DRONES

WORLD
India’s first bi - monthly E magazine for Drones
Vol 02 Issue 6 JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021 ` 150
www.dronesworldmag.in

LIDAR OR
PHOTOGRAMMETRY
KEY TO DRONE SURVEY
SYSTEM

Rendezvous with
Muralikrishna Iyyanki -
An institution in himself,
an embodiment of
supreme knowledge
 contents
DJI’s Latest AGRAS 21
T20 Drone Makes
Agricultural Spraying
Easier, Smarter And
Safer

30

5 WiMi Announces the

Release of Its New MR Head-
Mounted Display Product “WiMi
Hologram Soft Light”

8 Martin UAV Partners 24

with SOUTHCOM on Enhanced 6
Counter Narcotics Operations

19 YellowScan launches its

new updated Mapper product offering

23 A&I Power Launches

Revolutionary Sustainable Power Generator 9

3 DRONES WORLD JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021

EDITORIAL

DRONES
WORLD
Vol:02 Issue : 6 January-February 2021

W
Editor-in-Chief : B. Kartikeya
EDITORIAL Hello my dear Readers,
Associate Editor : Ipsit Roy
DRONE CORRESPONDENTS elcome to yet another edition of Drones World,
Rohit Reddy India’s first ever bi-monthly magazine that
Prakash Tirandas offers a closer perspective of all things on or about Drones
Industry. Now that we are past 2020 and left behind a year
Priyanka Choudary
full of tragedy and mishap, one can only hope in their
Rahul Verma
humble prayers that 2021 would change the course of
CREATIVE HEAD : Badree the story for good. As the world waits with baited breath
PHOTOGRAPHER : Krishanth for COVID vaccines, it is the human spirit that we bind us
together and help us overcome all difficulties.
MARKETING
Especially, for the aviation and drones industry, a lot of
Manager : Naheda Imtiyaz
interesting things are lined up to take place this year and
(North & West)
we will be the first to keep you updated with the news. In
Manager, Marketing : Rohith Reddy this issue, we kick off with a story on WiMi Announcing the
SUBSCRIPTION release of its new mr head-mounted display product “wimi
Sony hologram soft light, followed by Martin UAV Partnering with
SOUTHCOM on Enhanced Counter Narcotics Operations.
In another important story we have Percepto securing $45
ditiorial & Advertising Offices
E million investment led by Koch disruptive technologies to
DRONES WORLD deliver truly autonomous inspection of industrial sites and
16-11-741/193/9, Shalivahana Nagar, Matternet launching drone delivery operations at labor Berlin
Above :Indusind Bank, Dilsukhnagar, in Germany. Our Product section too houses delightful take
Hyderabad-500 060, India. on new launches that include YellowScans launching its new
Tel: 09444499221, 040-24055553 updated Mapper, along with DJI announcing a new mini 2
drone, and A&I Power launching a revolutionary sustainable
For all magazine related enquires power generator.
E-mail: [email protected] Don’t miss out reading out our exclusive storey on a
new study that shows public associates drones mainly with
All information in Drones World is derived from sources, which we consider reliable and a sincere effort
is made to report accurate information. It is passed on to our readers without any responsibility on our photography, toys and military operations. Also, XAG’s
part. The publisher regrets that he cannot accept liability for errors and omissions contained in this
publication, however caused. Similarly, opinions/ views expressed by third parties in abstract and/or in
interviews are not necessarily shared by Drones World. However, we wish to advice our readers that
unveiling of new-gen agricultural drone and ground robots,
one or more recognized authorities may hold different views than those reported. Material used in this
publication is intended for information purpose only. Readers are advised to seek specific advice before to open the age of unmanned farms.
acting on information contained in this publication which is provided for general use and may not be
appropriate for the readers’ particular circumstances.
An exciting coverage in our “Competition” page where
Contents of this publication are copyright.
SkyPixel and DJI call for entries for the skypixel 6th
No part of Drones World or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in retrieval
system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publication in writing. The same rule anniversary aerial photo & video contest. With that, I take
applies when there is a copyright or the article is taken from another publication. An exemption is
hereby granted for the extracts used for the purpose of fair review, provided two copies of the same
publication are sent to us for our records. Publications reproducing material either in part or in whole,
your leave this month. More when we meet again in our next
without permission could face legal action. The publisher assumes no responsibility for returning any
material solicited or unsolicited nor is he responsible for material lost or damaged. This publication is issue.
not meant to be an endorsement of any specific product or services offered. The publisher reserves
the right to refuse, withdraw, amend or otherwise deal with all advertisements without explanation. All
Till then, stay safe, God bless.

Thanks
advertisements must comply with the Indian and International Advertisements Code. The publisher will
not be liable for any damage or loss caused by delayed publication.

DRONES WORLD is published by - B. Kartikeya

B. Kartikeya
Editor

4 DRONES WORLD JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021

NEWS

WiMi Announces the Release the Product will support connection

with several types of drones and

of Its New MR Head-Mounted professional cameras.

Mr. Shuo Shi, Chief Executive

Display Product "WiMi Hologram Officer of WiMi, commented,

"We are pleased to announce the

Soft Light" upcoming launch of the 'WiMi

Hologram Soft Light' as we believe

W
iMi Hologram Cloud Inc., a that users will find it both useful
leading augmented reality and intuitive to wear. During the
(AR) service provider in product development process, we
China, announced the upcoming focused on enhancing the Product's
launch of its new Mixed Reality image display quality, design,
(MR) head-mounted display product and ability to interface with other
"WiMi Hologram Soft Light", which cooperated with SONY to integrate devices through countless rounds
will further expand the Company's a powerful image processing of iteration. As a result of these
suite of holographic product engine into the Product, allowing efforts, we believe that we have
offerings. it to display colors vividly and created a truly world-class MR
provide its users with a higher product and taken one step closer
Recognizing the growing
picture quality. At the same time, to laying the foundation for our
demand of customers for quality
the Company has also integrated future expansion in this market
MR head-mounted display products,
infinity focus imaging technology going forward. Looking ahead,
the Company has leveraged its
into the Product to reduce user as the adoption of 5G and the
cutting-edge technical capabilities
fatigue, which is commonly caused development of other cutting-edge
to design the "WiMi Hologram
by the continual use of MR head- technologies continue to accelerate,
Soft Light". The Company plans to
mounted display products as we plan to leverage our strong
launch the Product by the end of
well as extended periods of time technical expertise and knowledge
2020. The Product will feature a
spent focusing on screens at close of MR products to bolster our
number of state-of-the-art upgrades
proximity, thus greatly improving product mix, expand our market
related to image color management,
the customer's wearing experience. share, and deliver more long-term
wearing experience, and device
In terms of device compatibility, value for our shareholders."
compatibility. The Company has

The tunable sensitivity of by adjusting the bias voltage on the

photodiode.

ActLight Dynamic Photodiode The other unique feature of

the Dynamic PhotoDiode is its low

enables improved 3D sensing voltage operating mode (1V to 2V)

which, combined with its tunability

performance in LiDAR and small size, makes it suitable for

a true low power Lidar system.

A
ctLight, the Swiss technology to ambient light and they are "The fast adoption of LiDAR
firm known for its best in blinded in presence bright light: in smartphones has created a big
class signal-to-noise ratio this problem is now solved with demand in terms of light sensors
photodiodes, announced that the the tunability of ActLight Dynamic performance improvement and we
continuous development of its PhotoDiode. In fact, in addition are in talk with the major players
patented low voltage single photon of being capable of measuring of the LiDAR supply chain and their
sensitivity technology has reached absolute depth in low light thanks customers to bring this technology
outstanding results. to its single photon sensitivity, to market," said Serguei Okhonin,
The single photon devices ActLight technology keep depth Co-founder & CEO at ActLight. "With
currently used in smartphones' measurements accuracy in bright its tunable sensitivity and low
Lidar scanners to create the depth light conditions by tuning the voltage, our Dynamic PhotoDiode is
map of the surrounding space and photodiode sensitivity to the unique and well positioned to take
enable AR apps are very sensitive adequate level and preventing it to depth sensing to the next level."
be blinded. The tuning is performed

5 DRONES WORLD JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021

NEWS

Sagetech Avionics and Kraus visual line of sight (BVLOS), and at

night."

Hamdani Aerospace Deliver "The use of transponders in

compliance with aviation standards

ArduPilot Integration is a key step to advancing the UAV

industry for safe integration into

S
agetech Avionics, an innovative controlled airspace," said Kraus
technology company Hamdani Aerospace CTO and co-
providing industry-leading founder, Stefan Kraus. "Coupled
safety solutions for unmanned with our contributions to the
aerial systems (UAS), and Kraus ArduPilot community for Sagetech's
Hamdani Aerospace, a leading UAS low SWaP XP transponder, our fully
technology company, announced autonomous K1000ULE platform
that they have completed the can safely operate for extended
integration of Sagetech's UAV "We're thrilled to provide UAV periods in controlled airspace and
transponders with the world's innovators like Kraus Hamdani with at mediumto-high altitudes while
leading open source autopilot, reliable, integrated transponders carrying out complex missions,"
ArduPilot. The two companies for new platforms," stated Sagetech said Kraus.
successfully tested the new Avionics CEO Tom Furey. "The Through the partnership with
integration onboard the K1000 integration of time-proven systems Kraus Hamdani Aerospace, Sagetech
Ultra Long Endurance (K1000ULE) like ArduPilot and Sagetech's ADS-B adds ArduPilot support to its
UAV, the world's longest endurance, transponders ensures the safe flight extensive list of autopilots that
fully electric aircraft in its size and of unmanned aircraft in controlled natively integrate with its XP Series
weight category. airspace, over long ranges, beyond of UAV transponders.

Black Sage Contributes to

Successful Drone Detections at
Incheon International Airport

I
llegal drones were detected
approximate to the Incheon
International Airport by a
C-UAS system featuring Black Sage
technology and layered sensors defense network comprising
installed at Incheon International sensors and effectors. The
Airport. Air traffic quickly and advanced technology integrates
safely returned to normal due to with partner sensor suites and
the efficiency and effectiveness maximizes their effectiveness.
of the airport authority's security
"Black Sage is proud to work
system and protocols.
with our partners at Incheon
Drones pose an increasing International Airport Corporation
threat to airline passengers and to increase the safety of passengers
airports worldwide. The number of arriving and departing from their
illegal drones entering the airspace airport," stated Trent Morrow, Black
of major international airports Sage's Chief Strategy Officer. "Our
continues to increase annually. Counter UAS solutions are deployed
Black Sage's DefenseOS® with militaries and airports
command and control software worldwide protecting people and
integrates and manages a layered critical infrastructure."

