Sentera‘s 6X multispectral sensor is now fully compatible with the Astro drone from Freefly Systems, creating a new integrated solution for high-precision agricultural analytics.
The collaboration brings together two platforms focused on accuracy and performance within the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) market. The Astro, designed and supported by Washington-based Freefly Systems, serves as a commercial drone platform featuring high-precision RTK/PPK, LTE cloud connectivity, and an onboard mission computer. By integrating the Sentera 6X sensor, the system provides science-grade data collection tailored for the demanding requirements of ag researchers and product developers.
Matt Skelton, aerospace engineer, Sentera, commented, “We’re excited to collaborate with Freefly Systems to innovate and deliver a leading ag drone solution. Astro and 6X both have a history of proven performance and focus on accuracy, both of which are essential to our customers.”
The Sentera 6X is equipped with six independent and synchronized optical paths and custom filtering options. Its high capture-rate performance allows for greater collection efficiency, while its compliance with data standards ensures that imagery can be processed through Sentera’s data science ecosystem. This allows users to derive detailed measurements such as stand count, canopy cover, and overall crop health.
“Astro with the 6X from Sentera enables the most efficient ag drone mapping workflows. With the ability to map over 250 acres on a set of batteries, hot swapping allows for a quick and easy way to resume your larger automated missions,” added Matt Isenbarger, chief revenue officer, Freefly Systems. “We can’t wait to hear about all the agronomic insights our customers discover in their fields with this powerful new drone + multispectral payload combination.”
The integration comes at a time when the agriculture sector is increasingly reliant on drone technology for monitoring crop maturity and health. Industry projections from the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International suggest that agriculture may eventually represent 80 percent of the global commercial drone market.
“With six independent and synchronized optical paths, custom filtering options, and high radiometric accuracy, the 6X has become a preferred sensor for ag researchers and product developers,” said Skelton. “Extending compatibility to the Freefly Astro presents more versatility for our market, offering a solution built from the ground up for precision, accuracy, and data protection.”
As the North American growing season approaches, the combined hardware is positioned as a tool for agronomic leaders who require data-driven insights to manage field challenges.
“As we look ahead to the North American growing season, this solution serves as a great fit for agronomic leaders seeking data-driven insights to solve their unique agronomic challenges,” continued Skelton.
The Freefly Astro equipped with the 6X sensor is now available for purchase.
