Benjamen D. Miller

Converting DAT Files to CSV

This guide outlines how to use datcon on macOS to convert CYGNSS drone .DAT telemetry files into .CSV files and subsequently visualize them.

1. Install Java if it is not already available on your computer.
2. Download datcon 4.3.0, linked here: DatCon 4.3.0
3. Open Terminal and run java -jar DatCon.4.3.0.jar in the location of the downloaded datcon program.
4. Leave all of the default settings, open the .DAT file you wish to convert, and place it in a new folder.

Finding the Most Recent DAT Files on the Controller

On the DJI controller, open File Manager and follow this path to find the newest .DAT files: File Manager->Internal Storage->Internal Storage->DJI->com.dji.industry.pilot->FlightRecord->MCDatFlightRecords.

After locating the files, move them from the controller to the microSD card so they can be copied to your computer and processed with DatCon.

Once you have a CSV file, you can process it with the Python scripts in the Timestamping repository to add global timestamps and build visualizations.