Featured News

LIDAR

04 February 2025
By&nbsp;Dillip Rath
In recent years, advancements in drone technology have revolutionized various industries, from construction and agriculture to urban planning and environmental monitoring. One of the most significant breakthroughs is integrating LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology with drones for high-precision 3D LiDAR mapping. This combination enables professionals to collect accurate geospatial data quickly and efficiently, transforming project planning and execution.
<h5>What is LiDAR?</h5>
LiDAR is a remote sensing technology that uses laser pulses to measure distances between the sensor and the target surface. It generates precise, high-resolution 3D models of landscapes, structures, and objects by capturing millions of data points per second. This data is then processed to create detailed digital elevation models (DEMs), digital terrain models (DTMs), and point cloud representations.
<h5>How Drone-Based LiDAR Works?</h5>
Drones equipped with LiDAR sensors fly over an area and emit laser pulses toward the ground. These pulses reflect off surfaces and return to the sensor, where the time taken for the light to return is calculated to determine the distance. By combining this data with GPS and IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) readings, drones can produce highly accurate 3D maps and terrain models.
<h5>Benefits of Drone Surveys with LiDAR</h5>
High Accuracy and Precision: LiDAR technology can capture detailed elevation data, even in densely vegetated areas, with sub-centimeter accuracy.
Speed and Efficiency: Drone-based LiDAR surveys are significantly faster than traditional land-based methods, reducing project timelines.
Access to Hard-to-Reach Areas: Drones can survey areas that are difficult, dangerous, or impossible for humans to access, such as rugged terrains, forests, and disaster zones.
Cost-Effectiveness: Using drones for LiDAR surveys reduces the need for expensive manned aircraft or extensive ground surveys, saving time and resources.
Enhanced Safety: Surveying hazardous locations, such as cliffs, construction sites, and disaster-affected areas, can be done remotely without endangering human lives.
<h5>Applications of Drone-Based LiDAR Surveys</h5>
Topographic Mapping and Land Surveying: LiDAR-equipped drones are used to create accurate topographic maps for infrastructure development, urban planning, and geological studies. The detailed elevation data is essential for engineers and architects designing buildings, bridges, and roads.
Forestry and Environmental Monitoring: Drones with LiDAR sensors help in forest management by mapping tree heights, canopy densities, and biomass. They are also instrumental in tracking deforestation, monitoring wildlife habitats, and assessing environmental changes.
Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Documentation: LiDAR technology enables archaeologists to uncover hidden structures, such as ancient ruins and buried settlements, by penetrating dense vegetation. This non-invasive method helps preserve historical sites while providing detailed insights into past civilizations.
Mining and Quarrying: Drone-based LiDAR surveys are widely used in the mining industry for volume calculations, pit analysis, and terrain mapping. These insights improve resource management and optimize excavation processes.
Disaster Management and Response: In the aftermath of natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, and landslides, LiDAR-equipped drones help emergency responders assess damage, identify hazardous zones, and plan relief efforts efficiently.
Precision Agriculture: Farmers use LiDAR-equipped drones to analyze crop health, soil conditions, and irrigation needs. This technology helps optimize agricultural productivity and minimize resource wastage.
<h5>Challenges and Limitations of Drone LiDAR Surveys</h5>
Cost of Equipment: High-quality LiDAR sensors and drones are expensive, making initial investments significant.
Complex Data Processing: LiDAR generates large datasets that require advanced software and expertise to analyze.
Regulatory Restrictions: Drone operations are subject to airspace regulations, requiring permissions and compliance with local laws.
Weather Dependency: Harsh weather conditions, such as heavy rain, fog, or strong winds, can affect data collection accuracy.
<h5>Future Trends in Drone-Based LiDAR Mapping</h5>
The future of drone-based LiDAR mapping is poised for transformative growth, driven by advancements in technology and increasing demand across industries. Emerging trends include the integration of AI and machine learning for real-time data processing, enabling faster and more accurate analysis of complex terrains. Miniaturization of LiDAR sensors and improved battery life will enhance drone efficiency, allowing for longer flight times and higher-resolution mapping.
Additionally, the rise of autonomous drones and swarm technology will revolutionize large-scale surveying, making it more cost-effective and accessible. As industries like agriculture, construction, and environmental monitoring continue to adopt drone-based LiDAR, its applications will expand, offering unprecedented precision and insights for decision-making. The future promises a seamless blend of innovation and practicality, reshaping how we map and understand the world.
As technology evolves, drone-based LiDAR mapping is expected to become more advanced, accessible, and affordable. Key trends include:
AI and Machine Learning Integration: Automating data analysis to improve efficiency and accuracy.
Miniaturization of LiDAR Sensors: Making drones more lightweight and cost-effective.
Improved Battery Life: Extending flight durations for larger survey areas.
5G and Cloud Computing: Enhancing real-time data processing and sharing capabilities.
<h5>Drone Survey Data Classification</h5>
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/I35TKTlSrYCLXQ3Y6NFnW9CdoP9IT5AUlnzGhCNa.jpg" alt="" width="673" height="448" />
Drone surveys have revolutionized data collection by providing high-resolution aerial imagery, point cloud data, and geospatial insights with speed and accuracy. However, raw drone data needs to be processed and classified to extract meaningful information. Drone survey data classification involves organizing and categorizing collected data into different classes based on features, terrain, and object types.
<h5>Types of Drone Data Classification</h5>
LiDAR Point Cloud Classification: Drones equipped with LiDAR sensors generate dense point clouds that need to be classified into ground, vegetation, buildings, and other objects. This helps in terrain modelling, infrastructure mapping, and forestry analysis.
Orthomosaic Image Classification: High-resolution ortho-mosaic images captured by drones are classified using AI and machine learning algorithms. These images can be used for land use planning, agriculture monitoring, and urban development.
Thermal and Multispectral Data Classification: Drone surveys capture thermal and multispectral data to assess vegetation health, detect heat leaks in buildings, and monitor environmental changes. Classification of this data allows precise analysis in the agriculture, energy, and conservation sectors.
<h5>Useful Applications of Drone Data Classification</h5>
Construction &amp; Infrastructure: Site monitoring, progress tracking, and safety assessment.
Agriculture: Crop health analysis, irrigation planning, and pest detection.
Forestry &amp; Environment: Deforestation monitoring, wildlife tracking, and disaster management.
Mining &amp; Quarrying: Volume estimation, pit analysis, and stockpile management.
By classifying drone survey data effectively, businesses and government agencies can make data-driven decisions, improve efficiency, and enhance operational safety. With advancements in AI and automation, drone data classification continues to evolve, offering new possibilities for industries worldwide.
Drone surveys combined with LiDAR technology are transforming geospatial data collection, offering unmatched accuracy, efficiency, and versatility. From infrastructure development to disaster management, this innovative approach is shaping the future of various industries. As technological advancements continue, drone-based LiDAR mapping will play an increasingly vital role in modern surveying and mapping applications.
With drone survey and LiDAR data processing, we enhance raw datasets into structured, classified outputs, enabling industries like construction, mining, forestry, and urban planning to optimize their operations. By leveraging automation and manual validation, Polosoft Technologies ensures businesses receive highly accurate, reliable, and actionable geospatial insights for improved efficiency and decision-making.
<h5>About the Author&nbsp;</h5>
Dillip Rath is a general manager at <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.polosoftech.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Polosoft Technologies</a> with a passion for crafting compelling and informative content across diverse industries. A keen interest in Geospatial technology, business development, and digital trends, ensuring the content is both insightful and impactful. Polosoft Technologies specializes in delivering high-accuracy <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.polosoftech.com/lidar-drafting-services/point-cloud-classification" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Point Cloud Classification</a>, and <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.polosoftech.com/lidar-drafting-services/lidar-data-processing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Drone Survey LiDAR Data Processing</a> to help businesses make informed decisions.

