A drone-based photometric measurement platform

Abstract

The measurement and characterization of luminaires and lighting scenes is an important part of their design and evaluation process. These measurements often rely on special equipment and generally require manual labor. Our study investigates the possibility of automated lighting measurement using drones, a solution that is gaining popularity in various industrial applications. More precisely, we investigate the possibility of automating illuminance mapping and directional luminous intensity measurement. For this purpose, we present simple models to evaluate the effect of positioning errors on the measurements' performance. Based on these models, we outline the limitations of similar systems, why the lower hollow cone (~10–45°) is ideal for the measurement, and that major uncertainties arise at the height of the luminaire and directly underneath (or above) it. We compare the results to a proof-of-concept prototype device built using commercially available components, experimentally demonstrating our findings. Finally, based on the experiments, we provide guidelines and recommendations for the development of a device capable of in-situ photometric measurement of luminaires.