Explore

Week 4 3D Scan Mission

Introduction

This report summarizes the planning, execution, and outcomes of the Skydio S2 3D object scan missions. The purpose of these flights was to demonstrate the capability of the Skydio S2 to collect high-quality 3D scan data from vehicles, small buildings, and tall narrow structures such as light poles. These missions were designed to simulate real-world scenarios such as accident scene reconstruction and infrastructure inspection.

Study Areas

The missions were conducted in the vicinity of Purdue University, within the controlled airspace of Turf Farm (Lafayette). Flight authorization was obtained through the FAA LAANC system prior to flight (see Fig 1). Weather conditions were verified through METAR and TAF reports from the NOAA Aviation Weather Center (see Fig 2). At the time of flight, the temperature was 22°C, wind was 5 kt from the northwest, and visibility was 10 SM, confirming safe operating conditions. Targets included an open field (staging site), a tall light pole, and a small building equipped with rooftop solar panels.

Fig 1. LAANC Authorization Screenshot (Source: FAA LAANC)

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Fig 2. METAR/TAF Weather Check (Source: NOAA Aviation Weather Center)

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Fig 3. Mission Setup – Operator and Equipment (Source: Field Photo)

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Methods

Mission 1 involved a 3D object scan of a small building. The scan floor was set to 0 m and the ceiling to 15 m to capture the entire vertical extent of the structure. Mission 2 applied the tower scan option on a tall light pole (see Fig 4). Geofence parameters were not enabled since the operational area was clear of hazards. Overlap was set to 80% frontlap and 70% sidelap to ensure image continuity and alignment. Ground Sample Distance (GSD) was set to approximately 1.5 cm/pixel, providing sufficient resolution for detail identification.

Fig 4. Light Pole Scan Target (Source: Field Photo)

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Fig 5. Building Structure Scan Target with Solar Panels (Source: Field Photo)

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Field Observations and Notes

• Weather: Clear skies, 22°C, 5 kt NW winds, 10 SM visibility • Site Conditions: Open field, no nearby power lines, minimal vehicle and pedestrian traffic • Potential Hazards: Mild RF interference observed – checked before and after mission • Issues and Resolutions: Brief GPS drift at initial takeoff due to signal interference; mitigated by restarting flight and reacquiring position lock

Data Collection Outcomes

The following table summarizes travel/setup time, flight time, number of images, and dataset size for each mission.

Table 4

Table 4

Mission

Travel & Setup Time

Flight Time

Number of Images

Dataset Size

Mission 1 – Building

30 min

20 min

424

2.85 GB

Mission 2 – Light Pole

30 min

20 min

325

2.89 GB

There are no rows in this table

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Conclusion

The Skydio S2 platform successfully demonstrated its ability to capture high-resolution 3D scan data of both wide structures and narrow vertical objects. The missions ensured consistent image coverage, producing sufficient data for subsequent 3D reconstruction and analysis. These results confirm the reliability of the Skydio S2 for professional applications such as accident reconstruction, infrastructure inspection, and energy facility maintenance.

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