Here's what you need to know to keep your ROCK R3 Pro in its best condition for success!
Proper care of your R3 Pro system will ensure it continues to provide excellent data collection. Failure to properly care for your R3 Pro may lead to the need for professional recalibration and/or repairs that often are not covered under warranty.
Handling
- Keep your unit in its protective case with the laser cover on whenever it is not in use.
- Do not store your unit in dusty or humid areas.
- Avoid carrying your unit around when it is attached to the aircraft to prevent drops and spills; take opportunities to decrease the potential drop distance whenever possible (i.e. minimize the distance between your unit and the ground)
- Handle your unit gently; bumps, drops and crashes can have consequences to system alignment and internal structures resulting in the need for professional recalibration and/or repair
LiDAR Lens Care
Dust and stains on the optical window can negatively affect your data capture. DO NOT WIPE A DUSTY OPTICAL WINDOW. Check your lens periodically and if cleaning is necessary, follow the steps below:
- Avoid touching the lens during operations. When not in use, store the LiDAR lens in a clean and dry environment. Use the protective lens cap to prevent dust, scratches, or accidental damage.
- Don’t wipe the lens with a dry cloth, it will scratch the lens.
- Before attempting any cleaning, use compressed air or a blower bulb to blow away loose dust or debris from the lens. This helps prevent scratches during the cleaning process.
- Gently brush the lens surface with a lens brush or a clean, soft brush specifically designed for cleaning camera lenses. Move the brush in a circular motion to dislodge any stubborn particles.
- If there are smudges or stains that cannot be removed with a brush alone, apply a small amount of lens cleaning solution to a microfiber cleaning cloth or lens tissue. Make sure the cleaning solution is designed for lens cleaning and does not contain any harsh chemicals. With the cleaning solution applied to the cloth, gently wipe the lens surface in a circular motion from the center towards the outer edges. Avoid applying excessive pressure, as this may damage the lens coating or scratch the surface.
- If there are persistent stains or marks on the lens, use a specialized lens cleaning solution specifically designed to remove stubborn residues. Apply a small amount of the solution to a clean microfiber cloth and gently clean the affected area.
- Avoid using harsh chemicals or abrasive materials that could damage the sensor's surface.
- After cleaning, use a dry portion of the microfiber cloth or a separate lint-free cloth to carefully dry the lens surface. Ensure that there are no moisture streaks or residue left on the lens.
Camera & Lens Care
- Don’t wipe the lens with a dry cloth, it will scratch the lens
- Use a can of compressed air to gently clean the exterior of the lens. If dirt is sticking to the lens surface you can wipe if off with a soft cloth or tissue paper slightly moistened with lens cleaning solution.
- Use a lens cleanser to clean the lens with a microfiber cleaning cloth or lens tissue.
- If dirt gets behind your camera lens and it is effecting data collection, it will require camera replacement and boresighting/calibration. Contact Support for assistance.
- Do not clean the camera itself with substances containing alcohol, benzene, thinners or other flammable substances.
Weather
- Read this article to learn about weather considerations that may affect your R3 Pro performance in terms of:
- Operating temperatures
- Flying in wind
- Collecting data over snow
Moisture
- The ROCK R3 Pro is not rated for flying in moisture including fog, mist, rain and snow - we recommend flying only in dry conditions to prevent damage to your unit
- If your unit does get caught in wet weather, quickly and safely remove your unit from the environment then:
- Wipe off excess moisture from the housing and place it back in its case with a large size moisture absorbent material (such as silica packets) until it can be opened in a low humidity environment for an appropriate extended period
- Prevention is the best policy so plan to avoid wet weather and environments when using your ROCK hardware