Phoenix LiDAR Systems User Manual
  • Welcome
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              • Aerial Trajectory Optimization
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              • Vertical Only Adjustment
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          • Create Transformation...
    • Workflows
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  • LiDARMill Cloud
    • Introduction
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        • Details
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        • Summary
      • Create New Mission
        • Uploading a SpatialExplorer Mission
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      • Adding Reference Station Data
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  • FlightPlanner
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    • Overlap
    • FAQs
  • Hardware and Interfaces
    • Warnings and Safety Notices
      • LiPo Battery Safety
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      • Laser Safety
        • Class 1 Lasers
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    • Connecting and Interfacing with Phoenix Lidar Systems
      • Connect via Rover's Web Interface
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        • Base Station (Notebook) Setup
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      • Orientation and Offsets
        • IMU
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      • Mobile Roof Rack
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          • SMB to SMA GPS Antenna Cable
          • MCX to RP-SMA WiFi Antenna Cable
          • LiDAR / Camera Cable
          • micro USB to USB Type A Female Cable
          • RJ45 Ethernet Cable
          • HDMI Cable Type D to Type A
          • SMA to TNC Ground Mount GNSS Antenna Cable
          • 7.5” Rover GPS Antenna Cable
          • 24” Rover GPS Antenna Cable
        • Power Supply Parts
          • Power Splitter Cable
          • AC Power Supply
          • XT30 3" Extension Cable
          • XT60 Female to XT30 Male Adapter
          • XT60 Male to XT30 Female Adapter
          • XT60 Female to EC5 Male
          • XT60 Extension Cable
        • Antennas
          • Rover GNSS Antenna
          • UHF Rubber Duck Antenna
          • Ground Mount GNSS Antenna
          • Bullet Long Range Module
          • Omni 12dBi Antenna for Bullet Module
          • Rover 5.8 GHz Wi-Fi Antenna RP-SMA
        • Other Components
          • LiDAR/IMU Cable
          • LiDAR Cable
          • IMU Cable
          • AL3 Power Cable with Integrated Splitter
          • EC5 to XT60 Adapter Cable
          • LiPo with EC5 Connector
          • LiPo Charger
          • 5.8 GHz Directional Panel Antenna
          • TNC 90 Degree Adapter
        • Miscellaneous
          • USB Drive
          • USB to Ethernet Adapter
          • Suction Cups w/ Clamps
          • Multi-Tool
          • SMA Wi-Fi Terminator
          • LiDAR Sensor Cover
          • LiPo Guard Battery Bag
          • Cable Accessories Bag
          • Storm Case
          • Foam Divider
  • Data Acquisition and UAV Piloting
    • Flight Planning
      • UAS LiDAR Hot Swapping
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      • Ranger FLEX Initialization and Acquisition Workflow
      • Recon XT Initialization and Acquisition Workflow
    • SLAM Acquisition
    • Navigation System Configuration
      • Navigation System Basics
      • Real-Time and Post-Processing Differences
      • Further Reading
        • GPS Time Status
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        • IMU Alignment
        • Navigation System Stabilization
    • RECON UAV Acquisition
    • RECON Series Quick Start Guides
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    • Stonex S-900 and Cube-A
      • Cube-A project set up
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        • Configuring Harxon HX-DU8608D radio
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  • Reports
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    • Trajectory Report
  • 3rd Party Software Documentation
    • Bathymetric LiDAR Processing in RiProcess
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  • General FAQ
    • Accuracy Standards & Quantification
      • Precision
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      • Further Considerations
    • Mapping Terms and Definitions
    • Abbreviations
    • Examples: How to ensure accurate Georeferencing of Trajectories and Pointclouds
      • Example 1: Static Datum
      • Example 2: Dynamic Datum
    • Clock bias adjustment
    • General FAQs
  • Legacy Documentation
    • Offsets, Rotations, and Reference Frames: SpatialExplorer Version 4-7
    • Legacy TerraSolid Documentation
    • Legacy SpatialExplorer Documentation
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  5. LiDARSnap

Sensor Calibration

PreviousLiDARSnapNextTrajectory Optimization

Last updated 1 month ago

The Aerial Calibration preset in LiDARSnap makes global roll, pitch, and yaw adjustments to a dataset by modifying the sensor-to-IMU transforms in the lidar Settings->Calibration tab:

When building a pointcloud, the lidar's orientation is determined by taking the IMU's orientation and applying a set of transforms (rotations and translations) specific to the lidar scanner. A lidar dataset will exhibit consistent and systematic errors if these transforms are incorrect:

Typically sensor-to-IMU translations are taken from mechanical drawings, and do not need to be solved for using LiDARSnap. Generalized sensor-to-IMU rotations can also be determined from mechanical drawings (e.g., 180 degrees along IMU-X, -180 degrees along IMU-Z), however precise values, unique to each system, must be determined via a calibration routine.

All lidar systems are calibrated prior to delivery to the end user, however frequent use, mishandling, and system age can invalidate this initial factory calibration over time, therefore relative accuracy in a dataset may be improved via sensor calibration.

Sensor calibration requires certain geometry to be present in a dataset. Man-made planar features need to be present, ideally with a variety of normals. IMU-to-sensor pitch and roll can be solved for using flat ground (such as a parking lot), however solving IMU-to-sensor yaw requires upright and pitched surfaces.

When running the Aerial Calibration LiDARSnap preset, the Sensor tab will indicate that the Mounting Rotation (IMU-to-lidar yaw, pitch, and roll) has been enabled for optimization, as well as certain laser intrinsic values:

The Trajectory tab of LiDARSnap should have nothing enabled when using the Aerial Calibration preset. In general, it is not recommended to have both sensor and trajectory features enabled for optimization in a single LiDARSnap run - either solve for trajectory parameters OR sensor parameters.

The result of an aerial calibration LiDARSnap run is modified sensor-to-IMU rotation values (as well as modified laser intrinsic values), visible in the lidar settings calibration window. Often, lidar data misalignment issues persist even after sensor calibration, as non-constant errors in the trajectory are not resolvable via sensor calibration.

Five different flight lines of UAV lidar data fail to correspond well with each other due to incorrect sensor-to-IMU rotations.
Generalized values from mechanical drawings are shown under the Mounting Transform section, and system-specific calibration values are shown in the Mounting Calibration section. Note that calibrated translation values are not present in the Mounting Calibration section, as translations are not typically calibrated.
Image showing LiDARSnap with the sensor tab open.