Oblique
Oblique IR and optical capture for detecting string-level, combiner, and inverter-zone faults not visible in nadir imagery.
Environmental requirements
Same as comprehensive inspection — 600 W/m² minimum irradiance, 10:00–15:00 local solar time, clear skies.
Flight parameters
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Frame coverage | 2 MWdc of panels in the lower half of each image |
| Speed | 4 – 7 m/s |
| Front overlap | 70% minimum |
| Side overlap | 60% minimum |
| Flight path | Parallel to panel rows, drone offset from farm perimeter |
Gimbal and lens settings
| Lens | Farm offset | Gimbal angle (from nadir) |
|---|---|---|
| 13 mm | ~480 ft | 70 deg |
| 19 mm | ~762 ft | 74 deg |
Set gimbal angle manually via RC before starting the pass.
Camera settings
Capture both IR thermal and optical RGB per pass (simultaneous if payload supports it, otherwise fly each pass twice).
IR: Same as inspection — radiometric enabled, emissivity 0.95, High Gain mode.
RGB: Same as inspection — Daylight white balance, 1/800s minimum shutter, JPEG max quality.
Key rules
- Must be flown on the same day as nadir inspection. Mixed-day datasets will be rejected.
- 2 MWdc in the lower frame half — the upper half should show sky/horizon for analyst orientation. Do not crop or tilt to maximise panel coverage.
- Reset camera profile after oblique passes before resuming any nadir flights.