High-accuracy Aerial Mapping Solution

The DJI Zenmuse P1 is a high-performance, versatile surveying payload, engineered for the M300 RTK and M350 RTK.

The camera has a full-frame 45MP CMOS sensor and can be integrated with a 24mm, 35mm, or 50mm lens. The P1 is a 3-axis stabilised gimbal.

When combined with the M300 RTK or M350 RTK and mapping software package, DJI Terra, the P1 camera provides an efficient and high-accuracy aerial photogrammetry solution.  

Integrating the P1 with the M300 RTK or M350 RTK dramatically increases productivity, being up to 10 times more efficient than the Phantom 4 RTK for both orthomosaic and oblique mapping missions.

The highlights include:

• 45MP full-frame CMOS.
• Achieve 3cm horizontal accuracy and 5cm vertical accuracy with no ground control points (3cm GSD, with 75% front overlap ratio and 55% side overlap ratio). 
• High efficiency: 3km² area coverage during a single flight (3cm GSD, with 75% front overlap ratio and 55% side overlap ratio). 
• 3-axis stabilised gimbal with Smart Oblique Capture. 
• Mechanical Global Shutter (achieved by mechanical leaf shutter) - 1/2000s shutter speed. 
• TimeSync 2.0: Synchronise flight controller, RTK, gimbal, and camera within milliseconds.

Multiple Operation Modes

The P1 camera has a range of operation modes to enable survey professionals to capture the best data possible.

These include:

• 2D Ortho: Collect accurate data quickly and easily, which meets the cadastral 1:500 and 1:1000 accuracy standards.
• 3D Oblique: The multi-angle oblique image data captured for 3D modelling is provided efficiently and concisely, which can be widely used in many industries such as urban planning, cadastral surveying, security command, etc, helping real-life 3D and smart-city construction.
• Detailed Reconstruction: High-resolution data images can be obtained efficiently, to help restore the fine texture, structure, and characteristics of the ground and objects. It can be widely used in fine building reconstruction, ancient building protection, water conservancy engineering, and geological surveys. 
• Real-time Reconstruction: Combine with DJI Terra to obtain real-time geographic information of a large area to assist emergency rescue sites.

Smart Oblique Capture

Smart Oblique Capture allows the P1 to achieve comparable efficiency in oblique mapping missions compared to five-lense oblique payloads.

• Swing Pattern: When the P1 is performing a five-direction oblique mission, it will swing five directions at -60 degrees. It will only capture images inside the working area, boosting post-processing efficiency by 20%-50%.
• High Oblique Operation Efficiency: The P1 will perform the multi-angle swing shooting pattern to greatly improve operation efficiency on a single-lens camera. The area of operation with the P1 can reach 7.5 square kilometres (3cm GSD, 75% front overlap ratio, 65% side overlap ratio) in a single day.
• Greater Efficiency: The P1 has a higher efficiency in oblique missions compared to other single-camera payloads.

Multiple Premier Lens Options

The DJI Zenmuse P1 is a versatile mapping camera, which can be integrated with a 24mm, 35mm or 50mm lens.

A 35mm lens is suitable for most mapping missions, but if the drone needs to operate at a higher altitude while maintaining the same resolution, the 50mm lens option is available.

For lower altitude flights, the 24mm lens can be used.

The comparative Ground Sample Distance for the different lens options are:

• 24mm: GSD = H/55.
• 35mm: GSD = H/80.
• 50mm: GSD = H/120.

High Accuracy With TimeSync 2.0 

Thanks to TimeSync 2.0, the P1 is capable of achieving really high accuracies of 3 cm horizontal and 5 cm vertical (3 cm GSD, with 75% front overlap ratio, and 55% side overlap ratio). 

TimeSync 2.0 ensures the following:

• Millisecond-level exposure MEP capture.
• Millisecond-level synchronisation with camera, gimbal, flight controller, and RTK module.
• Real-time compensations: UAV position and orientation offset compensation; gimbal orientation offset compensation; and camera position offset compensation.

