2. Main interface elements

When launching the NAVIGATOR, three separate windows open simultaneously.

Operator display	Pilot display	SensorHandler

2.1. SensorHandler

2.1.1. Bridge between NAVIGATOR and sensors

Devices such as GPS, cameras, scanners, etc. need to exchange information with the navigation software. This communication is carried out by the software called “SensorHandler”. SensorHandler is thus the link between TOPOFLIGHT Navigator and the system components. It acts as a bridge for communication between hardware and navigation software.

Hint

TOPOFLIGHT NAVIGATOR and SensorHandler are separately running applications. They can be started and stopped independently of each other. This means that SensorHandler can be closed and reopened while Navigator is running and vice versa.

2.1.2. SensorHandler main user interface

The image on the left shows a typical setting for attached sensors. Each button in SensorHandler can be connected to a device. The small buttons on the right of the sensors are used to switch the sensors ON and OFF. A unit is ready as soon as the button’s color has changed from red to green. Important The list of sensors works like a checklist: when all entries are green the system is ready for take-off. More information can be found in the chapter System integration

The graphic on the left shows a system containing a Riegl Scanner controlled by RiAcquire, one or more PhaseOne camera(s) and an APPLANIX INSS system. The green buttons show that the sensors are all running and communicating with SensorHandler. We are ready to fly.

2.1.3. SensorHandler list of images taken

During the flight a list is created showing:

• in which order the lines were flown.

• how many images were triggered.

Reading example for the following illustration:

Header:

• Line 49 is now active.

• There are a total of 47 trigger centers on the current line of flight.

• 2 triggers were requested from the camera(s).

• 4 images were triggered (in this example 2 cameras each take an image at every trigger point).

List of lines flown:

• Line 2 has a total of 14 trigger points. 2 triggers were released, 12 trigger points were missed. Since not all triggers were released (maybe because the pilot had to skip the line) the line is shown in red (which means not fully flown).

• Line 2 was followed by line 6. On this line, also only 2 trigger points were released.

• Line 1: all images were taken at each of the 10 trigger points.

2.2. NAVIGATOR’s main user interface

2.2.1. Graphical and textual elements

	Settings: Clicking on the bar symbol opens the menu.
	Time and distance until reaching the end of the line of flight
	Selected line number, next image number, time until reaching the next image
	Time and distance until reaching the start of the line of flight
	Airplane symbol with direction of flight and circles showing the standard turn
	The standard turn helps the pilot to smoothly turn onto the line. The radius of the circles is calculated from the current speed and the given time for turning 360° (usually 120 seconds for 360°)
	Three crosses (red, orange, green) indicate the time to the start of the line. The distances depend on the current speed. Red: 90 seconds to start of line Orange: 60 seconds to start of line Green: 30 seconds to start of line
	Line deviation indicator shows the actual distance of the line of flight to the airplane. In this case, 50m is the tolerance bandwidth on each side of the line. Images will be taken only within the tolerated bandwidth.
	Actual speed
	The planned altitude is colored pink. In this example, the flight line is 11700ft AMSL, which is 101ft below the airplane.
	The actual altitude is colored green or red. In this example the actual altitude is 11801ft. It is colored green since the line is within 200ft of height difference to the airplane.
	The height difference between the airplane and the flight line is colored pink. In this example, the altitude must be lowered by 101ft to reach the planned altitude.
	The planned azimuth of the line of flight in degrees.
	The device status bar gives a rough overview of the status of the main devices: GPS - status of the GPS: green: device is connected red: no GPS is connected gray: GPS not available CAM - status of the camera: green: camera is connected red: no camera is connected gray: camera not available MNT - status of the mount: red: no mount is connected green: mount is in STAB mode orange: mount is in MAN mode gray: mount not available Go to Icons for a detailed description of the devices and their status.
	By default, the pilot display and operator display work independently of each other. By using the switch the pilot can see the same map content as the operator.
	The green bar helps to graphically visualize how far the airplane is from the start when it is approaching the line and what portion of the line has already been flown. The aircraft has not yet reached the start of the line: the time until the start of the line is reached is visualized. The green bar moves from top to bottom. As soon as the bar reaches the lower limit the aircraft is at the beginning of the line. The aircraft is within the line: The green bar visualizes the time until the aircraft has reached the end of the current line of flight. At the beginning of the line the bar is at the lower limit. When the aircraft reaches the end of the line the green bar extends all the way from the lower to the upper limit. For more information, see section bar.
	The three black ticks visualize the 10 seconds, 20 seconds and 30 seconds until the start of the line of flight or the end of the line of flight, respectively, is reached. For more information, go to vizualization of time and distance to the end of the flight line.

2.2.2. Main display buttons

Use these buttons on the right side of the window to select flight lines, adjust the display of the current flight line and control the images taken and not yet taken. See Chapter icon description of display control for detailed information on the use of each button.

2.2.3. Bar to visualize time and distance to the end of the flight line

The bar between the map and the altitude display is a schematic representation of - how far it is to the beginning of the line of flight (when the aircraft approaches the line). - how far it is to the end of the line of flight (when the aircraft is on the line).

When the aircraft approaches the line of flight		When the aircraft is on the line of flight

2.3. Operator display/Pilot display

Both TOPOFLIGHT NAVIGATOR and SensorHandler software run on the same computer while other software (like RiAcquire) usually runs on a separate machine. Typically, the operator display is quite large in order to view multiple software windows at once. The pilot display, on the contrary, is used for navigation only. It usually is shown on a separate monitor attached to the computer.

Example of an integration of TOPOFLIGHT software in a helicopter: On the left side is the operator’s screen with NAVIGATOR and RiAcquire applications, on the right side is the pilot’s display. Courtesy of Alto-Drones, Südtirol, Italy (www.alto-drones.com)

2.3.1. Display settings in Windows operating system

The NAVIGATOR program shows the operator display and the pilot display in two separate windows. The operator window of the application is on the operator’s monitor while the pilot’s window is moved to the pilot’s monitor. Therefore, Windows operating system must be set to extend the desktop.

2.3.2. Setting of operator and pilot display

	Use Select display windows to set up operator and pilot display.
	Use this switch to display or hide the pilot display. The pilot display runs independent-ly from the operator display. It is set to the second monitor.

Operator and pilot display can show information on altitude, speed, and time either all on the right side or on both the left and the right side. On large displays (often the operator display) the information is usually shown on the right side only. On small displays (mostly the pilot display) the information is split between the left and the right side.

All information on altitude, distance, speed, and time is displayed on the right side.	Altitude is displayed on the right side, line distance and time on the left side.

	Use this button to move the pilot or operator display from one screen to the other without a mouse. This is particularly convenient when you have a touch screen and manual positioning of the window is not suitable.
	Full screen: clicking this button enlarges the operator or pilot display to cover the whole screen.
	Save the actual position and size of the operator or pilot display. The next time the program is started the position of the operator/pilot display is positioned in the saved location.