SwissDrones

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Long-Range Autonomous Helicopter Drone for Inspections, Surveillance, Search & Rescue, and Monitoring Switzerland
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SwissDrones

Long-Range Autonomous Helicopter Drone for Inspections, Surveillance, Search & Rescue, and Monitoring

SwissDrones is a leading developer and manufacturer of VTOL UAV helicopters that provide superior endurance for long-range inspections, surveillance, and search & rescue missions.

swiss drones Autonomous helicopter

SDO 50 Helicopter UAV

The SDO 50 is a state-of-the-art unmanned helicopter with a flight endurance of over 3 hours and the ability to operate day or night in adverse weather conditions, such as rain, snow and wind speeds of up to 21 knots.

SDO 50 Helicopter UAV

Based around a proprietary Flettner intermeshing double rotor design, the SDO 50 offers enhanced payload capacity and flight stability.

swiss drones UAV helicopterThe VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) system is highly cost-effective compared to manned aerial solutions, and requires less training to operate confidently. The rapidly deployable aircraft is transportable by van and can be prepared for flight by a team of two in just 15 minutes.

The SDO 50 UAV is equipped with an advanced autopilot and high-performance GPS receiver and magnetometer, with optional redundant systems. The aircraft’s datalink consists of a primary S-band link and a secondary UHF-band link, with additional LTE/4G capabilities available upon request.

swiss drones data link

unmanned helicopter ground control stationThe standard data link range of 40 km of the SDO 50 can be further extended upon demand for longer-range missions.

The helicopter UAV is controlled via a rugged portable GCS (ground control station), which features a built-in keyboard, monitor, and 3-axis joysticks.

The SDO 50 has been successfully tested at 11,500 ft AMSL (density altitude) at -10 degree Celsius and windy conditions. During the tests the aircraft has demonstrated its feasibility for flight missions in challenging environments.

Versatile UAV for multiple (exchangeable) payloads

With its superior carrying capacity, the SDO 50 V2 can carry multiple sensors and payloads for versatile long-range mission capabilities and large flight autonomy. We offer a range of leading sensor solutions as standard.

UAV helicopter payloads

Octopus ISR Epsilon 140/175
RIEGL LiDAR scanner
aerial laser
Specim FX10 hyperspectral camera
  • Gyro-stabilized quad-sensor EO/MWIR gimbal with illuminator and laser rangefinder
  • Long-range LiDAR scanner payload for corridor and area mapping, with integrated IMU/GPS and 50MP camera
  • Laser methane detector for gas leaks and gas field exploration
  • Hyperspectral camera – line-scan camera for visible and NIR imagery
  • Airborne imaging system specially designed for vessel detection in vast stretches of ocean
  • Radioactive particle detector – ideal for routine monitoring as well as post-incident response

swiss drone applications

Applications

SDO 50 UAV inspectionInspection & Monitoring
The SDO 50 is ideal for a wide range of UAV inspection and monitoring applications, with reliable and efficient aerial data gathering capabilities that can address customer-specific needs for critical infrastructure, environmental monitoring, oil and gas, wildlife monitoring and more. Learn more >

SDO 50 Search and rescue UAVSearch & Rescue
The SDO 50 offers agile support of SAR missions using specific camera systems and sensors to locate missing people in inaccessible or hazardous areas (land or water), also in adverse weather conditions and at night. Once target persons are located, emergency gear such as survival kits, medical devices, food, rafts can be airlifted and dropped to support their recovery and rescue. Learn more >

SDO 50 Aerial Surveillance UAVAerial Surveillance
The SDO 50 provides unparalleled flexibility and efficiency, allowing for individual payload configurations including stabilized IR/optical cameras and missions under difficult or dangerous circumstances (e.g. bad weather, darkness, flying over hostile or otherwise unsafe areas) when manned operations are not feasible. Learn more >

