How to export prescriptions for TopXGun agricultural drones - PIX4Dfields

Introduction

The TopXGun agricultral drones support different file types and prescription maps, depending on the mission type and the specific Agras model.

When exporting Targeted Operations to the TopXGun, there are two available formats:

• Go to Export, Operations.
• Select the Operation to be exported.
• Select TopXGun:
  • TopXGun Boundary Mission: it is useful for exporting a field's boundaries or in specific cases where spot spraying is feasible.
  • TopXGun VRA Format: suitable for most applications, it allows exporting a Variable Rate Application (VRA) map.

Exporting TopXGun boundary mission

Exporting boundaries is useful for determining the area extent of a mission and applying one fixed rate to it.

Each boundary exported will result in a single flight mission on the remote controller.

• Exporting field boundaries: please follow How to Export Boundaries for DJI Agras T-Series in PIX4Dfields. The same applied to TopXGun drones.
• Spot spraying (limited): When application areas are large and distinct, spot spraying is also possible with this export format.
  • In this case, the application map is ready using the Targeted Operation feature.
    Flying over the violet zone requires applying 10 liters of growth regulator.
    
  • It will export one folder called "TopxGun" with a shapefile inside.
    Each area inside the prescription map will be differentiated when imported into the RC controller:

When should I use the Boundary mission?

Boundary missions are recommended when a single application rate is used or when distinct treatment areas exceed 3 hectares. These boundaries can be directly exported for operational use.

Exporting Variable Rate Application (VRA) format

Reducing Total Flying Area

1. Click on the Operation layer on the left.
2. Click on the Boundary icon.
   
3. Draw the new boundary, reducing the extent.
4. Click on the previous Boundary and delete it  .
5. The total area was reduced by 20%, from 15 to 12 hectares.
6. Creating multiple boundaries can also be beneficial, as each boundary will correspond to a separate flight when planning the application on the remote controller:
   
7. VRA map imported into remote controller. Each boundary is converted into a flight plan:
   
   
   

 Export the final prescription map:

• Go to Export, Operations.
• Select the Operation to be exported.
• Select TopXGun, TopXGun VRA mission.
  
• Set the Flight height, which is recommended between 1.5 and 3 meters, and the Spraying width, which should be around 5 meters.
• It will export a "TopXGun" folder with two sub-folders:
  • Shapefile:
     It will contain a shapefile with the boundary of the mission.
  • Rx:
    It will contain a .tiff file with different rates following each operation (zone).

When should I use the Variable rate missions?

• TopXGun VRA missions should be used when multiple rates are applied or when complex spot spraying missions are performed.
• The downside is that the boundary should be edited when doing Spot Spraying, to reduce flying over the non-application areas. 

Import map into TopXGun controller

After exporting the desired format from PIX4Dfields:

• Copy-paste it into the SD card.
• Remove the SD card from the laptop and insert it into the the controller. Then, power on the controller.
• Click on the SD Card icon.
  
• Select the proper boundary under Import files and click Confirm:
  
  
  
• For a VRA application, change the selector to Prescription Map and select the file.
  
   

• The Prescription Map Import Options menu will appear:
  
  
• 

• • Select the Area unit: ha, no matter the units being used.
  • Set the Resample option:
    • Max Value: this will apply the max rate when the drone passes over two cells.
    • Average Value: this will apply the average rate when the drone passes over two cells.

Load prescription to the field

Once the Boundary and Prescription are imported, the VRA must be assigned to the field.

• Access the boundary field and click the Rx icon to assign the Prescription.
  
• Select the Prescription from the menu
• Click Use
  

       

• Set desired flight parameters, load desired product, and hit Start.

Safe flights!