Introduction
Unmanned Aerial Systems or UAS is a quickly growing field that is drastically changing the way data is collected and how things are monitored. Drones can assist in security, disaster or crop management, and countless other applications. For obvious reasons the first question that is asked is which drone is the right drone. This is a very complicated question that has a number of different factors, as a buyer you want to make sure that the drone has all of the features that is needed to do what you desire and not break the bank. Prices can go into the hundreds of thousands it is essential to not get something with unnecessary tech.
Low Level Commercial/ Hobby
There are three tiers of drones that will be discussed, low level commercial, which encompasses hobby drones, mid-level commercial and high-level commercial which does not include the militaries drones. There are a lot of drone manufacturers, DJI, Parrot, 3DR, Hubsan, Trimble and Blade, that is just to name a few. After reading the report below, a hobby drone user or company should be able to decide which is the correct drone to purchase.
When looking at hobby/ low level commercial drones there is an overwhelming amount of choices, and a lot of it can come down be a chevy vs ford preference. Many companies at this level have drones that have similar flight times, range, and sensors. The first hobby level drone that will be discussed is the DJI Phantom 4 Pro, it comes in at just over three pounds and has a max flight time of thirty minutes. At $1,499
The Phantom 4 Pro boasts many class impressive features. The camera has recently seen some upgrades from previous models, and it is capable of 20 megapixels and also able to shoot 4k video at 60 frames per second. The use of titanium and magnesium alloys in this model leave it with more features than the original Phantom 4, without added weight. The Flight Autonomy System used by DJI allows for five direction obstacle sensing and four direction obstacle avoidance. There are three sets of duel vision lens that allow the Phantom 4 Pro to do well flying indoors and in tight spaces while still achieving very capable speeds.
This drone can be controlled at a range of up to 7KM and can reach speeds of up to 31 mph. One of the capabilities of this drone is the Draw feature, which allows the user to draw on the tablet the route that the drone is supposed to fly. The drone will move about at a fixed altitude and in turn the user can focus more on the camera in order to get a more sophisticated shot. This drone also comes standard with infrared capabilities.
The Phantom 4 Pro is what can be considered as the high end of hobby drones, and it is a great option for a low level commercial drone as well. The only issue to be aware of is that the buyer must supply the smartphone or tablet in order to operate the camera. The tech that is used to operate this drone is relatively user friendly and can be figured out in just a few days of flying and tinkering with the system. All things considered this should be the first drone you look at when considering a new low level commercial or hobby drone.
Mid Level Commercial
When moving into the mid level commercial drones there is still a considerable amount of competition. With many hours being put into research to determine the best mid level commercial drone it is hard to look past DJI. There is an emphasis here that many, many other drones were researched extensively. The DJI Matrice 600 Pro is the drone to buy at this price range. First and foremost the M600 is near the low end of the mid level commercial drones when it comes to price, coming in at right around $5000.
The DJI Matrice 600 Pro weighs nearly 21 pounds, which is important to note, due to the fact this drone weighs nearly seven times that of the Phantom 4 Pro. When getting into this level of quality in drones the weight of the models goes up as well due to the increase in tech and batteries required. The M600 Pro has a A300 pro flight controller, a new dampening system has provided increased stability and it is among the best of all multi rotor aircraft. Without additional parts, the M600 Pro is made to fit many cameras and gimbals.
The Matrice 600 Pro has a flight range of 5Km, and a max speed of 40 mph. This model uses the DJI lightbridge 2 which allows for HD streaming, and is essential for having quickly updated aerial imagery. Another feature that is game changing in the D-RTK GNSS, this is a revolutionary highly accurate navigation system that allows for sub centimeter accuracy even in industrial settings that have a lot of magnetic interference.
Without a doubt this mid level commercial drone has the capabilities to effectively produce some of the most accurate and detailed data possible. The Matrice 600 Pro certainly rivals its much more expensive counterparts, which is why it was selected for this review.
High Level Commercial
To be honest, without question this is the hardest platform to find the correct drone to suit your needs. There is competition, but each company chooses to not list prices online, so extensive research is require. Most companies assume that anyone looking for a drone over 30,000 dollars will want to see a demonstration or at the very least consult with a representative over the phone.
The drone that came out on top in the high level commercial drone category is the Trimble UX5 HP. The UX5 HP comes in at right around $50,000 without some optional upgrades. This drone excels in mapping and in surveying. It is also the first drone in this review that is a fixed wing, rather than a multi rotor. It comes in at 6.4 pounds and has a wingspan of nearly 40 inches. The oversized imagining sensor leaves the user with remarkably crisp and clean images shot through a 36 megapixel camera and also allows the operator to choose from a 15, 25, or 35mm lens. The UX5 HP has sub centimeter resolution, which is well within the industry standard.
The GNSS (global navigation satellite system) that is used in this model is so accurate that ground control points can be put in place without actually going on the ground. This eliminates the safety issues of some areas such as open pit mines. Also this drastically cuts down on the set up time, which means money being saved. With just a five minute set up and the drone capable of reaching speeds up to 85 km/h this drone is immediately ready for any job. The UX5 HP can travel up to 52 km and can elevate to heights nearly 5000 meters.
The UX5 HP can be flown in strong winds reaching 55 km/h, along with light rains or extreme temperatures. These features in themselves can save days of work and thousands of dollars. Many other drones are recommended to not fly in high winds because the user will lose control, this model has the power to get the job done.
Another key area to look at is the fact that Trimble is an industry leader in GPS and they have created a user friendly system to get the data taken in the field straight to the computer. The Trimble Business Center Photogrammetry Module was made to work hand in hand with the UX5 HP, meaning there will be no hassle when finishing up surveying projects.
Conclusion
Whether you're a professional or a beginner with UAV's it is important to note that there are many options out there. The options listed above are each in the top of there platforms. It comes down to selecting a drone that will effectively do what you need it to, and this paper was written in the hopes that this will make that process a little easier.
Sources
- http://uas.trimble.com/
- http://www.dji.com/
- http://www.pcmag.com/roundup/337251/the-best-drones
- http://dronelifestyle.com/drone-buying-guide/
- http://uavcoach.com/buy-a-drone/
- http://www.thecoolist.com/7-high-tech-drones-for-sale-today/
- http://drones.specout.com/
- http://myfirstdrone.com/tutorials/buying-guides/best-drones-for-sale/
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