6 DRONES WORLD JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021

NEWS

Ironwave Purchases Majority Interest in

Syntonics LLC

I
ronwave Technologies LLC, a leading provider of RF and Microwave solutions, announced its purchase
of a majority interest in Syntonics LLC, a provider of advanced RF-over-Fiber systems and innovative RF
technologies.
"Syntonics is entering a period of strong growth," said Bruce G. Montgomery, President of Syntonics,
"and Ironwave's investment allows us to support several new product initiatives. Our disruptive Sniper
Projectile Detection Radar (SPiDR) technology — weaving a web of detection for warfighters —is a
significant opportunity that will come to fruition in 2022 with Ironwave's guidance and support. Our new
Command Post Antenna Remoting System (CARS) enables the stealthy operation of highly mobile tactical
command posts. CARS addresses a $50+ million opportunity with U.S. and allied militaries. In 2021, CARS
will participate in Army networking and communication exercises."
Robert Ferrante, Ironwave CEO, commented: "The Syntonics investment brings Ironwave broad systems
engineering experience and a host of new platform products and technologies that are critical to the
warfighter. The Ironwave team has the proven ability to capitalize on these RF domain opportunities from
the component to the systems level."

Red Cat Completes

Fat Shark Acquisition,
Expanding Presence in
FPV Drone Market

R
ed Cat Holdings Inc., a leading brand in the
drone industry, announced completion of the
acquisition of Fat Shark Holdings, Ltd. ("Fat
Shark"), the leading provider of headsets and goggles
for professional FPV (First Person View) racers and
drone pilots with an estimated market share of 85%. "We are excited to join the Red Cat team," added Greg
Fat Shark generates approximately $7 million French, founder and chief technology officer of Fat Shark.
(unaudited) annual revenues, which will significantly "Combining our innovative technology with the marketing
increase the reported revenue for the combined acumen of Rotor Riot and the financial support of Red Cat
companies. This transaction follows the Company's will enable us to accelerate growth in the quarters ahead."
acquisition in January 2020 of Rotor Riot, another "The drone industry is poised for rapid growth
leading provider of FPV and drone racing hardware. in the years ahead, and we are now extremely
"This has been a transformational year for Red well positioned to capitalize on a wide variety of
Cat," stated Jeff Thompson, CEO. "As we establish opportunities," commented Chad Kapper, CEO of
our leadership position through our acquisitions, we Rotor Riot. "With the addition of Fat Shark we have
expect to take significant market share of the drone paired a quality hardware base with Rotor Riot's
market that analysts currently forecast will grow to robust educational/entertainment brand. Fat Shark's
$42.8 billion by 2025." "Fat Shark acquisition adds a new line of digital headsets with their 'out of the box'
fully-integrated supply chain, experienced international functionality meshes perfectly with our popular 'Ready
manufacturing and sourcing capabilities, and design To Fly' (RTF) packages, and we are excited to leverage
and development resources. Fat Shark's new digital the strong brand recognition Rotor Riot enjoys while
products provide a platform to fuel our future growth presenting Fat Shark on our YouTube channel and our
as the industry continues to evolve." digital store at www.rotorriot.com."

7 DRONES WORLD JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021

NEWS

Martin UAV Partners with SOUTHCOM on

Enhanced Counter Narcotics Operations

M
artin UAV successfully demonstrated the shipboard
integration of its V-BAT as well as its impressive maritime
capabilities in support of United States Southern Command's
(SOUTHCOM) counter narcotics operations in the Eastern Pacific
from Oct. 6, 2019 to July 31, 2020.
Support for the mission included the highly visible Enhanced
Counter Narcotics Operations that began April 1, and was kicked off
by the President of the United States.
The 10 month mission started with a demonstration of the
V-BAT's small footprint, quick set-up, rapid deployment and true
Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) capabilities. Upon successful
completion, a technology assessment to support the USSOUTHCOM Exercises and Coalition Affairs Directorate,
Long Duration, Long Dwell (LD2) started upon successful completion of the shakedown.
By leveraging commercial off-the-shelf technologies, LD2's goal is to enhance the execution of the Department
of Defense's strategic objectives. Over the course of the demonstration, the V-BAT flew an unprecedented 273
sorties for a total of 1340.7 flight hours.
"This mission helped catapult Martin UAV's V-BAT into the maritime environment, showcasing its ability to
withstand and perform in tropical conditions, including: strong crosswinds and unexpected storms with rain
exceeding 10mm per hour," said Heath Niemi, VP of Global Sales & Development.

ActLight expands
its IP portfolio with
the launch of the
Stand-Alone Dynamic
PhotoDiode

A
ctLight, the Swiss technology firm known for its
best in class signal-to-noise ratio photodiodes,
announced the expansion of its IP portfolio with
the launch of the innovative Stand-Alone Dynamic
Photodiode.
applications such as proximity sensing, light barriers,
In addition to the superior signal-to-noise time of flight, vital signs monitoring and many others
performance, the Stand-Alone Dynamic Photodiode in the Industrial, Healthcare, Automotive and Consumer
benefits from a unique and patented device structure Electronic markets.
requiring a very simple, low cost manufacturing
"We are very pleased to offer to our customers
process. Moreover, it offers flexibility in terms
additional innovative IP in the field of light sensing,"
of device size, making the Stand-Alone Dynamic
said SergueiOkhonin, Co-founder and CEO at ActLight.
Photodiode the ideal light sensor solution for markets
"The Stand-Alone Dynamic PhotoDiode complements
looking for a high-performance discrete photodiode.
our exisitng IP portfolio and represents the opportunity
Customers can choose the size of the detector for our customers to stretch their market reach and
from a wide range, e.g. from 0.2 square millimeter augment their business opportunities with innovative
to 1 square centimeter, to match with their needs in solutions."

8 DRONES WORLD JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021

NEWS

Percepto Secures $45 Million Investment

Led by Koch Disruptive Technologies to
Deliver Truly Autonomous Inspection of
Industrial Sites

P
ercepto, pioneering autonomous inspection by industrial
robotics, announced a strategic investment of $45
million in Series B funding led by Koch Disruptive
Technologies (KDT) to launch a transformative solution for
remote, fully autonomous, asset monitoring, inspection
and compliance of industrial sites. KDT is joined by new
investors State of Mind Ventures, Atento Capital, Summit Peak
Investments, Delek-US and existing investors U.S. Venture
Partners, Spider Capital and Arkin Holdings, bringing the total
investment in the company to $72.5 million.
Evolving their advanced drone-in-a-box solution to the next
level, Percepto's Autonomous Inspection & Monitoring (AIM)
platform sets a new standard for how critical infrastructure
and assets are monitored, end-to-end, paving the way for
the remote operations center of the future. Operating a fleet
of third-party robots alongside their autonomous Sparrow
drone, Percepto AIM provides visual data management and
analysis to report trends and anomalies and to alert of risks.
Any member of staff can request data and Percepto AIM will
deploy the most suitable robot independently without human
accompaniment to retrieve and stream the required data. The
platform also seamlessly reports to assess risk, minimize
downtime, drive efficiency and reduce operational costs
without human intervention.
Spot is an agile mobile robot developed by Boston
Dynamics that navigates terrain with unprecedented mobility.
Percepto has integrated Spot with AIM for the robot to
automate inspection rounds completely controlled remotely
via the platform. Spot carries Percepto's payloads for high
resolution imaging and thermal vision to detect issues
including hot spots on machines or electrical conductors,
water and steam leaks around plants and equipment with
degraded performance, with the data relayed via AIM.
ICL Dead Sea, a leading global specialty potash, mineral
and chemicals company, has been operating Percepto's drone-
in-a-box solution to carry out inspection, safety and security
missions at its operations at the Dead Sea site, and were the
first to fly beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS) in Israel.

9 DRONES WORLD JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021

NEWS

Matternet Launches Drone representatives to observe drone

flights, and engage other airspace

Delivery Operations at Labor users such as Helicopter Emergency

Rescue Services, Berlin police and

Berlin in Germany Berlin's airports. Matternet will also

work closely with the Air Navigation

M
Service Provider in Germany and
atternet, developer of percent of patient beds in Berlin.
UTM providers to integrate the
the world's leading urban Currently, over 15,000 samples
drones safely into Berlin's airspace.
drone logistics platform, are transported daily across Labor
announced the launch of operations Berlin's extensive network. With "Labor Berlin strives for best-
at Labor Berlin Charité Vivantes in Matternet's world-leading drone in-class medical diagnostics, and
Germany. The program kicked-off technology and Labor Berlin's patient care is our absolute priority.
November 17, 2020 with permanent impressive scale, the drone delivery Reducing diagnostic lead times can
operations expected to take flight network has the potential to serve greatly improve patient outcomes
next year, creating the first urban millions of patients each year. and experiences. Matternet's drone
BVLOS medical drone delivery The network will connect three delivery network will not only be
network in the European Union. locations initially: Labor Berlin's able to transport patient samples
The drone network expects to central lab on Charité Campus from hospitals to Labor Berlin
significantly improve the timeliness Virchow-Klinikum, the Charité facilities up to 70% quicker, but
and efficiency of Labor Berlin's Hospital Campus Benjamin Franklin also reduce vehicular traffic and
diagnostics services by providing and the Corona Clinic by Vivantes emissions in Berlin's urban core.
an option to avoid roadway - Corona-Behandlungszentrum Matternet is a proven leader in
delays, which will improve patient Jafféstraße. the urban drone delivery space,
experience with potentially life- During the initial phase of the and we are excited to collaborate
saving benefits and lower costs. program, Matternet will work with to provide our patients, especially
Labor Berlin is Europe's largest Labor Berlin to determine optimal those in emergency situations,
hospital laboratory with state-of- ways to integrate drone delivery an innovative, safe and rapid
the-art facilities in 13 hospitals into the laboratory group's existing alternative to lab sample transport
across the city. The organization is workflow. The partners intend to by car," said Nina Beikert, Managing
responsible for diagnostics for 80 invite government and public sector Director of Labor Berlin.

10 DRONES WORLD JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021

NEWS

Black Sage Awarded CUAS Black Sage's DefenseOS® open

architecture command and control

Radar System Contract by software enables rapid integration

of CUAS sensors and effectors.

United States Air Force Since the company's founding in

2014, DefenseOS® has facilitated

T
the integration of over 30 CUAS
he United States Air Force "We are pleased to announce the
sensors and effectors.
purchased a CUAS radar Air Force purchased a CUAS radar
system from Black Sage to system from Black Sage to integrate In the continuous pursuit of
provide precise targeting data for with AFRL's THOR weapon," said the highest performing CUAS
the Air Force Research Laboratory's Trent Morrow, Black Sage's Chief sensors and effectors, Black Sage
(AFRL) Tactical High Power Strategy Officer. "This is another has evaluated five different Passive
Microwave Operational Responder step forward in Black Sage's RF components and multiple radar
(THOR) to defeat drones. relationship with the Air Force." sensors in this calendar year alone.
These component evaluations also
In order to provide the precise THOR is a counter-swarm
allow Black Sage to serve customers
targeting data required by the electromagnetic weapon developed
as an "honest broker" with respect
THOR system, Black Sage utilized by AFRL for defense of airbases.
to manufacturer claims and actual
its proprietary DefenseOS® software The system provides non-kinetic
performance.
to receive and process data from defeat of multiple targets. It
the CUAS radars and export the data operates from a wall plug and Black Sage is honored to be
to the US military's Forward Area uses energy to disable drones. The selected by the Air Force to provide
Air Defense Command and Control system uses High Power Microwaves a CUAS radar system within the
(FAAD C2). During a successful (HPM) to cause a counter electronic scope of AFRL's THOR program.
evaluation, the integrated CUAS effect. Targets are identified, The company looks forward to
radar system, FAAD C2 and THOR the silent weapon discharges in continuing its unwavering support
weapon targeted and defeated a nanosecond, and the impact is of the Department of Defense and
drones. instantaneous. its CUAS mission.