Transforming Landscapes with 3D LiDAR Mapping

Product News

21 February 2023
<a href="https://www.jouav.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JOUAV</a>, a key participant in the industrial UAV industry, recently launched its latest LiDAR sensor, JoLiDAR-1000, for drones. This state-of-the-art sensor expands JOUAV's robust lineup of high-performance, cost-effective LiDAR sensors, driving continuous advancement in civilian UAV applications such as GIS, surveying, and precision power line inspections.
"We are thrilled to introduce the JoLiDAR-1000, representing a significant leap forward in LiDAR technology for UAV applications," said Lee, the Product Manager at JOUAV. "This new product underscores our commitment to innovation and excellence in providing cutting-edge LiDAR drone solutions that empower our customers to achieve their goals more efficiently and effectively."
<h5>JoLiDAR-1000 - Medium-Range LiDAR Sensor</h5>
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/VHf8OsPz0L7ScmJXbabVQNkKlJhQTylRqhcP7jrO.png" alt="" width="661" height="372" />
Advanced Technology: JoLiDAR-1000 utilizes a 1000m medium-range laser scanner, incorporating full-frequency RTK+IMU fusion technology and laser scanning technology for superior measurement accuracy.
Precision Measurement: Achieving an impressive measurement accuracy of 5mm with a repetition accuracy of 10mm, and a line scanning speed ranging from 10 to 300 lines/s, with a maximum of 7 returns.
Enhanced Detection: With a FOV of 100&deg; and an angular resolution of 0.001&deg;, JoLiDAR-1000 provides a range of 1000m, enabling high-precision detection of objects even at wider distances.
Compact Design: Featuring dimensions of 252mm&times;137mm&times;135mm and weighing only 1.9 kg, JoLiDAR-1000 boasts a compact structure with high integration, facilitating easy deployment and control.
Integrated Technologies: JoLiDAR-1000 integrates mature and highly reliable technologies, including GNSS high-precision positioning system, inertial navigation systems, high-speed data acquisition systems, time synchronization systems, and a 26MP RGB camera, enabling rapid and accurate data acquisition.
Moreover, with streamlined operation processes that eliminate the need for base station setup and ground control points, coupled with high-precision POS solution computation and point cloud fusion capabilities, JoLiDAR-1000 is ideal for a diverse range of applications, including terrain mapping, power line inspection, mining surveying, coastline measurement, emergency mapping, natural resource surveying, immersive 3D modeling, etc.
<h5>Learn More</h5>
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JOUAV Unveils Airborne LiDAR Sensor JoLiDAR-1000

16 February 2024
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<a href="https://wingtra.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wingtra</a>, a leader in drone technology, is excited to announce the launch of its innovative LIDAR drone solution, a significant advancement in drone LIDAR technology. The new <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://wingtra.com/mapping-drone-wingtraone/drone-sensors/lidar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wingtra LIDAR</a> payload integrates the efficiency, ease of operation, and high accuracy of the WingtraOne GEN II drones with a state-of-the-art Wingtra-engineered LIDAR sensor, setting a new benchmark in the industry.
Julian Mackern, Product Manager at Wingtra, expressed his enthusiasm: &ldquo;We&rsquo;re excited to deliver a LIDAR drone mapping solution to our customers, which we&rsquo;re confident will exceed their expectations, cut their costs and headaches, and win them more bids. We&rsquo;re already seeing our first customers comment how surprisingly easy it is to set up, fly and generate a high-quality point cloud. And as always, we keep our promise with the data: high-precision, reliable and repeatable.&rdquo;
Wingtra's solution is already gaining traction worldwide, with customers in various sectors relying on the WingtraOne GEN II for efficient, safe, and frequent mapping for photogrammetric analysis of worksites. The addition of the meticulously engineered LIDAR payload offers an all-encompassing solution, covering everything from the initial discovery phase through to project implementation and infrastructure maintenance.
By integrating a top-tier Hesai scanner, Inertial Labs IMU, and NovAtel GNSS, Wingtra LIDAR dramatically reduces the need for time-consuming post-processing strip alignment, delivering precise terrain information immediately from each efficient flight.
Carlos Femmer, Director of Data Acquisition at HDR, shared his experience testing the Wingtra LIDAR payload: &ldquo;We're seeing [USGS topographical] quality level zero results on hard surfaces, which are quality results. We were able to test the horizontal and vertical strip alignment quality. We looked at both vegetated areas and non-vegetated areas, and it&rsquo;s very clean, it aligns well. There's minimal noise as compared to other LIDAR sensors in this price range and it delivers exceptional overall precision.&rdquo;
Significantly, Wingtra LIDAR also reduces field time, requiring no calibration and initializing in just one minute. The intuitive Wingtra LIDAR app and automated experience quickly build confidence even for those new to LIDAR data capture, saving at least an hour per survey compared to other systems in its class.*
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Leo Liu, Director of Mapping Solutions at Inertial Labs, praised the efficiency of the system: &ldquo;Wingtra LIDAR capture and processing is super efficient. Technically, if you have everything structured, it&rsquo;s literally one click and it&rsquo;s done to get you to that point cloud. In terms of drone LIDAR capture, the goal is that it has to get cheaper and simpler to use. And the good news is that that&rsquo;s happening with Wingtra.&rdquo;
Wingtra LIDAR offers 3 cm (1.2 in) vertical accuracy, verified by lead customers as top of the range from a 60 m (200 ft) flight height. Point density is top of its class, and the WingtraOne GEN II&rsquo;s design and automated flight pattern ensure consistency across different pilots.
Femmer further explained the sophistication of LIDAR data capture and the uniqueness of Wingtra's system: &ldquo;Wingtra&rsquo;s automated LIDAR capture is, in my opinion, better than other systems in this price range. I can send three different pilots to the same location and get the same quality result processing on the back end.&rdquo;
*Note: Strip alignment during post-processing on other drone LIDAR units typically takes a half-hour due to lower quality IMU performance, resulting in misaligned data capture. This, along with initialization and calibration for each flight, consumes flight battery and impacts overall mission efficiency.
<h5>About Wingtra</h5>
Wingtra is a leading drone technology company specializing in the development and manufacturing of high-end drone solutions. With a commitment to innovation, Wingtra continues to redefine the standards of drone technology, providing cutting-edge solutions for a variety of industries.
<h5>Learn More</h5>
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Wingtra Announces Launch of Groundbreaking LIDAR Drone Solution

