IEEE Consumer Electronics Magazine - November/December 2021 - 17

Table 6. Comparison of popular commercial UAVs.
Attribute
DJI
Mavic 2
Pro
Max speed
(mph)
Max
endurance
(minutes)
Payloads
Uses
Cost
30
20 MP 4K
camera
Filming
$1,599.00
24
2.6 gallons tank, Sprayers,
Microwave radar, Camera
Agriculture
$14,999.00
10
Thermal camera, 12 MP 4K
camera, Lighting system
Indoor inspections
$49,200.00
59
Variable cameras
and thermal sensors
Surveying, Search
and rescue
$7,499.00
45
DJI Agras MG-1
49
Flyabilty Elios 2
14.5
FireFly6 Pro
18
are out of reach or areas that might be risky and
dangerous, such as power lines, oil pipes, wind turbines,
and bridges. Inspection and monitoring
UAVs can also be used to inspect confined spaces
that are difficult to be inspected by humans, such
as smokestacks and ducts. The Flyabilty Elios 2 is
an example of a multirotor UAV that is used for
beyond-line-of-sight indoor visual inspection. This
specific UAV is collision-tolerant due to a spherical
cage that encases the entire UAV. The FireFLY6
PRO from BirdsEyeView Aerobotics is an example
of a VTOL long-range inspection UAV that is used
to inspect power lines and pipes.
Logistics and Delivery: While logistics and
package delivery using UAVs are still in the early
stages, UAVs can be very advantageous for package
delivery as the UAVs can reduce the transport
time in big cities to minutes. UAVs are also
beneficial for deliveries in rural areas. The
Zipline Robin fixed-wing UAV is being used to
deliver medical supplies, such as blood, vaccines,
and medicine to rural areas in Ghana,
Rwanda, India, and the Philippines.
Surveying and Mapping: UAVs are being utilized
in mapping and surveying applications due
to the high-resolution images that can be taken
by a low-altitude flying UAV and that can be
mapped at a closer range as compared to the
images obtained from a plane or a satellite. The
3-D Robotics Aero is an example of a surveying
and mapping commercial UAV. It is a handlaunched
electric UAV that can have multiple
cameras and customizable payloads.
Search and Rescue: Search and rescue UAVs
give first responders the advantage of flying over
disaster zones or go to places that are too difficult
for humans to reach and search for victims.
Some of the applications of search and rescue
UAVs are post-disaster evaluation, finding missing
persons, and delivering first aid to victims.
Aerial Cinematography: Aerial cinematography
is a major commercial application of UAVs.
It is easier, faster, and cheaper to fly a UAV to
take the aerial shots needed rather than constructing
a camera crane or flying a helicopter to
take aerial shots. The multirotor DJI Matrice 600
Pro is an example of a UAV that is used in professional
cinematography.
Military
A UAV is considered a military type if it is
flown or manufactured for military purposes,
such as intelligence gathering, surveillance,
reconnaissance, target acquisition, and battle
damage assessment, or if the UAV can carry a
variety of weapons and perform air strikes.
Some of the types of military UAVs that are being
used right now are the General Atomics MQ-1
Predator, Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk,
General Atomics MQ-1 C Gray Eagle, and Boeing
Insitu ScanEagle. Table 7 describes a comparison
of the four abovementioned UAVs in terms
of maximum speed, maximum altitude, engine
type, maximum internal and external payloads,
endurance, and cost.
November/December 2021
17
IEEE Consumer Electronics Magazine - November/December 2021

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