11 DRONES WORLD JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021

SPECIAL INTERVIEW

Rendezvous with
Deep learning tools for Population
Health data analytics.

Muralikrishna Iyyanki- Seems like your love for

learning is eternal. What are

An institution in your current researches and

studies based on?

himself, an embodiment
My current areas of research
are environmental geospatial

of supreme knowledge
technology, modeling, Open
Innovation and Design thinking- I
have delivered several invited
talks on these topics including
Emotional intelligence, New
Could you brief us about Education Policy, Economic value
the long and epic career of addition to UN 17 SDGs, Lean
yours?What are the most Project Management, Advances in
memorable awards and honors Remote sensing and Geospatial Data
that you are presented with? Analytics, Environmental Geospatial
Could you mention a few of Models, Geospatial Artificial
your publications and patents? Intelligence, Health Analytics etc.
I am a PhD from the premier
institution - Indian Institute of You have worked in India as
Science (IISc), Bangalore, and well as abroad. How different
former Dr Raja Ramanna DRDO
have published 62 papers in peer
are the scientific researches
Distinguished Fellow, Ministry
reviewed journals, and about 80
& education methodologies
of Defense, Govt of India and
papers in national and international
followed abroad? What are the
National Coordinator for Geospatial
conferences. I has authored two
necessary changes that are to
Public Health, which is National
books on Climate change and
be brought in Indian system?
Networking Government of India
Weather Modification Technologies Yes, there are different
Project. I was former Professor
and Environmental management- approaches in scientific research
and Director of Research and
Climate Change and contributed and education methodologies
Development at JNTU Hyderabad.
three chapters in the publications followed abroad and India. Not that
I was also a faculty member at
from University of Dundee and things are completely bad in India.
Ocean Engineering Centre IIT
ISPRS Commission on Data Base The Graduation education programs
Madras and Scientist at National
management. I have written (Bachelor’s degree) are certainly
Remote Sensing Centre, ISRO and
Chapters on Machine learning and very good in IITs, NITs and several
Government of India. I was a Guest
Scientist at German Space Research
Institute (DLR) and GKSS Research
Centre, Germany and Chiba
University, Chiba, Japan. Currently
I am the Advisor and Director of the
academic programs and Mentoring
Independent Indian students’
projects on rural empowerment /
Smart village movement, executed
jointly with Centre for Growth
Markets, UC Berkeley, USA. I
have guided 44 people for Ph D
in Faculties related to Geospatial
Technology, Information and
Communication Technologies,
and Business Management. I

12 DRONES WORLD JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021

SPECIAL INTERVIEW

Vasseur and Professional

Faculty members Dr. Arding
Hsu, Dr. DeepuRathi, Dr.
MuralikrishnaIyyanki,Dr Robert
Locke and Dr. Anil Shah .Students
from engineering and management
disciplines from Indian institutions
are invited to register for this
online course before January 26,
2021. For details please send
mail to [email protected]. The
learning objective is to create
business model solutions to
address the pain-points of rural
public Universities and deemed to educational systems. The major people in India with support from
be Universities. There are issues emphasis has to be on Teacher smart village movement teams
and more than 60 percent of recruitment which is in a very bad on ground and participating
technical institutions, public or situation in the country. That is firms. Smart village movement
private have limited faculty. That is major difference to be attended by is a purpose Driven Project:
the major problem. the Government on priority. considering that there are 650,000
By studying abroad, students villages in India where 70% of its
will have the opportunity to What was your role in Smart 1.3 billion people live. The goal
develop language skills. While Village Movement? What kind is to see that the villages offer
studying a language in class is of association you had with Bill both scale and scope for large
rewarding, applying it to the real Melinda Gate Foundation? firms for sustainable economic
world is an entirely different The smart village movement development by addressing the
experience in an increasingly envisioned by University of pain-points of villagers through
globalized world, the study abroad California, Berkeley USA is a interaction with the resource
has some advantages with reference project to Develop a “launch-ready” groups. The smart village project
to overall development and career business model solution for already is to develop a “launch-ready”
opportunities. Each country has its identified challenges in one of the business model solution for
own unique style of teaching. Many eight verticals: viz., 1) Education, already identified challenges
employers are looking for graduates 2) Agriculture, 3) Healthcare, 4) in one of the eight verticals.
who have international experience. Information & Communication Solutions are developed through
Another survey (*Link to the survey Technology, 5) Energy, 6) research and understanding of
page for our reference*) found that Entrepreneurship, 7) Safety and on-ground realities and challenges
nearly 40 percent of companies Security, and 8) Transportation. in villages. Proposed business
missed out on international Solutions are developed through models should be scalable based
business opportunities due to a research and understanding of on an ecosystem approach that
lack of personnel with international on-ground realities and challenges benefit all stakeholders within
experience. Studying abroad can in villages. Proposed business the business ecosystem. Each
be a powerful resumé booster that models should be scalable based student will choose one of the eight
shows employers that you have on an ecosystem approach that verticals listed above to work with.
the skills they need to achieve benefit all stakeholders within the I am the advisor and director of
their business goals. Studying business ecosystem. As a part of academic operations for India. This
abroad helps you build invaluable this program a Certificate Program has nothing to do exclusively with
relationships with people from all in Business Innovation as a Self- Bill Merinda gates foundation. The
over the world. You broaden your Directed Project Based Course is SVM interacts with all the firms
international connections while being offered by Berkeley HAAS and professional bodies for their
having the opportunity to meet School, University of California involvement.
people that could turn into life- during Feb 15-April 15, 2021.
long friends. I believe that there
The certificate program has What is your take on the
is no need to make a comparative
faculty from UC Berkeley, Dr much hyped survey of Andhra
study between Indian and foreign
Solomon Darwin and Dr Gauthier Pradesh state land using

13 DRONES WORLD JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021

SPECIAL INTERVIEW

Drones? level. Considering the magnitude of can take place. On the other hand,
the task, which is so vast and huge, Geospatial technology involves GPS
As a Geospatial technologist and
mission approach by dedicated (Global Positioning Systems), GIS
as a former Technical consultant
team of professionals is needed. (geographical information systems),
for the combined AP and Karnataka
In fact, the implementation of and RS (remote sensing). The GIS
government projects viz.,
blockchain serves as a permanent maps can help to make necessary
BhuBharati, Nizamabad AP project
mark and make the whole effort plans to improve communication
and Bhoomi project of Karnataka,
really historic for its transparency between different organizations and
I consider that the extensive re-
and quality. Blockchain provides the public. For any development
survey of lands across the state of
a potential solution for many of activity, access to maps for location
AP and mapping using drones is a
the challenges of land registration. analysis, communication through
positive and historic step. While the
This use case for blockchain GIS technology shall have many
Land survey was last done during
extends beyond a pure database, benefits — one such benefit being
the British period, AP government is
leveraging the opportunity to create the boost of a nation's economy
now all set to do the Land Resurvey
a permanent, unbreakable record of due to the availability of geospatial
with the help of the Survey Of
ownership for land or real estate. information viz., what is where
India. In principle, land registries
The simplest implementation of and when and where is what etc.,
simply need to maintain records
a blockchain-based land registry Technology generally involves a
of land and real estate ownership,
could enable the ownership huge body of knowledge and tools
recording changes of hands as they
documents to be recorded and that relieve the use of economic
happen over the years. It sounds
assigned to the owner’s user resources as a way to produce
like a simple enough task, but it
account. If there are structural goods and services efficiently
comes with myriad challenges.
changes to the building, these can and innovatively. The geospatial
The re-survey with latest analytics is no exception and has
be added to the blockchain, and if
technology using drones, high- similar involvement. The word
the property is sold, all the relevant
resolution cameras would help in analytics used here in simple
documentation can be transferred
ascertaining land rights without terms represents a systematic
to the new owner. Every transaction
any dispute. It is notified by Govt computational analysis of data
is traceable, timestamped, and
that “after thorough check, the or statistics. It is used for the
indisputable. Used in this way,
title card would be issued with discovery, interpretation, and
blockchain could provide a highly
land owner’s photo and QR code communication of meaningful
secure record of ownership that
which will be useful for the legal patterns in data so as to describe,
cannot be manipulated. In contrast
heirs of the title owner in all future predict, and improve a plan,
to storage on a central server or
transactions,” The first land re- program or business performance.
a central archive, which — if lost
survey is from December 21 to Geospatial analytics gathers,
— means the end to all claims,
June 2021 in 5000 villages. Second manipulates and displays
Blockchain allows information
land survey is from August 2021 geographic information system
to survive any disaster through
to April 2022 in 6500 villages and (GIS) data and imagery including
fingerprint of the record.
the third and final phase of land GPS and satellite photographs. For
survey is from July 2022 to January
2022 in the remaining villages.
GIS and Data analytics are example, Geospatial data analytics

The proposal is good. However, it

among the fields you have rely on geographic coordinates and

requires professional approach and

worked on. What could be the specific identifiers such as street

involvement of experts both from

reasons for the gain in their address and pin code. They are

planning to implantation stages

popularity lately? used to create geographic models
and data visualizations for more
and also an evaluation committee GIS is concerned primarily
accurate modeling and predictions
is essential so as to maintain the with the computational
of trends.
quality and the whole project infrastructure for capturing,
storing, manipulating, querying and Considering the question related
effort is not wasted. Based on my
representing geospatial data and to the reasons for the gain in their
close involvement with BhuBahrati
information. With the Geospatial popularity lately, I consider that
of Nizamabad district and Bhumi
data growth, better communication GIS gained popularity because
project of Karnataka state, I
between the people and the of its basic traditional ability
suggest that there should be strict
different teams working for the to store, integrate, manipulate,
implementation of survey quality
welfare and security of people analyze and query the geospatial
standards and checking at every

