New variations of Autel’s distinctive, tilt-rotor drone, the Dragonfish, are lastly accessible within the U.S.
The Dragonfish is Autel’s enterprise-minded drone, designed to be extremely sturdy and able to lengthy flight occasions over lengthy ranges. The drones are able to each VTOL multi-rotor and quick winged flight, permitting for the very best of each worlds within the drone trade: one the place drones can take off and land in a decent house (no want for a runway), however that they will rapidly morph into an airplane design to fly for longer intervals of time.
The drones are designed to hold a variety of payloads together with commonplace high-resolution cameras, 50x optical zoom cameras, 12 megapixel wide-angle cameras, 1280×1024 high-resolution infra-red cameras, and laser rangefinders. That each one makes the Dragonfish preferrred for operations together with imaging, surveillance and mapping. The Dragonfish os being utilized in fields together with police legislation enforcement, forest fireplace prevention, electrical energy inspection, site visitors legislation enforcement, coastal protection and smuggling, agricultural monitoring, and extra.
And now, Autel has added for much more variability, launching the Dragonfish Professional and Dragonfish Lite variations of the drone to supply extra worth choices and capabilities for drone pilots. The previous is pricier, however can be appropriate for long-endurance heavy-duty jobs. The latter is compact and light-weight, which could possibly be interesting for drone operators who should be extra nimble.
Listed below are among the many highlights of the Autel Dragonfish drones:
- Tilt-rotor design for VTOL and winged flight
- Flight time as much as 180 minutes
- Payloads as much as 2.5kg (a number of payloads accessible)
- Twin batteries
- Flight ceiling as much as 6000m
However whereas enterprise merchandise, the Dragonfish drones are designed with security and ease of use in thoughts. There’s a one-tap take-off and touchdown functionality, in addition to a straightforward point-and-click person interface, which makes it easy for anybody to function, even for those who’re a comparatively new drone pilot.
Constructed-in security options embody:
- Skill to both land or return to base in case of points reminiscent of lack of GPS sign, lack of operator communications, or low battery energy.
- The lean-rotor system can routinely transition to multi-rotor mode if hostile situations trigger fastened winged flight to stall or turn out to be unsustainable.
- Backup modules for the battery, barometer, positioning system, compass, and IMU.
Right here’s how every mannequin compares:
| Dragonfish Lite | Dragonfish Normal | Dragonfish Professional | |
| Most flight time with payload | 75 min. | 120 min. | 180 min. |
| Payload Adaptability | M1, Z2, T3 and T3H | M1, Z2, T3, T3H and L20T | M1, Z2, T3, T3H, L20T and L50T |
| Weight of drone | 4.5kg | 7.5kg | 14.5kg |
| Max. Takeoff Weight | 5.5kg | 9kg | 17kg |
| Service Ceiling Above Sea Stage | 4000m | 6000m | 6000m |
| Max Payload | 1kg | 1.5kg | 2.5kg |
| Single Battery Vitality | 174 Wh | 277.2 Wh | 822.6 Wh |
The entire drones are made out of powerful carbon-fiber and fiber-glass composite, offering IP43 wind and climate resistance. It could possibly even fly in reasonable wet climate. They are often comparatively simply disassembled ought to it is advisable transport them in a decent house. Autel says it takes simply three minutes to assemble them, with no instruments required.
Which Dragonfish mannequin is finest for you?
Dragonfish Professional: finest for long-endurance heavy-duty jobs
The bigger Dragonfish Professional offers the longest flight time of the sequence, able to flying as much as 180 minutes with payload (the utmost payload capability is 2.5kg).
With a 6000m flight ceiling, it will probably conduct discreet long-endurance surveillance and wide-area mapping.
Dragonfish Lite: finest for pilots needing a compact, light-weight drone
This drone weighs simply 4.5kg (together with two batteries) and has a 1600mm wingspan. Even nonetheless, it will probably carry a payload of as much as 1 kg (2.2 kilos), and might fly for 75 minutes.
The Autel Dragonfish drones will be bought through licensed Autel sellers, which embody Adorama and B&H Photograph.
