I'm doing some research into search and rescue UAV's and want a day HD and night 640 FLIR camera combo. Looking for something that could be mounted on the 3DR RTF with similar specs to the Hugin 1 X8 http://sky-watch.dk/technical-specifications-huginn-x1.aspx
This seems to be a bit of a holy grail - is there anything commercially available that isnt outrageously expensive?
Replies
http://www.x20.org/m1-d-micro-thermal-ptz-camera
Flir,FPV and laser pointer in one protected package.
Weight 1kg or 2 lbs.
Some BMW cars has a Flir, see link below.
Look for a friend or autoshop or scrap, maybe you find one.
http://www.flir.com/uploadedFiles/CS_EMEA/Application_Stories/Media...
You may wish to examine the Roswell Flight Test Crew's setup for their demonstrator hexacopter. A recent "viewer response" Q&A video outlines the expenses involved in that particular project. Short version, if the manufacturer hadn't donated the medium-wave IR camera module to them, they would have had to shuck out around $10,000 (no, that's not a decimal) to acquire and install it...and that's the least-expensive 640-line module FLIR Systems produces.
The video in question can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSq6NFzai9c
So yes, it can be done, but one either needs fairly deep pockets or a marketing agreement with the manufacturer to put it together. And I don't know of another manufacturer that produces ambient-cooled, medium-wave IR camera modules that are small enough to install on a 550mm hex.
Just my 2p worth. Save up the change for a set of nylon standoffs or something.
(Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with FLIR Systems, nor with the Roswell Flight Test Crew.)