Long-Range 3D Mapping UAV Solution Under Development

By Mike Ball / 04 Nov 2019
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Polynesian Exploration, a developer of advanced GNSS/INS navigation technologies for unmanned systems, and UAVOS, a provider of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) platforms, have announced that the two firms have partnered to develop an advanced long-distance autonomous solution for 3D mapping and surveying.

UAVOS UVH-25EL LiDAR unmanned helicopter

The UVH-25EL helicopter UAV

The new solution will be based around UAVOS’ recently announced UVH-25EL helicopter UAV, which has been designed for commercial and industrial data capture and mapping applications.

The UVH-25EL is powered by an electric engine and equipped with an autopilot developed by UAVOS for autonomous operation, including take-off and landing. The unmanned helicopter features a flight endurance of up to 1.5 hours when equipped with a 5kg payload.

Polyscanner aerial scanner system

The PolyScanner HD mapping and surveying payload

Polynesian Exploration will integrate its PolyScanner aerial HD mapping and surveying payload into the UVH-25EL. The PolyScanner is a flexible solution that incorporates a global shutter camera, a choice of either the Velodyne VLP-16 or Velodyne VLP-32C LiDAR scanners, and a dual-frequency RTK GNSS/INS with centimeter-level accuracy. Allowing UAVS and drones to capture LiDAR data, images and geodata in one flight, PolyScanner creates accurate colorized 3D models in a point cloud format.

Polynesian Exploration and UAVOS will offer standard off-the-shelf versions of the new system, as well as custom options for different LiDAR sensors, cameras and other payloads.

Posted by Mike Ball Mike Ball is our resident technical editor here at Unmanned Systems Technology. Combining his passion for teaching, advanced engineering and all things unmanned, Mike keeps a watchful eye over everything related to the unmanned technical sector. With over 10 years’ experience in the unmanned field and a degree in engineering, Mike’s been heading up our technical team here for the last 8 years. Connect & Contact