14 DRONES WORLD JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021

SPECIAL INTERVIEW

data. This ability matches with geospatial solutions for example, planning, highway and roadway
the need for such information public and private institutions are management, forestry management
for any developmental activity. laying prominence on visualizing etc., Consider the case of large
The analytics linked with the business objects on maps, by volume, velocity and variety of
geospatial data gained popularity adding location information to geospatial datasets which are the
because of its ability for systematic business information. This provides significant real world example
computational analysis of a competitive advantage to the of Big data. Big data is not a new
geospatial data and statistics. It institutions in addressing specific trend by any means as McKinsey
is this connection between the concerns in many verticals such highlighted it as the next frontier
developmental needs and the as public sector, transportation, for innovation way back in 2011.
related data needs GIS and Data energy and utilities, to improve However, it is becoming a larger
analytics are among the fields I efficiency and the decision-making part of geographic information for
have worked on for more than 40 process. Geospatial data plays obvious reasons broadly mentioned
years of my career. Geospatial data a key role in the climate change above, as various sectors touched
analytics lets the eye recognize adaptation segment. Owing to by me as a part of the answer
patterns like distance, proximity, changing climate conditions and for this particular query. The
contiguity and affiliation that are increasing concerns over public computational infrastructure viz.,
hidden in massive datasets. The safety, the demand for geospatial hardware and software are key
visualization of spatial data also analytics, based solutions in elements along with the experts
makes it easier t see how things are the climate change adaptation to derive alternatives as solutions
changing over time and where the segment is predictable to raise obtained from geospatial analytics.
change is most pronounced. significantly. Consider the This requires in principle, huge
automobile industry vertical as an infrastructure. The cost of
How do you see the growth example, in which assessment of infrastructure which was very
in these fields in the coming the market can be done through significant earlier is of secondary
decade? mapping the distribution of existing importance today due to reduction
and prospective customers, and of the cost per gigabyte by almost
Let us look at the way
also exploring the automobile to 20 percent of its value 10 years
organizations are using geographic
demand which would be driving back. The other benefit to the
information technology, which
the usage of geospatial analytics analyst is the availability of cloud
is expanding quickly although,
in the particular vertical. The based infrastructure at a reduced
traditionally, the largest adopters
Geospatial Analytics Market is cost. As a result, the challenge of
of geospatial tools have been the
estimated to be worth $96.3 billion geospatial analytics today is very
government agencies. It is now less
by 2025. The major factors much less about the infrastructure
tiresome to find broad acceptance
driving the compounded annual and very high for getting manpower
of GIS through geospatial analytics
growth rate (CAGR) of about 12 as qualified
or solutions, as a set of powerful
percent per annum expected during Resource personnel who can
technological tools applicable
2020-2025, are essentially due manage the geospatial data of
to different sectors. Geocoding,
to increased urbanization, smart all types and process through
thematic mapping, land surveys
cities /smart village movements, geospatial analytics.
and management, spatial analysis,
increasing number of geospatial
consulting services etc. are The Universities need to raise
analytics based solutions etc.,
few illustrations of geospatial to the occasion by designing and
Asia Pacific is expected to be
solutions being sought after, offering multidisciplinary courses.
the fastest-growing market for
through application of analytics, In fact, I, as Director R&D and
geospatial analytics as the report
for which the demand is mounting Professor of Spatial information
says. Thus, it is a reality to see the
throughout the world. The motive Technology designed and launched
geospatial technologies utilization
for this is possibly the increased M. Tech Programs in Spatial
during next 5 years time frame
embracing and handling of Information Technology at JNT
getting enhanced by an order of
wireless devices everywhere and University, Hyderabad way back in
magnitude in specific segments like
location-based sensors as well as 1992 by including the topics which
rural development, agricultural,
availability of platforms for high are essentially representing the
horticulture precision farming,
resolution image data collection stat of art at that time. By doing so,
engineering and construction,
like drones and cost effective the products of M Tech program
mining, insurance, transportation
cloud infrastructure. Using got immediate placements as the

15 DRONES WORLD JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021

SPECIAL INTERVIEW

people trained in GIS were very few

at that time and our center served
as main source for supplying
qualified manpower to geospatial
industry. The students of M
Tech Spatial It were appointed by
majority of companies both in India
and abroad. We need such effort
now and I will be happy to guide
any academic institution in this
direction.

What would be the contribution

of the Drones in driving them
forward? precision agronomics on the an operational new standard to 3D
rise, more farmers are adopting modeling.
Drones, depending on what
technology and methods to Drones, advanced sensors,
you’ve read, are amazingly effective
decrease cost, increase yield, and satellite imagery, Artificial
tools which lead to a paradigm shift
ultimately increase the return on intelligence, blockchain, machine
and a revolutionary leap in aerial
their investment. The fusion of learning, computer vision,
surveys. Unmanned aerial vehicles
geospatial technologies such as advanced sensors, automation, and
(UAV) or “drone technology,” is
GPS, GIS and image classification so many aspects were unheard of a
very much object driven current
and the emergence of affordable few decades ago. Take for example
topic amongst several disciplines,
platforms like drones has opened on how horticulture crop is being
most of which are held together
up new opportunities for mapping managed through supply chain,
with the kingpin, GIS. They survey
and modelling cadastral boundaries ranging from growers, exporters
data in less time, using fewer
for improved land records to packaging companies and
natural resources than manned
management. High resolution distribution channels, to augment
aircraft. Drone based project,
imagery from drones can now be their productivity by managing
takes minimum resources as
used to optimize the amount of their entire value chain through
inputs and provide data in real
fieldwork required and offers an one digital platform as has been
time which makes the user happy
efficient and cost-effective solution prescribed in our ongoing research
which is a typical example of lean
for defining property boundaries and development program. It is
project management approach.
and create precise geo-referenced indeed fascinating experience to
In short, Lean methodology is a
boundary data that can be used see that by deploying a simple
way of optimizing the people,
to update or regularize existing drone, we could help farmers
resources, effort, and energy of
cadastral data. The convenience to capture data over their entire
the organization toward creating
of inspecting vast infrastructure farm. As a part of application
value for the customer. It is
without significant time and of geospatial analytics in crop
based on two guiding principles,
manpower invested is enough of a inventory and management, our
continuous improvement and
reason for surveyors, construction team demonstrated that drones
respect for people. We might be
firms, and power companies to can be deployed easily by covering
surprised to learn that drones will
deploy drones. The seemingly quickly large areas of the farms
soon affect our everyday lives in a
difficult obstacles for the use of with very high resolution images
host of useful ways. It is estimated
Drones in GIS are mostly physical. which have better convenience over
that almost 2.3 million of the
Limitations, like limited flight time, other crop sensing platforms.
unmanned aircraft will be sold
data storage, and launch methods
every year, according to market Today, drones are more
lead survey applications to smaller
analysis firm Skylogic Research. accessible than before for farmers,
missions. Drone usage for aerial
And the vast majority will be the agronomists, crop insurers, and
surveys will allow us to more
multi¬rotor models. The potential researches, with more models
efficiently produce better mapping.
that drones offers geospatial offering longer flight times,
Drones coupled with LiDAR and
industry and there by our economy greater payload capacities, and
other scanning methods, provide
is virtually limitless. Consider the ability to fly in varying
data in optimal manner leading to
one vertical like agriculture, with conditions. Precision agriculture

16 DRONES WORLD JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021

SPECIAL INTERVIEW

A person of your stature will

always be an inspiration for the
future generations. Would you
like to deliver an inspirational
message for them?
Be aware of the advances in
technology. Design thinking and
open innovation are the key factors
that provided and promoted
technology pull to meet the needs
of people. Let each one of you
being a professional, have empathy
and observe the surroundings and
think how you can reengineer the
various processes for a cost-effective
and horticulture have been one human eye can see. LiDAR, which
solution. Follow lean methodology
such area that has seen a growing measures how long it takes for an
which is a way of optimizing the
role for image acquisition and emitted pulse of light to reach a
people, resources, effort, and energy
processing, and more recently target and return to the sensor,
of the organization toward creating
3D models. Drones have been can be used to calculate the
value for the customer. It is based on
applied to monitor crop area, to distance to an object and its height,
two guiding principles, continuous
estimate yield, crop water and which is used for 3-D maps. India
improvement and respect for people.
nutritional status, extract forest recently released regulations for
Getting more and more from less
canopy information, as well as to the use of drones for commercial
is basic principle of Gandhian
oversee and monitor animals on purposes, under which license
engineering. And it is neither the
farmland. Additionally, several requirements are defined based
strongest of the species nor the
concepts have been developed to on the weight and flying height
most intelligent but only those
both to detect and spray diseased of the drones. Also, restrictions
adopted to surrounding changes, are
crop plants. Drones carrying high- have been placed on flying
survived. Never be the one showing
resolution multi-spectral, hyper- drones near airports and sensitive
no sense of responsibility toward the
spectral and thermal cameras help establishments. Privacy and
improvement of your capabilities.
to develop monitoring systems protection of personnel, property
Have drive and professionalism;
needed by growers and assess the and data is to be ensured by the
and don’t get easily dissatisfied.
health of their crops and target operator. The UAV market in India
Have passion and compassion like
water stress in fruit trees and is predicted to grow considerably
Ratan Tata who launched Nano car.
grape vines. For orchardists and with India soon becoming one of
That way you can be an innovator
vineyards, maintaining a slight the largest consumers of drone
like Thomas Alva Edison who in
water stress helps to increase the technology. For rapid and large-
fact didn’t invent electric bulb but
sweetness—and the value—of their scale innovation, the industry
demonstrated how an electric bulb
fruit. Drones can range from the and regulators anywhere have
can create value to humans by
size of airplanes to the size of to work together to develop a
providing a wire and switch board
small toy. Depending on their safe and scalable unmanned
to operate the electric bulb. In this
mission, drones are equipped with aviation industry. The Central
background be with geospatial
different payloads or equipment. Government as well as various
domain as it attracts all other
Digital cameras can identify plants state governments in the country
domains and be aware that with
and animals, and help create 3-D are moving ahead in leveraging
the geospatial data growth, better
maps. Thermal cameras detect heat this niche technology to enhance
communication between the people
from living creatures like animals transparency and accountability.
organizations and the different
or stressed plants, as well as from This technology has the potential to
teams working for the welfare and
water. Hyperspectral imaging not just transform governance but
security of people can take place.
identifies features of plants and also create ample job and business
The Geospatial tools can assist in
water through measuring reflected opportunities in the country. Let me
easing out the tough situation and
light and can interpret a wider wish best of luck to all promoters
integration. Uberization is one best
range of wavelengths than the of the industry.
example of this integration.

17 DRONES WORLD JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021

APPOINTMENTS

Gur Kimchi Joins Ascent difficult to engineer and control.

I have been following the Ascent

AeroSystems' Board of Directors team for the last 6 years, and

what they have accomplished up
to this point is remarkable. The
performance and robustness of

A
scent AeroSystems Augmented and Virtual Reality,
their latest generation product, the
announced that Gur Kimchi, and Enterprise Communications.
Spirit UAV, is quite unique, and I'm
former Vice President A veteran of five early stage
looking forward to playing a hands-
of Amazon Prime Air, has been companies, Gur previously served
on role in their journey, enabling
elected to the company's board on the board of Waze (acquired by
a wide range of data-collection &
of directors. He becomes the first Google) and was one of the early
remote-sensing applications."
outside board member. developers of VoIP technology
"We're delighted to have
Gur is a technology veteran and and IP-based telecommunications
someone of Gur's experience join
an industry pioneer. After joining interoperability standards. Gur is a
the Ascent AeroSystems team," said
Amazon in 2012 he co-founded founding member of the FAA Drone
Peter Fuchs, Ascent AeroSystems'
the Amazon Prime Air delivery- Advisory Committee, and worked in
CEO. "The Prime Air program
by-drone project and led the collaboration with the FAA, SESAR,
has set the global standard for
organization for the next 7 years, NASA, and ICAO on the development
certificated UAS technology and
culminating recently with Amazon of the Federated Airspace
operations, and to have its chief
Prime Air's FAA certification as Management Architecture, enabling
join us will bring unmatched
a Part 135 commercial airline. the safe integration of drones into
expertise in safety-critical software,
Prior to Amazon, Gur spent ten the airspace around the world.
AI, communications, integration
years at Microsoft where he was "Coaxials are a uniquely capable
and operations at global scale. We
integral in the development of key aircraft configuration because
have bold, ambitious plans for the
technologies including Virtual Earth of their inherent simplicity,
company, and I'm looking forward
& Bing Maps, Contextual & Geosocial performance, and efficiency,"
to working closely with Gur as we
search, Cloud Infrastructure, Gur said, "but they are also quite
work to make them a reality."

