M350 Landing on a moving platform
This scenario is a guide to adding a critical capability to the DJI M350 drone - enabling it to land on a moving platform. Landing on a moving platform is not a default feature available from DJI. This extends the capability of a DJI drone to various platforms, including ground, aerial, or marine vehicles. For the purposes of this guide, the focus will be on a marine context, as it presents a relatable, but complex use case.
Even when stationary, a marine vessel is subjected to constant motion due to waves, currents, and wind. These movements can occur along three axes of translation (forward/backward, left/right, up/down) and three axes of rotation (pitch, roll, and yaw). Therefore, the drone must accurately perceive and respond to these dynamic conditions in order to perform a safe, damage-free landing.
A typical use case would be a seaborne vessel inspection. The drone is required to land on the deck of a moving boat, where even slight miscalculations in positioning or timing can lead to a failed or unsafe landing. Using LightWare LiDAR technology, we'll provide the M350 with the capability to assess the boat's deck in real-time, understand its motion, and make an informed landing decision.
To achieve this, we will walk through the necessary steps, including how to install and configure the LightWare LW20/C sensors to create a real-time map of the landing area, allowing the drone to detect and adapt to the constantly changing conditions of the deck.
This tutorial will focus on how to leverage LightWare's products to enhance the DJI M350's functionality. While other components are involved, the primary goal is to generate a reproducible, extendable solution and a foundation to explore and further productize this landing capability for various real-world applications.