Vendor News

Talon Amphibious – The Chagos Expedition

In May 2018, an expedition to the British Indian Ocean Territory launched to study the distribution of megafauna across the Chagos Archipelago. Melissa Schiele, MSc student from Imperial College London, joined the expedition. Schiele also brought an amphibious drone -- the Aeromapper Talon -- to conduct the surveys. "I was thrilled when Dr. Tom Letessier from Zoological Society of London (ZSL) chose me to help with his drone research as part of the Bertarelli Programme in Marine Science," said Schiele. "Our plan was to survey some of the islands of the Chagos Archipelago to compare distributions of megafauna around islands with nesting birds to islands with invasive rats." To accomplish this task, Schiele researched possible drones. "To our knowledge, no one had a fixed-wing water landing drone," said Schiele. Fortunately for Schiele, there was one such drone that fit the bill -- the amphibious Aeromapper Talon manufactured by Aeromao Inc.  

UAVs and Conservation Efforts

The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) or drones, is gaining traction in the world of ecology and conservation. In marine environments, scientists are testing the feasibility of drones to locate megafauna as well as map large areas. Initial results are promising across the board. Many are looking to drones  to bridge the gap between ground truthing surveys (diving transects, etc.) and large-scale plane based surveys, which cover thousands of kilometers. "In April 2018, I flew to Aeromao headquarters in Canada to learn how to fly our new drones. Aeromao created the Talon - a waterproof fixed-wing drone capable of flying huge distances with the strength, stability and mechanisms of a small plane. With a two-meter wingspan, the units looked impressive. After a week of training and a successful water landing on Lake Erie, I packed up the two drones and flew from Toronto to the Maldives."  

The Chagos Expedition

"Our first deployment and retrieval of the Talon was a success. Plus, we captured our first aerial footage," said Schiele. "The drones were equipped with two cameras. One was on the belly of the fuselage; it took snapshots every second. The other camera was in the clear nose cone. It allowed live streaming of the drone flight to a screen used by the drone pilot. The images proved our original concept worked and we were able to pin point sharks, birds and large fish." Overall, the Talon performed well. There were some small water entry points which is being addressed. We also lost a few days to poor weather. For safety reasons, we did not fly in strong winds and there was little sense flying in rain. By the end of the three-week expedition, we had a suite of images and two drones in need of some TLC. This expedition is just the beginning of a very exciting, international effort into the use of water landing drones for use in marine ecology. We are learning from any mistakes we make and becoming deft at drone mechanics, too," said Schiele.  

About the Aeromapper Talon Amphibious

The Amphibious version of the Aeromapper Talon allows maritime operations by autonomously belly landing on water. Learn more about the Talon Amphibious and shop the entire line of Aeromapper UAVs at Unmanned Systems Source.

Fruity Chutes Offers First Parachute System for the Mavic 2 Pro and Zoom

Introducing the first parachute system for the DJI Mavic 2. Designed by Fruity Chutes, the Mavic 2 Automatic Emergency Drone Parachute is lightweight, easy to use and reliable. Easy to use, operators can pack and load the parachute without the need to send it back to the manufacturer after each use. In addition, the parachute system is reusable. Included in the kit is a small rigger jig which allows operators to easily refold and pack the parachute.  

Proven Technology

The Mavic 2 parachute uses the same technology as the Mavic Pro parachute. To launch the parachute, the bundle comes equipped with the Harrier 40mm parachute launcher. The Harrier features a high-energy compression spring that quickly ejects the parachute out and away from the Mavic 2. With no regulatory or transportation limitations, operators can take the launcher and Mavic 2 with your Fruity Chutes parachute system anywhere. The centerpiece of the parachute system is the Fruity Chutes Iris Ultra Light parachute. Weighing just 0.96oz (27.7g), the parachute can easily work at heavier load weights of 2.4Kg or more. The Mavic 2 bundle includes a high tech integrated nylon printed mount that wraps snug around the center of the copter. As such, there is no need for screws. The mount holds the Harrier 40mm launcher on one side and the automatic trigger system (ATS), battery and optional manual rescue radio receiver on the other side. It provides good clearance between the prop tips and the parachute launcher components. The parachute system is entirely self-contained and does not rely on the Mavic 2 power. As such, it works even if the copter’s battery experiences complete failure. The automatic trigger system (ATS) detects if the drone suddenly falls, rolls or flips. Detection of a fall typically takes just 0.75 seconds, or about 15 feet of free fall. By the time the pilot notices a problem, the parachute is already ejected.  

Shop Fruity Chutes line of parachute bundles at Unmanned Systems Source.

Aeromapper Talon & Pix4DMapper for Less Than $16k

In celebration of its fourth year as an official partner of Pix4D, Aeromao has special offers on Pix4DMapper Aeromao edition and other Pix4D related products. These offers expire December 31, 2018.  

Pix4DMapper Aeromao Edition

The Pix4DMapper Aeromao Edition is a fully featured image processing software package that is bundled with any Aeromapper UAV system. The package includes two perpetual licenses. In addition, this bundled offer provides more savings than if purchased separately. For example, the Aeromapper Talon -- Aeromao's flagship UAV system -- sells for less than $16,000 USD. Now, this price includes the Pix4DMapper Aeromao edition, as well.   

Aeromapper Talon

The Aeromapper Talon is a fixed-wing commercial turnkey UAV system. It is ideal for large area mapping, Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations and optional Post-Processed Kinematic (PPK) for survey-grade results. It includes a wide range of optional swappable sensors: thermal, multispectral as well as surveillance camera packages. Additionally, Aeromao offers stand alone licenses, educational packages or volume discounts in a quick turnaround time. Since 2013, Aeromao has been an official partner and reseller of Agisoft Photoscan and all its related products.  