18
18 DRONES
DRONES WORLD
WORLD JANUARY-FEBRUARY
NOVEMBER-DECEMBER2021
2020
PRODUCTS

and comprehensively post-process,

YellowScan launches its new visualize and export survey data.

"We wanted to upgrade our

updated Mapper product Mapper product by applying

the learning and experience we
offering gathered over the years. The Livox
Horizon scanner showed impressive
performance, and allowed us to
offer a quality system at a price
that makes it more accessible to
a wider user base. Whether you
purchase the Mapper or any of our
other solutions, you will get the
same level of training and support
that YellowScan has come to be
known for around the world", stated
Tristan Allouis, YellowScan's CTO.
YellowScan planned to hold a
Demo Day on November 26, 2020
and January 20, 2021.

Y
ellowScan, a global leader in LiveStation and CloudStation,
UAV LiDAR solution, launches making it easy to remotely check
its updated Mapper product data while the system is flying,
offer. The YellowScan Mapper sets
a new standard for LiDAR scanning
by integrating Livox's Horizon
laser scanner into a solution
benefiting from YellowScan's years
of experience. The disruptive
pricing and high performance of the
Horizon scanner allows YellowScan
to offer an integrated solution that
lives up to its high standard of
technical capabilities and customer
support, at a price point affordable
to a larger base of professional
users.
Unlike other YellowScan
solutions, the YellowScan Mapper
is a purely an aerial LiDAR solution
that is ideally flown at 70m above
ground level. It is designed to fit
all DJI professional drones (M200,
M210, M300, M600) and comes
with an integrated camera module.
YellowScan Mapper is ideal for
general topography projects and is
particularly suited for archaeology,
forestry and post-disaster
missions. The YellowScan Mapper
seamlessly integrates with existing
YellowScan's software solutions,

19 DRONES WORLD JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021

PRODUCTS

digital zoom at 4K, 3x at 2.7K, and

DJI Announces Mini 2 Drone up to 4x digital zoom if you're

shooting FHD.
Another big upgrade is how
the Mini 2 transmits images.
Instead of the enhanced Wi-Fi
system we saw in the Mavic Mini,
the Mini 2 uses OcuSync 2.0 for
image transmission. This dual-
band system is a fairly significant
upgrade, as it allows the Mini 2 to
transmit images much farther—up
to 10km unobstructed. OcuSync 2.0
also utilizes automatic frequency
shifting, which means the Mini 2
is more resistant to transmission
interference. Bottom line: The
Mini 2 can transmit images farther
and more effectively than its
predecessor.
Despite those notable upgrades,
the Mavic Mini and Mini 2 do have

T
he follow-up to last year's • Capture 12MP Stills in JPG & Raw quite a bit in common. In addition
wildly popular Mavic Mini, • Up to 31 Minutes of Flight Time to the same general design as its
the Mini 2 arrives with predecessor, the Mini 2 boasts
• Up to 36 mph Flight Speed
several impressive upgrades, a similar 31-minute flight time,
including enhanced video • Up to 4x Digital Zoom what appears to be the same 12MP
capabilities, improved flight • Intelligent Flight & Panorama image sensor, the same QuickShots,
performance, and much more. Modes and more. All of these similarities
Here's everything you need to know • Automatic Takeoff/Hover & are very good things. They were
about DJI's latest miniaturized Return to Home standout features that helped make
flyer. the original Mavic Mini so popular,
But differences there are. And
In terms of its physical design, so incorporating them (or a slightly
big ones, too.
there's not a whole lot separating better version) into the Mini 2
Of those differences, arguably
the Mini 2 from its predecessor, makes sense.
the most significant is the Mini 2's
the Mavic Mini. Weighing less than OcuSync 2.0 and the ability
ability to shoot 4K video. Unlike its
250g, it's still incredibly small for to shoot 4K boost the already-
predecessor, which could shoot up
a drone. Like the original, the Mini impressive Mini series into serious
to 2.7K video, the Mini 2 offers 4K
2 also sports a foldable body that rare air. What was arguably the
recording at 30 fps, along with 2x
makes it both amazingly portable best, most sophisticated beginner's/
digital zoom. Digital zoom, by the
and accessible. In fact, apart from toy-sized drone now appears to
way, is another video feature not
a little color here, a new decal have that title completely locked
supported by the original Mavic
there, it's pretty tough to tell the down. There are a couple of missing
Mini. With the Mini 2, you get 2x
difference between the two. features we would have loved to
see in the Mini 2 (follow-me tech
Highlights and obstacle tracking), but those
will probably come the next time
• Up to 6.2-Mile Range with
around. But regardless of what
OcuSync
future generations hold, right now
• Withstands 19 to 24 mph Winds the Mini 2 looks like the top drone
• 8.8 oz Lightweight & Foldable available for beginners who want
Design the highest level of performance
• 3-Axis Gimbal with 4K30 Video possible.

20 DRONES WORLD JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021

PRODUCTS

meter design, it can monitor and

DJI’s Latest AGRAS T20 Drone control the four hoses individually,
ensuring an efficient flow rate for

Makes Agricultural Spraying each nozzle.

Easier, Smarter And Safer Durable Design With Enhanced

Safety Features
The DJI AGRAS T20 is equipped

D
with an Omnidirectional Digital
JI, the global leader in drone options. The DJI AGRAS T20 is now
Radar system, which is able to
and camera technology, is available for pre-orders in select
detect obstacles from all horizontal
again transforming farming countries and regions.
directions. It can also automatically
with its latest agriculture drone,
circumvent obstacles while flying
the DJI AGRAS T20. This durable, Upgraded Spraying System over various terrains, ensuring a
high-performance and intelligent For Improved Accuracy And high level of operational safety.
precision agriculture spraying Efficiency With this radar system, the AGRAS
drone packs impressive features The DJI AGRAS T20 can carry T20 can adapt to some of the most
into a modular and portable design, a maximum payload of 20kg, and challenging environments thanks
making it accessible and scalable the layout of the nozzles have to its strong resistance to dust and
for farmers who are ready to apply been optimized to achieve a 20% water thanks to an impressive IP67
digital insights and automated improvement on the uniformity of rating. The DJI AGRAS T20 can also
spray technology into their spray droplets and the effective withstand splashes when cleaning
operations. The DJI AGRAS T20 spray width of 7 meters. The DJI the aircraft body with water.
is optimized to work in the most AGRAS T20 is equipped with 8
complicated environments and In addition, the DJI AGRAS
nozzles and high-volume pumps
different agricultural lands, from T20 enable users to set flight
that can spray at a rate of up to 6
its easy autonomous flight planning and operation parameters easily.
L/min. A highly optimized wind
and terrain-sensing radar, to its With a built-in RTK centimeter-
field produces droplets ideal in
extended flight time, high payload level positioning system and RTK
size and consistency. With the new
capacity, and off-the-grid power dongles, centimeter-level waypoint
4-channel electromagnetic flow
recording is enabled, strengthening

21 DRONES WORLD JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021

PRODUCTS

operations greatly and ensuring sunlight. It also supports external past, thanks to the 3D Flight
precision spraying. It also comes battery packs and can last twice as Route Planning solution. By using
with a real-time FPV camera and long as other remote controllers, the Phantom 4 RTK, operators
two searchlights, providing users perfect for lengthy or heavy can scan and map target areas,
with comprehensive live views even workloads. making it easier to identify all
during low-light operations. aspects of the field. In Orchard
A Comprehensive Agriculture mode 3.0, 3D flight routes can be
Improved Portability, Easy To Solution generated based on the shapes of
Operate With a comprehensive suite of
each tree after they are identified.
Afterwards, users can conduct
With a robust modular design, DJI agriculture solutions, operating
efficient spraying with their DJI
the DJI AGRAS T20 folds and in broadacre farmlands, orchards,
AGRAS T20.
unfolds in seconds, making or grasslands, has become a lot
it more portable than other easier. The DJI agricultural solution
agriculture drones. The spray tank packages are designed to monitor Price and Availability
and battery are both swappable, crop health and generate variable The DJI AGRAS T20 is available
reducing downtime and increasing treatment procedures. By using for pre-orders starting in select
workflow significantly. Thanks to the P4 Multispectral, operators countries and regions. For more
a new programmable DJI AGRAS can scan target areas and generate details about the product, pricing
Smart Controller 2.0 and the DJI multispectral charts that provide and availability, visit www.dji.com/
AGRAS app, the user interface actionable insights into crop t20 or contact an authorized DJI
runs smoothly and is incredibly health and help formulate variable reseller. Operators should check
intuitive. In addition, the smart spraying and seeding maps. local regulations to determine what
controller comes with an ultra- Navigating through challenging certifications and approvals are
bright 5.5-inch display, which terrains is now an issue of the required for the operation of this
remains readable even under direct product in their country or region.

22 DRONES WORLD JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021

PRODUCTS

The global energy market

A&I Power Launches has called for a switch from

nonrenewable fossil fuels to

Revolutionary Sustainable Power renewable energy sources such as

solar, wind, and tidal energy. These

Generator resources, however renewable,

require large amounts of land and
supplies to build and maintain
which leads to high CAPEX and
OPEX as well as a substantial
carbon footprint. A&I's patented
generator negates the need for
mechanical rotating equipment
and allows for an 80% reduction in
material as well as a 70% reduction
in manufacturing time. With no
engine or additional fuel required,
A&I's power generator is portable,
requires low maintenance, and is
incredibly safe.
A&I's power generation
technology is highly scalable due
to the lack of constant energy
input required, easily integratable,
and is applicable throughout

A
&I Power, a company additional fuel required a wide range of industries and
dedicated to developing products included, but not limited
This efficient, sustainable
sustainable innovations to to the following: IoTs, drones,
energy resource would lower the
help combat today's climate issues electric cars, larger vehicles,
capital expenses (CAPEX) and
in power generation, announced backup generators, large portable
operating expenses (OPEX) of
the launch of their revolutionary generators required for emergency
traditional technologies and reduce
technology which offers a highly use, and existing and new power
the carbon output.
efficient method of electrical plants.
A&I Power Group's founders,
production. Other industries that would
holding decades of experience in
A&I Power's patented generator benefit from this patent include
power generation, have sought
doesn't require fossil fuels, is agriculture, which is seeing
out to find a more cost effective,
self-contained, and doesn't have expansion in areas like vertical
efficient, and environmentally
moving parts, and, as a result, is farming that requires massive
sound way to generate energy.
more efficient than traditional amounts of power to sustain;
The result is a US granted patent
power generation technologies. The telecommunications, which
that describes a generator with a
results include: continues to expand globally and
static core, wrapped in electrical
would benefit from an efficient and
• Zero investment on mechanical wire, to provide oscillations that,
self-maintaining generator; and
rotating equipment when transferred to the stators, will
remote, lifesaving medical devices,
• Zero dependency on fossil fuels generate electricity. The prototype
such as dialysis machines, which
• Zero gas emission is able to provide sufficient output
are difficult to keep powered during
electricity to extract a portion in
• Low maintenance natural disasters and outages.
a feedback loop that continuously
• High product safety provides input. Therefore, an initial
• High yield power source is necessary, but the
• 80% reduction in material power source can then be removed
after the feedback loop is in place
• 70% reduction in manufacturing
-- thus allowing the generator to be
time
efficient and portable.
• Portability: No engine or

23 DRONES WORLD JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021

PRODUCTS

a 32 x digital zoom and a 16 x

DJI’s New Mavic 2 Enterprise thermal zoom, allowing operators

to focus on the details that count

Advanced Offers Improved on aerial inspection missions.

