How to use Crosshair Coordinates (DTED) on Skydio X10 / X10D

Published: Updated:

  1. Skydio
  2. Skydio X10
  3. Postflight Skydio X10

Crosshair Coordinates 

Crosshair Coordinates uses Digital Terrain Elevation Data (DTED) maps to display the real-time coordinates on the fly screen of the ground-level position at the center of your crosshairs. To use this feature, you must have DTED map data loaded for your flying location. Location accuracy will vary for the point of interest based on vehicle altitude, position offset, and gimbal angles. 

Quick Steps 

To determine the coordinates of an object using DTED Crosshair Coordinates:

Step 1 - Load a DTED dataset onto your drone

Step 2 - Select the Global Settings menu and the Display tab

Step 3 - Scroll down to Crosshair Coordinates and toggle on

Step 4 - Launch

  • fly using the Manual skill
  • Using terrain data will display the real-time coordinates of the ground-level position at the center of your crosshairs.
CS_X10D_Crosshair_Coordinates_menu_UI.jpg
[note text="If this is your first flight after inserting the SD media card with the DTED maps, select the Media menu to prompt the file transfer to the X10 / X10D internal storage."]

Skydio X10D Slant Range to Ground Intercept Point

Displays direct line-of-sight distance from the drone to the ground intercept point at the center of the crosshairs, improving coordination and targeting accuracy. The slant range is calculated using platform and target coordinates to display immediate, terrain-independent distance to the target. This improves targeting and coordination while reducing reliance on estimation or external tools.

  • DTED must be loaded on the drone.
  • The vehicle must be within the DTED coverage area for the duration of the flight for crosshair coordinates or slant range data to be reported.
  • Crosshair coordinates must be enabled and available.
  • The slant range will be displayed in meters or feet, depending on the unit of measurement selected for the system.

Slant_Range_Illustration_05.png

In-Depth

To generate and load a DTED dataset:

Step 1 - Navigate to https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov and create an account

  • this is one way to generate DTED maps.
  • There are other sites available.

 

Step 2 - Select the Polygon tab

 polygon.png

Step 3 - Click on the map and set the coordinates points around the area to define your dataset

  • the area will be highlighted in red
  • edit or delete any of the point’s coordinates (bottom-left of screen)

 

 DTED_red_map.png
[tip]Zoom out if the area is not displayed in red to prompt the action.[/tip]

 

Step 4 - Select the Data Sets menu tab at the top of the page

  • scroll down and expand Digital Elevation
  • expand the submenu SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission)

 

 

Step 5 - Select the type of data required for your use case

  • there are four choices to select from
  • select the info icon for more information about each data set and how they are derived
  • Expand Digital Elevation and SRTM and select SRTM 1 Arc Second Global
Snip_-_EarthExplorer_-_Google_Chrome__2_.png

Step 6 - Select the Results button

  • results may generate multiple scenes 
  • Select DTED 1 Arc-second (XX.XX MB)
  • When the download is complete, the .dt2 file will be saved to the designated download folder.
  • Skydio supports Level 2 with a file extension of .dt2 and a resolution of approximately 30 meters
  • the dataset cannot exceed 150 MB in total
[tip]Ensure that the file name .dt2 is lowercase.[/tip]

Step 7 - Select the scene that you want to download and the download icon

Step 8 - Create a new folder and title it DTED

  • add the downloaded file to the DTED folder
 DTED_download.png
Step 9 - Remove the SD media card from the drone X10-guide_graphics-SD_port_closed_antd.png

Step 10 - Access the SD media card on your computer

  • using an SD card reader
  • drag the DTED folder onto the SD media card
  • safely eject the SD media card
Step 11 - Insert the SD media card back into the drone

Step 12 - Power on the drone and controller

Step 13 - Select the Media menu to prompt the file transfer to the internal storage

  • the transfer will fail if there is not enough storage on the drone to import the files, and no files will be imported

If all files successfully transfer to the drone:

  • the dataset files inside the DTED folder on the SD media card will be gone
  • DTED coordinates will display when the Crosshair Coordinates are toggled on
  • DTED maps will persist across flights and power cycles
  • loading a new DTED dataset file will overwrite the previous maps
  • logging out of the controller will delete the DTED maps
  • DTED 2 tiles for regions close to the equator measure approximately 111 km x 111 km and around 24.78 MB in file size - so only 5 can be uploaded to the Skydio X10D.
  • Some countries measure approximately 111 km x 55 km (smaller due to the convergence of the lines of longitude) and 12.39 MB.Therefore, wherever you are in the world, the Skydio X10D can store just under 70,000 km2 of Digital Terrain Elevation Data.
  • DTED is unavailable on the USGS site above 60°N, due to orbital constraints of the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), therefore, other data sources should be used.

Explore More 

Skydio X10 Videos, Manuals, and Guides

Skydio X10D Manuals, Guides, and Resources

 

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