Coverage patterns
The pattern field on a DroneMission selects a generator that turns your polygon into
ordered waypoints. Eleven patterns are wired in; this page covers each with its
required parameters.
Pattern catalogue
parallel — lawnmower grid
Parallel lines spaced by spacingM inside the polygon, rotated by bearingDeg. The
classic SAR and aerial-survey coverage primitive. Parameters: altitudeM,
altitudeMode, spacingM, bearingDeg, bufferM.
creeping-line — progressive parallel
Parallel lines walked from one edge across, used when the target is more likely at one
end of the polygon. Same parameters as parallel.
expanding-square — outward square
Square spiral outward from a datum. Good for an “I saw them here, let’s expand” start.
Parameters: altitudeM, spacingM (leg-length step), bearingDeg (first-leg
direction), bufferM.
sector — VOR-style fan
Triangular sectors radiating from a centre, typical at-sea search. Parameters:
altitudeM, bearingDeg, bufferM, spacingM.
crosshatch — double grid
Two parallel passes at 90° to each other. Doubles sensor coverage of an area;
useful against narrow targets. Parameters: altitudeM, spacingM, bearingDeg,
bufferM.
perimeter — boundary sweep
Fly the polygon’s circumference at altitudeM, offset inward/outward by bufferM.
Boundary security, fence-line inspection.
oblique — photogrammetry with pitch passes
Multiple grid passes at different gimbal angles for textured 3D mesh. Parameters:
obliqueGimbalAngles (default [-90, -45, -45, -45, -45]) plus the standard
spacingM, bearingDeg, bufferM.
corridor — linear coverage
Parallel strips along a user-drawn centreline — pipelines, highways, coastline,
river banks. Parameters: corridorCenterline (polyline of lat/lng points),
corridorWidthM (total width, each side = half, default 60 m), spacingM for line
separation.
slope — terrain-following survey
Grid pass that follows a sloped surface via heightMode: 'aboveGroundLevel'.
Parameters: altitudeM, altitudeMode: 'terrain', spacingM, bearingDeg.
geometric — shape orbits
Orbit passes around primitive shapes (geometricShape: cylinder, box, sphere)
for structure inspection. Parameters: geometricCenter (lat/lng),
geometricRadiusM, geometricHeightM, geometricBands (altitude rings), and
geometricPointsPerRing.
mapping — ODM-targeted photogrammetry
The opinionated photogrammetry generator. Drives waypoints from a target GSD rather
than from spacingM directly. Parameters: mappingGsdCm (default 3), mappingCaptureMode
(nadir / oblique / both), mappingFrontOverlapPct (default 80),
mappingSideOverlapPct (default 70), mappingPayloadEnum (sensor-spec lookup),
mappingOutputs, mappingQuality, autoProcessOnCompletion (default true — kicks
an ODM job as soon as the mission reaches dji_completed).
mappingCaptureMode: 'nadir' emits a single grid with gimbalPitchDeg: -90 for a 2D
orthomosaic. 'oblique' emits four pitch-and-yaw passes for 3D mesh. 'both' emits
both — same end result as flying a mapping-2D and mapping-3D mission back-to-back,
with one KMZ and one processing job.
Shared parameters
Every pattern honours the mission-wide flight parameters:
altitudeM,altitudeMode(terrain/uniform).speedMps,transitSpeedMps.headingMode,turnMode,turnDampingDistM,heightMode.takeoffSecurityHeight,rthAltitude.finishedAction—no_action,go_home,auto_land,go_to_first_waypoint.
Per-waypoint overrides
The generators write computed waypoints but you can override individual points:
pointAltOverrides[index] swaps altitude, and waypointActions[index] attaches
photo/video/hover actions — see waypoints and actions.