Thermal Vision And Accuracy Additional features include:

• Spot Meter – Displays the
For Critical Drone Operations average temperature of
an object, helping pilots
monitor and measure critical
or hazardous objects while

D
JI, the world leader in maintaining a safe distance.
civilian drones and aerial Powerful Imaging with
• Area Measurement – Displays
imaging technology, Advanced Sensors
the average, lowest, and highest
unveiled the Mavic 2 Enterprise Thanks to its advanced dual temperature, as well as the
Advanced, the new addition to DJI's sensors featuring an HD 640 × 512 corresponding locations of
commercial fleet for professional px thermal resolution camera and each area, allowing inspectors
missions which adds a plethora a 48MP visual camera with a 1/2" to quickly assess objects and
of performance upgrades to its CMOS sensor, professionals will be determine if an asset may be
predecessor. The DJI Mavic 2 able to make informed decisions overheating.
Enterprise Advanced has been by quickly identifying objects on
designed to improve workflows for site. The thermal camera features
customers using drones for critical Centimeter-Level Positioning
a 30Hz frame rate and allows
and complex operations. Now, early System
±2°C temperature measurement
commercial drone adopters will accuracy. Pilots can switch between The new DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise
realize even higher efficiencies visual, thermal, or split-view feeds Advanced can be equipped with
with the Mavic 2 Enterprise for different project needs. The a DJI RTK Module which achieves
Advanced and its cutting-edge Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced can centimeter-level accuracy and
thermal and RGB cameras. It also capture HD images and 4K videos supports NTRIP making it ideal for
brings centimeter-level positioning from a safe distance. Its high- powerline inspections. Operators
accuracy through its RTK module. resolution camera sensors support can create up to 240 waypoints

24 DRONES WORLD JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021

PRODUCTS

• Speaker – A loudspeaker with

a maximum projection of 100
decibels (1-meter distance) is
able to store multiple voice
recordings and play clips on
loop enabling communication
with ground teams during
emergency situations for
efficient operations.
• Beacon - Designed with U.S.
Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) Night Waiver standards
in mind, the Mavic 2 Enterprise
Advanced beacon features a
bright flashing strobe visible 4.8
kilometers (3 miles) away. This
helps pilots carry out missions
in low-light conditions or at
to conduct automated, detailed controller features robust AES-256 night much more safely, and
inspection missions in complex encryption. provides additional airspace
environments. The lightweight The Mavic 2 Enterprise awareness for operators of
and portable format of the Mavic Advanced incorporates 24 GB nearby drones and traditional
2 Enterprise Advanced offers of onboard data storage and aircraft.
maximum agility as it can take password protection. This provides • DJI Smart Controller – Its ultra-
off in less than a minute and additional security to the drone bright 5.5-inch 1080p display
zip through complex operating and its onboard data storage, while maintains clear visibility even in
environments thanks to faster protecting the data even if the direct sunlight.
ascent and descent speeds. drone is physically compromised.
Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced
The new Mavic 2 Enterprise delivers a maximum flight time of
Robust Data Security and Advanced includes DJI's AirSense up to 31 minutes and a top speed of
Enhanced Flight Safety system that receives ADS-B signals 72 km/h (45 mph).
The Mavic 2 Enterprise from airplanes and helicopters to
Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced
Advanced offers a variety of data warn drone pilots of other air traffic
features DJI's video and data
protection features that are specific nearby and 6- directional obstacle
transmission system, Ocusync
to the DJI Enterprise products so sensing. Operators will also be able
2.0, providing a stable connection
that professionals can be confident to fly with Discreet Mode which
between the drone and its remote
in the security of their drone disables the LED navigation lights
controller up to a distance of 10
data and to protect the integrity and to take advantage of self-
kilometers (6.2 miles). The system
of photos, videos, flight logs heating batteries when operating in
features interference resistance
and other data generated during cold weather conditions as low as
and auto-switching capabilities that
sensitive flight. When operated -10° C (14° F).
support both 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz
with the DJI Pilot App, the Mavic
frequency bands with the capability
2 Enterprise Advanced features Modular Accessories to to use different frequencies for
Local Data Mode as one of several Enhance Mission Productivity uplink and downlink data streams.
ways to protect your data. When
The new Mavic 2 Enterprise
activated, Local Data Mode will
stop the DJI App from sending or
Advanced also includes useful Price and Availability
accessories that enhance mission
receiving any data over the internet. The new DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise
productivity.
This provides added security Advanced is available for pre-order
assurances for operators of flights • Spotlight – The spotlight with a from official DJI Enterprise dealers
involving critical infrastructure, brightness of 2,400 lumens aids and will start shipping in Q1 2021.
governmental projects or other operations at night and during Pricing details and information on
sensitive missions. The radio link low-light or complex daytime where to buy will be available at
between the aircraft and remote conditions like fog and smoke. your local DJI Enterprise Partners.

25 DRONES WORLD JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021

SPECIAL FOCUS

LIDAR OR
is widely used for surveying and
mapping, as well as in a number of

PHOTOGRAMMETRY
contemporary fields ranging from
meteorology to movie-making.
While it is faster and reasonably

KEY TO DRONE
accurate, is a time-consuming
process in relative terms and also
has the singular disadvantage of

SURVEY SYSTEM not being able to penetrate through

vegetative canopies. A century
later, in 1961, Hughes Aircraft
commercially introduced the laser.

U
se of UAVs (Unmanned Soon after, the first LiDAR system
Aerial Vehicles) or Drones was developed which did obviate
are becoming increasingly the shortcomings of penetration
popular for aerial survey since thereby increasing the adaptability
they are faster, safer and more and accuracy of survey. Besides it
cost-efficient options. It also has a wide range of applications
offers enormous potential to from tracking satellites to aiding
GIS professionals to carry out space landings and to more
topographic surveys of large as widespread application as a
well as inaccessible areas with the precision survey tool.
same accuracy and quality as that LiDAR stands for Light
obtained by traditional methods, Detection and Ranging. It employs
but in a much shorter time. Maj Gen G Shankar (Retd) an active, rapidly pulsing laser
Obviously it substantially reduces to record distance via the time
developed over several years
the cost of a site survey and the it takes for the light to reach a
commencing from early 1822.
workload of specialists in the field. surface and then reflect back to a
By 1840, a French surveyor was
That notwithstanding the process sensor. In coordination with a GPS
proposing the use of photos
of survey it relies on choosing receiver, airborne laser scanners
to create topographic maps.
a relevant surveying/ mapping create accurate 3D point clouds
However it was only in 1867,
system that involves technologies representing land (topographic)
that the term “photogrammetry”
invented more than 100 years or underwater (bathymetric)
was coined. Today, in actual
apart but with the common aim surfaces and elevations. Soon
terms photogrammetry captures
of enabling precise and efficient miniaturisation of the LiDAR
numerous 2D images and “stitches”
measurements . enabled them to be incorporated
them together to measure distance
To recount the first permanent with UAVs and Drones for aerial
against a known scale, yielding a
photography was invented and survey. In fact given the wide
3D colour product. Photogrammetry
range of applications, use of LiDAR

26 DRONES WORLD JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021

SPECIAL FOCUS

is surging. Its global market in

mapping is expected to exceed $4
billion by 2026.

Evaluation of the Systems

A dispassionate evaluation
of the two technologies reveals
that photogrammetry is relatively
inexpensive, and offers good visual
representations and sampling data
for small-areas but is relatively
time consuming. LiDAR on the other
hand is highly accurate, can be
quickly processed, can penetrate
vegetation and can be colorized. In
fact colorized LiDAR point clouds
are being used as effective and
relatively cheap way to create 3D
Basemaps. But the initial costs
of LiDAR are very high. However,
that dichotomy is too naïve at a
time when drones are flying an
ever-expanding array of missions
with technology improving
across the board. Consequently increasing operational productivity. the oil and gas sector. The top-
Photogrammetry and LiDAR cannot Photogrammetry was an accessible line models feature a high-quality
be considered as two separate tool that saved considerable time sensor that increases accuracy at
things. Instead most of the LiDAR compared to traditional survey varying distances. For example If
payloads have cameras co-opted in methods. Photogrammety yielded one is trying to survey a mine that
them. So, when full colorization is full-colour 3D representations with is 800 feet deep, and the surveyor
done, you’re pretty much close to accuracy of 1-4 pixels, generating does not want the drone to fly
photogrammetry and hence need point clouds by stitching together down into the mine, then with a
to master both technologies. From literally hundreds of thousands of sensitive sensor on board one can
a layman’s point of view while the images. Traditionally, it has been stay at a higher altitude and still get
two technologies achieve the same used when visuals are needed, say very accurate and precise data at
results they are job specific. To for survey of open-field agriculture such depths at a relatively shorter
elucidate if the task is to survey required for comparison over time. In fact Photogrammetry’s
a high wall in a mine looking for time. Similarly if the task is to relative lack of complexity has led
cracks then photogrammetry will survey a high walls that is being to its preferred option for less-
be better. On the other hand if examined for details or survey capital-intensive small businesses
the requirement is for a volume of a construction site to see the and, consequently there are several
calculation as well as to see the orthophotos day after day, then in manufacturers and product range
terrain beneath trees, LiDAR will these scenarios photogrammetry in the market. This creates strong
be effective. Hence selection of the will be ideally suited. In all these price competition in the drone
type of survey technology depends survey methods the traditional use market as well.
on the application and concurrent of post-processing kinematics (PPK)
cost benefit analysis. The salient requires a lot of ground control The case vor LiDAR
technical differences are tabulated points .(GCPs). However there
In so far as LiDAR is concerned
below. are equipment that provides for
the biggest misconception is
minimal use of control points there
that LiDAR is complicated and
by giving a comparative advantage.
The case for Photogrammetry It enables corridor mapping, which
therefore difficult to use besides
Over the years both technologies being expensive. On the other hand
also speeds up data collection
have contributed significantly in LiDAR’s intricacy is about delivering
and post processing, especially in
qualitative excellence. The

27 DRONES WORLD JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021

SPECIAL FOCUS

a smaller crew compared to land

surveyors or a photogrammetry
unit. Consequently the call for
LiDAR is growing, in countries
like Indonesia, Africa, and Latin
America targeting mining,
construction and engineering firms.
Interestingly surveyors world
over who have been traditionally
working with photogrammetry for
years, are now keen to switch to
LiDAR.

