News from DJI: Drones Save Lives

Unmanned aerial vehicles have become increasingly popular in the last several years amongst hobbyists. Taking photographs of beautiful sunsets, capturing cinematic videos of sweeping landscapes or racing aircraft competitively against friends have all become aerial shot staples.

However, drones have far more capabilities than just capturing artistic shots and racing.

One unsung, less publicized aspect of drones is their contribution to humanitarian endeavors; the simple ability of drones to save lives. This phenomenon has piqued little significant public interest until now.

The global leader in the manufacturing of drones, DJI, has released verified data concerning incidents where drones have come to the rescue.

The company has compiled cases where DJI aircraft and the aircraft of competing manufacturers have played a significant role in saving lives. Inevitably, far more cases have occurred on a daily basis across the globe but have gone largely unreported.

In one incident in China, a DJI Phantom lowered supplies to distressed people who were standing aloft a mountain of flood-water debris.

Admittedly, with recent advances in technology, there are now more elaborately engineered drones that can be customized for such tasks.

For example, the recently released M200 from DJI is a multi-purpose platform that could be potentially customized for humanitarian purposes.

The M200 models are water resistant with an IP43 rating. The aircraft also has a hot-swappable dual battery system and a 35-minute flight time which helps in conducting longer flights. The aircraft’s safety features include obstacle avoidance sensors facing forward, up and down, as well as an ADS-B receiver for receiving advisory information from manned aircraft close by. Compatible cameras are the DJI XT, X4S, X5S and Z30.

With the Z30 camera the operator can zoom in for a closer inspection of a disaster area. The infrared XT camera can see heat signatures of people in search and rescue scenarios. The M210 RTK is identical to the M210 but has an additional RTK unit which ensures centimeter precision navigation.

A variety of other examples of drones playing a crucial role in saving lives include rescuers in Turkey who deployed a drone to locate a lost film crew – some members of which began to suffer from hypothermia. A pair of kayakers in South Carolina were located during nightfall by first responders using a drone equipped with thermal imaging. In Canada, a drone with an infrared camera helped first responders find people lost in snow.

It is evident with these and other examples, that drones can play a significant role in helping first responders save lives in perilous situations. As more drone aircraft are deployed in these scenarios, more impressive heroic stories like those detailed above will arise.

 

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Top 3 Features of the M200 You Should Know

The new enterprise drone solution from DJI, the M200, has loads of new features for industrial users. Let’s dig into the top 3.

1.) 38-minute flight time (no payload) / 24-minute flight time (full payload)

To support the variety of payloads including carrying up to 2 cameras, the M200 comes with more powerful motors and a new battery system. Similar to the Inspire 2, the M200 features dual batteries for redundancy, ease-of-transport, and more power. There are two options for batteries, TB50 and TB55. TB55 batteries are wider and hold 7660mAh instead of the 4280mAh that the TB50s have. While the TB55’s allow for nearly double the flight time with full payload, they are above the watt-hour limit for transportation on airplanes, which can be important for many drone-flying travelers. Both batteries also have a self-heating encasing so they can handle sub-zero temperatures.

2.) IP43 Ingress Protection

Until now, most drones were at the complete mercy of the weather. They historically cannot handle heavy wine, high levels of moisture, and rain. The M200 changes that. It has an Ingress Protection rating of 43. Ingress Protection ratings are an international standard for measuring the sealing effectiveness of electrical enclosures against foreign bodies (dirt, dust, objects) and moisture. The first digit is the rating for solids and the second digit is the rating for liquids. The “4” for solids means that the enclosure can keep out objects greater than 1mm and the “3” means the enclosure can keep out spraying water less than 60 degrees from the vertical, in other words, rain. This is very important for jobs that must be done in the elements, such as for search and rescue or rain-or-shine inspections.

