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Context
This User Guide’s goal is to get
DROTAG
working with your tethering camera and your
APM based Flight
Controller
module.
DROTAG
is a small board that simply sits between your camera and your Flight Controller (like Pixhawk),
allowing you to remote trigger the camera (manual or automatically) and have the taken pictures auto-
matically geo-tagged. Upon landing you only need to take out the microSD card from the DROTAG board
and the images are immediately available and ready to be visualized/used by your preferred stitching
software.
Currently just the main Sony Alpha Series cameras were tested (A5000, A5100 & A6000), although it is
likely that many more tethering capable cameras are supported. Our product is based on
and
it’s camera compatibility list can be found in
This manual also features an appendix with the cameras tested and any relevant comments.
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Assumptions
1. The
DROTAG
module is connected to one of the available telemetry output found on your flight
controller (Pixhawk/APM/NAVIO/etc);
2. The power to the
DROTAG
is supplied by the autopilot’s telemetry port;
3. The
microSD card
that came with your package is inserted in the DROTAG board. Another card
with the image supplied by Airborne Projects can also be used;
4. To get the pictures geo-tagged
you need a GPS fix
on your Autopilot. Without it, the camera
triggers manually and saves the picture but no additional tags are written;
5. The microSD card image you receive is bound to your
DROTAG
serial number. That means you
can use any microSD card you wish but you can only run it on your board. If you would like to run
DROTAG
in another board contact us at
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Package Contents
1. DROTAG board;
2. 16GB Class 10 microSD card loaded with DROTAG software;
3. USB 3.0 microSD card Reader;
4. microSD to SD card Adapter;
5. DROTAG User Guide;
6. An Operation Checklist;
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Hardware installation
Below you can find a picture illustrating the installation. We point out that good practices are advised re-
garding fixation of the board.
Boards and Cables should be stowed clear of propellers in a vibration
resistant manner.
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