Conclusion
Given the fact that a LiDAR
can be an onboard payload for
UAS, they enjoys a significant
challenge however is the quality fact that these are straight pieces cost advantage against manned
of the raw data fed to the LiDAR. If of metal with very little colour helicopters. On the other hand
one does not have the right sensors differentiation, grey against grey. Photogrammetry’s lower purchase
or the right parameters then the On the contrary LiDAR facilitates price makes it comparatively
results will be really bad. In other colour differentiation thereby attractive which is why a large
words it will amount to “Garbage in, increasing survey or inspection number of surveying companies
Garbage out”. But if the workflow accuracy besides it can be and engineering firms prefer
and integration is well done, it is effectively used in underwater photogrammetry for routine survey.
much easier and faster to process survey as well survey by night. Interestingly LiDAR’s price point is
LiDAR data than photogrammetry. LiDAR also eases data processing. also gradually becoming affordable
Another reason LiDAR has gained For example if one is trying to get given the recent advancement
popularity is its ability to extract a point cloud of a certain accuracy, in technology that is delivering
data from situations that are closed with the raw data being 100 times competitive LiDAR sensor in
to photogrammetry i.e survey or larger, a photogrammetric process comparison to cameras and
mapping in a vegetative area where will entail all those pictures to therefore more affordable in due
one can measure the ground with be acquired, moved, processed, course of time. Notwithstanding
LiDAR. This cannot be done with installed and uploaded which will these functional and technical
photogrammetry. LiDAR also is inadvertently be cost intensive differences the selection of the
adept at measuring narrow objects as opposed to LiDAR, where the survey process will always be
such as pipeline and power lines.. product is the end product itself task specific. In the end if one is
While Photogrammetry could take thereby obviating the need for trying to look at an ortho [photo]
three or four hours to yield data, raw data that is 100 times bigger for comparison of day one to day
LiDAR could generate it within an than your final product. Speed hundred of a construction site, then
hour. and accuracy have been achieved photogrammetry is your solution.
On particular application is the by integration of GNSS, IMU and Whereas if one is looking for
use of LiDAR in natural disasters LiDAR in the post-processing area building inspections, identifying
where speed of information through of LiDAR data. Advanced Sony contour shapes, examining
opaque rubbles is of paramount camera, with RIEGL miniVUX-1DL powerlines and tecom towers, oil &
importance. LiDAR can deliver sensor and heavy-duty LiDAR gas and volumetric evaluation, then
crucial results in a fraction of time. geomatics can increase the accuracy LiDAR will be a perfect fit. Either
In fact the type of surfaces that are down to 1 to 4-centimeter level. way, UAV or Drone based survey
being surveyed also determines the These are equipment designed for can offer integrated solutions and
type of survey technology used. For serious geomatics professionals in have come to stay as an important
example if a powerline or a complex construction, land development, , indispensible cost effective and
structure like a cell tower is to be engineering, surveying, and time saving drone service.
surveyed then photogrammetry research and can deliver
will not be effective given the accurate data in less time, with

28 DRONES WORLD JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021

ARTICLES

New Study Shows Public

"The answers indicate that
drones still appear to be new and
somewhat unknown to the vast

Associates Drones Mainly

majority," said ResponDrone project
coordinator Max Friedrich from the
German Aerospace Center (DLR). "In

with Photography, Toys and

light of the findings, ResponDrone
recommends that emergency
drones carry special identification,

Military Operations
such as a specific colour or a
logo, make distinctive sounds or
have unique lights. Further, it is

T
he general public is unaware concerns, and the understanding of
recommended that the residents are
of the use of drones by first the potential improvements it could
informed about flights and drills
responders in emergency offer to emergency responders,
beforehand."
situations, according to research to a lesser extent. All participants
conducted by the international indicated that they would be willing It is apparent from the research
ResponDrone Project, which is to tolerate some disturbance if it that as drones are a relatively new
developing a situation awareness were for the purpose of saving lives technology, people want to learn
system for emergency situations. or mitigating disasters. more about their types, capabilities,
The drones provide critical and applications. However, the
The 12 focus group discussions
information and communication public clearly knows little about
took place in six countries (France,
services to first responders. their usage in emergency situations.
Netherlands, Greece, Bulgaria,
The EU-funded ResponDrone Latvia and Armenia). The countries
Project held focus group were carefully chosen to represent
discussions, which revealed that different cultural settings within
most participants associated drones Europe and beyond.
with amateur photography and The main aim of the
videography, children's toys and focus groups was to develop
military operations, or knew very recommendations on how to
little about drones. communicate and position the
Comments on the acceptance societal benefits of using drones
of the operation of drones were for emergency response in order to
split between negative feedback, increase public acceptance of drone
mainly due to privacy and noise technology.

29 DRONES WORLD JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021

ARTICLES

XAG Unveiled New-gen

collect high-definition field maps,
distribute seeds, spread fertilisers,
and apply pesticides, which in

Agricultural Drone and

the past can only be realised by
multiple tools. Compared with
traditional crop protection drones,

Ground Robots, to Open the

it substantially lowers the barrier
to adoption and makes previously
tedious, laborious farming tasks

Age of Unmanned Farms

much simpler.
Specifically, XAG P40
Agricultural Drone is designed
for smallholder farms where large
ground equipment is costly and
greatly restricted. Utilising the
RealTerra system that features
rotary atomisation spraying
technology, XAG P40 can support
20L smart liquid tank and cover
15 hectares of land per hour with
even, precise crop protection. When
toggling the RevoCast system,
together with a 25L container, P40
can help farmers effectively deliver
2.4 tons of fertilisers or 1.6 tons of
rice seeds in only one hour.
In addition, XAG P80

X
AG has launched a new and food system, bridging the rural Agricultural Drone is developed to
series of smart agri-tech at digital divide and helping farmers meet the needs of users serving a
its annual conference (XAAC yield a higher profit margin of larger field area. It elevates drone
2020) hosted on 15 December, producing crops," he said. capacity to an unprecedented 40kg
introducing more in-depth and is able to cover 20 hectares of
digital unmanned solutions to XAG P Series Agricultural farmland in an hour with variable-
make farming easier and more Drone: a fully integrated three- rate spraying that protects crops
sustainable. The new releases in-one solution from harmful weeds, pests, and
include three models of XAG diseases. This new launch can
XAG P40 and P80 as two
Agricultural Drone and two editions help medium-to-large farm owners
new models of XAG's P Series
of R150 Unmanned Ground Vehicle address rural labour shortage when
agricultural drone are rolled
for broadcast and mower, which China is facing an accelerated speed
out to provide various types of
will soon be commercially available of arable land transfer.
farms with more efficient, flexible
in the Chinese market. XAG has also
unmanned operations. Equipped
announced actions to scale-up AI
with the SuperX4 Intelligent Control XAG R150 Unmanned Ground
prescription map service for crop
System, the new P Series drone Vehicle: labour-saving
spraying in China, fighting against
can switch between three different broadcast and mowing
pesticide overuse and misuse.
payloads systems - XAG RealTerra, To unshackle human labour
According to Justin Gong, Co- RevoSpray, and RevoCast. This in all stages of crop cultivation,
founder of XAG, as urbanisation in unlocks a three-in-one functional XAG has also fully tapped the
China continues to accelerate and design that allows the drone to potential applications of R150
reach over 65% by 2050, rural aging conduct autonomous mapping, Unmanned Ground Vehicle, by
and loss of agricultural workforce precision spraying, and intelligent adding two new editions for large-
might be eating into a food-secure broadcast on complex terrains. scale broadcast and precision
future. "In face of these challenges,
Users can control the new mowing. As the world's first
we need to leverage the power of
XAG P Series with a mobile app to mass-produced agricultural robotic
agri-tech to reshape the agriculture

30 DRONES WORLD JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021

ARTICLES

platform, XAG R150 debuted in map, as a powerful tool to manage

China early this July with a wide variability on farms, allows people
range of capabilities, such as to apply site-specific spraying
crop spraying, on-farm transport, simply with drones and robots.
and field monitoring. Thanks to It is believed that this can bring
the centimetre-level navigation down the operational costs of both
network, farm workers only need operational efficiency and quality. farmers and agricultural service
to press a few buttons and this Unlike the traditional multi-rotor teams, while preventing soil
lightweight farm robot can operate drone, XAG V40 Agricultural Drone pollution and ensuring high-quality
automatically under precision is a revolutionary dual tilt-wing produce.
control. unmanned aircraft that leapfrogs XAG RealTerra is the payload
Despite the rising land transfer flight performance and energy system that would facilitate the
rate, Chinese agri-sector is still efficiency. application of prescription map
characterised as smallholder Through harnessing the solution on seeding, fertilisation,
economy where small size of land principle of aerodynamics, XAG and crop protection. When getting
plots poses serious constraints V40 can fully utilise its downdraft on board the agricultural drone,
to mechanisation. Besides, a at 100% to make spray particle it empowers the new P Series and
considerable proportion of China's better penetrate into the leaves V Series with the cutting-edge
farmlands is located on hills or and plants. The effect of spray function of aerial mapping to
mountains, creating a strong market penetration increases by more than take HD digital farm images. The
demand for small-to-medium 2 times compared to that of the RealTerra can also automatically
sized agricultural machinery with traditional crop-spraying drones. identify field boundaries, plant
unmanned driving system. This means that it can minimise density as well as crop growth
For instance, the majority of rice spray drift and avoid any overlaps status to calculate the amount
fields is traditionally transplanted or misses, uniformly covering of pesticide use needed for the
by hand, a manual process that a larger field area to limit crop defined zone.
is time-consuming while causing damage and reduce grain loss. A prescription map would then
uneven seed distribution and Since XAG V40 also supports be generated on users' mobile app
lower crop yields. The broadcast the RealTerra, RevoSpray, and to indicate variations in crops and
edition of XAG R150 aims to resolve RevoCast system, users can guide variable-rate application of
this kind of problem by offering flexibly rely on one single device the agricultural drones. It makes
large-scale unmanned spreading to either produce HD field maps, spraying become as precise as the
operation in open fields and conduct direct seeding, or control scalpel's cut, significantly cutting
orchards. When embarking on a crop diseases with less resources. down the use of pesticides to
220L container and the RevoCast When it comes to crop spraying, reduce environmental footprints on
system, it can effortlessly deliver with 20kg capacity and 10 metre earth.
crop seeds, grass seeds, solids, spray width, V40 can complete The scale-up of prescription
organic fertilisers, etc. into the unmanned operations on a scale of map operation is in line with
targeted areas. Another R150 16 hectares an hour. Such efficiency China's action plan to achieve zero
mower edition, as opposed to the substantially surpasses other multi- growth of chemical fertilisers and
existing manual push mower, can rotor drones of the same capacity. pesticides by 2020. As the Ministry
provide users with a 5-time more of Agriculture and Rural Affairs
effective method to combat the AI prescription map as an reported, the amount of chemical
growth of weeds and enhance the enabler of sustainable food used in agriculture has kept
ease of weed control. system decreasing during the last three
Amid an ongoing global years. In 2017, the utilisation rate
XAG V40 Agriculture Drone: the campaign to improve food of pesticides for three major food
first dual-rotor design of its safety, XAG announces to take a crops - rice, corn and wheat reached
kind strategic move to reduce the use at 38.8%, which is, however, still 20
The launch event also releases of pesticides through introducing percent points lower than that of
the industry's first dual-rotor prescription map technology in the developed countries.
agricultural drone – XAG V40 agriculture. According to Peng
to break the trade-off between Bin, CEO of XAG, AI prescription

