Hardware and Software Capabilities

Kevin Grover
2025-08-26T21:22:44Z

1. What are the power requirements?

The camera uses a standard 99wh (TSA compliant) V-mount 14.8V battery, that connects via a custom XT60 cord to the camera. You can purchase additional batteries directly from SmallRig.

2. How long does battery last?

The battery will last 4 to 5 hours in the field. The battery should be charged for several hours prior to taking it into the field.

3. Is the device able to charge the attached cell phone?

The camera (qCam) does not need to be charged. However, the battery that connects to the camera will need to be charged. Additionally, once the mobile device is connected to the camera, the mobile device can be charged via the camera.

4. Can I use an iPad instead of an iPhone?

Yes. However, an iPhone is currently preferred, as an iPad would add extra weight to the camera, and this might make it difficult to use for an extended period.

5. Will the qCam or the phone shut off in extreme temperatures (e.g. heat and cold)?

The qCam has a fan built into the system to avoid overheating. The iPhone, however, might overheat or freeze and turn off. If that should occur, please let your phone cool/warm and then pick up where the scan interruption occurred.

6. Does the camera require an active internet connection for any reason?

No. The camera does not require an active internet connection. All data is stored locally on the device, and GPS corrections are run in the cloud as a post-processing step. No real-time internet is required. For data upload, it is recommended that you have a high-speed data connectivity at an office where the camera can connect to Wi-Fi and upload directly. If this is not an option, Looq also supports data download from the camera to a desktop computer where it can be uploaded using a wireless or wired connection.

7. Is the camera both hand-held and mountable?

Yes. While this is a hand-held camera, it is mountable for slower vehicle deployments (~8-10mph).
Handheld collect is what most Looq customers default to capture reliable data:

Pole tags that are sometimes on the opposite side of the road

Bottom of pole that is not visible due to a ditch/vegetation Hybrid collects is where the operator uses an ATV/bike/scooter for driving the span but captures each pole by a quick orbit.

The run-rates Looq sees typically when capturing by foot are ~250 poles/day, and ~450 poles/day for hybrid vehicle/walking. Looq anticipates having software updates in the future that will allow ~20+mph collects with the same hardware.

8. Does the Looq hardware store 270-degree panos on device? What is stored on the device after a capture is performed?

The camera encrypts all sensory data on the device (.lmr file) per capture. This data gets synchronized to the cloud when the camera is connected to a Wi-Fi network. 270-degree panos are not stored on the device; instead, they are created during the qAI cloud processing. Raw imagery and uncorrected GNSS records are stored on the device.

9. What is the resolution?

The qCam provides resolution up to 100MP, available for certain applications upon request.

10. Can you merge multiple point clouds?

Looq intends to support the automated merging of multiple captures. The high-accuracy GNSS module decreases the need for this because captures are automatically positioned correctly globally. Looq also supports the use of external survey field measurement (ground control points) to align captures.