updated 1 February 2022
Automatic flights:
For example for topography and cartography.
They do not need video and, depending on the case, they do not need radio control either.
The aircraft must be a vertical takeoff (VTOL) or drone, if it is not, it will need radio control for the pilot to take off and land.
To upload and monitor the mission you only need a PC, tablet or SmartPhone with software such as Mission Planner or Qground control connected to the DL1 or BTSD1 radio link.
The transparent DL1 radio modem with Mavlink is an economical and good option if you do not need to pilot.
The BTSD1 carries the transparent modem with Mavlink and can also connect a standard RC transmitter or an auxiliary XPAD1 (in preparation) to pilot, normally to take off and land or in case of emergency.
They are also used for aerial target drones.
New Data Links for 2022:
DL1 V2 and BTSD1 V3.
Basically they are more advanced and robust, they have a color display, a battery that is charged by USB and Wi-Fi with multiple connections.
Usage is the same as DL1 V1 and BTSD1 V2.
More info on XLRS D1.
The robust Ground Control Station GCSD1A (in preparation) is one of the best options. It is designed for automatic flights of maximum 100km and 4h duration. PC with Windows 10 and mission Planner or Qground control embedded. It has mini joysticks for manual control or emergency piloting if necessary.
Flights with Radio Control Portable:
For example for inspection of power lines, rescue, Photography.
This type of flight is called FPV (Firsts Person View).
Normally the flight is manual and it is not usually necessary to use waypoints.
In these cases a portable remote controller such as XPAD1, XPAD2 or XPAD3 is used depending on the size and complexity of the system.
As needed, you can carry analog or digital video and sometimes a smartphone with Mission Planner or QGround control.
If you have a tight budget and don’t need a lot of resolution you can use analog video.
Flights with Radio Control and pilot with GCS:
For example for inspection of power lines, rescue or video surveillance.
This type of flight is called FPV (Firsts Person View).
Normally there is a combination of manual and automatic control with waypoints.
You can choose from a good variety of GCS depending on the type of mission and the budget. GCSD4, GCSD4 Dual, GCSD5, SATPRO.
You need video, some even video of the pilot and video of the operator simultaneously or by selecting the camera, with thermal, multispectral cameras, etc.
If you have a tight budget and don’t need a lot of resolution you can use analog video.
In cases where you need ranges greater than 50km, analog video is an economical option to consider.
But if you need resolution and quality, you should use Full HD digital video and possibly SATPRO Smart Antenna Tracker, to achieve ranges of 30, 50Km or more.
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Note: This information is preliminary and there may be changes when the equipment goes into production in 2022.
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