying a site with trackers, factor in the height of the trackers when calculating the correct altitude. This will ensure sufficient overlap.

During flight, monitor the angle of the panels as it changes over the course of the day.

As the angle changes, adjust the gimbal to continue capturing a full view of the modules.


Verifying and Uploading Data to Inspection Upload Link

Each inspection order has an associated data-upload link. Inspection data must be uploaded here to be processed

  • Copy/Paste this link into a new browser tab

  • Select images to be uploaded or click-drag images into the uploader

It’s important to verify data from the field. If you’re missing data, you can refly immediately and save yourself a trip back to the site.

You’ll want to check and make sure that your flight plan provided 80/20 overlap and completely covered the site.

Using your Upload Link, drag your data into the window to see the flight path covering the solar site. Check to make sure you haven’t missed any rows.

Note that verification uses very little bandwidth, so you can verify even when you only have hotspot connectivity.

© 2024 Raptor Maps, Inc.

444 Somerville Ave.
Somerville, MA 02143

Stay Up to Date

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay informed about innovations in solar asset optimization, deploying robotics for solar, our research and testing with OEMs, the latest in our product development, and more.

© 2024 Raptor Maps, Inc.

444 Somerville Ave.
Somerville, MA 02143

Stay Up to Date

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay informed about innovations in solar asset optimization, deploying robotics for solar, our research and testing with OEMs, the latest in our product development, and more.

© 2024 Raptor Maps, Inc.

444 Somerville Ave.
Somerville, MA 02143

Stay Up to Date

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay informed about innovations in solar asset optimization, deploying robotics for solar, our research and testing with OEMs, the latest in our product development, and more.

© 2024 Raptor Maps, Inc.

444 Somerville Ave.
Somerville, MA 02143

Stay Up to Date

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay informed about innovations in solar asset optimization, deploying robotics for solar, our research and testing with OEMs, the latest in our product development, and more.

© 2024 Raptor Maps, Inc.

444 Somerville Ave.
Somerville, MA 02143

Stay Up to Date

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay informed about innovations in solar asset optimization, deploying robotics for solar, our research and testing with OEMs, the latest in our product development, and more.