Sensors and devices just keep getting lighter. At Intergeo 2016, YellowScan and AltiGator announced a fully integrated LiDAR-capture UAV weighing only 5.6 kg. The companies say the UAV can perform “centimetric UAV surveys in urban areas, in accordance with most regulations.”
The solution mounts YellowScan’s Surveyor UAV LiDAR onto the OnyxStar XENA multi-rotor UAV.
When equipped with YellowScan’s integrated LiDAR system, the UAV is capable of autonomous navigation for up to 25 minutes on a single battery. It also accommodates extra sensors, such as high-definition cameras, to allow users to supplement their LiDAR data with photogrammetry.
The main selling point of the XENA UAV the airframe design. It is constructed from strong, lightweight carbon and features foldable booms and propellers to enable easier transport and storage. XENA is dustproof and can be carried in a backpack, which allows users to port it into difficult areas.
The YellowScan Surveyor is a turnkey solution designed for easy use in the field. It is fully integrated, including a LiDAR sensor, GPS unit, IMU, on-board computer, and battery in a single enclosure. It boasts an accuracy of 5 cm.
YellowScan and AltiGator have not released further details about this UAV.
