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Delair has announced that it will introduce its next-generation professional unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for survey-grade photogrammetric mapping, the UX11, at INTERGEO 2017 in Berlin, Germany. The small fixed-wing UAV combines a powerful integrated onboard system, industry-grade sensors, limitless communication range and PPK centimeter-level positioning. The UX11 carries enough onboard computing power to access and process the pictures, then send them to the operator in real-time. It will run automated quality checks on the images (such as blur detection or overlap checks) to help ensure the operator is acquiring quality data.
The UX11’s redundant communications system includes a proprietary line of sight radio and 3G/4G connectivity between the ground control station and the UAV using a worldwide machine-to-machine pre-paid plan. Building on Delair’s experience with beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations, the UX11 is ready for BVLOS flights with unlimited range and adds a new level of safety with this communication link.
“The UX11 by Delair is the ultimate solution for geospatial professionals that demand large-area mapping with centimeter-level precision,” said Michael de Lagarde, Delair’s CEO. “The UX11 will be capable of using its camera for enhanced safety procedures and even running early-stage pre-processing calculations onboard in real time using photogrammetry and deep learning algorithms. This expedites subsequent steps in the data processing chain for an optimized workflow. With the UX11, everything is done for a clear and efficient user experience.”
The UX11 is lightweight, stable, simple to hand-launch at takeoff and it lands precisely where planned using distance measuring technology. New user-friendly Android mission planning software features innovative features such as support for in-flight camera feedback and live data review. Made to help professionals in GIS, survey, and construction optimize area coverage per flight, the UX11 flies for 59 minutes at 122 m (400 ft) altitude above ground level.
The UX11 is a data acquisition system which can be complemented by data processing and analytics software programs to address a range of commercial applications. The geospatial market will benefit from the ability to create 2D and 3D models and then generate elevation profiles, contour lines, slope qualifications and volumetric estimates with high accuracy and resolution using Post-Processed Kinematic (PPK) data and ground control points.
