Camera configuration

The biggest source of error in Cyclops position comes from how the camera is configured and oriented. This is a guide on how to set up you camera on a drone to reduce position errors.

Camera orientation

It is important that Cyclops understands how the camera is oriented on the drone. Using the standard orientation for the camera, seen below, ensures the camera is pointed correctly.

You can see the live view of the camera in Vozilla under Manage Cameras. The red arrow points in the direction of forward flight. If you are using a different orientation, you must either physically rotate the camera hardware so that it is oriented this way or follow the vehicle configuration steps below to rotate the orientation in software.

Vehicle configuration

This is a screenshot of an example aircraft, with the Camera orientation relative to the Flight controller (IMU).

If you have the camera mounted in the standard orientation seen in the Live View above, then you do not need to change the rotation. If not, you must change the rotation values accordingly.

From the image in the Camera Orientation section, your fingers should point in the direction of flight, which the camera arrow (red arrow attached to green camera above) should match.

Camera calibration

If you have purchased a Preconfigured Cyclops System, your computer has a camera calibration file that will work with the camera module provided. In case there is a mix-up, here are the two camera modules that we might have shipped, along with their respective calibration files:

Calibration file: arducam_slim_lens.yaml

Calibration file: arducam_wide_lens.yaml

If you wish to use your own camera, you can calibrate it in Vozilla. For more information, read the documentation here.

Camera calibration is critical to good performance. Do not use Cyclops with an uncalibrated or miscalibrated camera!