Before you begin
Starting knowledge
- Understand the sensing objective and operating environment.
- Identify trained operators and the relevant site owner.
Equipment & environment
Begin with recorded data and supported simulation. Physical aerial or underwater work needs authorized, qualified operation and a site-specific plan.
No fixed completion time: use the evidence gates below to decide when to advance. Resource links open the botstest directory entry; check its publisher documentation for the exact version and configuration.
Beginner
Match observation needs to vehicle constraints
Decide whether the task needs aerial access, underwater access or another method.
Learn in this order
- Viewpoint, sensor payload and data quality
- Communication, tether or positioning constraints
- Launch/recovery and operating-environment limits
Put it into practice
- Write a mission brief with the required observations and coverage.
- Compare vehicle options without assuming aerial and underwater platforms are interchangeable.
A sensing mission brief and vehicle-constraint comparison.
Ready for the next step when…
Resources for this stage
Explore professional aerial sensing equipment subject to a site-specific, authorized operating plan.
Investigate an underwater remotely operated platform and its tether, sensing and operator workflow.
Compare depth sensing against range, scene, calibration and supported software requirements.
Intermediate
Validate interfaces and mission data
Inspect control and capture behavior before field operation.
Learn in this order
- Autopilot/simulation versions and coordinate frames
- Timestamped sensor capture and calibration
- Abort, loss-of-link and data-loss reporting
Put it into practice
- Use a supported simulator or recorded mission to inspect observations and control interfaces.
- Trace missing data or degraded localization through the mission log.
A simulation/data-validation report and interface inventory.
Ready for the next step when…
Resources for this stage
Study an autopilot ecosystem first in a supported simulation and version-matched development environment.
Explore vehicle-control documentation and simulation before supervised physical operation.
Visualize spatial observations and compare them with model and trajectory outputs.
Professional
Prepare a qualified field handover
Connect mission evidence to a repeatable operating service.
Learn in this order
- Operator qualifications and site authorization ownership
- Equipment inspection and mission review
- Data provenance, acceptance and recovery responsibilities
Put it into practice
- Have the responsible qualified team review a representative mission plan.
- Compare delivered data with the original observation requirements and record gaps.
A reviewed mission dossier and a data-acceptance checklist.
Ready for the next step when…
Resources for this stage
Explore professional aerial sensing equipment subject to a site-specific, authorized operating plan.
Investigate an underwater remotely operated platform and its tether, sensing and operator workflow.
Inspect recorded robot signals and build views that expose timing and system failures.
Common pitfalls
- Skipping launch, recovery and communication constraints.
- Assuming simulation or a development SDK authorizes real-world operation.
Where to go next
Specialize in one vehicle environment before extending the workflow to additional missions.
Explore other field paths →