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CCO Mission Planner Tutorial

Overview​

The CCO (Cross-Circular Orbit) Mission Planner is a specialized tool for generating optimized drone mission routes for agricultural and environmental monitoring applications. This system creates compressed folders containing waylines, KML files, and mission parameters specifically designed for cross-oblique orbit photography.

Key Features​

  • KML Polygon Processing: Upload target area KML files for route generation
  • Cross-Oblique Orbit Optimization: Advanced algorithm for optimal camera coverage
  • Snake Stitching Support: Automatic route stitching for continuous coverage
  • Grid Rotation: Flexible orientation adjustment for different field layouts
  • Multi-part Downloads: Large area segmentation with automatic part management
  • DJI Drone Compatibility: Support for various DJI drone and payload configurations

Quick Start​

1. Access the Application​

Visit in your browser: /app/cco

2. Hardware Requirements​

  • Modern Web Browser: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge with JavaScript support
  • KML File: Target area defined as a single polygon in KML format
  • Internet Connection: Required for initial page load and script execution

Detailed Usage Steps​

Step 1: Prepare Target Area KML​

  1. Create KML File

    • Define your target area as a single polygon in KML format
    • Ensure polygon boundaries are properly closed
    • Use geographic coordinates (WGS84) for accurate positioning

  2. Download Template (Optional)

    • Use the "Download template.kml" link for reference structure
    • Template provides proper KML formatting guidelines

Step 2: Upload KML File​

  1. Select KML File

    • Click "Choose File" button in the upload section
    • Select your prepared KML file from local storage
    • System validates file format and polygon structure

  2. Parameter Configuration

    • Flight Altitude: Set optimal flight height for your camera system
    • Grid Rotation: Adjust route orientation to match field layout
    • Overlap Percentage: Configure image overlap for stitching
  • Drone Model: Select appropriate DJI drone configuration
  • Camera Settings: Configure camera parameters for optimal coverage

Import from DJI KMZ​

This feature lets you import a DJI-exported route in .kmz format and automatically populate device enums required by the Drone & Payload module.

  1. Upload DJI KMZ

    • In the app, open the "Import from DJI KMZ" section
    • Click to select a .kmz file exported from DJI software

  2. Parse Drone & Payload

    • Click "Parse Drone & Payload" to automatically read the following values:
    • droneEnum, droneSubEnum, payloadEnum, payloadSubEnum, payloadPositionIndex

  3. Auto-fill and Verify

    • The five inputs in the Drone & Payload panel will be auto-filled
    • The status bar shows the parsed values and any errors if encountered

Notes

  • KMZ parsing priority: waylines.wpml → wpmz/waylines.wpml → template.kml → wpmz/template.kml → doc.kml → any .wpml/.kml
  • Missing fields fall back to safe defaults to keep workflow unblocked
  • KMZ import focuses on device parameters; upload a KML Polygon separately for target area geometry

Step 3: Route Generation​

  1. Preview Generation

    • Click "Generate Preview" to visualize the proposed route
    • System calculates optimal cross-oblique orbit pattern
    • Preview shows waypoints, camera positions, and coverage area

  2. Route Optimization

    • Snake Stitching: Automatic optimization for continuous coverage
    • Grid Rotation: Adjust orientation for wind conditions or field shape
    • Step Optimization: Automatic calculation of optimal waypoint spacing

Step 4: Mission Export​

  1. Download Mission Files

    • Waylines.wpml: Mission waypoints in WPML format
    • CCO_Full.kmz: Complete mission package in KMZ format
    • Template.kml: Reference file for future missions

  2. Multi-part Management

    • For large areas, system automatically segments into manageable parts
    • Each part contains complete mission parameters
    • Download individual parts or complete mission package

Technical Specifications​

Supported Input Formats​

  • KML: Keyhole Markup Language with single polygon definition
  • KMZ: Compressed KML files for easier handling

Output Formats​

  • WPML: Waypoint Markup Language for drone mission control
  • KMZ: Compressed mission package with all necessary files
  • KML: Reference files for visualization in mapping software

Mission Parameters​

  • Flight Altitude Range: 5-10 meters (configurable)
  • Image Overlap: 60-80% (recommended for stitching)
  • Grid Rotation: 0-360 degrees (full rotation capability)
  • Waypoint Spacing: Automatic optimization based on camera parameters

Drone Compatibility​

  • DJI Matrice Series: M300 RTK, M350 RTK...
  • DJI Phantom Series: Phantom 4 RTK, Phantom 4 Pro...
  • DJI Mavic Series: Mavic 3 Enterprise, Mavic 2 Enterprise...
  • Custom Configurations: Support for user-defined drone parameters

Best Practices​

Mission Planning​

  1. Area Assessment

    • Survey target area for obstacles and terrain variations
    • Consider wind conditions and flight regulations
    • Plan for battery life and mission duration

  2. Camera Configuration

    • Set appropriate ISO, shutter speed, and aperture
    • Configure camera angle for optimal oblique coverage
    • Test camera settings in similar conditions

Data Management​

  1. File Organization

    • Use descriptive naming conventions for mission files
    • Maintain version control for mission parameters
    • Archive previous missions for reference

  2. Quality Control

    • Verify mission parameters before execution
    • Test mission in simulation mode if available
    • Document any modifications to standard parameters

Troubleshooting​

Common Issues​

1. KML File Rejection

  • Ensure file contains exactly one polygon
  • Verify coordinate system is WGS84
  • Check for proper polygon closure

2. Route Generation Failure

  • Verify polygon size is within operational limits
  • Check parameter values are within valid ranges
  • Ensure sufficient system memory for large areas

3. Download Issues

  • Check browser download permissions
  • Verify sufficient storage space
  • Try alternative download method if available

Performance Optimization​

For Large Areas

  • Use multi-part segmentation for flignt points > 300
  • Increase system memory allocation if available
  • Consider processing during low system usage periods

For Complex Terrain

  • Use higher flight altitudes for varied terrain
  • Increase overlap percentage for better stitching
  • Consider additional waypoints for elevation changes

Technical Support​

If you encounter technical issues:

  1. Check browser console for error messages
  2. Verify KML file structure meets requirements
  3. Ensure system meets minimum requirements
  4. Contact support with specific error details

Author: Liangchao Deng, Ph.D. Candidate, Shihezi University / CAS-CEMPS
This tutorial applies to CCO Mission Planner v1.0 Optimized for agricultural and environmental monitoring applications