Exploring Innovation: Our New Partnership with ANZU Robotics

I am thrilled to announce our exciting new partnership with ANZU Robotics, a leading American drone manufacturer headquartered in Austin, Texas. This collaboration marks a significant step forward in bringing cutting-edge aerial technology to our customers in a wide array of commercial applications.

ANZU Robotics has garnered attention for its commitment to innovation and security in drone technology. Founded with a focus on creating high-performance drone solutions, ANZU Robotics addresses critical concerns related to cybersecurity and data protection. Their drones are designed to seamlessly integrate into existing workflows by making ease-of-use a priority.

Let’s take a look at a few of their featured products.

Anzu Robotics RaptorAt the heart of ANZU Robotics’ offerings are the Raptor and Raptor T drones. Built on DJI’s trusted technology platform, these drones are enhanced with custom features tailored for professional applications. These solutions include high-resolution cameras capable of up to 56x hybrid zoom and thermal imaging capabilities for the Raptor T model. What sets these drones apart is their freedom from geofencing restrictions, providing unparalleled operational flexibility for users.

Explore the Raptor and the Raptor T drones.

Anzu Robotics Raptor TIn collaboration with Aloft Technologies, ANZU Robotics ensures their drone software meets the U.S. data protection regulations, including encrypted data transmission, rigorous penetration testing, and secure storage on U.S.-based servers, reinforcing their commitment to safeguarding sensitive information.

On a more personal note, I’ve had the pleasure of knowing CEO Randall Warnas for over eight years, tracing back to his tenure at FLIR and our company’s earlier days as Stampede Presentation Products. This longstanding relationship underscores our shared commitment to pushing the boundaries of technological innovation in the AV industry.

Explore the Future of Drone Technology with Us

As we embark on this new partnership, I look forward to exploring the possibilities that ANZU Robotics’ advanced drone solutions can bring to search and rescue operations, inspection projects, and more. Whether you are looking to enhance surveillance capabilities, streamline inspection processes, or innovate in your field, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

For more information on ANZU Robotics’ lineup, please feel free to reach out. Together, let’s embrace the future of aerial technology.

Contact us today to learn more about ANZU Robotics’ drone solutions and discover how we can elevate your operations.

Want to explore more drone innovation? Check out Matt’s blog “Emerging Drone Tech 2024: DJI’s Dock 2“.

Eric Jameson drones BDM

About the Author

Matt Callari

Director of Sales – Emerging Tech

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Check out more of our blog pots on Drone Solutions.

DJI Dock 2: Everything You Need To Know About This Autonomous Drone Nest

What is the Dock?

DJI Dock 2 is a complete remote, autonomous drone-in-a-box platform designed for commercial inspection, monitoring, and public safety applications. Utilizing the Flight Hub 2 web-based interface, users can remotely log into the system and conduct remote sensing operations from anywhere in the world. Additionally, users can live-stream, flight plan, map, and access all the data being collected by the aircraft in real-time, making it an incredibly useful platform for a variety of applications.

Main Features: DJI Nest 2

The DJI Dock 2 comes with 2 aircraft choices, the M3D and M3TD. The M3D series aircraft is designed and built for mapping applications. With the larger main sensor with mechanical shutter, it is well-suited for mapping missions. The M3TD series aircraft differs from the M3D with its thermal camera. Rated at 640×512 at 30fps, it is a powerful tool for public safety and inspection where temperature data is essential to the success of the application.

The box that the aircraft will be stored and charged in, the dock, is rated at IP55 and will have its own power and internet supplied when it is installed. Additionally, it will house a camera and a weather station that can provide real-time weather information.

Challenges:

The main challenges facing DJI Dock 2 are the training, deployment, and regulatory constraints.  Due to the novel nature of drone-in-the-box solutions, there is a notable learning curve when it comes to the successful and effective utilization of the platform. Understanding how to use the Flight Hub 2 software, as well as all its capabilities, does take time to learn, digest, and efficiently apply.

Additionally, properly deploying the dock comes with further challenges. Specific installation requirements must be met for the aircraft to operate nominally. For example, the base it is installed on cannot be more than 3 degrees off, or that it must be specially grounded. Fortunately, installing docks becomes easier once you have completed a few successful installations.

