Rotating and shooting at precise 30 degree increments

[OJB]

Is it possible to rotate a Mavic 3 Classic and take still photos at precise 30 degree increments? How is this done?

 

[GFields]

Greetings from Birmingham Alabama USA, welcome to the forum! We look forward to hearing from you!

I don't know of a way to do what you want.

 

[OJB]

Greetings from Birmingham Alabama USA, welcome to the forum! We look forward to hearing from you!

I don't know of a way to do what you want.

Hello Birmingham. thanks for the reply. I'm holding out hope that someone knows how to pull this off.

 

[DJ Wes]

Is it possible to rotate a Mavic 3 Classic and take still photos at precise 30 degree increments? How is this done?

Yes, you can. However, DJI does not make it easy for you to do so. I am only providing this information if you are determined to create such a mission and have the ability and courage to get into some of the details of DJI's implementation of waypoint missions.

There are several ways you can go about doing this. I know that you are using a Mavic 3 using the DJI Fly app. However, in some of my methods, I am going to mention Litchi even though Litchi is not compatible with the Mavic 3 because of DJI's choice not to release the MSDK.

In Litchi, you can assign up to 15 actions to a single waypoint. Those actions can include rotating the aircraft and taking a photo as shown below.

The WPML language that DJI uses in the Mavic 3 and DJI Fly also support multiple waypoint actions executed sequentially. However, DJI's implementation in DJI Fly does not support multiple actions and will only perform the first in a series of actions. So, we have to look at "work-arounds".

Method 1:
Create a series of waypoints (at the desired height) where waypoints 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, etc. have the heading set manually to your 30-degree increments and each of those waypoints includes one "take photo" action. These odd numbered waypoints should be placed directly on top of each other so that they roughly share the same GPS coordinates. Then, waypoints 2, 4, 6, 8, etc. would be placed one meter away (in any direction) from the 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 waypoint cluster. In Litchi, no two consecutive waypoints can be closer than 0.6m to each other. I do not know whether or not DJI has a similar constraint in DJI Fly's waypoint imlementation. In any case, doing what I described above will be tedious using DJI Fly's waypoint implementation.

Method 2:

To create a mission such as above with greater accuracy (only for those who feel comfortable doing this):

1. Perform the steps described in Method 1.
2. Connect your flying device to a computer and extract the KMZ file.
3. Uncompress the KMZ file (it is just a zip file) and locate the "waylines.wpml" file.
4. Using a plain text editor, edit the GPS coordinates of waypoints 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, etc. setting them to be exactly the same. Note, this file is in XML format (plain text with tags).
5. Save the waylines.wpml file and zip the same set of files back into the KMZ file using the same exact basename.
6. Transfer this modified KMZ file back to your flying device overwriting the original file.

Method 3:

To create a mission such as above with greater accuracy (an easier way):

1. Perform the steps describe in Method 1.
2. Connect your flying device to a computer and extract the KMZ file.
3. Use my "DJI Fly to Litchi" converter to create a Litchi CSV file.
4. Edit this CSV file using Excel to modify the GPS coordinates for waypoints 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, etc.
5. Save the CSV file
6. Use my "Litchi to DJI Fly" converter to convert this file back into a KMZ file.
7. Import this KMZ file back into your flying device.

 

[OJB]

Wow DJ Wes, thanks for taking the time to put down these methods. I was hoping for something less complicated but thrilled to know it can be done. The mention of KMZ, wpml, and csv files terrifies me so i will most likely try Method 1. Even that will be a challenge since i have never had a need to use waypoints before. Thanks a million for your insight!

 

[DISC]

Yes, you can. However, DJI does not make it easy for you to do so. I am only providing this information if you are determined to create such a mission and have the ability and courage to get into some of the details of DJI's implementation of waypoint missions.

There are several ways you can go about doing this. I know that you are using a Mavic 3 using the DJI Fly app. However, in some of my methods, I am going to mention Litchi even though Litchi is not compatible with the Mavic 3 because of DJI's choice not to release the MSDK.

In Litchi, you can assign up to 15 actions to a single waypoint. Those actions can include rotating the aircraft and taking a photo as shown below.
View attachment 176365
The WPML language that DJI uses in the Mavic 3 and DJI Fly also support multiple waypoint actions executed sequentially. However, DJI's implementation in DJI Fly does not support multiple actions and will only perform the first in a series of actions. So, we have to look at "work-arounds".

Method 1:
Create a series of waypoints (at the desired height) where waypoints 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, etc. have the heading set manually to your 30-degree increments and each of those waypoints includes one "take photo" action. These odd numbered waypoints should be placed directly on top of each other so that they roughly share the same GPS coordinates. Then, waypoints 2, 4, 6, 8, etc. would be placed one meter away (in any direction) from the 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 waypoint cluster. In Litchi, no two consecutive waypoints can be closer than 0.6m to each other. I do not know whether or not DJI has a similar constraint in DJI Fly's waypoint imlementation. In any case, doing what I described above will be tedious using DJI Fly's waypoint implementation.

Method 2:

To create a mission such as above with greater accuracy (only for those who feel comfortable doing this):

1. Perform the steps described in Method 1.
2. Connect your flying device to a computer and extract the KMZ file.
3. Uncompress the KMZ file (it is just a zip file) and locate the "waylines.wpml" file.
4. Using a plain text editor, edit the GPS coordinates of waypoints 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, etc. setting them to be exactly the same. Note, this file is in XML format (plain text with tags).
5. Save the waylines.wpml file and zip the same set of files back into the KMZ file using the same exact basename.
6. Transfer this modified KMZ file back to your flying device overwriting the original file.

Method 3:

To create a mission such as above with greater accuracy (an easier way):

1. Perform the steps describe in Method 1.
2. Connect your flying device to a computer and extract the KMZ file.
3. Use my "DJI Fly to Litchi" converter to create a Litchi CSV file.
4. Edit this CSV file using Excel to modify the GPS coordinates for waypoints 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, etc.
5. Save the CSV file
6. Use my "Litchi to DJI Fly" converter to convert this file back into a KMZ file.
7. Import this KMZ file back into your flying device.

Loved the comprehensive answer - thank you. Is there a basic guide to DJI’s waypoint routing for those of us at the beginning of this journey?

 

[DJ Wes]

Is there a basic guide to DJI’s waypoint routing for those of us at the beginning of this journey?

It is not clear what you mean by "DJI's waypoint routing" so I'm not sure how to answer. If you are simply wanting to know how to set up a waypoint mission in DJI Fly, there are probably many YouTube videos on that. If you are looking to understand where DJI stores waypoint files, I have a simple guide explaining how to import them here:

DJI Fly KMZ Import

Wes Barris

www.litchiutilities.com

 

[DISC]

It is not clear what you mean by "DJI's waypoint routing" so I'm not sure how to answer. If you are simply wanting to know how to set up a waypoint mission in DJI Fly, there are probably many YouTube videos on that. If you are looking to understand where DJI stores waypoint files, I have a simple guide explaining how to import them here:

DJI Fly KMZ Import

Wes Barris

www.litchiutilities.com

Guide looks good - thank you.
As a total novice I’ll take your advice on YT. Thanks again