Trending News

04 August 2023
<a href="https://www.yellowscan.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">YellowScan</a> designs, develops, and builds drone LiDAR solutions for professionals that require performance, robustness, and accuracy.
Offering easy-to-use data collection tools to a wide array of industries, YellowScan&rsquo;s portfolio of hardware and software products provide key insights into the fields of surveying, construction, civil engineering, defense, energy, public-safety, asset management, risk assessment, and more. Each solution is strategically designed to meet the highest industry standards for drone integration.
Founded in France in 2012, YellowScan has grown into a multi-national enterprise focused on innovating the field of drone LiDAR through global partnerships and international collaboration. The company operates with five main offices located in Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific, and facilitates technical and commercial operations via 50+ distributors and resellers worldwide.
&ldquo;The DNA of our company is rooted in global collaboration,&rdquo; says Justin Wyatt, General Manager of YellowScan Incorporated. &ldquo;From the genesis of YellowScan, we wanted to build a company that served the drone market with best-in-class solutions. We recognized that a key component of this would be to incorporate the demands of the global market and would require experts from around the world.&rdquo;
We met up with Wyatt at this year&rsquo;s AUVSI Xponential conference and exhibition to learn more about YellowScan and what sets it apart from other LiDAR providers in the industry.
&ldquo;The drone LiDAR market can be confusing,&rdquo; says Wyatt, who has focused his career on LiDAR and 3D reality capture technologies for over 12 years. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve worked for many companies in this industry, and very few are on a trajectory to truly innovate the space. What organizations and individuals should understand, is that a drone LiDAR solution is comprised of many technological components. These components are produced by various vendors and ultimately need to be integrated together to produce a functional solution. In this sense, most drone LiDAR companies are integrators; they are purchasing these components off-the-shelf and merging them together. Some even work through contract manufacturers to produce the entire solution and are not involved in the design or engineering of the solution at all! YellowScan is different. While we are certainly integrating components, we are also uniquely innovators; designing, developing, and producing our own technological components to be integrated into our solutions. This gives YellowScan the unique ability to lead the industry in the formation of the next generation of drone LiDAR technology.&rdquo;
The most recent example of this manifested in 2021 with the introduction of the YellowScan Explorer; a long-range high-performance drone LiDAR solution. Rather than using an off-the-shelf LiDAR sensor, YellowScan engineered its own proprietary sensor in consortium with AIRBUS and the European Union. Rethinking drone LiDAR and its various applications from the ground up (no pun intended), YellowScan designed a purpose-built LiDAR sensor that boasts a range of 600 m and acquires 500k points per second that is unparalleled in its simplicity from acquisition to data-processing. Customers quickly recognized the advantages in performance the Explorer offered, and users of the solution worldwide have celebrated YellowScan&rsquo;s success in advancing the industry forward.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/yIOQ9QzBooXcjvmAsSahRuAxDmd0bS2QNigX9OoD.jpg" alt="" width="468" height="312" />
YellowScan Explorer. &ldquo;The Explorer is just the beginning,&rdquo; comments Wyatt, &ldquo;In 2023, we will announce our second proprietary product, <a href="https://www.yellowscan.com/products/voyager/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Voyager</a>. With no exaggeration, our next solution will completely revolutionize the drone LiDAR landscape. We encourage organizations and individuals who are interested in this technology to stay-tuned, as this is something that will undoubtedly disrupt drone LiDAR as we know it.&rdquo;
In addition to its unique position as an innovator of the next generation of aerial lidar technology, YellowScan has produced a program for UAV manufacturers that are able to directly engineer their lidar payloads into the final designs of their aircraft, offering seamless compatibility between flight and mapping solutions: Understanding the challenges faced by UAV manufacturers when integrating complex payloads, Yellowscan launched the UAV-Manufacturer Program to revolutionize the industry. Historically, manufacturers have focused on building the best drones while partnering with various payload providers for specific customer requirements. As drone lidar has gained increasingly in popularity, manufacturers face the daunting task of replicating technical integrations from scratch for every new payload and customer. This led to unreliable integrations, a lack of in-depth customer knowledge, and a disconnection from market dynamics. Building a reliable lidar-centric mapping solution required significant time and effort, diverting the manufacturer's focus from their core competency of drone design and development. Consequently, the overall product introduction process suffered, leading to slower time-to-market, reduced brand recognition, and limited customer satisfaction.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/F2aL1BF4cEP05x7FSpYm8KFMxKFxJKZEQmUPAU0y.jpg" alt="" width="638" height="425" />
New for 2023: The <a href="https://www.yellowscan.com/products/voyager/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yellowscan Voyager</a>.
Building a reliable lidar-centric mapping solution required significant time and effort, diverting the manufacturer's focus from their core competency of drone design and development. Consequently, the overall product introduction process suffered, leading to slower time-to-market, reduced brand recognition, and limited customer satisfaction.
<h5>A Solution for the Industry</h5>
To address these challenges and unlock the full potential of lidar-centric mapping, YellowScan introduced the UAV-Manufacturer Program. The program offers a family of ready-to-sell lidar and RGB camera payloads that are designed for quick installation and seamless integration into UAVs. By providing industrial-grade integration solutions, YellowScan enables UAV manufacturers to focus on their core expertise while effortlessly incorporating cutting-edge mapping technology into their drones.
<h5>Benefits for UAV Manufacturers</h5>
<ol>
<li>Faster Time-to-Market: With the Yellowscan UAV-Manufacturer Program, manufacturers can significantly reduce the time required to integrate new payloads into their UAVs. The pre-designed, plug-and-play lidar and RGB camera payloads streamline the integration process, enabling manufacturers to bring their products to market faster than ever before.</li>
<li>Enhanced Brand Recognition: By associating with Yellowscan, a leader in the lidar industry, UAV manufacturers gain a competitive edge and establish themselves as providers of state-of-the-art lidar-centric mapping solutions. The brand recognition boost helps manufacturers expand their market presence and attract more customers.</li>
<li>Smooth Product Introduction: The program's well-structured approach to integration ensures a smooth and efficient product introduction. Manufacturers can confidently offer advanced mapping capabilities without compromising the quality or reliability of their drones, thus earning trust and loyalty from their customer base.</li>
</ol>
<h5>Customer Support and Value Addition</h5>
In addition to the technical benefits, the Yellowscan UAV-Manufacturer Program includes a comprehensive customer support scheme. This scheme empowers UAV manufacturers to provide first-level support to their customers in 80% of cases, using minimal effort and basic geomatics skills. This level of support instills confidence in end-users, fostering stronger relationships between manufacturers and customers.
For more complex operational situations, YellowScan's Level 2 support comes into play. This support system provides expert assistance, ensuring that manufacturers can resolve challenging issues effectively and promptly. The seamless integration of technical support enables manufacturers to offer exceptional service and build lasting relationships with their customers.
<h5>Expanding Reach and Industry Impact</h5>
The success of the YellowScan UAV-Manufacturer Program is evident through its partnership with a plethora of renowned UAV manufacturers worldwide. Collaborations with prominent players such as Quantum-Systems, Censys, and Deltaquad have solidified the program's position as a transformative force in the UAV mapping industry. The program's continued growth and forthcoming partnerships with other major players indicate its wide-reaching impact on the market dynamics.
YellowScan continues to drive new innovations into the world of drone LiDAR. Through its commitment to innovating the space with new technologies, and primary objective of driving that technology through global collaboration, YellowScan is posed to revolutionize the space for years to come.
<h5>Learn More</h5>
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YellowScan Seeks to Revolutionize LiDAR solutions