Finally, one of the most limiting capacities for the dock is the regulatory considerations. For an aircraft to be remotely operated, the operator must have a Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) waiver. Without this regulatory waiver, dock 2 will only be allowed to operate if there is a remote operator nearby that can see it. Fortunately, DJI has been working closely with the FAA and has developed a special template that an operator can fill out to obtain a BVLOS waiver. This is called “BVLOS Shielded”, which allows the aircraft to be operated remotely if the aircraft is within 50 feet of something (i.e tree, power line, building, etc).

In Conclusion:

The DJI Dock 2 is an excellent platform purpose-built for remote monitoring and remote data collection. Utilizing the Flight Hub 2 web-based interface, users from around the world can conduct mapping missions, remote monitoring, inspection, drone as a first responder, as well as a host of other applications. Once the regulatory constraints are met, the Dock 2 is ready to scale to any size of operation, providing safe, efficient, and effective data collection empowering users to conduct missions with confidence and ease.

Robert Voorhees
About the Author

Connor Smith

Business Development Manager

Supported Manufacturer: DJI

Emerging Drone Tech in 2024: DJI’s Dock 2

For years, the drone industry has been on a trajectory toward complete autonomy. With DJI’s latest drone tech release, that vision becomes a tangible reality, as their seamless integration of human direction and drone execution brings a new era in efficiency and precision in a variety of applications.

Complete autonomy is a coveted feature within the drone solutions industry, therefore cutting down on labor-intensive manual inspections filled with risks and limitations. Instead, DJI technology can autonomously execute missions, collecting data and reporting back to a command-and-control center, without compromising safety or accuracy.

The latest innovation from DJI – the DJI Dock 2, is built to operate 24/7. The remote drone operation dock houses a Matrice 30, allowing the drone to land, recharge, and execute missions that are programmed through DJI FlightHub 2.

The specific applications that benefit from DJI’s new technology are as vast as they are impactful, specifically in the realm of public safety. From surveillance to search and rescue operations, automated missions are both effective and efficient. Simply put, DJI allows for someone at a computer to instruct the drone to start a mission, complete an inspection, and much more – all from miles away.

M3TD drone techAlong with the new DJI Dock 2, there are two products at the heart of DJI innovation:  the M3D and the M3TD (Matrice 3D/3TD).

The M3D features a powerful zoom camera, tailored for traditional inspection work. Whether surveying cell phone towers for loose screws or identifying broken components, the M3D is a game-changer in the field of infrastructure maintenance.

Furthermore, the M3TD takes thermal imaging to new heights, making it an indispensable tool in public safety initiatives. The ability to detect heat signatures from above is a key component in efficient emergency response scenarios.

Additionally, the DJI Dock 2 boasts a lighter weight than the Dock 1, requiring only 1-2 people to transport the device. The dock also features improved coverage, with a 50-minute maximum flight time.

The future of drone solutions is here and it’s in the palm of your hand – quite literally. We are currently accepting pre-orders for the DJI Dock. Contact your Exertis Almo representative to get started today!

Eric Jameson drones BDM

About the Author

Matt Callari

Director of Sales – Photo, UAV, Retail

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Check out more of our blog pots on Drone Solutions.

Drones in the AV Industry and AV in the Drone Industry: How 2 Markets Interact with Each Other

Two separate markets, Drone Solutions and Professional AV Technology, are converging in ways that promise groundbreaking possibilities. At Exertis Almo, we are at the forefront of connecting these two industries, fostering a connection that will bring innovation to new heights.

Drone solutions, a recent player in comparison to the well-established Professional AV industry, are rapidly growing in popularity and presence. Although the drone market is less mature, its potential is undeniable, especially as these solutions are becoming increasingly common in a variety of applications.

Drone technology is not merely capturing visuals; it’s harnessing data for groundbreaking applications. From creating intricate 3D models to providing temperature readings, drone solutions enable a comprehensive understanding of environments, and the ability to review this collected data allows for proactive issue resolution. control center

A Command and Control Center – a large space equipped with many different screens – allows for the monitoring and control of a drone from an external location. Specifically in public safety applications, this extensive control space is integral for managing drone functions remotely, ensuring efficiency and precision in critical operations.

One growing challenge that we aim to address is the understanding of data – and where it’s going. From command-and-control centers and workbenches to office spaces and beyond, we can help provide a solution that integrates this data flow.

