360° VideoDrive Capture

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• Introduction
• Specifications
• Hardware Requirements
• Project Setup
• Mount Camera on Vehicle
• TwinCapture Instructions
• Upload Considerations
• SiteView Results

Introduction

360° VideoDrive is a capture mode that uses a 360-degree camera mounted on a vehicle to efficiently capture large-scale sites at 12-20 mph (20-30km/h), making it ideal for areas too vast to cover on foot.

Watch this video for a quick introduction:

The key benefits of using 360° VideoDrive mode are:

• Quick turnaround time by utilizing GPS for processing.
• Capture 360° as-builts of sites too vast for walks and, too restricted for drones, such as:
  • Expansive & vast construction sites.
  • Miles of linear infrastructure.
  • Utility lines weaving through the wilderness.
  • Extensive rail networks.

Note: This feature is being launched as an "Open BETA," allowing everyone to test it.

Specifications

Here are the specifications:

• Recommended speed: 12-20 mph (20-30 km/h).
• Maximum recording time: 20 minutes. (Record as many times as your SD card allows.)
• Output: 360° Virtual Tour only. (No 3D dollhouse generation.)

Hardware Requirements

Here are the hardware requirements:

• Camera: Ricoh Theta X (Firmware version 2.61.0 or newer).
• Vehicle mount: We recommend using a stable vehicle mount that securely attaches to the vehicle's front hood, roof, or rear side. Buy the Insta360 Dual/Triple Suction Cup Car Mount from this LINK.
• 512 GB SD card: 360° VideoDrive captures require substantial storage space (approximately 10-15GB for a 20-minute capture), so a high-capacity SD card is essential.
• Power supply & extra-long USB-C cables: These are needed to power the camera during extended capture sessions.

Project Setup

Here is how to set up your project to allow 360° VideoDrive mode to work properly:

1. Go to the Map View page at the [your team subdomain].cupix.works site. 
2. Click on the project, then click "Open Project Admin Center".
3. Click on "Project Setup".
4. Under "Project Location", click the Configure button.
5. Toggle "Use Project Origin Coordinates" on.
6. Click the Save button.

Important Notes: 

• Project Admin access is required to access Project Admin Center.
• If you already have Use Project Origin Coordinates enabled, you can ignore the above steps.

Mount Camera on Vehicle

Here is how to mount the Theta X camera to the vehicle using a suction cup car mount:

1. Securely attach the Ricoh Theta X camera to the vehicle using an appropriate mount.
2. Ensure the mount is stable and properly tightened to prevent detachment during movement.
3. Position the camera at a height that optimizes capturing the surroundings while minimizing the focus on your vehicle.
4. Keep the camera within the vehicle’s boundaries to avoid accidental impacts or damage.

Example mounting placements:

TwinCapture Instructions

IMPORTANT: You must update TwinCapture to the latest version in the App Store.

Here is how to enable and start capturing using 360° VideoDrive mode:

1. Open the TwinCapture app on your mobile device.
2. Log in, select your project, and load the relevant settings (if not done already).
3. Tap on the Settings (gear) icon.
4. Tap on "Beta Features".
5. Tap on the toggle to enable 360° VideoDrive. 

   

6. Tap the back arrow (<) in the upper left corner to return to Settings.
7. Tap the X in the upper right corner to return to the main screen.
8. Turn the Ricoh Theta X camera on (if not already) and tap on the Connect 360° Camera button  .
9. Follow the camera connection process until the capture modes appear. ('3D Map' is the default.)
10. Swipe the capture modes from right to left until you see '360° VideoDrive' in grey text, then tap on it.
11. You will now see the '360° VideoDrive' text in blue (1). Tap on the Start button to begin recording (2).
12. Drive around the site for up to 20 minutes, stop the vehicle, and end the recording. Repeat as necessary.

Upload with Cupix Connect

All image files must be uploaded using the Cupix Connect desktop app to ensure seamless uploads.

While 360° VideoDrive mode supports mobile uploads with the TwinCapture app, any files exceeding 5GB in size must be uploaded with Cupix Connect. An error message will appear if the file size limit is exceeded.

Important: A 20-minute 360° VideoDrive typically requires 10–15GB of storage, so please plan accordingly and use Connect when uploading.

SiteView Results

Captured data is automatically aligned using GPS data in the Plan Viewer. Example screenshot:

Note: 360° VideoDrive does not generate a 3D dollhouse; only the 360° Virtual Tour is available for viewing.