Sub 1cm GSD And Efficient Data Collection

Data sets collected by heliguy™ show the quality of the  M300 RTK and P1 for aerial surveying, and the effectiveness of Smart Oblique Capture for accurate and efficient mapping.

We conducted two flights at a farm in Warkworth, Northumberland, UK: The first was a double grid mission, the second utilising the Smart Oblique Capture feature. No ground control points were used and no manual data was collected.

The key findings included:

• The M300 RTK and P1 achieved a 1.18cm ground sample distance (GSD) at 80m altitude, and 0.63cm GSD at 50m. In comparison, the DJI Phantom 4 RTK would need to fly at 23m for a 0.63cm GSD, and 43m for 1.18cm GSD;
• The P1's 45MP camera captured crystal-clear imagery to build detailed and high-resolution 2D orthomosaics, as well as CAD-standard 3D models;
• The Smart Oblique Capture mode captured vertical and oblique data in a single flight - enhancing efficiency and creating a more robust data set without needing to manually capture additional oblique imagery;
• Capturing only the essential data, Smart Oblique Capture collected less than half the number of images, shaving 50% off the post-processing time;
• The P1 yielded high georeferencing accuracy - at around 0.011 during the Smart Oblique Capture flight;
• Improved efficiency: The M300 RTK and P1 captured the required data in less than 30 minutes. It would take the Phantom 4 RTK up to two hours to capture the same amount.

New Sensor Sets A New Standard

When it comes to collecting high-resolution survey data, the P1 integrated with the M300 RTK or M350 RTK sets the bar high. 

So how does it compare to DJI's other mapping solutions; namely the Phantom 4 RTK and the M210 RTK V2 paired with the X7 payload?

As the information below shows, the P1-M300 RTK combination brings a new standard to drone surveying, thanks to high-resolution data capture, longer flight times, greater ground coverage, and increased efficiency.

P1

• Weight: 787g
• Lens Options: DJI DL 24 mm; 35 mm; 50 mm.
• CMOS: Full-frame (36*24 mm)
• GSD: 24mm, GSD = H/55; 35mm, GSD = H/80; 50mm, GSD = H/120.
• Pixels: 45MP
• Pixel Size: 4.4um
• Shortest Time Interval: 0.7S
• Efficiency: With M300 RTK - 43 minutes per set of batteries; Up to 10x more efficient than P4 RTK. 

X7

• Weight: 449g
• Lens Options (optimised for surveying): DJI DL 24 mm; DJI DL 35 mm. 
• CMOS: S35 (23.5*15.7 mm)
• GSD: 24 mm, GSD = H/61; 35 mm, GSD = H/89.
• Pixels: 24MP
• Pixel Size: 3.9um
• Shortest Time Interval: 2.5S
• Efficiency: With M210 RTK V2 - 28 minutes per set of batteries; 1.2x more efficient than P4 RTK. 

P4 RTK

• Weight: 1391 g
• Lens Options: Fixed camera/lens. The lens has a focal length of 8.8 mm.
• CMOS: 1 inch (13.2*8 mm)
• GSD = H/36.5
• Pixels: 20MP
• Pixel Size: 2.4um
• Shortest Time Interval: 2.5S
• Efficiency: The P4 RTK has a fixed camera. Achieve 30 minutes of flight per battery.

Stitch Drone Data Into DJI Terra

Benefit from the DJI surveying ecosystem by combining the M300 RTK or M350 RTK, the P1 camera, the mapping software platform DJI Terra, and the DJI Pilot app for an end-to-end surveying workflow.

Data Capture: Plan mission using the DJI Pilot app with various flight options available. Deploy the DJI M300 RTK or DJI M350 RTK and the P1 camera to capture detailed and accurate data, quickly and safely. 

Date Processing: Import the data set into DJI Terra to reconstruct models and maps.