Looking for feedback from the community. We currently build unmanned vehicle for military and commercial applications in the USA. Our current commercial units are obviously very similar to the consumer drones.
What if any features are community members looking for in a RTF consumer drone?
We currently develop our systems under IRAD funds so this is not a Kickstarter type program.
Examples:
Multi-Rotor: Longer Endurance, Installed Video Links, Foldable, More payload capability, Ethernet based? Most of these examples are givens.
Fixed Wing: Larger payload capability, longer endurance, etc? We're getting ready to release a fixed wing system with up to 3lbs. of belly and nose mount payload capability.
Maybe the answer is the market is already flooded and there isn't a need.
Any feedback would be appreciated
Best
Bill D.
Comments
Multirotor with 4K video camera, APS or larger sensor, shooting raw with Zeiss glass in a package weighing less than 2 Kg. Flight time of 20 minutes. Good luck.
I agree with Janis regarding the importance of service and SLA. This will increasingly become more important as we are moving away from hobbyists toward general public.
The other trend to observe is Internet of Things. Make the drone internet connected. Create a platform or customize an existing platform where users create their personal drone profiles and manage their drones along with their other Internet Things. Maybe something similar already exists?
- Sonar for terrain hugging
- Camera sensors for stability indoors without GPS (and to augment GPS outdoors)
- Obstacle avoidance.
- 3 Axis Gimbal for multiple Cameras (ability to clip on/off counter weights to maintain balance depending on weight of Camera)
- Stable, smooth video capture
- Built in FPV
Modularity of all components (no visible wiring) - combined with waterproofing....
If you work for military go kill somewhere else.
Long range VTOL Hybrid multicopter / airplane with long range telemetry / control.
OPEN SOURCE is not essentially god thing if aiming at corporate and commercial users. As their period of adaptation and life cycle of system is longer. With open source there is high risk community changes something important for them and their system, especially if custom integrations are in place, is not in working condition or at least cannot be updated. Customization of open source products in long term can be far more expensive than opting for closed source where you have guaranty of compatibility and that your individual requirements will be taken in account or at least solution offered in timely manner before changes happen.
For me as a hobbist, I want a clean, stabilized camera pod for my OctoQuad, Y6 and or Hexa Copter which supports Pan & Tilt for a reasonable price. Too many products out there are crude in design albeit functional. I like the pods seen on commercial and military applications and one DIY Droner has something very close but fall short of supporting a GoPro camera. Maybe a POD which can support both EO and IR would be nice as well.
I haven't foulnd anyone who sells plans or the units for a reasonable price. Tall order,but this is what I want for next Christmas. :-)
One forgets that most overlooked aspect currently lacking in all segments is service. Generally no company offers any SLA. That is what makes it nearly impossible to use commonly available vehicles for real work. You cannot estimate necessary number of drones to have at least 1 operational without guaranteed time it will be repaired or replaced. Take any drone on market, make it corporate grade product on paper and thats it. Even without changes in actual technical reliability.
<50g nano frame
10-15 min flight endurance
60fps HD FPV cam mjpg flow 5.8GHz TX
CV guidance + obstacle detection
opt. payload nightvision 0.01Lx cam or wide IR cam or FullHD recording cam
or lidar or lidar tag
Android based 2.4-5.8GHz dual control GCS, encripted control and video channel
opt. DGPS(RTK) , lidar, smart mount 2.4/5.8 relay w 25 dbm antenn
goal - mapping, smart sensoring, filming, enternainment, etc.
for operation in stright vision
=)
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