Products

SDO 50 Helicopter UAV

Versatile long-range autonomous helicopter drone

Articles

Latest
SwissDrones Delivers VTOL UAV to Enhance RPAS Capabilities

SwissDrones has delivered the SDO 50 V3 to Xplorate, enhancing uncrewed aerial capabilities for infrastructure monitoring and long-range, high-performance operations

Apr 11, 2025
SDO 50 UAV Completes Long-Distance BVLOS Pipeline Inspection

SwissDrones’ SDO 50 UAV has successfully carried out a 550-kilometer BVLOS pipeline inspection in Queensland, providing precise, actionable data while maintaining high safety standards

Feb 14, 2025
Australian CASA Grants BVLOS Approval for Drone Flights over 500 Kilometers

Xplorate has secured BVLOS approval from Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority to fly SwissDrones SDO 50 over 500 kilometers in Queensland

Sep 01, 2024
Aerial Intelligence Company Secures Funding for Integrated Solution

SwissDrones’ latest funding round enables the delivery of its integrated solution combining long-range unmanned helicopters, flight operations and large-scale data analytics for public safety

May 17, 2024
Authorization to Operate UAV Beyond Visual Line of Sight

Phoenix Air Unmanned has received commercial authorization to operate its SwissDrones SDO 50 V2 helicopter unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) powerline inspections and patrol

Aug 31, 2023
SwissDrones Receives Seven-Figure Funding to Accelerate Product Development

The company has secured additional funding in a round led by DiamondStream Partners, with participation from existing investors

Jan 10, 2023
SwissDrones Granted European Drone Operator License by Transport Malta

The certificate allows SwissDrones to self-authorize flight operations of its SDO50 V2 unmanned helicopters across EASA countries, including Beyond Visual Line Of Sight operations within the limits of the certificate

May 05, 2022
BVLOS Unmanned Helicopter Tested in Malta

SwissDrones has conducted a series of long-range Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights with its helicopter UAV unmanned aerial...

Oct 26, 2021
UAV Completes 100km Single BVLOS Flight

SwissDrones has completed the first commercial BVLOS (beyond visual line of sight) powerline inspection in Belgium with the SDO 50...

Aug 27, 2021
SwissDrones Launches Unmanned Helicopter in Asia-Pacific Region

SwissDrones has launched the SDO 50 V2 multipurpose Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) helicopter UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) in the...

Jul 10, 2021
Unmanned Helicopter Detects & Measures Radioactive Particles

SwissDrones' SDO 50 V2 helicopter drone has been deployed to detect and measure radioactive particles in a joint operation with the Swiss Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP).

Jun 21, 2021
SwissDrones Develops Long-Range & BVLOS Unmanned Helicopters

SwissDrones, a leading developer of VTOL (vertical take-off and landing) UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) helicopters, has partnered with Unmanned Systems...

May 12, 2021
Swissdrones Power Line Inspection Solution Successfully Tested

Swissdrones has successfully completed a challenge set by French power line operator Réseau de Transport d’Électricité (RTE) that required an...

Mar 17, 2021
BVLOS Flights in Canada

The SwissDrones SDO 50 V2 has been successfully deployed in BVLOS-flights (beyond line of sight) in Canada, organized and performed...

Jul 16, 2020
Aerial Sensing of Radiation

The SwissDrones team has participated in the annual aeroradiometric surveys by the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) in Switzerland. The...

Jun 26, 2020
High Altitude Unmanned Helicopter Test Flights Conducted

SwissDrones has finalized the comprehensive testing of the SDO 50 V2, an autonomous helicopter UAV platform designed for challenging flight...

Apr 26, 2020
Regional Offices & Locations
SwissDrones Head Office Switzerland Maneggstrasse 33, 8041 Zurich, Switzerland +41 81 785 20 10 Contact Website
SwissDrones Manufacturing Site Switzerland Lagerstrasse 30, 9470 Buchs, Switzerland Website
Advancing Unmanned Systems Through Strategic Collaboration UST works with major OEMs to foster collaboration and increase engagement with SMEs, to accelerate innovation and drive unmanned systems capabilities forward.