3.) DJI Airsense

The M200 also has a built-in ADS-B receiver. ADS-B stands for Automatic Dependent Surveillance – Broadcast. ADS-B allows for “real-time precision and shared situational awareness.” It takes ground radar and navigational aids to a whole other level. With this system, pilots can see where other aircraft are in the sky, pinpoint weather and terrain hazards, and even get flight information such as temporary flight restrictions. By 2020, all aircraft operating in controlled airspace will be required to have ADS-B. Incorporating this in drone technology now will keep operators one step ahead and make flight in various environments even safer.

These new features combined with the various other benefits make the M200 platform an excellent choice for safe, intelligent drone flying for everything from industrial inspections to search and rescue.

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Car License for Drones?

On March 22, 2017, global leader in consumer drone manufacturing DJI published a white paper that brings innovative thought-leadership to industry regulation. With the occasional media stories of privacy intrusion or drones being used for nefarious purposes, there is an increasing call for more robust governance.

Currently the US has a registration process, so if for any reason a drone gets into the hands of authorities following an infraction, the registration number can be verified against a database and the owner identified. However, in the case of a real-time incident where the aircraft is aloft, still hovering high in the sky so no registration number or identifier is visible, it would be difficult for authorities on the ground to be able to act.  For example, if a drone flies over a National Park, which is largely prohibited in the USA, and then the aircraft disappears from sight, how is an observing Police Officer or Park Ranger able to determine the culprit?

For this reason, DJI has suggested a unique, real-time solution to identification. Every drone would transmit, by radio, its location as well as a registration or other unique code.

DJI’s idea is that each drone has an inexpensive system on board that broadcasts its location and an identification number so that a person on the ground with the correct equipment can receive the broadcast. The name and address of the owner would not be revealed at that point, hence maintaining the owner’s privacy. Only law enforcement or FAA authorities would have that capability.

Brendan Schulman, DJI Vice President of Policy and Legal Affairs commented, “DJI understands that accountability is a key part of responsible drone use, and we have outlined a proposal that balances the privacy of drone operators with the legitimate concerns authorities have about some drone operations,” he continues, “this is another example of how the UAS industry is innovating solutions to emerging concerns, and we look forward to working with other stakeholders on how to implement the best possible system.”

The FAA was instructed by Congress to develop ways to identify pilots of drones and was given a 2-year deadline to do so. DJI’s white paper is suggesting a workable solution. The system has been likened to cars having a license plate; anyone can see the plate but only authorities can identify the name and address of the owner.

The technology that DJI is suggesting could easily be integrated into drones. For example, DJI’s most recent releases, primarily the DJI Mavic Pro, Phantom 4 Professional, M200 and Inspire 2 (with X5S camera) would all be suitable candidates as could all other aircraft in the DJI fleet.

The technical solution that has been suggested by DJI is relatively simple to implement and if widely adopted by all drone industry manufacturers, could go one step closer to making these flying miracles safer for the whole community.

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What Enterprise Drone had to do with the Mobile World Congress?

Barcelona once again hosted February’s annual Mobile World Congress, a show the organiser’s claim to be the world’s biggest and best mobile industry event comprising of a massive exhibition, an award-winning conference and outstanding networking opportunities. However, among the regular announcements of the latest handsets from the likes of Samsung, HTC, and HUAWEI; superfast 5G networks from mobile phone operators; and keynote speeches from the industry’s leading executives, there was a new player in town. This new player wasn’t an expected guest or in the form factor of a mobile phone but a series of enterprise drone from the world’s leading manufacturer of unmanned aerial technology, DJI. You may ask what exactly a remote controlled flying device has to do with the ‘world’s biggest and best mobile industry event’ but the answer is relatively straight forward and can be found in the device’s application.

DJI’s first fully sealed IP43[1] classified M200 series drones, basically meaning that their enclosure provides protection against objects up to 1mm thick and spraying water, are perfect for cell tower inspections combining DJI’s expertise in both drone-making as well as imaging. The M200 drones are portable with a folding body that’s easy to set up and stow away. It’s also loaded with sensors facing down, up, and forward to help it avoid obstacles but you can add even more sensors to its payload for additional capabilities like thermal imaging.