On the flip side, the Professional AV industry, although daunting to some, has a vast customer base. By acknowledging the extensive reach of the AV industry, we hope to unlock new avenues of collaboration with drone technology. Enter Exertis Almo – our mission is to encourage AV integrators to inquire about their customers’ data collection and command and control needs. With applications spanning government, education, public safety, and more, drones can play an important role in the Pro AV ecosystem.

Furthermore, Exertis Almo has recently partnered with SDI, offering training services available to Pro AV customers venturing into the realm of drones. This includes training programs and service support, empowering Pro AV integrators to seamlessly incorporate drones into their offerings.

Learn more about the extensive drone offerings now available at Exertis Almo.

Eric Jameson drones BDM
About the Author

Matt Callari

Director of Sales – Photo, UAV, Retail

Connecting the Dots in the Drone Solutions Category

Oftentimes, AV integrators do not readily understand the connection with Drone Solutions, or why they should be interested. Once they connect the dots, the value proposition is clear, and then it just becomes a discussion at the executive level on how best to move forward. 

The bottom line is that commercial drone use is expanding at an accelerated growth rate, and it is a safe bet that at least 10-20% of an AV integrator’s current customers are already using commercial drones to accomplish a variety of different commercial tasks – purchased through other channels. That would equal anywhere from $50K to $300K or more in annual sales that could be incorporated into an AV integrator’s business, simply by having the conversation with their customer to understand if they are using commercial drones and letting those customers know they could purchase the product from them.

Based on the current state of the market, those customers are in 1 of 2 stages – either exploring the adoption of a drone program or expanding/updating equipment for a current program.  If they are exploring adoption, then an experienced AV integration company that they already do business with and trust can become their go-to source for this new and confusing technology with our help, if needed.  If they are in a product refresh cycle or expanding, then an AV integrator that they already know and trust can provide the necessary product on a consolidated purchase order.

Getting involved in the Drone Solutions category is a low-cost way to enter this new market with significant demonstrated growth and opportunity.  We are here to help AV integrators get their feet on the ground in this area by providing subject matter expertise and content training to help quickly bring an integrator up to speed. 

The Drone Solutions category is meant to provide a one-stop shop for experienced and novice integrators to find relevant manufacturers that have products associated with solutions that their end-users are looking for.  The Drone Solutions category brings together the various relevant drone hardware manufacturers, along with the needed addons like software for data analysis, potential Command and Control options (think traditional AV tech), and associated services, like training, into an environment where they can all be put on one purchase order.

Contact your Exertis Almo account manager today to let them know you are interested in learning more about this exciting opportunity.

Eric Jameson drones BDM
About the Author

Eric Jameson

Business Development Manager

Supported Manufacturer: Autel

Drones In Public Safety: Thermal Benefits and Uses

Introduction

Alongside the dynamic and rapidly evolving technology of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), or drones, are numerous potential applications. An effect of this evolution of technological capability is the adoption of more refined payload technologies. Beyond typical RGB Cameras, the UAS industry is experiencing the incorporation and integration of far more advanced technologies like Multi-Spectral, LiDAR, Infra-Red, Thermal, etc. This translates to greater diversity, utility capabilities, and adoption of these aircraft within developing verticals.

UAS Tech in Public Safety Overview

One of the prominent verticals that receives immediate benefits of the advantages of UAS is Public Safety. With the adoption of UAS technologies, first responders can immediately expand, complement, and enhance their capabilities.

DJI drone thermal imagingThermal

Up front, the immediate obvious use of UAS in public safety is their imaging capabilities. Something as simple as having a camera providing situational awareness can be of immense value in responding to calls. With the reduction in the cost and size of thermal cameras, this benefit is doubled – providing access to additional information.

What Is Thermal and Why Does it Matter for Public Safety?

Thermal imagers measure the emissivity of an object. Emissivity is the measurement of how much heat is radiating from an object. Almost everything on Earth is emissive, and the difference between the temperature of objects is where thermal imaging shines. From a public safety standpoint, this translates to locating lost persons in low light conditions and finding hot spots in firefighting.

Robert Voorhees
About the Author

Connor Smith

Business Development Manager

Supported Manufacturer: DJI

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