17 March 2023
Since the early 2000&rsquo;s when drones first came on to the scene, they have significantly evolved in both capabilities and specialties. Of course, drones initially came out of the radio controlled hobby aircraft industry as a way to put a digital camera in the air on an easy to fly aircraft and get a perspective for photographs and videos previously unavailable.&nbsp; Shortly thereafter, it was realized that aerial photogrammetry techniques could be applied to drone technology that allowed the creation of aerial maps and three-dimensional point clouds without the need of a more traditional (and expensive) aircraft and camera.&nbsp; From there, on went the incremental evolution of the technology to include better and larger aircraft that could carry better cameras and more diverse payloads.&nbsp; Generally speaking, the aircraft and the payload sensor were separate devices that really didn&rsquo;t interact with each other but used the same power source and communication control interface.&nbsp; Even though the drone operator still did most of the flying, aircraft have the ability to fly preprogrammed flight paths and detect and not run into obstacles.&nbsp;
The next generation of drones will take advantage of full sensor integration, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to create an autonomous aircraft that will be able to:&nbsp;
1. Define the subject matter that it needs capture.
2. Define the best and most efficient method or route to capture the data.
3. Navigate itself over or around any obstacles and adapt it&rsquo;s flight path as required to complete its mission.&nbsp;
This evolution will greatly reduce pilot workload making the system much easier and safer to operate. It will also improve data collection process by ensuring capture completeness and accuracy.
The first entry into this new generation of drone technology is the <a href="https://leica-geosystems.com/en-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Leica Geosystems Inc</a>. <a href="https://shop.leica-geosystems.com/leica-blk/blk2fly?c1=GAW_SE_NW&amp;source=USA_RC_BRND&amp;kw=blk2fly&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_term=blk2fly&amp;utm_campaign=USA__-__Reality_Capture__-__Branded&amp;cr5=621284425887&amp;cr7=c&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwn9CgBhDjARIsAD15h0BcUefJ6ayJOPXRKo4uKMSzkYpXDBR4-Fyu-WNcJ6Su3yta5y8BbS8aAgsrEALw_wcB" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BLK2FLY Autonomous Flying Laser Scanner</a>.
The BLK2FLY was developed by Leica Geosystems AB in Switzerland and is the culmination of Leica&rsquo;s extensive experience in high precision and precise positioning sensor technology.&nbsp; Leica Geosystems has combined optical imaging sensors, three dimensional LiDAR laser scanning, high precision GPS positioning, high frequency radar detection, and internet connectivity sensors and fully integrated them using artificial intelligence and machine learning with the more common elements of a drone such as the flight controller and communication links.&nbsp;
Let's take a look at the individual components of the BLK2FLY and then see how they are fused together to create an autonomous flying laser scanner.
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The first and most prominent sensor on the BLK2FLY is the LiDAR laser scanner (see image above) mounted on the front of the aircraft.&nbsp; This laser scanner has two internal rotating laser scanners capturing a combined total of 420,000&nbsp; points per second.&nbsp; The scanner field of view is 360 degrees around the lateral axis of the aircraft and 270 degrees along the longitudinal axis of the aircraft.&nbsp; This means that the aircraft is capturing data out to 75 feet (25 meters) in front of, to the sides of, above, below, and slightly behind the aircraft while it&rsquo;s flying.&nbsp; This LiDAR data is not only captured and displayed for the operator, it is also used by the aircraft to map it&rsquo;s environment in real time.
Five onboard digital cameras provide a view to the operator in front of, left, right, above, and below the aircraft.&nbsp; These cameras allow the operator to see what the aircraft sees and define the area of interest for collection.&nbsp; During collection, the aircraft takes a full dome panoramic 8mp image using all 5 cameras every 2 seconds. This panoramic imagery is used to colorize the LiDAR data and provide project visualization back at the office.
The BLK2FLY also has a high precision Real Time Kinematic (RTK) GNSS receiver (i) onboard that can compute the aircrafts position anywhere in the world to within about 3cm (1 inch).&nbsp;
When these three sensors are &ldquo;fused&rdquo; together, the result is what Leica Geosystems calls &ldquo;Grand SLAM&rdquo;.&nbsp; Grand is the RTK GNSS positioning and SLAM stands for Simultaneous Localization and Mapping.&nbsp; In simple terms, the BLK2FLY is very accurately mapping it&rsquo;s operational environment in three dimensions in real time.
The benefit is that Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning can use that internal map to define the area of data that needs to be collected, the most efficient way to collect it, and then automatically collect it while navigating through the environment autonomously without intervention of the operator.&nbsp;
For example, if the aircraft is scanning the roof of a building and detects an obstacle in it&rsquo;s flight path such as some mechanical equipment, power lines, or change in the roof line, the aircraft will deviate either around or over the obstacle automatically to continue it&rsquo;s mission.&nbsp;&nbsp; This autonomy relieves the pilot from the guess work of what might be on the roof that can&rsquo;t be seen from the ground and still collects all of the desired data.&nbsp; Since the BLK2FLY is also scanning slightly behind it as it flies, it is collecting data on the back side of any object that it flies over thus eliminating the need for additional passes over the same object.
If an obstacle is beyond the BLK2FLY user defined parameter go navigate around or over, or the BLK2FLY detects an obstacle behind the aircraft that is not part of it&rsquo;s internal map, the aircraft will stop and the pilot will need take over control of the aircraft.
In addition to obstacle detection / avoidance, there are a lot of additional safety features built into the BLK2FLY such as knowing how much battery is required to return to the launch point or operator.&nbsp; As appropriate, the BLK2FLY will automatically return when it needs a fresh battery.&nbsp; The batteries are hot swapable so the system doesn&rsquo;t completely such down while changing batteries.&nbsp; If the BLK2FLY was in the middle of collection, it will automatically return and resume collection where it left off.&nbsp; Prop guards protect the props in the event there is an object too small (&lt; &frac14;&rdquo;) for the system to detect.
The entire BLK2FLY system is controlled using an Apple iPad Pro running the Leica Geosystems BLK2FLY Live app.&nbsp;&nbsp; The BLK2FLY Live app incorporates standard &ldquo;gesture&rdquo; controls familiar to all smartphone and tablet users.&nbsp; While flying in Live View mode, if you swipe to the right or left on the tablet, the aircraft will rotate right or left.&nbsp; If you &ldquo;pinch&rdquo; to zoom in or out on the video feed, the aircraft will fly forward or backward.&nbsp; If you &ldquo;double tap&rdquo; anywhere in the live view, the aircraft will fly in that direction the number of feet defined in the settings.&nbsp; In the 3D view, if you tap any of the LiDAR points in the point cloud, the BLK2FLY will automatically navigate to that point regardless of where it is in relation to the point.&nbsp; Finally, for those pilots used to &ldquo;joystick&rdquo; controls, the BLK2FLY live app has virtual joysticks on the screen that allow you to use your thumbs to control the aircraft just like traditional joysticks.
To the point however, what is all this cool technology used for?&nbsp;
The BLK2FLY is part of a laser scanning portfolio of products designed to capture and create &ldquo;digital twins&rdquo; of objects and structures.&nbsp; Digital twins are used in all types of industries including Architecture, Construction, Engineering, Manufacturing, and&nbsp; many others.&nbsp; An architectural firm might create a digital twin of a building that needs to be remodeled for example.&nbsp; It is very likely that the building has changed significantly since it&rsquo;s initial construction and is no longer properly represented by it&rsquo;s original blueprints.&nbsp; Laser scanning can be used to quickly capture the building as it currently exist in 3D creating a digital snapshot or twin version of the actual building.&nbsp; The scan data can be quickly rendered into new blueprints then modified as required for the project.&nbsp;
In the case of the Leica Geosystems BLK portfolio, there are currently 5 products.&nbsp;&nbsp; The BLK360 G1 and G2 are tripod based laser scanners that are manually moved from location to location within a structure to capture the area.&nbsp; The BLK2GO is a handheld mobile scanner almost identical to the BLK2FLY used to walk around inside and outside a structure for capturing data more quickly but slightly less accurately than the BLK360.&nbsp; The BLKARC is a robot mounted laser scanner designed to work with a number of robotic carriers to autonomously scan an area where it might be too difficult or dangerous to send a person with the BLK2GO.&nbsp; Finally, the BLK2FLY gets to the exterior surfaces that are too high, dangerous, difficult, or time consuming to take one of the other products.
If the BLK2FLY is any indication, the future of drones is autonomy.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/5PwMTKvYVV3gk75v155tk2saLF8zTXt6gN00QNSA.png" alt="" width="411" height="185" />
<h5>Watch the BLK2FLY</h5>
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<h5>Chris Favel Interviews Bryan Baker of Leica Geosystems</h5>
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&nbsp;