Aerial inspection at the Telefonica cell tower in Barcelona CREDIT DJI

The drones are also ideal for other tasks such as:

Critical Infrastructure Inspections – such as work near power lines and bridges where inspectors are put at risk from falling from a height or suffering an electric shock. When coupled with a device such as DJI’s Zenmuse Z30 with a 30x optical zoom, inspection work can be done safely from a distance.  The M200 can identify millimeter-sized faults in buildings, roads and bridges in real time, making those operations more safe, efficient and effective.

Image taken with Z30 at x1 CREDIT DJI

Image taken with Z30 at x30 CREDIT DJI

Energy Facility Inspections – maintenance planning can be both costly and time-consuming. The M200 series, especially the M210 RTK with exceptional stability, can be used to capture unparalleled detail of vertical infrastructures, such as wind turbines and offshore oil rigs.

Construction Site Mapping – surveying and mapping often need to be conducted regardless of weather conditions and other external factors. The M200 is a rugged platform designed to handle tough conditions. The M200 gives construction site managers an efficient tool to review progress and workflow, ensuring more efficient use of resources.

Public Safety – when time is of the essence and weather conditions turn foul, first responders require a versatile and reliable aerial platform. Carrying visual and/or thermal sensors, the M200 provides situational awareness of potentially dangerous situations such as fires, searches and natural disasters. Incident commanders can use data collected by the M200 to make smarter and better decisions, protecting life and property while minimising the safety risk to rescue personnel.

“Drones have quickly become a standard part of the enterprise toolkit and industrial users have come to rely on DJI technology to efficiently collect aerial data,” said Paul Guo, Director Enterprise Solutions at DJI. “With the M200 series, DJI introduces a holistic solution designed specifically for these users. We are revolutionizing professional workflows by making it possible to use advanced sensors in various combinations to make sophisticated tasks such as bridge inspections, land surveying and search-and-rescue missions, easier, safer and more reliable than ever before.”

Keep an eye out for one of these devices being used near you in the not too distant future.

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Could DJI M200 make industrial tasks safer?

There are a range of industry sectors that require drones with specially suited capabilities. Cell tower inspections, search & rescue and bridge inspections are just a few examples where general-purpose consumer drones may face challenges, Hence, a safer, more customizable solution is needed. Leading drone manufacturer DJI has launched a new series of drones to make industrial work safer. The M200 series has high-performance motors used with 17-inch propellers to ensure safe, stable flight.

The M200 has a dual battery system which means improved reliability and the batteries are self-heating for use in cold environments. The enclosed design of the aircraft means it can perform exceedingly well in inclement weather. In addition, the pilot can focus on flying by using the first-person feed from a small onboard camera.

The transmission range of the series is 7 km and has a maximum flight time of 38 minutes using two TB50 batteries. This model of battery is also compatible with the Inspire 2. The maximum payload of the series is 2 kg.

The M200 series of aircraft can be used with the DJI GO 4 or DJI Pilot app. When used in conjunction with these apps, the aircraft has the familiar ActiveTrack feature to help keep moving subjects in frame. ‘Point of interest,’ ‘Spotlight,’ and ‘Tripod’ modes together with obstacle avoidance make the M200 particularly useful for conducting inspections. Detailed flight planning can also be performed with the DJI GS Pro app.

The M200 series uses Lightbridge for control of the aircraft and receiving a live stream from the camera to the mobile monitoring device, a tablet or phone.

Quite uniquely in the DJI family of drone aircraft, the M200 has ADS-B built into its DJI AirSense system which enhances safety. This system gives the pilot real-time information about the position, altitude, and velocity of nearby manned aircraft (which have ADS-B transmitters) to avoid potential collisions.

The M200 series can be unfolded and deployed very quickly and is compatible with a range of DJI cameras  – the XT, X4S, X5S and Z30.

