Which drone for surveillance is the best? We’ve broken down the top options for the best aerial gear and technology for monitoring operations, people, and priceless assets from above. FLOWPAKISTAN selected Easy Aerial SAMS.
One of the fastest-growing segments of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) market is security and surveillance. The use of drones to give aerial evaluations of activity on the ground is really a return to form for the technology, which has experienced some of its most ambitious development in defence applications, while being a relatively new addition to corporate toolkits in many industries.
The causes are evident. Aerial vehicles are a crucial part of military and law enforcement applications because they can cover a far wider area than slower, clumsier ground-based surveillance systems. Drones, on the other hand, have rapidly democratised access to aerial security and surveillance and opened up the sky to businesses of all kinds across industries. Drones are smaller, less expensive, and more efficient than manned aircraft like helicopters.
The present selection of security drones reflects the range of use cases available, from fast-covering fixed-wing models to agile quadcopters that scan intricate structures and tight perimeters with a variety of sensor and monitoring tools. Based on user feedback from relevant sectors, they were chosen to create a useful, best-in-class list and to provide a representative cross-section of expertise in a rapidly expanding field.
Here are our top selections for the finest drone security and monitoring systems currently on the market.
Easy Aerial SAMS
Best surveillance drone overall
Physical Interface:
Standard LAN and WAN connections, as well as a standard power outlet (100-240V).
Communication:
radio communication with encryption (LTE for backup optional)
Easy Guard:
Mobile, tough, and self-sufficient base station that fully charges the drone in 35 to 45 minutes and offers complete weather protection.
Payload Options:
Depending on the drone type, several HD and thermal cameras, sensors, lighting, communications, lidar, and electrical payload choices are available.
Want to employ a crowd-monitoring drone for security and surveillance like the Miami PD chose and used at the Super Bowl? Our best choice is Easy Aerial’s Smart Aerial Monitoring Systems (SAMS & SAMS-T), which are completely autonomous drones in a box that are portable, strong, and reliable. The technology stands out in a crowded sector because it can be fully controlled remotely.
The system, which was created especially for perimeter security, is made up of a lightweight falcon quadcopter with an approximate 50-minute flight time, a sturdy self-sustaining ground station that charges the Falcon while protecting it from the elements, and a customised fleet manager and communication system. In the US, Europe, Israel, Thailand, Japan, and Central Africa, systems have been sold with success.
Pros:
- Modular
- Customizable
- Military grade
Cons:
- Specialty use (first responder, defense)
Skeyetech by Azur Drones
Best “no training required” surveillance drone
Sensors: HD visible camera with high zoom capabilities and a high-precision thermal camera | Flight speed: 14 mps / 50 km/h | Connected base: 80 x 67 x 43 in /2.00 x 1.70 x 1.10 m
Skeyetech by Azur Drones offers an intriguing claim: It doesn’t need security officers to have any prior flying experience or pilot training. The drone can be deployed in under 30 seconds, and everything, including takeoff, landing, and course planning, is automated. Security teams use Azur’s integrated video management system, which offers real-time HD footage to security HQ, to request live operations or follow automatic missions.
What is one benefit of a fully autonomous operation? It is deployable around-the-clock. The drone is recharged and protected at a base between flights, like many business security drones. For airborne safety, the drone is also outfitted with a geo-caging system that performs at the highest level and a pyrotechnic recovery mechanism.
Pros:
- Night vision optimized
- Autonomous 24/7 deployments
Cons:
- Highly capable but pricey
Avy Aera 3 VTOL Drone
Best multi-modal surveillance drone
Wind resistance:
25 knots and 3 mm/hr of rain
Range:
At speeds up to 90 km/h, 100 kilometres beyond line of sight.
Payload:
Strong cold-chain requirements for medical goods or a high-zoom RGB and thermal camera system
A wing drone with the ability to vertically take off and land? The Avy Aera 3 VTOL Drone, which was inspired by sci-fi Thunderbird aircraft, isn’t intended to be a surveillance tool per per, but situational awareness fits well into its purview. From protecting wildlife to making medical delivery, the drone has been utilised for everything. Winged drones are more energy-efficient and have a far longer range than quadcopters. But compared to winged drones, quadcopters are significantly more agile. The finest of both worlds is combined in Avy.
The Aera VTOL can carry a payload and is self-flying. Aerodynamic development, composite airframe construction, and an improved propulsion system were crucial to the most recent version’s upgrades, which led to a more efficient and weather-resistant aircraft. Further advancements in integration, efficiency, and redundancy have been made thanks to in-house avionics. That may entail medical supply deliveries, but it might also indicate the delivery of a sensor suite, which would be helpful for a variety of security and recon purposes. It is a great foundation to build upon since it is powered by Auterion, a drone management infrastructure, and it can integrate with third parties.
Pros:
- VTOL ease with the speed of a fixed wing
- Weather resistance
- Increased range
Cons:
- Specialty applications, especially medical
Microdrones MD4-3000
Best lidar-equipped surveillance drone
Charger:
For best flying endurance, use one md4-3000 flight battery and charger.
Magless nav:
Drone navigation is more reliable and resistant to magnetic field disturbance, and it can fly without a magnetometer.
Triblade copter:
enhanced flying performance for high altitude projects with inclusion of a three-blade prop.
Lidar is a special payload option for microdrones. The business has combined its powerful MD4-3000 drone with a Riegl miniVUX-1DL and a Sony RX1R II camera for quick production of colourized pointclouds after three years of development. With the use of Microdrones solutions, surveying, land development, infrastructure inspection, environmental monitoring, precision agriculture, and public safety can all be done more quickly and effectively. One of the most potent toolkits on the market is provided by Microdrones if your goal is to check significant infrastructure projects.
Pros:
- Surveying
- Robust navigation
Cons:
- Not best for visible spectrum surveillance
- Data-focused
Kespry 2S
Best surveillance drone for inspection and inventory management
Drone:
DJI Phantom 4 RTK
Coverage:
150 acres per flight (60 hectares), 500 acres per map (200 hectares)
Flight time:
Approx. 30 minutes (single battery)
Weight:
1391g (3.06lb)
The value proposition of Kespry is a dead basic drone technology stack that makes inventory management and inspection straightforward. Security applications are constrained by the S2’s rated 30-minute flying time, but the technological stack comprises full site modelling using lidar and thermal sensors and provides robust analytics for sectors like insurance. This is a true push-button solution for a range of aerial inspection applications when tablet-based path planning and functions like autonomous takeoff and landing are included.
Pros:
- Simplicity
- iPad based
- Support
Cons:
- Subscription-based