Tech Update: Leica Geosystems BLK2FLY

6 March 2023
By Regardt van Der Berg, LightWare LiDAR
Here's a customer story...
<a href="https://www.specializedroboticsolutions.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Specialized Robotics Solutions</a> (SRS), located in Easton, Illinois, was established in 2021, when Nathan Wagle and Don Onken joined forces to develop autonomous robotic solutions for various outdoor activities.
The idea originated during Wagle&rsquo;s senior year in college, where he was pursuing an engineering degree. At the time, he was employed by a landfill company that sought to automate the surface emission monitoring process. Wagle saw this as an excellent opportunity to enter the robotics field and pitched the idea to local businessman Don Onken, the founder of Onken Incorporated, a major player in the oil and grease recycling industry. Wagle and Onken shared a passion for innovation and automation, making it a mutually beneficial partnership.
Today, Specialized Robotic Solutions offer high-quality robotic archery targets, autonomous mowing platforms, customizable solutions for hauling heavy loads and moving small trailers, and security-based applications.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/h6cWRZyQIceTRHUJu2uc0u5I5sscWiMr3etMvbQK.jpg" alt="" width="452" height="339" />
The heart of SRS's robotic platform is a 4WD autonomous rover driven by four independent 24v motors, with a battery life of up to 14 hours. The rover's large wheelbase, available in 22 to 26-inch configurations, with tires ranging from six to 13 inches, makes it capable of handling any terrain. The rover can carry up to 250 pounds on top, or with a trailer or pin hitch it can pull heavy payloads of up to 1,200 pounds.
<h5>The Problem</h5>
Even though SRS makes the autonomous rover for sale on its website, SRS also uses the rover for field services, such as monitoring surface emissions in landfills. The traditional process of monitoring surface emissions is arduous and treacherous, requiring a human to carry 50 to 60 pounds of hardware and taking 40 to 60 hours a week to complete. With the rover, the process is streamlined, automated, and safer. SRS also uses the rover in remote-controlled and automated archery targets that return to the shooter after long-range shots. The rover even simulates moving animals in shooting scenarios.
Despite its capability to traverse rough terrain, SRS faced challenges in ensuring the rover's safe operation in areas with people, vehicles, and other obstacles. The engineers tried touch sensors, ultrasonic sensors, and radar but found that these technologies were not effective in the field. Ultrasonic sensors only detected obstacles 75% of the time, and touch sensors were insufficient for field use. Radar was useful for mapping around trees and large obstacles, but it couldn't account for moving variables.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/0zFiJGWj5Q2jGAnp2yo0xaaSqbWvmpkBkibNLYEv.jpg" alt="" width="456" height="342" />
&ldquo;While we can map around stationary objects like trees and big obstacles quite easily, the one thing that we cannot account for is the moving variables. If something were to drive in front of the rover, like a truck, we wanted the safety mechanism in place to avoid the obstacle,&rdquo; says Wagle. &ldquo;This is where <a href="https://lightwarelidar.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LightWare</a>&rsquo;s solution really blew us away.&rdquo;
<h5>The Solution</h5>
Specialized Robotic Solutions explored LiDAR and tried 360-degree and 180-degree sensors from two other brands but could not get the performance and functionality they expected from the hardware.
The third time was the charm, as SRS found its ideal LiDAR sensor in the LightWare SF45/B, a 320-degree oscillating microLiDAR.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/1zd7evMIVn6f4SRnd3ElWfJQgci3DRP8tPTGEgJz.png" alt="" width="277" height="275" />
LightWare SF45/B
According to Wagle, "The SF45/B is the best LiDAR we found for our purposes."
The quality of the LightWare LiDAR sensors was impressive, but what won SRS over was the exceptional technical support from LightWare's engineers.
&ldquo;Whenever we had issues with something we wanted to do, the support engineers at LightWare were quick to assist with custom code. Just about everything we could ask for in a LiDAR company is what we get with LightWare,&rdquo; says Wagle. &ldquo;We are also very impressed by the hardware, in fact, the SF45/B&rsquo;s readings were so accurate that we asked LightWare to revise some of the code to decrease the sensitivity just a little bit. The LightWare engineering team impressed us every step of the way.&rdquo;
The team at SRS customized the microLiDAR further by limiting the LiDAR's sweeps to 45 degrees on either side, focusing only on the front of the rover, for more reliable measurements between the two front motors. The LightWare SF45/B helps SRS's autonomous vehicles navigate around stationary and moving obstacles on any treacherous terrain.
Beyond the hardware itself, Wagle says the real value they get when purchasing LightWare LiDAR is in the overall interaction with the business and the engineering team that helps them solve their problems.
<h5>The Outcome</h5>
With a proven track record of success on challenging terrains, the autonomous rover from Specialized Robotic Solutions is now poised to make an impact in the mining and gas pipeline industry.
The team, led by Wagle, plans to use the rover for various applications such as surveying and monitoring. To further solidify their position in the market, SRS intends to significantly increase their fleet of gas emission monitoring rovers to cover hundreds of additional landfill sites throughout the United States.
For those seeking a reliable partner in their endeavors, LightWare offers a team of technical support engineers who view themselves as customer success engineers. Partner with LightWare today.

