There are a plethora of UAVs on the market today, each with their own designs and specifications; and with so many available for consumers to choose from it can become a daunting task trying to figure out which one offers the best price for the job that it performs. This report features three different commercial platforms categorized into three different tiers as follows:
- Tier 1: Hobby/low-level commercial (~$500-$3,000)
- Tier 2: Mid-level commercial (~$5,000-$10,000)
- Tier 3: High-level commercial (~$50,000-$150,000)
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| Image 1: DJI Phantom 4 Pro |
Platform: DJI Phantom 4 Pro (Image 1)
Price: ~$1,500
Type: Multi-rotor (4 motors)
Website: http://www.dji.com/phantom-4-pro
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVNO-fib6fg
The DJI Phantom 4 Pro UAV is an upgraded version of the Phantom 4 and features a 1-inch, 20 megapixel camera that is able to shoot 4K/60 fps video and Burst Mode still at 14 fps. It also includes dual rear vision sensors and infrared sensing systems allowing it the ability to detect obstacles in five directions and avoid obstacles in four directions. The lens in the camera is custom engineered and is comprised of eight elements arranged in seven groups. It is also the first DJI camera to utilize a mechanical shutter which in turn eliminates rolling shutter distortion.
The Phantom 4 Pro features a maximum flight time of 30 minutes with an advanced battery system that prevents overcharging and over draining. The maximum transmission range is 4.3 miles, made possible by the new DJI Lightbridge HD video transmission technology. The Phantom 4 Pro offers three flight modes including Position Mode, Sport Mode, and Atti Mode, each with its own unique capabilities.
Position Mode activates TapFly, ActiveTrack, and optical sensing and positioning features. Sport Mode boosts agility and increases speed to a max of 45 mph. Atti Mode holds the UAV's altitude by switching off satellite stabilization. Along with these modes is also Tripod Mode which limits the speed to the Pro 4 to just 4 mph for greater precision and indoor flying.
The remote controller, as seen on the lower right hand side of Image 1, is equipped with 5.5 inch 1080p screen and is more than twice as bright as typical smart devices. On top of that, it has a five-hour battery life and the DJI GO app built into the screen which allows users to edit and share instantly.
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| Image 2: Freefly Alta 8 |
Tier 2
Platform: Freefly Alta 8 (Image 2)
Price: ~$17,495
Type: Multi-rotor (8 motors)
Website: http://freeflysystems.com/alta-8
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1CVh0H87Rk
With an optimized propulsion system and a lightweight carbon frame, the Alta 8, used for filming high quality video, is capable of having flight times maxing out at around 34 minutes with exceptional payloads as well. Monitoring and analyzing the performance of this UAV is made easy with the high speed data logging on a micro SD card.
The Alta 8 is very portable and folds to 50% of its operating size, making it the most packable drone of its class and can be unpacked and ready to use within minutes. This platform introduces SkyView, the first multi-rotor to accept a camera on top of the airframe. The Alta 8 is weather resistant thanks to the flight control and power distribution board being enclosed by lightweight molded plastic.
Complex flight patterns can be executed with greater ease thanks to high quality calibrated sensors combining with proprietary control algorithms. Using the latest GPS technology and combining it with Freefly's IMU and Barometer, this unit can hold its position in less than ideal weather conditions. Freefly has also made available the ALTA mobile app which gives pilots easy access to flight information.
Tier 3
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| Image 3: Delair Tech DT-26X |
Platform: Delair Tech DT-26X (Image 3)
Price: ~$121,338
Type: Fixed wing
Website: http://www.delair-tech.com/uav-dt26x/
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvRA8aWttq4
The DT-26X has a number of applications in different areas including geomatics, day and night security surveillance, mines and quarries, power and utilities, oil and gas, railways and roads, environment and forestry, and emergency mapping. It has a maximum flight time of 2.5 hours and a range of up to 150 km. The base thermal video sensor is an EO/IR gyrostabilised system with Optical zoom x10.
This platform comes with the option of implementing a variety of different packages including Surveillance, PPK (for high accuracy mapping), Mapper (photogrammetry package for large-scale mapping), and LiDAR packages. It has 2 cm accuracy and a coverage area of 9 square kilometers. It can be ready to deploy under 10 minutes, is launched with a catapult, and includes an emergency parachute system as well. The DT-26X can reach speeds up to 50 km/h and can resist wind speeds of up to 75 km/h.
Options for the this UAV unit include:
- Survey-grade sensors that include RGB, multispectral, and LiDAR
- Advanced surveillance sensors
- Telecom accessories including ultra-long range antennas, 3G, 4G, and satellites
- Rugged case for transportation
- Pix4D software and Correlator 3D software for smooth data-processing
- Services such as warranty extensions and on-site training
Sources
Phantom 4 image (image 1):
https://www.heliguy.com/blog/2016/04/07/phantom-4-versus-phantom-3-pro/
Alta 8 image (image 2):
http://store.freeflysystems.com/products/freefly-alta8
DT-26X image (image 3)/DT-26X website:
http://www.delair-tech.com/uav-dt26x/
Phantom 4 website:
http://www.dji.com/phantom-4-pro
Alta 8 website:
http://freeflysystems.com/alta-8
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