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Optimizing drone mapping using Reach RS2+/RS3 as an RTK base station
An RTK-capable drone can greatly improve the accuracy of aerial mapping when it’s connected to a compatible base station. The RTK base stations can be seamlessly integrated with RTK-capable drones from Autel, DJI, and other brands, offering two connection options—with or without an internet connection. Let’s explore how you can connect your Reach RS2+/ Reach RS3 base station with a drone, and see how our user Dave Pitman uses his Reach with the Autel EVO II Enterprise drone for aerial mapping projects.
- Enhancing drone mapping precision with Reach RTK base stations
- Connecting Reach RS2+/RS3 RTK Base Stations with RTK drones
- Reach RS2 with Autel EVO II Enterprise in action
- Reach RS2+ / RS3 for centimeter accuracy
Enhancing drone mapping precision with Reach RTK base stations
Reach RS2+/RS3 RTK GPS receivers gives you high precision even in challenging environments. As a multi-band receiver, it works on multiple frequencies, so it can use more satellite signals to find the fixed solution in less time and maintain the reliable fix even in urban areas.
If necessary, you can also record raw data logs during the flight to have a backup in case data is corrupted, for example, due to electromagnetic interference. Then you can post-process this data in our free post-processing software Emlid Studio to improve the quality of the obtained solution.
What’s more, you can also use Reach as a rover for placing ground control points.
Connecting Reach RS2+/RS3 base stations with RTK drones
Reach RS2+ and Reach RS3 offer a flexible solution for drone mapping. Connect Reach to your RTK drone choosing one of two options in the Emlid Flow app. If you have internet access, it’s easy to use Emlid NTRIP Caster. In the areas with no internet coverage, use the Local NTRIP option.
The setup is straightforward:
- If you have internet access
Sign up or sign in to Emlid Caster and get NTRIP credentials for both base and rover. Set up Reach as an RTK base station to send corrections over NTRIP using the obtained credentials. Set up your RTK drone as a rover to receive corrections over NTRIP using the obtained credentials. Wait for the FIX solution status on the rover. - If you don’t have internet access
Take advantage of the Local NTRIP caster option in Emlid Flow. Set up Reach as an RTK base station to send corrections over Local NTRIP caster. Tap the info icon to get credentials for your rover. Set up your RTK drone as a rover to receive corrections over NTRIP using the obtained credentials. Wait for the FIX solution status on the rover.
For more information, check out the detailed guides about connecting Reach RS2+/RS3 to the Autel EVO II Enterprise or DJI RTK drones in our Docs.
Reach RS2 with Autel EVO II Enterprise in action
Our user Dave Pitman surveys with his Reach RS2 RTK base station and the EVO II Enterprise RTK drone for monitoring of topographic changes on the site and infrastructure placement.
To place ground points for control and checkpoints, he uses Reach as a rover connected to a corrections network (NTRIP). Then Dave usually sets up Reach RS2 as a base over the point with known coordinates and transmits RTK corrections to the drone using Emlid NTRIP Caster or Local NTRIP.
“In some cases, I use the NTRIP service to supply RTK corrections directly to the EVO II Enterprise. The advantage to using a point on site and Reach RS2 for NTRIP corrections is that the baseline is very small.”
Dave Pitman, the owner of Olympic Aerial Solutions, USA
Placing his own GNSS base station for RTK corrections helped Dave to shorten the baseline and achieve greater digital elevation model data accuracy after processing the result of survey flight in the photogrammetry software.
Reach RS2+ / RS3 for centimeter accuracy
Reach RS2+/RS3 is a perfect option for drone mapping. The receiver can address two workflows at once: serve as a rover receiving NTRIP corrections for accurate GCPs placement and an RTK base station sending corrections to a drone. Plus, you can always log the backup data to post-process images in Emlid Studio to update images taken in a Float or Single solution with precise coordinates.
The receiver comes with the handy Emlid Flow app available for iOS and Android. Order your Reach RS2+ and Reach RS3 in the official Emlid Store.
Thanks to our user Dave Pitman for sharing his experience and helping us prepare the guide to Autel EVO II Enterprise and Reach RS2/RS2+ integration.