Draganflyer X4 UAV with FLIR Infra Red Camera – Agricultural Applications

The Draganflyer X4 UAV helicopter can be equipped with a state of the art FLIR (forward looking infra red) Tau camera. The Flir Tau can see in the dark and is sensitive to the infra red (heat) radiation given off by every day objects. Because different materials absorb heat at varying efficiencies, their unique thermal signatures are registered on the FLIR camera and displayed in false color. This allows the user to see hot and cold spots on the ground, and distinguish between the sky, plants, animals and artificial objects in any lighting conditions.

The unique ability to see a temperature gradient on the ground makes the Draganflyer X4 and FLIR Tau perfect for agricultural applications. The camera can tell the difference between healthy plants and dry regions, allowing users to get a quick overview of how a field is progressing and plan accordingly. Being able to see the difference between a healthy field and an unhealthy one allows you to take corrective action helping to increase farm productivity.

The FLIR Tau can also be used to sense the location of livestock and other animals. The heat signature of each animal shows up as a clear red spot relative to the cool ground, allowing easy counts and other statistics to be recorded. See where your livestock is at all times, even during the night. Large animals emit significant body heat, making them easy to track with our infra red camera.

Unlike conventional thermal infra red cameras, the FLIR Tau weighs only 70 grams. A low power consumption allow for extremely long flight times with no performance compromise. The FLIR Tau features both a 2x and 4x user selectable digital zoom; and transmits live video to the handheld controller and video base station. Our built in DVR keeps a pristine interference free copy of all the infra red video you take, giving you a perfect record to analyze or archive.

See the following video, which shows the Draganflyer X4 and FLIR Tau camera being used to do an aerial vineyard inspection. The video shows dry regions that need more water, and detects irrigation system leaks. The flyover was done at an altitude of 50 feet, giving a large field of view.

You see the various camera options available for the Draganflyer X4 on our website.