What is Photogrammetry?

According to NOAA, Photogrammetry is a method of approximating a three-dimensional (3D) structure using two dimensional images. Photographs are stitched together using photogrammetry software to make the 3D model and other products like photomosaic maps.

How Does That Apply to Drones?

Drones are able to rapidly capture high resolution images spanning great distances across dynamic landscapes. They can collect images of roads, hills, mountains, infrastructure, buildings – essentially any 3-dimensional objects, and turn them into high resolution 3D maps.

Where Does DJI Fit In?

DJI has several product offerings tailored to Photogrammetry applications. The Mavic 3 Enterprise (with the RTK accessory), Mavic 3 Multi-Spectral, Matrice 3D, and M350 with the P1 Payload. Pair these aircraft with the DJI RTK-2 Base Station, and you can conduct accurate centimeter level topographic surveys.

Paired with DJI Terra, you can fly the mission, import the data, hit run, and generate a precise, highly detailed 3D model of whatever you like! Buildings, infrastructure, police accident scene recreation, there are all kinds of ways to utilize 3-dimensional data in real world scenarios.

What are some examples?

Photogrammetric 3D models are used in a variety of applications. Some examples include mining, construction, agriculture, mapping, geology, police investigation, and forestry management. With plenty more to be investigated and discovered. Any place there is a need for 3-dimensional analysis, there’s a high chance that drones and photogrammetry software will be the most efficient and cheapest option!

An example of a processed Model:

If you enjoyed this blog post, check out another of Connor’s blogs on Drones in Public Safety.

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.

At 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.

In 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“.

About the Author

Matt Callari

Director of Sales – Emerging Tech

—-

Check out more of our blog pots on Drone Solutions.

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:

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.

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.

Along 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!

About the Author

Matt Callari

Director of Sales – Photo, UAV, Retail

—-

Check out more of our blog pots on Drone Solutions.