ModalAI, Inc. has unveiled the refreshed and NDAA regulation compliant versions of its VOXL 2 development drone – the Starling 2 and Starling 2 Max.
The smaller of the duo, Starling 2, is a 280g lightweight design for 40+ minutes of indoor visual navigation. Weighing 500g, the Starling 2 Max’s build is robust for 55+ minutes of outdoor, long-range dead reckoning development and can carry an impressive 500g of additional payloads. Both models can house up to five image sensors including FLIR Lepton thermal.
The new designs feature upgraded image sensor suites for reliable indoor and outdoor navigation, and possess record-breaking flight times for VOXL 2 drones. Designed with SWAP and NDAA-compliance in mind, both drones comply with the NDAA ‘20 Section 848 Authorization Act.
The Starling drones leverage the powerful VOXL 2, ModalAI’s companion computer and autopilot that was created to advance the Blue UAS Framework 2.0 Program. With 15 TOPS of AI processing, VOXL 2 boasts extensive AI computing. Powered by the 8-core Qualcomm® QRB5165, the Starlings house a PX4 real-time flight controller, up to five image sensors, TDK® IMUs and barometer, GPS and WiFi connectivity, and are assembled in the USA.
VOXL SDK gives intelligence to the Starling 2 and Starling 2 Max. Open software autonomy algorithms like visual inertial odometry, visual obstacle avoidance, and 3D mapping and path planning are pre-programmed into the drones, reducing time to flight.
VOXL SDK also features pre-integrated TensorFlow Lite neural networks to run object classification, detection and other models. Developers can also find an expansive library of documentation, code and tutorials to aid in the development process.
“Our development drones enable rapid integration of the VOXL SDK, VOXL 2 and our ecosystem of state-of-the-art components to reduce time to market and accelerate R&D. Starling 2 and Starling 2 Max are the next generation of VOXL 2 drones that will propel the industry to the next level of US-built, autonomous capabilities,” commented Chad Sweet, CEO and co-founder of ModalAI, Inc.