31 DRONES WORLD JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021

ARTICLES

SOR Autonomous Security

Drones could be launched from the
ASV at any time whilst on patrol,
effectively doubling the ASV's

Drone Collaboration
surveillance coverage capabilities.
Drones could also recharge
once landed on the ASV and be
relaunched. In addition the unique

S
trategic Elements Ltd perspectives of both the ASV and its
subsidiary Stealth drone can be combined to give an
Technologies has signed an expanded patrol and surveillance
agreement to collaborate with dataset, enable more powerful AI
leading US based Autonomous use cases for mapping, navigation,
Drone technology Company, Planck object and person recognition,
AeroSystems. The Companies object and person tracking and
will work to enable drones to scene reasoning.
autonomously launch and land The parties will also assess the
from the Stealth ground based potential of integrating mobile
autonomous vehicle platform. tethered drones with the ASV. This
Planck's core enabling will give additional deployment
allied nations. The ACE system
technology is vision-based options for drone-equipped ASVs
has commanded thousands of
precision landing on moving to work at facilities located near to
successful UAS sorties both
platforms without GPS. In sectors controlled airspaces and at those
at sea and from vehicles, on
such as security, defence and that have safety requirements that
aircraft from many different
resources drones can augment would normally preclude drone
manufacturers. Planck is
ground based cameras and sensors operation. Traditional ground
working with the United States
to provide additional range, multi- tethered drones can only fly in a
Department of Defense's
angle coverage and additional single location, however drones
Combating Terrorism Technical
critical data. tethered from the ASV could be
Support Office (CTTSO), the
mobile and move with the ASV
Stealth Technologies is United States Department of
whilst airborne.
developing an Autonomous Security Defense and Department of
Vehicle (ASV) for perimeter security Homeland Security on various
in sectors such as transport, aspects of its technology.
Key Terms
energy, defence, government and • Planck Aero will provide ACE
• The precision landing system
utilities providing critical services. technology for integration into
uses computer vision, artificial
• The Planck Autonomous Control Stealth autonomous vehicles,
intelligence, and other onboard
Engine (ACE™) system is an and any other technologies
sensors, but does not require
embedded software solution agreed by the parties. Term of
GPS or active communications.
that runs onboard a variety of the Collaboration is 6 months.
Existing unmanned aircraft
unmanned aircraft systems to systems use global positioning • The Parties will explore
enable autonomous launch, and are not capable of commercial, industrial and
recovery, relative navigation, autonomous operation from defence applications and
and mission planning from a moving vehicles. Planck's opportunities.
moving vehicle. With centimetre- intelligent navigation solutions • Plank grants Stealth a royalty-
level accuracy for precision enable new capabilities for free, non-exclusive, license to
take-off and landing, a drone surveillance, reconnaissance, use Software for the purposes of
can launch and recover reliably real-time situational awareness, the Collaboration for duration of
from small spaces. The sensor- and force protection. the Term.
guided flight accounts for
The Stealth and Planck • Stealth will pay to Planck Aero
motion of a vessel or ground
collaboration will focus on enabling for any Hardware provided
vehicle, including roll, pitch,
the ASV to launch and land drones. under the Project. Any further
heave and wind effects.
This ability would enable the long payments will be as agreed
• ACE is deployed in five US runtimes of the ASV to be combined between the parties from time to
federal agencies, and with two with the high speed of drones. time.

32 DRONES WORLD JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021

ARTICLES

Scientific Systems Company

the UAV was not being used as a
mere direct relay of commands
from the handler to the canine.

Conducts First of Its Kind

Here, the UAV was, in fact, taking
safety informed objectives from the
handler and translating those into

Demonstration Using UAV

direct actionable commands, based
on the scene the UAV observed.
During this demonstration, the

Teamed with Search and

TAA system was successfully used
by the FOCUS UAV to navigate the
canine, command it to begin a
search, and identify the canine's

Rescue Canines alert behavior, cueing the FOCUS

UAV to autonomously investigate
the alert location. The Search and
Rescue canine was equipped with
an electronic TAA vest, used to
both broadcast audio commands
to the canine from the UAV, and
to provide the UAV with real-time
data from the canine. The Search
and Rescue canine's handler played
a supervisory role during the

I
n ground breaking research TAA-enabled teams can combine demonstration, ensuring the search
conducted for the Defense the advantages and capabilities and rescue mission was being
Advanced Research Projects of autonomous systems, like conducted in an efficient and safe
Agency (DARPA) Information UAVs, with the unique strengths manner by the canine-UAV team.
Innovation Office (I2O), Scientific of sentient teammates for which This capability is not meant to
Systems Company, Inc. (SSCI) has there is no technological substitute. replace the human handler. Instead,
demonstrated a team composed Now working together, the this technology could, in the future,
of a fully autonomous unmanned autonomous system and the canine allow a human handler to control
aerial vehicle (UAV), and a search dramatically increase the team's a much larger pack of canines and
and rescue canine collaborating mission effectiveness. In this case UAV teams, ensuring improved and
together without intervention the UAV, with a birds-eye view of a more responsive search and rescue
from a human handler to conduct landscape and powered by artificial results.
a simulated search and rescue intelligence for locating objects in In this effort, technical
mission. its scene, can guide the sentient research support was provided
SSCI's newly developed canine teammate that has an to SSCI by the Massachusetts
Teammate Aware Autonomy (TAA) unmatched sense of smell. Institute of Technology (MIT)
system was used together with its In July of 2020, working Computer Science and Artificial
Collaborative Mission Autonomy with Missouri Task Force One Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL)
(CMA) and Finding Objects thru (MO-TF1) - one of FEMA's elite Interactive Robotics Group,
Closed Loop Understanding of Urban Search and Rescue Teams as well as the Oregon State
the Scene (FOCUS) software in - SSCI demonstrated this unique University Autonomous Agents and
this key demonstration. TAA mammal-machine team. While Distributed Intelligence (AADI) Lab.
develops predictive models of conventional Search and Rescue
non-authoritative teammates – in canines require a human handler
this case a canine – that respond to to provide instructions to the
only limited types of commands, canine, the TAA-enabled team
enabling novel teams comprised used the UAV to command the
of both autonomous agents and canine directly, without need for
sentient teammates to effectively intervention or direction from the
and efficiently work together. canine's handler. In other words,

33 DRONES WORLD JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021

COMPETITION

SkyPixel And DJI Call For

• Showreel: Shoot a short video
showcasing all the memorable
moments of your 2020

Entries For The SkyPixel 6th NOTE: All videos must not exceed
five minutes in length. The entry
must contain at least 30 seconds of

Anniversary Aerial Photo &

aerial footage, except for the Vlog
category. Vlog category entries do
not need to contain aerial shots, but

Video Contest
the equipment must be marked.
The photo contest consists of
five categories:
• Portrait: Capture a person's

D
JI and SkyPixel, one of expression, action or life's
the world's most popular passion in the vast beauty of
aerial photography and their surroundings
videography online communities,
• Nature: Capture a moment in
December 18, 2020 to February 18,
time to reveal the true beauty of
2021, this year's contest introduces
nature
five new categories including
• Architecture: Discover
Vlog, FPV, Showreel, Hometown
amazing structures from a new
and Environment. The goal is to entry they submit while first time perspective
expand creative possibilities for SkyPixel contest participants will
content creators and storytellers to • Sport: Capture the energy
receive a 20% off discount code
share and showcase their unique and excitement of an athlete
to purchase DJI accessories upon
perspective of the world. pursuing their dreams
successful submission of their first
This SkyPixel 6th Anniversary entry. • Environment: Highlight an
Aerial Photo & Video Contest environmental issue you care
consists of 11 categories in two about
Details of the SkyPixel 6th
formats, one in photography Anniversary Aerial Photo & NOTE: All photos must be shot
and the other using video. There Video Contest on a drone, and each image must be
is no restriction on the type or at least 3 MB with a resolution of at
The video contest consists of six
brand of shooting equipment, least 300 dpi.
categories:
and participants can submit as Despite what categories
many photos or videos as they • Vlog: Create a video of yourself
participants decide to enter, they
wish. This year's judging panel that captures special moments
should always fly with caution,
is composed of award-winning in your daily life
observe their flight environment
filmmakers, photographers and • FPV: Capture an immersive and follow local regulations at all
videographers, including Nathan experience and feeling of times.
McBride, Toby Strong, Chris Schmid freedom that brings people
and RoieGalitz. closer to the action and
Submission Details
SkyPixel and DJI will give away excitement
Submission Start Date:
more than 55 awards with prizes • Sport: Capture moments in
December 18, 2020, 14:00 CST
valued at approximately USD movement, and the power and
83,000. The grand prize winners energy of humans engaged in Submission End Date: February
in the photo and video category sports 18, 2021, 14:00 CST
will each receive a cash prize of • Travel: Share a story about Award Announcement: March
USD 7,500, and prizes in other humanity, culture, or an 18, 2021
award categories include the Mavic unforgettable adventure (people Interested participants can visit
2, Mavic Air 2, RS 2, Pocket 2 and must be included in the video) the SkyPixel 6th Anniversary Aerial
other cool DJI products. Photo & Video Contest on www.
• Hometown: Create a video to
In addition, SkyPixel users share a story and what's special SkyPixel.com for more information
will be rewarded points for every about your hometown on contest rules and guidelines.

34 DRONES WORLD JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2021

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 INTERNATIONAL

DRO E XPO
www.droneinternationalexpo.com

DRONE
International expo
Participate in India's only dedicated
EXHIBITION for
Drones, Unmanned Systems, LiDAR, Geospatial and
Unmanned System Manufacturing.

13 14
MAY 2021
Hall No. 8, 9 & 10
PRAGATI MAIDAN,
NEW DELHI

Visitor Profile:
 Police Forces
 Defence Establishments
 Airports and Seaports
 Large Infrastructure like Refineries, Railways, Mining
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Exhibit Profile:  Govt. Agencies like DGCA, AAI, NTRO, DRDO, NDRF,
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Systems
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 And more...

Contact Person:
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[email protected]

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