One of the most critical equipment decisions you’ll make for your drone programme is choosing a tablet. The flight control tablet in DroneSense is not only the drone’s situational awareness lifeline, but it also does a lot of processing and communication. It’s important to use a computer with plenty of processing power and the ability to offer a sensitive and consistent experience.
iPads are very common
The iPad version of the DroneSense Pilot app is currently available. We’re working hard to make Pilot accessible on Android devices (including the CrystalSky and Smart Controller), and hope to have those choices available soon.
The latest iPad Pro is the most powerful tablet available, and if your budget allows it, it is the best tablet option. Either the 11 or 12.9-inch sizes will suffice, but keep in mind the larger device’s additional bulk and weight.
The latest iPad Air and iPad Mini 5 are the next best choices. These devices have similar specifications to the iPad Pro but are much less expensive. This may be the best option for newer systems, particularly in hot, sunny climates where having backup tablets available in the event of overheating may be beneficial. The new “generic” iPad has specs that are just marginally lower than the Air and Mini 5, but it should still work well.
DroneSense takes up very little space on the iPad, so you can go for a cheaper model with less room. Of course, if you need additional storage for other applications on your iPad, a larger capacity iPad would suffice.
WiFi+Cellular
When it comes to flight control tablets, another crucial choice to make is whether to go for Wi-Fi-only or Wi-Fi+Cellular iPads. We strongly advise you to buy a WiFi + Cellular iPad. Since WiFi-only iPads lack built-in GPS, they will have trouble reporting the tablet’s precise location (and therefore, the pilot). As a result, the drone bearing indicator could report inaccurate data.
If your company is on a tight budget, one choice is to forego setting up data plans for each iPad unit and instead use a mobile hotspot for internet access. Although this approach can add some complexity to your network configuration, it does provide you with several networking options and allows you to use the iPad’s internal GPS for accurate tablet/pilot position reporting.
Heat Reduction
In hot weather, iPads are vulnerable to overheating. The DroneSense Support site has a lot of details about how to avoid overheating so you can stay in the air longer and work better.
When buying an iPad, avoid darker colours (such as space grey) because the black border absorbs more heat energy from the sun. Every little bit of heat reduction is beneficial!
Tablets that run on Android
DroneSense is currently developing a native Android version of the Pilot app that will work with the majority of Android tablets, including the DJI CrystalSky and Smart Controller.
The CrystalSky is designed specifically for use with DJI drones and the Cendence controller, and its bright screen and resistance to overheating make it a viable option for a wide range of public safety UAS missions. Agencies should bear in mind, however, that the CrystalSky is an older computer based on a customised version of Andriod.
DroneSense can support the CrystalSky, but due to hardware limitations and the Android version running on the computer, performance of some compute-intensive features may be sub-optimal in certain scenarios. To ensure you always have access to the features your mission needs, we suggest having other types of tablets available to travel with in addition to the CrystalSky.
The DJI Smart Controller includes an Android-based tablet and is likely to be an excellent solution for agencies looking for fast Mavic 2 Enterprise deployments. When the Smart Controller is out, DroneSense is working on finishing its native Android app, which will support it.
Other Android tablets currently available, such as the Samsung Galaxy Tab series, are mainly designed for the consumer market and lack the screen brightness, form factor, and reliability needed for the rigours of public safety UAS operations.
The use of cables
The right cables can have a surprising impact on the success of your operations. While cables are inexpensive, many devices will react poorly to nonstandard or low-cost cables. The signs and symptoms of a bad link can be difficult to predict and diagnose. Weak tablet-to-controller connections have resulted in lost drone connections, camera functions not loading or missing keys, and unreliable video streaming.
Use a Lightning-to-USB cable explicitly described as compatible with Apple devices for the best results on an iPad, as generic or cheap cables can trigger problems on some devices. We also suggest sticking with Apple-compatible cables for iPad Pro models with a USB-C connector.
DJI also offers iPad-compatible cables that have been proven to be effective substitutes for Apple-made cables when connecting the controller and the iPad.
It’s best to avoid thickly insulated, rigid, or inflexible cables if you’re using a third-party cable. Sideways cable tension can result in a weak link between the tablet and the drone controller, resulting in poor or lost contact with the drone as well as other unpredictable activity. The iPad Pro models with a USB-C port are especially susceptible to this sideways tension problem.
Finally, frayed or damaged cables, as well as loose USB or Lightning connections, can trigger networking and application stability problems. Make sure the cable inspection is part of your daily maintenance routine. Keep extra cables on hand whenever possible!
Suggestions
The most recent hardware is always the best bet for any tablet. Although the iPad Pro offers better overall performance, the iPad Air and iPad Mini 5 offer very similar specs for a much lower price. You can also save money by opting for versions that have less storage space. We suggest Wi-Fi + Cellular devices – with or without a data plan – since Wi-Fi only iPads lack built-in GPS.
Unfortunately, no ideal flight control tablet for public safety operations is currently available. – of the solutions we discussed in this post has advantages and disadvantages, and the tablet that is ideal for one mission might not be suitable for another.
We expect to see a tablet on the market soon that fulfils all of the requirements for public safety UAS teams. We suggest getting a mix of tablets available to your pilots before the tablet becomes available. This will ensure that you have the best possible hardware for the mission at hand.