There are three important model distinctions in the M200 family.

The M200 itself has a single downward camera whereas the M210 can have a single downward, single upward or dual downward cameras and has additional connectivity ports to support third party sensors and accessories. The M210 will be able to support additional sensors in the future. Finally, the M210 RTK is identical to M210 but has an additional RTK unit which ensures centimeter precision navigation. The RTK unit is built into the drone so you just have to unfold the arms to deploy the aircraft.

Although yet to be released, the M200 series can be used with the DJI Goggles for an all-encompassing FPV visual experience. An 85-degree view from the drone can be seen in full 1080p.

The M200 series is a welcome addition to the DJI family of aerial products and has potential to be embraced by diverse industries for the robust design, innovative features and ability to enhance safety.

 

 

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The Matrice 200 will be going up against…

The DJI‘s latest aircraft Matrice 200, unveiled this weekend at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, isn’t designed for artistic pursuits. Instead it’s intended for professional environments—DJI hopes to see it utilized for structural inspections, mapping applications, search and rescue, and other applications where an unmanned aircraft can come in handy.

The Matrice 200 series’ folding body is easy to carry and easy to set up, with a weather- and water-resistant body, ideal for field operations. It offers DJI’s first upward-facing gimbal mount, opening up the undersides of bridges, towers and other structures to inspection. It is compatible with DJI’s powerful X4S and X5S cameras, as well as the high-powered Z30 zoom camera and the XT camera for thermal imaging. It has a forward-facing first-person view camera, allowing a pilot and a camera operator to monitor separate images on dual controllers. Its safety features include obstacle avoidance sensors facing forward, up and down.

The M200 series comes in three versions:

• M200: The standard Matrice 200 is equipped with one downward-facing gimbal mount.
• M210: The M210 opens up for multiple payload configurations – one single downward facing gimbal mount, two parallel downward-facing gimbal mounts or one upward-facing gimbal mount. The M210 features additional connectivity ports to support third party sensors and accessories. The M210 has the capability to support additional sensors in the future and additional payload can be mounted on top of the aircraft.
• M210 RTK: The M210 RTK is available with D-RTK modules for centimeter-precision navigation.

If you opt for the standard Matrice 200 configuration. It supports a number of removable cameras. They include the Zenmuse Z30, which features a 30x zoom lens and 1080p recording, the Zenmuse X4S, which has a 1-inch sensor and supports 4K, the Zenmuse X5S, a Micro Four Thirds shooter that also supports 4K, and the Zenmuse XT, a thermal camera developed in cooperation with Flir.

If you opt for the M210, which uses the same airframe. You can’t use an upward and downward camera simultaneously. If you do opt for the up-facing camera, you’ll need to install an external GPS receiver, as screwing a gimbal onto the top of the aircraft blocks the internal GPS.

A third configuration, the M210 RTK, is almost identical to the M210 in terms of features. It adds a system that allows for navigation with centimeter precision.

All configurations include redundant inertial measurement units (IMUs), barometers, compasses, and GPS systems. In addition to the forward-facing obstacle detection system, the aircraft also features downward obstacle avoidance and a top-mounted infrared sensor. The Matrice is rated IP43, so it can operate in light rain or misty conditions.

The Matrice 200 has sensors on its front, rear, and top that scan for obstacles and work to prevent collisions. It also has an ADS-B receiver built in. ADS-B is the system used by all manned aircraft, so the M200 will be able to detect when a passenger plane is entering its airspace well before the pilot or sensors can see the actual aircraft.

The M200 has two batteries, giving it 35 minutes of flight time. You can also hot swap the batteries, allowing you to quickly replace a depleted unit without turning the aircraft completely off.

The Matrice 200 will be going up against units like Yuneec’s Typhoon H520, SenseFly’s Albris, Freefly Alta 8, and Intel’s Falcon 8. DJI hasn’t released a price on this unit yet, but says it should be available to purchase in the second quarter of 2017.

 

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