Draganflyer X4-P

The Draganflyer X4-P is very lightweight and portable. It uses our unique patented folding carbon fiber airframe to fit inside a military-grade case no larger than a suitcase. Transport is a breeze as it can easily fit into the trunk or back seat of a car. This gives the X4-P “all-in-one-box” system the flexibility to go anywhere at any time.

The Draganflyer X4-P integrates safety and durability together with high quality carbon fiber parts, a state-of-the-art folding airframe design, and a sophisticated computerized flight stabilization system. The X4-P features flight batteries with integrated protection circuits that oversee the battery condition and status along with an easy to use battery life indicator, an “auto-landing” feature if the radio link to the helicopter is lost, and an onboard flight data recorder which captures all flight information on a removable memory card.

Our new camera mounting system offers improved camera vibration isolation. We engineered the camera mount to keep the camera completely isolated from the helicopter. Along with an active tilt feature to keep the camera level in forward and backward flight, this combination creates smooth and vibration-free pictures and video.

The X4-P offers all of the standard features of our previous Draganflyer systems. The advanced on-board flight computer system that incorporates our SteadyFlight software processes inputs from eleven individual sensors. These sensors (including a barometric pressure sensor, three accelerometers, three gyroscopes, three magnetometers, and a GPS receiver) compute hundreds of calculations per second, giving optimum flight stability and handling while maintaining simple, easy-to-control functionality.

This Draganfly platform is safer than ever and more than capable of meeting your aerial photography needs for years to come.

Regulatory Organizations

Transport Canada is the organization that controls rules and regulations related to aviation in Canada, and so they are responsible for regulating UAV activity.

Definition of a UAV

Transport Canada defines an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle as a power driven aircraft, other than a model aircraft, that is operated without a flight crew member on board. They define model aircraft as an aircraft, the total weight of which does not exceed 35 kg (77.2 pounds), that is mechanically driven or launched into flight for recreational purposes and that is not designed to carry persons or other living creatures.

This means that the Draganflyer UAV helicopters are not considered UAVs when operated for recreational purposes only. As soon as they are used for a non recreational purpose, they are subject to the rules and regulations of Transport Canada.

Operating a UAV:

The Canadian Air Regulations require that potential UAV operators obtain a Special Flight Operations Certificate (SFOC) before flying. Once issued, the SFOC gives you permission to fly unmanned aircraft subject to the rules set by Transport Canada. SFOCs can be granted as a one time event or for a period of up to one year. Applying for an SFOC is done by sending a request to your nearest Transport Canada regional contact. In addition to including the following information, he request should state that the UAV will be operated within visual range at all times.

• The name, address, and where applicable, the telephone number and facsimile number of the applicant
• The name, address, and where applicable the telephone number and facsimile number of the person designated by the applicant to have operational control over the operation (Operation Manager)
• Method by which the Operation Manager may be contacted directly during operation
• the type and purpose of the operation
• The dates, alternate dates and times of the proposed operation
• A complete description, including all pertinent flight data on the aircraft to be flown
• The security plan for the area(s) of operation and security plan for the
  area(s) to be overflown to ensure no hazard is created to persons or property on the surface
• The emergency contingency plan to deal with any disaster resulting from the operation
• The name, address, telephone and facsimile numbers of the person designated to be responsible for supervision of the operation area (Ground Supervisor), if different from the Operation Manager during the operation
• a detailed plan describing how the operation shall be carried out. The plan shall include a clear, legible presentation of the area to be used during the operation. The presentation may be in the form of a scale diagram, aerial photograph or large scale topographical chart and must include at least the following information:
  • The altitudes and routes to be used on the approach and departure to and from the area where the operation will be carried out
  • The location and height above ground of all obstacles in the approach and departure path to the areas where the operation will be carried out
  • The exact boundaries of the area where the actual operation will be carried out
  • The altitudes and routes to be used while carrying out the operation
  • Any other information pertinent to the safe conduct of the operation requested by the minister.

Additional Resources

Transport Canada has the stated goal of eventually “normalizing” UAV operations within civil airspace. To this end, there is a Transport Canada UAV working group. The UAV working group report is available online.

You can contact us if you require more information, or if you require assistance during any part of the process of obtaining an SFOC.

Although we will not be able to fly the helicopters during the event due to space limitations, the aircraft that we have on display will be fully operational. Representatives from Draganfly Innovations will be happy to demonstrate their features and answer questions.

For more information about the ICAP 2012 conference you can visit their website. Information about our UAV RC helicopters is available on our website.

You can read the original uasvision.com article

Learn more about our UAV RC helicopters on our website.

The Draganflyer X6 UAS is clearly the easiest way to have complete situational awareness in any scenario.

September 15, 2011 – An extensive fire broke out at white hall in downtown Grand Junction, Colorado. The building was an old Presbyterian Church and landmark that burned in the early hours of Thursday morning. Firefighters attacked the fire for more than three hours to get the blaze under control. After one firefighter fell through the wooden floor, crews pulled back to the exterior of the building to battle the blaze. The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office assisted fire crews armed with a new tool to get a bird’s eye view from the sky. The Draganflyer X6 UAV VTOL helicopter equipped with a thermal infrared camera helped fire crews pinpoint hot spots from the air, so fire crews could focus on those areas. Ben Miller, of the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, operates the UAV and has been flying the Draganflyer X6 for more than a year. He recently received approval from the FAA to fly county wide, doing away with the Emergency COA (eCOA) previously needed for each time the aircraft was deployed. Images captured from the helicopter will aid in the investigation to determine the cause of the fire. It’s the first time this type of technology has been used this way in Mesa County, and possibly the whole country. See more aerial photos from the Draganflyer X6 . View the interview with Ben Miller and film footage shot on-scene during this event on kjct8.com Learn more about our UAV RC helicopters on our website.

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You can read the original news.com.au article

Learn more about our UAV RC helicopters on our website.

You can read the original bc.rcmp.ca article
You can also read bclocalnews.com article
You can also read policeone.com article

Learn more about our UAV RC helicopters on our website.