Dock Mission Chaining allows pilots to combine multiple flight plans into a single, continuous mission using a Dock. This feature enables users to maximize efficiency by autonomously capturing data, such as mapping, photo reports, videos, and panoramas, in one uninterrupted flight without requiring the drone to return to the Dock between objectives.
Availability:
Dock Mission Chaining is available as part of the Dock Automation package and is compatible with the DJI Dock 2 and DJI Dock 3. This feature is unique to DroneDeploy and is ideal for sites that require complex, back-to-back capture routines.
How to use dock mission chaining
Follow these steps to set up and run a mission chain from the web app:
Open the project and create or select the flight plans you want to chain.
Navigate to the Flight page in the web app.
Ensure the flight plans are configured for your Docked Drone.
In the web app, assign the flight plans to a specific Docked Drone.
In the DroneDeploy Flight app, select the first flight plan in your sequence.
Once the first plan is loaded, tap the Add button in the Mission Queue.
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Select the remaining flight plans you want to include in the mission chain by tapping Add to queue.
Note: Before adding subsequent plans, you must verify the flight plan's altitude clears any obstructions in the area.
The mission is now chained. Follow the remaining steps to initiate the automated flight.
Key features
Dock Mission Chaining provides the following key benefits:
Minimized Idle Time: The drone transitions directly between objectives, reducing the time spent between different missions.
Complex Capture Routines: Users can plan and execute sequences that combine different flight types, such as mapping, panorama, photo, and video missions.
Single, Continuous Mission: The drone does not need to return to the Dock for re-launch between each flight plan in the chain.
Limitations
BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) Operations: While Dock Automation is designed for future BVLOS operations, current regulations typically require a remote pilot to monitor every flight.
Multi-Battery Flight: Dock Mission Chaining is not supported when using the Multi-Battery Flight feature. More details: multi-battery missions
Prerequisites
Before attempting Dock Mission Chaining, ensure the following:
The Dock is set up and configured.
All required flight plans are created and saved in the project.
The drone is ready for an automated flight.
FAQs
Q: Does Dock Mission Chaining support all flight types?
A: Yes—you can chain together map, panorama (pano), photo, and video missions.
Q: Is Dock Mission Chaining compatible with Multi-Battery Flight?
A: No—Mission Chaining is not supported for a mission that requires multiple battery cycles.
Q: Can I add a flight plan to the queue mid-flight?
A: Yes—you have the flexibility to add additional flight plans to the queue during a mission.
V2.2