Company Profile: LightWare LiDAR

Enterprise Drones

12 January 2023
The need for technology that provides accurate distance measurements, 3D modeling, and terrain maps continues to expand. Deploying unmanned Aerial Vehicles to collect imagery and conduct remote sensing offers unparalleled accuracy, and is also a low-cost alternative to manned aerial photogrammetry.
Various sectors&mdash;such as such as construction, emergency services, agriculture, and utilities&mdash;have started to embrace LiDAR systems, because they provide accurate and high-resolution large-scale digital elevation models for almost any environment.
<a href="https://draganfly.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Draganfly</a> recently launched its <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://draganfly.com/lidar/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Long Range LiDAR</a> system with a scanning range of approximately one-half mile. Draganfly&rsquo;s sensor technology can provide accurate distance measurements and improved resolution over conventional photogrammetry methods. Here are industries where Draganfly&rsquo;s LiDAR system is making a difference...
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/bKY2LVMPq4o4ypigWxVzIwMScam4MWbJFiV9qavO.png" alt="" width="630" height="368" />
<h5>Construction and Infrastructure</h5>
Draganfly&rsquo;s LiDAR system helps to streamline infrastructure projects and enhance productivity when building roads, buildings, and bridges. Data collected on this system provides detailed coordinates to produce accurate, detailed three-dimensional elevation maps that help plan the project, as well as help identify potential problems before work begins. The LiDAR system is also an effective monitoring tool to ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget.
According to a research study by <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/lidar-in-construction-market?utm_source=globnewswire.com&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=paid_globnewswire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Global Market Insights Inc.</a>, LiDAR in the construction market is expected to reach a valuation of $1.5 billion (USD) by 2030. Growing government focus on infrastructure developments to enhance the connectivity between states and map various resourceful terrains&mdash;along with a requirement for protecting the public and infrastructure from external factors, such as natural disasters&mdash;will increase the demand for LiDAR technology.
<h5>Agriculture</h5>
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/SjWmqRt0KqLqb8W17PlhH3Q6HN8iK9pb4pGAQBbN.png" alt="" width="618" height="461" />
With an expanding world population, the need for intelligent farming has increased. The integration of Draganfly&rsquo;s LiDAR system is critical for limiting the threat of food scarcity, as it generates detailed maps that can be used to identify areas that need attention. For example, the system can detect areas of low crop yield, identify areas of soil compaction, and detect weed infestations. This information is used to create a plan influencing fertilization, irrigation, and pest-management decisions.
In addition, the LiDAR system can monitor crop health, and determine if changes have occurred. By providing detailed maps of the land and monitoring changes in crop health, the system can help farmers make informed decisions about their practices and maximize their crop yields.
<h5>Archaeology</h5>
In the same way that LiDAR works in farming, LiDAR laser sensors help expedite the speed at which archaeological sites can be mapped out. Something that could take days to accomplish is now done within minutes, and with fewer personnel.
This equipment can easily detect buried archaeological features such as walls, roads, buildings, and other sites of interest. LiDAR helps create digital elevation models, which can be used to study topography and landscape evolution&mdash;providing detailed information about a site without excavation.
<h5>Disaster Recovery</h5>
Draganfly&rsquo;s LiDAR system is a powerful tool for planning and coordinating recovery efforts following a disaster. LiDAR produces a powerful laser pulse to measure distances and create detailed 3D maps, which is essential when examining the damage caused by natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes. The information Draganfly&rsquo;s LiDAR system provides can ensure officials make informed decisions, and that recovery efforts are successful.
<h5>Renewable Energy</h5>
Draganfly&rsquo;s LiDAR system is transforming renewable energy projects. This technology can measure wind speed and direction, terrain elevation, and other environmental factors in renewable energy projects. LiDAR provides a detailed map of the environment and the best locations for projects, such as wind turbines, solar panels, and other renewable energy sources. LiDAR can provide real-time data to optimize the energy output of a project, ensuring the project remains healthy, as well as identify any potential problems.
<h5>Mounting Compatibility&nbsp;</h5>
Draganfly&rsquo;s Long Range LiDAR system is designed to be lightweight and durable, allowing it to be mounted on a variety of platforms. Draganfly&rsquo;s LiDAR system can easily attach to the Draganfly <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://draganfly.com/commander-3-xl/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Commander 3 XL Drone</a>&mdash;a high-endurance, weather-resistant, multirotor UAV designed for easy assembly and rapid deployment. It is capable of drop-and -inch-down systems to transport up to 22 pounds of payload.&nbsp;
<iframe style="width: 676px; height: 380px;" title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XvOlvlFPe6U" width="676" height="380" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe>
Other mounting options for Draganfly&rsquo;s Long-Range LiDAR system include helicopters and other aircraft. It can also be used as a mobile scanning solution when mounted on a vehicle or backpack.
<h5>More About Draganfly</h5>
As more governments and businesses turn to drones, they are looking for sophisticated solutions that are versatile, reliable, and secure. Draganfly has been a leader in the professional drone industry for more than two decades, supporting clients with enterprise drone solutions, contract engineering services, custom software, professional UAV services, and more. In addition to developing cutting-edge drone systems that address real-world problems, Draganfly&rsquo;s products and services can be easily integrated into existing operations to improve business outputs and profitability.
<h5>Watch!</h5>
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Draganfly Long-Range LiDAR System

