Hovermap Operation
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      Hovermap Workflow

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      This article outlines the basic operating procedure for Hovermap. For simplicity, we will focus on using Hovermap in Mapping mode.

      To ensure a smooth and successful mapping mission, you must have the following essentials in place:

      • Fully-charged Hovermap Battery: Make sure that the Hovermap’s battery is fully charged. A drained battery could result in a premature end to your mission or data loss.

      • Emesent Commander Installed: Ensure that Emesent Commander application is installed on your tablet. The app should be up-to-date with the latest software version to guarantee optimal performance.

      • Full-charged Android Tablet: Your tablet should also be fully charged to prevent any interruptions caused by a sudden loss of power.

      Note

      If the status lights do not follow the sequence outlined in this section, contact Technical Support Services with a description of Hovermap’s status and the task you were trying to perform at the time.

      Step 1: Connect power to Hovermap

      Connect Hovermap to a battery or other power source (14 to 54 VDC, 60W). Hovermap doesn’t come with an internal battery, so it will either need to be platform-mounted or powered by an external battery.

      Warning

      Never unplug the battery while Hovermap is running. If you do this, your scan data may be corrupted.

      Step 2: Start Hovermap

      Press the power button to power on Hovermap. The LED will change from OFF to a flashing red indicating that the Hovermap is initializing.

      LED status: RED: FLASHING

      Step 3: Wait until Hovermap is ready

      After completing initialization, the status LEDs will flash orange then switch to a slow pulsing Emesent blue. This indicates that the Hovermap is now ready to scan. Ensure that Hovermap is positioned in a way that allows the LiDAR sensor to rotate freely.

      LED status: EMESENT BLUE: SLOW PULSE

      If, after 30 seconds, the status LEDs are not a slow pulsing blue, the start-up checks have been unsuccessful. If this happens, please cycle power to Hovermap.

      Step 4: Connect to Hovermap using Emesent Commander

      Use the Emesent Commander application to access the Mission workflow.

      1. Launch the application then tap either Connect to Hovermap or the red Wi-Fi icon on the top banner.

      2. Look for ST_xxxx, HVM_xxxx, or LRR_xxxx (where xxxx = Hovermap device to connect to) in the list of networks.

      3. Select that network then enter the Wi-Fi password (hovermap).

      4. Once the connection is established, you will hear an audio message indicating that you are “Connected”. The red banner is removed from the landing page. 

      Step 5: Complete pre-mission checks

      The Mission Workflow guides you through the process of starting the scan. Complete the required mission checks then tap the Start Scan button in the Scan setup page of the Mission Workflow.

      The LiDAR sensor will start spinning. The status LEDs will start by flashing green, and will then change to a slow green pulse. When the status LEDs start to pulse, keep Hovermap still for the first 10 seconds. This gives Hovermap time to start to build a map and to position itself within its environment.

      LED status: GREEN: SLOW PULSE

      Warning

      This step is essential! If Hovermap is moved before it has collected enough points to start mapping its environment, it won’t be able to create a map successfully.

      Step 6: Perform the scan

      Once you have given Hovermap time to position itself, you can start your scan. Move as slowly as possible, and focus Hovermap as much as you can on your area of interest. For best mapping results, it is recommended to “Close-the-Loop”, that is, to stop the scan around the same area where it was started.

      LED status: GREEN: SLOW PULSE

      Step 7: Stop the scan

      In the Emesent Commander app, tap the Stop Scan button (or short press the power button) to end the mission. The LiDAR sensor will stop spinning after a few seconds, and the status LEDs will return to a slow pulsing blue.

      Hovermap is now ready for another scan, or for data retrieval.

      LED status: EMESENT BLUE: SLOW PULSE

      Step 8: Download the data

      To download the data from Hovermap, insert a USB flash drive into the USB port at the back of the unit.

      The status LEDs will change to a flashing light blue while the data is being transferred to the USB flash drive. All data that has not previously been transferred will be copied to the USB flash drive.

      LED status: LIGHT BLUE: FLASHING

      Note

      • You can only download data when Hovermap is in standby (a slow pulsing blue).

      • To retrieve data, the USB flash drive must be formatted in an exFAT file format.

      Step 9: Remove the USB flash drive

      Once the transfer is complete, the status LEDs will return to a slow pulsing blue. The USB flash drive can now be removed.

      LED status: EMESENT BLUE: SLOW PULSE

      Note

      Scans are stored internally until they are deleted manually.

      Step 10: Shut down Hovermap

      Press the power button for at least 4 seconds (or until the status light turns off) to shut down Hovermap.

      LED status: OFF

      Step 11: Process the data

      Once the data has been retrieved from Hovermap, it is in a raw state and will need to be processed. Use the Emesent Aura to create a rich 3D point cloud.