Suggestion for drones for surveying very large areas

Posted by RG on December 28, 2015 at 1:37pm

We need to survey about 23,000+ Hectares of agriculture land and wondering what drone options we got given

(a) We have to survey really large area and small amount of time.

(b) We need to scan whole area say 3-4 times in a 8 months, over the season of crop to record growth.

(c) RGB + NDVI camera is good enough for now.

(d) Drone which is easy to repair, as I am sure there will be many crashes during operations..

Would it make more sense for to assemble it our own given we would need bunch of them, and we would need quick turn around time in case of repair/crash...

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Replies

  • Darius Jack December 28, 2015 at 4:41pm

    @RG,

    to survey about 23,000+ Hectares of agriculture land

    or 23 km x 10 km

    you need real budget

    and manned aircraft

    You get TBs of imaginery saved to process by a powerfull server.

    Since video camera can offer low-resolution imaging (full HD , 4K next year)

    thermal camera - VGA / HD resolution only

    You need to build flying camers array made of low-resolution, middle-resolution and high-resolution cameras, infrared cameras, multispectral cameras - worth about T$100

    (video camera systems by Google's Street Team).

    Your agriculture project is large, very large and deserves funding and support by Indian gov.

    and local Indian universities.

    Business drone has a very milited flight range and time ( 10-20 min)

    so is not fit for your project.

    If you are interested to get professional technology adopted and promoted by UN Agencies (FAO), World Bank, presented at R&D conferences

    just email me.

     

    darius

    manta103g@gmail.com

  • Patrick Duffy December 28, 2015 at 4:21pm

    I use the Skywalker X8 with a high-res camera for FPV and a GoPro for surveying. The GoPro can be controlled through a Raspberry PI connected to the APM flight controller.  With 10,000mAh battery, 1 hr flight time at a 50mph cruise speed. For GoPro survey, the Raspberry Pi is connected to the GoPro through a small WiFi dongle, and the APM then triggers the camera via the camera relay pin connected to the PI. and the PI monitors the GPIO pins with a Python script, and sends commands to the GoPro. Here is a picture:

    3702151564?profile=original

    3702151713?profile=originalThis rig cost around $1000, with the GoPro camera. 

    • RG > Patrick Duffy December 28, 2015 at 4:29pm

      Thats cool. How many acres per hour you think this can cover, assuming 5cm/pixel accuracy.

  • Developer
    Craig Elder December 28, 2015 at 3:59pm

    Precision Hawk and E384 both use the Pixhawk as their autopilot and they are both capable aircraft. Since you are looking to cover a lot of ground then you might want to look at a larger system (and also a larger budget).

    Something like http://www.uasusa.com/products-services/aircraft/the-tempest also uses Pixhawk but it is larger / faster / more robust / higher winds / longer flight times etc. 

    For about the same money you can buy several E384s, a couple of Precision Hawks, or a Tempest.

    • RG > Craig Elder December 28, 2015 at 4:13pm

      Thanks Craig, I like the idea of buying several smaller drones given if big one falls, there is delay in replacement/repair which would not be good for project.

      I also like the idea of using manned aircraft which maybe able to survey full 23000Ha in just 3 hours... which I understand will come with a huge price tag, and may not work out for overall plans for the project.

    • Papa Jeff > RG December 28, 2015 at 4:23pm

      RG,

      I think that you are getting good advice here and regardless of where you go with it, fixed-wing RC or Full Scale

      airplane, just run the numbers of your costs ($$$$$) and then compare to your expected charge to the landowner and you will have answered many questions over and above which Air frame to choose.  Right???

      "Cost vs. income!"

    • RG > Papa Jeff December 28, 2015 at 4:30pm

      Thats true Papa Jeff. It will boil to cost/benefit. Some great suggestions/options here in the forum.

  • Cala December 28, 2015 at 3:40pm

    RG: the most experienced long endurance UAVs builder here that I know is Aerodyca, and they uses Pixhawk as controller, and they have really good prices for they quality. http://www.aerodyca.com/productos

    • RG > Cala December 28, 2015 at 4:06pm

      Thanks Cala.

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