22 November 2022
By Brad Schmidt&nbsp;
Collecting imagery with uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) is ideal for a variety of applications, including topographic mapping, forestry ground and canopy measurements, powerline corridor mapping, Digital Terrain Model (DTM) generation, high-resolution digital imagery, and orthophoto production, along with support for a variety of other mapping needs.
Historically, aerial surveys were performed only by large, crewed aircraft and not UAVs, due to the size-weight and power constraints of the professional sensor payloads that made them impossible for use on the smaller aircraft. Additionally, it was a challenge for the earlier UAVs carrying basic cameras to meet the requirements for measuring position and orientation with a high enough degree of accuracy to support surveying and mapping requirements, for example when georeferencing a point cloud data set. This meant a network of ground control points needed to be established for georeferencing, greatly increasing the cost.
<h5>Developments in the UAV Industry</h5>
The most rapid development taking place in the UAV industry today is the dramatic improvements witnessed in new and improved GNSS/inertial for direct georeferencing (DG) and imaging sensors purpose built for mapping and surveying from UAV&rsquo;s.
Red, green and blue (RGB) cameras, for example, are continually evolving to hold smaller and lighter form factors, while seeing ongoing improvements in resolution and image quality. Some of these payloads, such as Phase One&rsquo;s iXM 50 and 100 MP cameras are producing results superior to previous generations of medium-format metric sensors being flown onboard crewed aircraft.
Similarly, LiDAR sensors continue to improve with smaller more powerful point-cloud imaging systems. High end, compact, professional mapping LiDARs such as those available from Riegl, YellowScan, and Teledyne Optech, are designed specifically for UAV platforms.
These imaging sensors are integrated with next generation, miniaturized yet full featured GNSS/inertial systems for DG, and can achieve survey-grade accuracy without the use of ground control points. Furthermore, LiDAR systems are now being combined with RGB cameras to produce true color point clouds as the ultimate UAV surveying payload.
All of these advancements can be expertly combined to produce results to meet project requirements including accuracy, cost, and usability.
<h5>Delivering Cost-Efficient, Survey-Grade Data&nbsp;</h5>
Surveyors tasked with collecting and analyzing data from the field can face a myriad of challenges. From inclement weather to uneven terrain, paired with the added inefficiencies of inputting and then analyzing data, a standard survey project can easily extend to several days of work.
Utilizing a UAV to survey an area can be an alternative option to avoid demanding environments in the field. <a href="https://www.microdrones.com/en/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Microdrones</a>, a leader in drone LiDAR and photogrammetry surveying equipment and software for geospatial collection and processing, was challenged to deliver point-cloud data according to updated survey grade standards.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/SJ6hZSOZlrEWNPTDZgBmDxvJktHED95s9fKD8nlf.jpg" alt="" width="699" height="419" />
LiDAR sensors continue to improve with smaller and more powerful point-cloud imaging systems.
Microdrones found a solution by adding high accuracy DG of LiDAR data to their technology stack. DG directly measures the position and orientation of an airborne mapping sensor, such as a digital camera or a laser scanner. This makes it possible to assign a geographical location on the earth to a pixel from a camera image or a digital point from a laser without the need for any ground points or additional measurements referencing the ground. For this level of accuracy, Microdrones turned to <a href="https://www.applanix.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Applanix</a>, a Trimble company. As a prerequisite to implementation, Applanix needed to meet specific requirements to reduce the weight of the hardware, while keeping the accuracy and performance of the inertial measurement unit (IMU).
This integration of hardware and software solutions offered cost and time efficiencies in mobile mapping with UAVs. Microdrones could provide their geospatial customers with a fully integrated system to rapidly capture accurate LiDAR data for surveying, mining, construction, oil and gas, and precision agriculture industries. A simplified workflow involves flying the drone, uploading the data to the cloud for processing, and then downloading the final processed data&mdash;thus making it possible for users to access the most accurate and simplified georeferencing data available via post-mission production. A quick, uncomplicated and inexpensive turnkey solution like this can make it easier and more affordable for surveyors to have access to everything needed for complex surveying work.
<h5>Safety When Surveying in Hazardous Conditions</h5>
Several scenarios exist where the risk posed to a survey crew is significant. One such example is seen in a section of limestone cliffs in France where the natural degradation can generate landslides and falling debris, threatening the land, roads, and people beneath.
Without the ability to map and accurately assess the stability of land formations, the management of this risk currently relies primarily on trajectory analysis. This consists of simulating falling rock masses from ridges to the valley floor, using calculations that consider the size, energy and shape of the material. While this allows for some risk assessment, detailed and correct maps based on high-resolution UAV LiDAR DTM and integrity analysis is required for complete risk analysis.
The configuration and the hazardous nature of the limestone terrain does not allow for crews to operate traditional survey equipment on the ground. Using a UAV LiDAR system enables the rapid generation of cost-effective, accurate DTM and 3D products. In addition, the data can be captured safely in what would be otherwise considered an unreachable area, along with the ability to perform repeat monitoring. This is exactly what L&rsquo;Avion Jaune did when equipping its Multirotor M600 with the YellowScan VX-20 and Applanix APX-20 UAV to map the cliffs in France.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/bWv8Q5MXcFR6nuQciizJLCLblHxNidIvcA0vc4my.jpg" alt="" width="648" height="357" />
L'Avion Jaune Multirotor M600 drone.
L&rsquo;Avion Jaune flew four flights of 15 minutes each to map the entire project area over two days. This operation was carried out at sunrise when the road had little traffic. Checkpoints were then surveyed with differential GPS. The data processing involved computation of georeferenced trajectory, matching flight lines, and point cloud classification.
This allowed L&rsquo;Avion Jaune to optimize the choice of material and work with best practices to collect and process LiDAR data required for high-accuracy mapping in dense vegetation. The flexible UAV deployment of resources allowed the acquisition of dense point clouds (100 pts / m&sup2;) and the generation of a precise and exhaustive DTM. The generation of a 3D model of the cliffs that were overhanging a frequented road was essential for the safety of traffic and people below. The site footprint modeled by the YellowScan VX-20 with Applanix DG inside was 200m high, 300m wide, and 2.5 km long, resulting in a high degree of precision without exposing crews to danger.
<h5>Modern Day UAV Mapping</h5>
Impacting everything from how roads are built to extinguishing forest fires to managing the efficient growth of crops, UAVs deliver important information that can be difficult to obtain otherwise. And, today&rsquo;s technology is making it possible to achieve far superior results to other technologies in mapping and surveying. Using methods like DG combined with multiple sensor integrations, professional survey-grade aerial mapping systems for UAVs are becoming more widely available. This uncomplicated and inexpensive solution is not only practical in the ability to combine light weight equipment specifically designed for airborne hardware, but also more affordable for companies of any size wanting to take on more challenging mobile mapping projects.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/UozWKNIJtJ3HYXZV625b8EKuF6BzWNWVtbDCa5TI.jpg" alt="" width="696" height="366" />
Tree canopy.
<h5>About the Author&nbsp;</h5>
Brad Schmidt is the global sales manager of the UAV business segment at <a href="https://www.applanix.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Applanix</a>, a Trimble company. He has more than 30 years experience in the geomatics, remote sensing, UAV and infrastructure industries. Schmidt holds a Master of Science degree in Physical Geography, with specialization in remote sensing and the geosciences. This article was originally published in the November 2022 issue of <a href="https://www.xyht.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">xyHt</a>.

