With a Modular Design and Unmatched Battery Life, the Highdra Gives Value-Efficient Flexibility for Surveying, Filming, and Mapping Tasks
by DRONELIFE Workers Author Ian J. McNabb
German drone developer Starcopter lately unveiled the Highdra, a 6-rotor commercial-focused UAV bought by way of an revolutionary flight-hours pricing mannequin that makes it some of the cost-effective, highly effective options accessible available on the market. DroneLife received up shut and private with the Starcopter at INTERGEO, the place the Braunschweig-based firm described the Highdra and gave DroneLife some insights into what makes them totally different from their opponents.
With a novel, automotive-inspired 6-battery array system and structure, Starcopter advertises its unequalled cost lifetime, protecting the Highdra airloft even after many opponents would flip their batteries into e-waste. Add in totally tool-less dis-and-re-assembly and a compact design that may match into the trunk of a automotive, and the Highdra appears completely designed for a variety of functions, particularly contemplating its versatile, mission-driven modular payload system.
Whereas they’re nonetheless just a little cagey on technical specs, together with weight and flight time, DroneLife was instructed the Highdra is able to a variety of surveying, filming, and mapping functions.
In keeping with their web site, “We don’t solely develop the newest drone expertise, but in addition supply a choice of state-of-the-art sensors because the payload. Whether or not the newest lidar from CHCNAV or a 150MP digital camera from PhaseOne or an infrared digital camera from Workswell – your utility defines the sensor.”
As an alternative of constructing the German-made Highdra accessible as a standalone product, Starcopter has honed in on a drone-as-a-service mannequin, pricing per-project. With their very own pilots, drones, and sensor pods, as an alternative of buying an (extraordinarily) costly industrial drone for a corporation, Starcopter took inspiration from airplane engines, which aren’t priced per-unit, as an alternative being priced by flight hour. This makes the Highdra an incredible answer for corporations that don’t all the time want a drone, however might use one for sure tasks.
In keeping with the staff DroneLife talked to in Stuttgart, they put their minimal pricing all the way down to round €100 per flight hour (round $110), placing a strong UAV into the palms of shoppers at an unequalled worth level. Extra particular mission pricing is on the market upon request.
For extra info on Starcopter and the Highdra, click on right here.
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, an expert drone providers market, and a fascinated observer of the rising drone business and the regulatory setting for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles centered on the industrial drone area and is a world speaker and acknowledged determine within the business. Miriam has a level from the College of Chicago and over 20 years of expertise in excessive tech gross sales and advertising for brand new applied sciences.
For drone business consulting or writing, E mail Miriam.
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