Introduction
The goal of this report is provide in depth information about three tier of drones choices. The first tier is a hobby and low level commercial tier with a price range between $500 and $3,000. The second tier is a mid-level commercial tier. Drones in this range go anywhere between $5,000 and $10,000. The third tier is a high end commercial tier. In this tier drone prices range between $50,000 and $150,000. Comparisons will be done across the three tiers. In each tier, example platforms will be used to gather information such as range, flight time, sensors, necessary software, and other distinctive characteristics.Platforms
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| Fig 1.0: Hobby Drone Retrieved from Rcgroups |
The specific drone that will be analyzed in this tier is the Walkera MR Drone 5.8G FPV With 800TVL Camera APP Virtual Racing RC Quadcopter RTF. Online, this drone is currently going for $650. A picture of it is shown on the right in figure 1.0.
Next, some details will be given about the Walkera MR Drone. First, it weights only 446 grams. The sensors resolution is only 800 TVL. The remote distance is a partly 800 meters. The flying time on it ranges from 8 to 10 minutes. To fly it remotely, the controller must be connected to an iOS or Android device. Also, it uses the 11V 2200Ah rechargeable battery.
This UAS platform is very well suited for the hobby level. One of its highlighted features is that it can combine reality with the virtual world. This is a single player game which creates virtual obstacles in the sky. Their are three modes in the game: racing, fighting, and gold. In the racing mode, the goal is to race along a virtual track which improves flying skills. Fighting mode is for taking down virtual fighter planes in the sky and shooting all the planes for victory. In gold mode, the object is to collect virtual gold coins by taking a unique flight path in the sky.
The details on the Walkera MR Drone are decent at best. Its main pro is that it is super lightweight and can easily transported. The 800TVL camera has okay resolution. Taking aerial video would work, but it doesn't have a zooming capability. Some objects may appear fuzzy as well. Overall, the Walkera MR Drone is an expensive toy which can be used to capture some aerial footage with medium quality if needed.
Mid-Level Commercial
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| Fig 1.1: Mid Tier Commercial Drone Retrieved from Quadrocopter |
There are many details about the DJ Matrice 600. It weighs 2.77 kg (6.11 lbs). It uses a Lip 6S battery. It can carry a wide range of cameras including Ronin-MX, Arri Alexa, BlackMagic cinema cameras, and many others. The flight time is 15 to 20 minutes with a 5 km range. In calm and clear conditions, the DJ Matrice 600 can travel at speeds up to 40 mph. It is controlled using a remote handheld controller, and it is compatible with the DJI Onboard SDK and Mobile SDK software applications.
Some of the more interesting features include that the battery pack is placed in the front instead of the back which helps with the stability of the drone. It also helps users perform rapid and agile movements with it. It can withstand winds up to 18 mph, and can operate in a wide range of temperatures from 32°F to 104°F. The max charging power on the battery is 180 watts.
The DJ Matrice 600 is a good drone for professional filmmakers to use. It allows for a wide range of high resolution cameras. This drone would work well for a car chase scene because it can move at such high velocity. Also, this would work great for aerial photography because of the high resolution camera and because it can cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time.
High Level Commercial
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| Fig 1.2: High End Commercial Drone Retrieved from Dronelife |
The length of flight can range from 10 to 35 minutes. It cover a range of 10 miles, and can perform LIDAR scanning across that range. It is a heavy drone (18 lbs by itself), but it can also carry up to 50 lbs. It has an incredible 8 rotors. Besides LIDAR, the XactSense Titan is compatible with photogrammetry, thermal, video, and NVIR payloads. Although the drone doesn't come with a camera, many external cameras are compatible and can be easily attached using a stabilization gimbal.
Other distinctive characteristics include that the XactSense Titan can fly up to 180 feet above sea level, not just above the ground. The drone is very large and has a wingspan of 51 inches. The drone is controlled remotely and the controller can be connected to and iOS or Android device. The drone is fairly easy to set up as no tools are necessary to get it to fly from opening it up in the box.
The XactSense Titan is very well suited for any application, but is primarily used for mapping and surveying using LIDAR data because that is what it's built for. It is one of the most expensive commercial drones on the market, and its usage is not very common. Its main highlights area its use of advance software use, and its compatibility to use many different types of cameras.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are countless UAS platforms to choose from. Choosing the right one for a certain job can be a tall order, but hopefully this report will provide a little guidance with that decision. Knowing what job the platform needs to do is the first order of business when looking to buy a drone. Then, the price needs to be taken into account as well. It's important to choose the right platform because it is very easy to overpay for one. There is quite a large difference in price between the three tiers, and they all serve different purposes. Knowing these differences will be useful when shopping for a UAS platform.
Sources
DroneLife. (n.d.). Titan.http://dronelife.com/cms/product/Titan#product_description-tab
Specout. XactSense Titan. (n.d.).
http://drones.specout.com/l/144/XactSense-Titan#Other%20Information&s=4DFm8f
Quadrocopter. DJI Matrice 600 Hexacopter with Ronin-MX Gimbal. (n.d.).
http://www.quadrocopter.com/DJI-Matrice-600-Hexacopter-with-Ronin-MX-Gimbal_p_1597.html
Banggood. (n.d.). Walkera MR Drone 5.8G FPV With 800TVL Camera APP Virtual Racing RC Quadcopter RTF.
http://www.banggood.com/Walkera-MR-Drone-5_8G-FPV-With-800TVL-Camera-APP-Virtual-Racing-RC-Quadcopter-RTF-p-1081066.html
Rcgroups. Walkera MR Drone 5.8G FPV With 800TVL Camera APP Virtual Racing RC Quadcopter RTF .
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?2727025-Walkera-MR-Drone-5-8G-FPV-With-800TVL-Camera-APP-Virtual-Racing-RC-Quadcopter-RTF
Adorama. DJI Matrice 600 Hexacopter with Ronin-MX 3-Axis Gimbal Stabilizer, A3 Flight Controller Included
https://www.adorama.com/djim600rmx.html
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