Waypoint Navigation

Waypoint navigation has moved drones into new sectors such as 3d mapping and photogrammetry. DJI, Walkera, 3DR and Yuneec drones all have waypoints navigation

What Are Drones Used For From Business To Critical Missions

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What are drones used for answered with full list

What are drones used for answered here covering every sector you can think of.  Drones are being used to save lives, environment works, archaeology, farming, property management, mining, construction and much more.

We start by looking at what drones are used for in specific sectors and include some terrific videos along the way.

The drone industry is growing fast and every week we see press releases and research papers on what new areas drones are being used for.

The usage of drones in some of these sectors was originally completed using helicopters and airplanes. However, these are expensive to hire and not always available when they were required.

Using helicopters and airplanes is also very time consuming as they have to fly in from other locations and then do their work.

Along with present uses for drones, we also look at new drone uses, which are still in the experimental and research stages.  Without doubt, you will see hundreds of new uses for drones in the coming years.  There are also some terrific videos throughout this post.

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Introduction To UAV Photogrammetry And Lidar Mapping Basics

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Using UAVs for photogrammetry and aerial LiDar mapping

UAV lidar and photogrammetry imaging applications are increasing rapidly. This is not surprising as using GPS enabled UAVs for aerial surveying is very cost effective in comparison to hiring an aircraft with photogrammetry equipment.  

Because UAVs are relatively inexpensive, organisations will have their own UAV fleet, allowing for rapid surveys over large land areas and infrastructure projects where required. 

With GPS equipped drones, digital cameras and powerful computers, surveys have an accuracy right down to 1 centimeter.

This post takes an overall look at this drone mapping technology. We also take a quick view at the sectors benefiting from using UAVs for photogrammetry and lidar mapping.  We also look at some of the best mapping drones on the market along with the compatible software.

Another closely related sector is using LiDAR sensors mounted onto drones.  It’s another growing sector and you can read further regarding drone LiDAR use here. 

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DJI Inspire 1 Drone Review Including Zenmuse Camera Options

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DJI Inspire 1 Design, Gimbal and Camera Review

This updated DJI Inspire 1 drone review takes a close look at the features, design, gimbal and camera options on both the Inspire Standard and Professional models.

The Inspire 1 has entered new territory in drone innovation, sleek design and patented motor and gimbal engineering.  The Inspire 1 drone is very versatile with various cameras and sensors options.

In this Inspire 1 review, we take a full look at its design, intelligent flight modes, gimbals and many camera options, along with a number of top Inspire 1 videos.  We answer the many frequently asked questions such as the Inspire 1 range, distance, max height, altitude, frequency, sensors, transmission, WiFi, gimbal, camera and much more.

The DJI Inspire 1 is very close to the perfect quadcopter. The Inspire 1 allows anyone to create great aerial photography and filming shots. There are a number of cameras which can be fitted to the Inspire 1.

The latest camera is the Zenmuse Z3 which is the first integrated aerial zoom camera optimized for still photography. Being able to detach the gimbal on the Inspire 1 allows this drone to be used for more than just aerial filming.

For example, the Inspire 1 Pro comes with the Zenmuse X5 gimbal and 4k micro four thirds camera. This Zenmuse X5 gimbal can be removed and the new Zenmuse XT thermal imaging sensor can be attached giving the Inspire 1 real flexibility to provide solutions in many different sectors.

Fire Departments use drones to get an overall view of the area where they are battling a blaze whether it is a building or a forest.   They are also using thermal vision cameras to get information on the heat of a fire or the heat from a fire which has just been put out.

Or, how about attaching the latest Parrot Sequoia multispectral sensor for farming allowing the Inspire 1 to capture both visible and invisible images of crops, vegetation and ground cover.

The Inspire 1 is designed with adaptability in mind.

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DJI Phantom 3 Drone Reviewed And Very Low Prices

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DJI Phantom 3 Review of both the Professional And Advanced Model

In this Phantom 3 review we look at its innovative technology and features which make this drone the most popular on the market. In the past couple of weeks the DJI Phantom 3 has become even better value with lower prices.  Further down this post, I have links to where you can get the best prices for the Phantom 3 Professional, Advanced and Standard models.

Even though, there are newer drones from DJI on the market, the  Phantom 3 nevertheless has everything you would want in a drone.  Many of the top aerial landscape filming on YouTube have been filmed with the Phantom 3.