About Aeromao

Aeromao is Canada's leading UAV manufacturer and developer of the Aeromapper series of turnkey unmanned aerial vehicles. With exports to more than 45 countries since 2012, Aeromao Inc. offers a line of products that adapt very quickly to market demands and to unique client’s applications, where no other UAV manufacturer goes.

Shop Aeromao's line of fixed-wing solutions at Unmanned Systems Source.

AsteRx-i S joins Septentrio’s GNSS/INS product portfolio

 
  • GNSS/INS positioning with 3D attitude: heading pitch and roll
  • Multi-constellation, multifrequency, all-in-view RTK receiver
  • AIM+ interference monitoring and mitigation system
  • High-update rate, low-latency positioning and attitude
  • Small & ultralight IMU (10 grams)
  • Robust calibration for wide temperature ranges
  The AsteRx-i S is designed around demanding requirements for size, weight, power consumption and temperature variation. It is ideal for various applications such as inspection with UAV's, UAS photogrammetry, automation, robotics, and logistics. “We are delighted to broaden our AsteRx-i GNSS/INS solutions range, bringing maximum flexibility and choice to our customers. Whether for direct georeferencing in mapping applications with UAVs, for managing containers in a port or for innovative small robots in agriculture, the compactness, affordability and robustness of the AsteRx-i range allows our customers to focus on their success.” said Francesca Clemente, Product Manager at Septentrio.  

Learn more about the AsteRx-i S and shop Septentrio's entire GNSS/INS product line at Unmanned Systems Source.

Alpha 800 UAV to Support NATO’s Trident Juncture 2018 Exercise

The Spanish UAV manufacturer, Alpha Unmanned Systems will present the Alpha 800, gasoline-powered helicopter UAV, at NATO’s Trident Juncture exercise in Trondheim, Norway. From October 25th to November 7th, a live field exercise will take place, spanning air, sea and land areas of Norway. 45,000 participants from 31 nations are deployed for the event. During the exercise Alpha Unmanned will take part in the Enhanced Logistical Base demonstration, where leading players will show the future of military logistics. Alpha Unmanned Systems will exhibit its Alpha 800 helicopter UAV. The Alpha 800 is a tactical 14 kg gasoline powered helicopter that provides 2.5 hours of continuous flight with a 3 kg payload and 30 km of operating range. It is equipped with the lightest and strongest airframe in its class and a military-grade autopilot with high precision GPS and sensors. It is well suited for surveillance and for the delivery of urgently needed supplies. The Trident Juncture 2018 is an excellent event to carry out complex air operations, and it’s a great chance to highlight the Alpha 800, a reliable UAV platform “Made in Spain” and designed for hard work in challenging and complex environments. Find out more about the Alpha 800 at Unmanned Systems Source.

Aeromapper Releases the Talon Amphibious UAV for Long-Range Maritime Operations

The Aeromapper Talon Amphibious by Aeromao is the world's first fixed-wing drone for commercial maritime operations that can belly land on water or parachute down. With its dual cameras and 20km video link, it’s the perfect solution for observation, data collection and mapping.  

Talon Amphibious

There are very few Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) or drones that safely land on water. Thus the Talon Amphibious, with its watertight design, is a welcome solution for all UAV maritime and freshwater applications. Even better, this amphibious unit is affordable and multi-functional. Plus, true to its fixed-wing design, it offers extended flight time, substantial payload capacity, and extensive range. The UAV is simple to retrieve from the water using a small boat. Or, the operator can land on a beach. With a cruise speed of 60kph, +30km communication range and 2-hour flight endurance, it easily covers vast areas. As such, it saves both money and time. Plus, its internal GPS beacon makes locating and retrieving the UAV easy. The Talon Amphibious is quick to assemble and deploys by hand-launch from the shore or from a maritime vessel without disruption to the GPS system. Its waterproofed fuselage and internal marine-grade components that resist saltwater corrosion, make the Talon Amphibious system uniquely suited to life on the water. There are a range of customization options available for the Talon.  

Tried and Tested

The Talon Amphibious underwent extensive testing in some of the most challenging marine conditions. Original design inspiration for the UAV came from marine ecologist and field biologists. Their work conditions include maritime vessels and remote island locations. And though these locations may appear idyllic, they present many logistical problems and constraints when it comes to gathering data. Scientists needed a UAV which could endure harsh environments such as rain, wind and waves. The Talon successfully completed operations in the British Indian Ocean Territories (BIOT) as part of a scientific expedition led by the Zoological Society of London. This is the first time that a fixed-wing amphibious UAV was used in the UK Overseas Territories. The applications of a water landing unit in marine ecological surveys, fisheries management and maritime surveillance are vast. In addition, an MSc student from Imperial College London piloted and tested the amphibious UAV. He described the unit as: “An incredible tool for gathering vast amounts of ecological and habitat data, safe in the knowledge that we can easily land anywhere near the main vessel or on the ocean. In the tropics, rain clouds can often hit out of nowhere, and with this amphibious UAV, we no longer have to worry about rain water leaking in, either.” Over 25,000 images were collected during the ecological surveys and the scientists were able to analyse the images to calculate the abundances of sharks and birds. Their camera of choice was the Garmin VIRB which allowed for geotagging of each image. The Talon Amphibious is garnering plenty of interest in the research world. Scientists and managers from around the world are looking to implement this maritime solution into their coastal project operations.  

Learn more about the Talon Amphibious and find the entire line of Aeromao products at Unmanned Systems Source.