Universal Upload is the easiest way to turn any drone video into a 3D model, no matter what drone you fly. While our Flight App handles automated missions for supported DJI and Autel drones, Universal Upload opens the door to every drone on the market. All you need is a video and a few simple flight techniques.
In this tutorial, I will walk you through how to fly manual flights for Universal Upload, from camera settings to upload. If you have a compatible DJI or Autel drone, check out our Flight App Tutorial for a one-button-press experience.
You can also explore our case studies to learn how SkyeBrowse is deployed in real-world scenarios.
Key Takeaways
Enable video captions (subtitle/SRT recording) on your drone. Use 1080p or higher video and aim your camera downward at a 45-degree angle. Move slowly and avoid getting the sky or horizon in the frame.
Fly an orbit, a grid, or both depending on your scene. An orbit is great for small, focused subjects. A grid covers large areas quickly. Flying both gives you the highest detail.
Upload your video to app.skyebrowse.com using Universal Upload. If you have DJI or Autel subtitle files (.SRT or .ASS), upload those too for automatic georeferencing.
You will get an email in a few minutes once the model is ready.
Before You Fly: Camera Settings
Before you take off, there are a couple of settings to get right. First, enable video captions (also called subtitle recording) on your drone. On DJI drones, you can find this in the top-right settings menu. This records an SRT file alongside your video that contains GPS logs, which SkyeBrowse uses to automatically georeference your 3D model so measurements are accurate right out of the box.
For video quality, aim for a minimum of 1080p resolution. Higher resolutions will produce more detailed models but result in larger file sizes and longer processing times. A higher frame rate like 60 fps is ideal, especially for capturing fine details.
Flight Type 1: The Orbit
The orbit is the most fundamental flight pattern for Universal Upload. It is perfect for small, focused subjects like a single vehicle, a piece of evidence, or a small outdoor scene.
To fly an orbit, position your drone so the camera is angled at approximately 45 degrees downward toward your subject. Then fly a steady circle around the object, keeping it centered in the frame. Let the subject fill about 50% of your viewfinder for a good balance of detail and surrounding context.
For speed, keep it under 15 mph at higher altitudes and around 5 mph when flying lower and closer. The key is to move slowly and smoothly. Avoid shaking the camera, which will produce a blurry model, and avoid capturing the horizon or sky, which will reduce model quality.
For many scenes, a single 45-degree orbit is all you need. If your subject is taller or multi-level and you want to capture more of the sides, you can fly a second orbit at a lower altitude with the gimbal pitched to around 30 degrees. This is optional and only recommended for larger or more complex structures.
Flight Type 2: The Grid
The grid pattern is ideal for mapping large areas quickly. Instead of circling a single object, you fly back and forth in straight lines across the area you want to capture, similar to mowing a lawn. Set your gimbal pitch to around 75 degrees (nearly straight down) to capture the tops of objects and the surrounding environment.
A grid on its own does a great job of producing a quick overhead map. If you need a fast 2D or 3D snapshot of a wide scene, a grid by itself is a solid choice.
Combining Orbits and Grids for Maximum Detail
For the highest quality models, flying both an orbit and a grid is recommended. The orbit captures the sides and angles of structures, while the grid fills in the tops and the broader area. You do not have to record these as one continuous video. You can fly them as separate recordings and upload multiple video files together.
As an example, a full capture workflow for a large, detailed scene might look like this: start with a 45-degree orbit around the primary subject, then fly a grid pattern over the wider area at 75 degrees, and optionally add a lower 30-degree orbit to capture more of the building sides. But again, for a quick map, just a grid works. For a small scene, just an orbit works. Scale your effort to match the scene.
Uploading and Processing
Once your flights are complete, pull the SD card from your drone and head to app.skyebrowse.com.
1. Initiate Upload: Click on "Upload" and select Universal Upload.
2. Name Your Model: Enter a recognizable name for your model.
3. Select Video Files: Click "Browse" and select your video file (.MP4). If you enabled video captions, you will also have an SRT file. Click "Browse" again and select the subtitle file to attach GPS logs. This automatically georeferences your model, meaning you will have accurate measurements without any manual scaling.
4. Multi-Video Upload: If your drone split the recording into multiple files, or if you recorded your orbit and grid as separate videos, you can upload them together. Premium users can upload up to 3 videos at once, and Premium Advanced users can upload up to 10 videos. Just make sure the files are in the correct order.
5. Upload and Process: Click the upload button. Processing takes just a few minutes, and you will receive an email when the model is ready. You can also refresh the page to check progress.
6. Review Your Model: Once processing is complete, you can view your 3D model, 2D map, and sketch drawing directly in SkyeBrowse.
Tips for Better Models
1. Keep the camera pointed down. Avoid capturing distant objects like mountains or the horizon. Irrelevant background detail can - reduce model accuracy.
2. Move slowly and steadily. Camera shake leads to blur, which leads to worse models.
3. Get closer for detail, farther for context. Adjust your altitude and distance based on what matters most for your scene.
4. Use subtitle files whenever possible. GPS logs from SRT files give you automatic georeferencing and accurate measurements.
Conclusion
Universal Upload makes it possible to create detailed 3D models with any drone, cell phone, GoPro, or video recording device. The key is quality video input: keep the camera angled down, move slowly, and choose the right flight pattern for your scene. An orbit for small subjects, a grid for wide areas, or both for maximum detail.
If you haven't already, you can make a free account with SkyeBrowse and create your first 3D model today!