The Phantom 3 is very powerful, highly responsive and will fly precisely to your commands.  The integrated gimbal and camera greatly assist you to take professional aerial photos and film. Without doubt, the Phantom 3 is very impressive to fly and film with.

This Phantom 3 review with videos takes a close look at the flying and filming capabilities along with its features and improvements.  The Phantom 3 flies longer; has a 4k UHD camera; a new Vision Positioning system; stronger GPS signalling and reliability; a totally revamped remote controller; massive improvement in precision flying with much improved responsiveness and performance from both the quadcopter and camera.

Latest Drones

This post is quite old and while you can still find some Phantom 3 quadcopters available, the latest drones at low prices are pretty outstanding in comparison to the technology in the Phantom 3. You can also visit the DJI home page for their latest DJI consumer drones.

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UAVs In The Lidar Applications Sector Increases Substantially

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Lidar Applications And Systems Using UAVs

The market for lidar UAVs and their applications is growing fast and and will continue to increase over the next decade.  In 2015, the figure spent on drones using Lidar was around the USD 300 million.

However the lidar market is expected to rise to more than $1 billion by 2020. This is an increase of 20% year on year to 2020.

Many still view airborne lidar applications through the use of fixed wing pilot aircraft.  The high cost or renting lidar equipped aircraft, pilots, lidar trained engineers has kept the use of this extremely useful technology pretty much to the minimum.  Only big money and big budgets could afford to use airborne lidar systems regularly.

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Top DJI Matrice 100 Review For Creating New Solutions

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Top DJI Matrice 100 Review

The Matrice 100  drone can be programmed using the DJI Special Development and Guidance Visual Sensing System. This Matrice 100 review looks at the technology, specifications and features of this modular and adaptable programmable sensor drone.

This Matrice drone is designed with the developer in mind. It will  allow developers from all sectors to use the Matrice 100 as a platform to create new hardware and software applications and solve real life problems.

The Matrice 100 is a dual system.  You have the quadcopter and also the guidance visual sensing system as an add on.  It’s ready to fly straight out of the box.  The real benefit is in using the interface between the Matrice 100 and the DJI SDK to create new aerial solutions.

This quadcopter has sensors, a collision avoidance system and has tremendous options to customize. Because the Matrice 100 is highly advanced  and very customizable, it gives developers and engineers flexibility to be creative.   You customize and create solutions using the Matrice 100, the Guidance Vision Sensing System and the DJI Special Development Kit.

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Walkera Technology Top Racing Drones And Aerial Filming UAVs

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Walkera produce top aerial and racing drones

Walkera Technology is one of the top companies for professional aerial and racing drones not just in China, but globally.  Walkera have been very successful in the rc model toys since 1994 with over 50 helicopters and airplanes in their product range.

They have successfully transitioned to become a world class manufacturer of highly innovative and patented quadcopters and multirotors.

Walkera have 2 very strong competencies.  The 1st is their ability to design, engineer and develop new patented aircraft having a very wide range of drones and remote control toys.  Their 2nd strong ability is in the area of mold proficiency in which they use only the highest of precision equipment.

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Top 3DR X8 Quadcopter For Mapping And Aerial Filming

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3DR Robotics X8-M Quadcopter For 3D Mapping

The 3DR X8 quadcopter range is without doubt top notch. In this X8 quadcopter review, we look at this powerful, reliable and easy to fly drone along with its options and uses.  We review both the X8+ for aerial photography, the X8-M for mapping and the Mission Planner software.

What the X8 quadcopter gives you in abundance, is options in its use. It is an autonomous drone which can take off, fly the path you have programmed in and land again.  3DR who are at the forefront in drone innovation have created a very robust platform for both aerial filming with the X8+ or creating sophisticated 3D maps and models with the X8-M quadcopter.

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DJI Ground Station App And Setting Up Phantom 2 Waypoints

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DJI Phanton 2 Ground Station App For Setting Up Waypoint Navigation

The Phantom 2 Ground Station app allows for the setting up of autonomous waypoints. What this means is that your Phantom 2 quadcopter  will fly autonomously from takeoff, then through its programmed points to its destination and also land safely.

It is exciting technology and shows us the potential of drones in everyday life.

The Ground Station app makes complex waypoint flying as simple as a few taps on a screen.  Before trying out waypoint navigation, watch the below DJI Ground Station tutorials a couple of times. Become familiar with the app and go through the below checks before flying using waypoints.

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