I’ve recently spent time with some DJI equipment to broaden my understanding of using multi-copters for mapping.
I’ve learned that most ground control programs for DJI drones support the ability to resume a mapping mission after landing to change batteries.
It appears that the ground control programs keep track of the waypoints that are passed, and after landing for a battery change, upload the remaining waypoints for the mission to continue.
I initially thought that handling a battery swap might be something that the ArduPilot firmware might be able to handle. I learned that “resume” capabilities do exist in ArduPilot but they are constrained by requiring the flight controller to always remain powered.
I don’t know what guides the development of QGC or Mission Planner - but it would be a huge benefit to using ArduPilot for mapping if the ground control software supported the capability that’s existed on DJI equipment for more than 5 years now.