Using consumer drones in professional applications
1. agenda
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• Drones features
• Parrot experience
• Using consumer drone for pro usage
• Use cases
DRONE CONVENTION 2015
#DroneConEU
www.droneconvention.eu
21 April 2015, C-Mine, Genk
Using consumer drones in professional applications
Pascal Prost
pascal.prost@parrot.comwww.euka.org
2. Parrot company
Headquarters in Paris, 950 employees, listed on NYSE Euronext
Parrot company
3 lines of business :
Drones
Electronics
Automotive
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3. DRONES : a range of « Professional » and « Consumer » Drones
Parrot company
AR-Drone 2
Mini-drones
Bebop
Freeflight 3 Play, Film, PlaneMotion Flight planning & control
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4. « Professional » PC derived from « Consumer »
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On a same PC platform:
The software can be for Consumer use
Running Windows Home edition, Media player,
Facebook, games, TV … free or low cost programs
Or the software can be bought for Professional
Running high value programs to manage a mainframe
or run Photoshop, SAP, SolidWorks …
PC platforms are
produced in high volume,
becoming commodities
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Consumer :
High Volumes
Easy to use
Leisure application
Professional :
Low volumes
High Value Software
Dedicated applications
Professional derived from Consumer :
High value dedicated software
High Volumes ( low material costs)
Easy to use
Professional UAV derived from consumer
6. Bebop drone with Professional firmware
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Bebop drone: technology & safety
• 400 gr
• 10 sensors
• Parrot P7 processor
• Onboard GPS / Glonass
• 4 brushless outrunner motors
• Ceramic 2.4 & 5 GHz MIMO antennas
• Controlled with a tablet running Parrot Freeflight app
• HD resolution camera
• Real time streaming
• Full-digital high range 3-axis picture
stabilization system (no moving part)
• Full- digital orientation view up to 45° left,
right, up & down
• 14 Mpix sensor with 6 elements fisheye lens
• Records the footage in HD in its memory
7. View of FAA (U.S.A.) and EASA (Europe)
Section 339 of the 2012 FAA Act formalized the « safe Harbor » by
prohibiting the FAA from regulating « model aircarft ».
Model aircraft is defined in the 2012 statute to mean an aircraft used for hobby or
recreational purposes, is flown within the line of sight of the operator, is not flown within
five miles of an airport, …
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The laws distinguishes populations of drones as a function of the usage, but not of
the drones themselves
EASA document of March 2015 « Concept of Operations for Drones »
describes a risk based approach to regulation of unmanned aircraft
An ‘open’ category created for the very low risk drone operations, without involvement of
Aviation Authorities, even for commercial operations . The drone must be flown under
direct visual line of sight, at an altitude not exceeding 150m, outside of specified reserved
areas (airport, environmental, security) …
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Mobile Live Aerial Footage Journalism, using the HD video stream from Bebop
running the Inmarsat Certified firmware.
Professional UAV derived from consumer
9. Inspection of work, roof, painting ... from the HD video stream of Bebop
through FPV glasses . (Inspection firmware)
Professional UAV derived from consumer
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10. 10
Professional UAV derived from consumer
Photogrammetry with aerial oblique acquisition, 3D mapping using a pre-
programmed the HD stream from Bebop drone and FPV glasses .
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Advantages :
• Low cost
Can be lost, considered as a throw away item
• Small and lightweight,
Easily handcarried, can fly in tight areas
• Easy to control
Engineered to be used by everybody
Professional UAV derived from consumer
12. Missions of «Professional » vs « Consumer Pro»
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Surveying
Mining
Mapping / GIS
Agriculture
Forestry
Conservation
Media
«Quick»
Inspection
Site survey
Real Estate
Civilian
Safety
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The sensor measures crop reflectance in 4
different spectral bands : green, red, red
edge and near infra-red
Drones for precision agriculture
Typical application of a dedicated Professional drone
14. 14
• Estimation of wheat chlorophyll content or
rapeseed biomass based on Normalized
Difference Vegetation Index (NVDI)
calculation
• Prescription maps with fertilizer dose
recommendation allow to optimize
productivity and environmental
performance
Drones for precision agriculture
Typical application of a dedicated Professional drone