Drones Deliver Practical and Highly Technical Aerial Surveying

22 September 2022
So much evolving and new tech was showcased at the 2022 Commercial UAV Expo, and one of the highlights for data-collection initiatives was <a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.yellowscan-lidar.com/products/voyager/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The YellowScan Voyager LiDAR.</a>
From Chris Fravel's show report: "The YellowScan High-end LiDAR solution was extremely capable of high-demand data collection missions with a 193-point point density and up to 15 echoes throughout each scan. With its laser scanner&rsquo;s wide field of view, the entirety of the points are oriented towards the ground, meaning no loss of points. This also means 1.5 million points per second will be usable, which would not be the case with a 360&deg; scanner. The best part? The YellowScan Voyager is compatible with just about any enterprise drone platform."
<h5>WATCH!</h5>
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UAV EXPO PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: YellowScan Voyager LiDAR 

1 September 2022
The Emesent Hovermap is an autonomy and LiDAR mapping payload. Acecore Technologies&rsquo; Zoe is an aerodynamic dutch-designed drone that is both wind and rain-resistant.
<a style="color: #ba372a;" href="https://www.emesent.com/hovermap-zoe/">Hovermap-Zoe</a> brings these two together in a seamless integration, providing the robust, compact, and weatherproof Zoe with the power of Hovermap&rsquo;s proven autonomy functions that allow it to fly beyond line of sight and communication range&mdash;even in challenging GPS-denied environments.&nbsp;
<h5>Autonomy in Challenging Conditions</h5>
&ldquo;The Hovermap-Zoe combination takes full advantage of the Zoe drone's ability to fly in challenging conditions, while Hovermap&rsquo;s collision avoidance maintains a safe standoff distance from assets," says Dr. Stefan Hrabar, CEO and co-founder of Emesent. "Zoe&rsquo;s payload capability also allows users to attach a top mount camera to capture high resolution inspection images anywhere.&nbsp;
Hovermap&rsquo;s latest iteration&mdash;Hovermap ST&mdash;has a tough, lightweight, IP65 weather-sealed design to match the Zoe drone&rsquo;s tough exterior and go further into previously inaccessible areas.
<h5>Safer Asset Inspections</h5>
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/yEAfESevuK6D4F1sAHBmCXIQxZVaWUvcfWyWVFLF.png" alt="" width="712" height="401" />
Above: Hovermap-Zoe can carry a gimballed, full-frame, top-mount camera, making it an ideal tool for asset inspection.
Zoe&rsquo;s ability to carry both Hovermap and a gimballed, full-frame, top-mount camera enables the capture of high-resolution inspection images. Hovermap&rsquo;s ability to maintain a safety bubble around the drone allows users to stably and safely maneuver up close to, inside, or underneath assets to map them and capture detailed images.&nbsp;
Together this makes Hovermap-Zoe the ideal tool for the mapping and inspection of complex structures, including sensitive government assets, bridges, communications towers, buildings, and many more. The ability to preview the scan data captured in real-time allows operators to leave the site confident they&rsquo;ve captured everything needed.
Equally capable above ground or underground, indoors or out, Hovermap&rsquo;s plug-and-play design and quick-release mechanism allow it to be easily detached from the drone and used as a handheld scanner, or even mounted to a vehicle, backpack, or pole. This provides the versatility needed to capture data anywhere with a single scanner.&nbsp;
<h5>Autonomy for Access Beyond Visual Line of Sight</h5>
Hovermap-Zoe provides advanced drone autonomy thanks to Emesent&rsquo;&rsquo;s proprietary autonomy algorithms and Wildcat SLAM solution.
SLAM&mdash;or Simultaneous Localization and Mapping&mdash;is used by Hovermap for both mapping and real-time navigation, using range and sensor data to estimate the motion of Hovermap-Zoe. Once this motion has been estimated, the range data can be projected into a common coordinate frame to produce a 3D map and control Zoe&mdash;even in GPS-denied environments.
<img src="https://media.thedroningcompany.com/images/tincy/KEFHP85W123uxLIkJGTRCTXqoUFmaMJ2LZwgQjxp.png" alt="" width="687" height="387" />
Above: Hovermap&rsquo;s ability to provide navigation, even in GPS-denied environments, enables a host of inspection applications, including flying and mapping underneath bridges.
Hovermap builds on the SLAM solution with proprietary drone autonomy algorithms to automate the drone flight, providing collision avoidance, position hold, autonomous flight, and smart return-to-home capabilities in GPS-denied, hazardous, and dark environments. This enables a host of applications such as flying and mapping inside warehouses, underneath bridges, or in underground mines. Hovermap also provides the operator with a real-time view of the area of interest, protecting both the assets and operators.
The application of Emesent&rsquo;s Hovermap solves problems globally and has made significant impacts in the infrastructure, survey, mapping, and mining industries, counting BHP, Rio Tinto, and Glencore among its customers.&nbsp;
<h4 style="text-align: center;">SEE US AT BOOTH #439 AT THE LAS VEGAS UAV EXPO 2022</h4>
<h5>The Future of Autonomy</h5>
Founded in 2018, and based on more than ten years of CSIRO research, Emesent has rapidly grown into a medium-sized business of over 150 employees, and is a world leader in drone autonomy, LiDAR mapping, and data analytics. Headquartered in Brisbane, the company has also opened offices in the U.K. and USA, and has sold its products in over 40 countries worldwide through an extensive reseller network.&nbsp;
Emesent&rsquo;s vision is to be world leaders in autonomous digitization of challenging, hard-to-reach places and assets&mdash;to explore further, understand more, and enable the impossible.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Today, we are just scratching the surface of how drones and robotics can be deployed," says Hrabar. "With constantly advancing technology&mdash;and the ongoing desire to increase efficiency and productivity&mdash;there is a growing interest in more integrated and autonomous systems and operations.&nbsp;
&ldquo;We believe that ultimately the application of robotics, machine learning (ML), and artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to enable full workflow automation. We&rsquo;ll see a combination of multiple autonomous processes, so that the asset itself becomes the autonomous system, with key decisions made by an integrated AI layer optimizing the entire process. Multi-agent, fully autonomous drones and robots will form a pivotal part of the core infrastructure, acting as mobile sensors and constantly collecting and live streaming 4D data to a data management platform, with real-time automated decision making and actions enabled by ML and AI. Digital twins will run thousands of &lsquo;what if&rsquo; simulations per second, analyzing and validating data from multiple sources to identify insights, anomalies, and optimizations. Those outputs will feed back 24/7 to autonomous robots that will set to work to make the changes in the real world, with the whole cycle continuing in perpetual motion.&rdquo;
To keep up to date with <a href="https://www.emesent.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Emesent, visit their website</a>.
<h5>WATCH!</h5>
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