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Recommended Equipment for Commercial Drone Work

Get equipped! If you’re just starting out, see the “Starter Systems” below for gear that will get you operating on a commercial level for a relatively low cost. Further down the page are more advanced options. When discussing commercial UAV work, I tend to group it into 3 main categories: inspection, mapping or film. While some companies operate in multiple areas, it’s common for one of these to dominant most of your company’s workload.

Many of my recommendations revolve around DJI products, as the drones are easy to operate and the price points are tough to beat for the features you get in return.

If you have any questions about your equipment choices, send an email to mike@workingwithdrones.com or phone me at (1)778-980-0654. All products ship from Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Starter Drone Systems

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Starter Systems: INSPECTION & RECCE

If you are just starting a commercial drone program or equipping your staff for the first time with drones, these are some good options for you to perform quality inspections without a huge upfront investment.

DJI Mavic Pro: Bundle

I have flown the Mavic many times, and it’s a great unit for quick and easy inspections or site reconnaissance. It was easy to fly right out of the box and it captures professional quality photos and video. For a small multirotor, it performs well in gusty winds and it very portable, which makes it easier on your fields crews when hiking on steep terrain or to remote sites throughout the day. Some of its benefits include:

Lightweight, can fit easily in small pack
Has obstacle avoidance
27 minute flight time
Max speed of 72 km/h
12.7 MP camera, shoots 4K high definition video

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Starter Systems: FILM & MEDIA

DJI Inspire 2

For those looking to break into the professional media market and work with a high performance UAV to record cinema quality footage, the Inspire 2 will not disappoint. It’s fast, versatile and has all the latest features. Features include:

Recording in Cinema DNG and Apple ProRes 5.2K
20.8MP still photos
Controllable range of 7km
20fps continuous burst
27 minutes flight time

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Starter Systems: MAPPING

DJI Phantom 4 Advanced

As an well-rounded drone, the Phantom 4 can be used not only for inspection but also works well for mapping smaller sites. It’s easy to fly and some of its features include:

20MP camera with 1-inch sensor
30 minute flight time
Video transmission range of up to 7km
5 vision sensors, including obstacle avoidance
TapFly, ActiveTrack and other advanced features

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Aeromao’s Aeromapper Talon

As you may be aware, fixed wing drones are more efficient in flight and fly faster than multirotor drones, covering more ground in less time. This UAV is no exception, and is great for mapping missions as it has an impressive flight time of 2 hours! It’s easy to launch and lands with the help of a parachute, so you don’t need to worry about manually landing it.

Some features of the Talon include:

2 hour flight time
Fully autonomous flight
Sony A6000 or equivalent camera
30 km link system
14 m/s cruise speed

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Advanced Drone Systems

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Advanced Systems: INSPECTION AND RACCE

DJI Matrice 210

I have logged enough flight hours with the Matrice 210 to know that it’s an industrial workhorse and a great all-around UAV. It is a natural unit for inspection with its ability to mount dual cameras, if you want to record with thermal infrared and a true color sensor at the same time, for example. We have also been caught out in the rain many times (especially here on the west coast of Canada) and there was no need to stress about it getting wet. With its flight time specs it also performs well outside of its traditional inspection role, doing a good job of mapping smaller sites if needed, making it a versatile choice.

Some highlights of this unit include:

IP43 ingress protection rating (for rain and dust)
38 minute flight time with TB55 batteries
Dual gimbal setup possible, including downward or upward facing cameras
Dedicated forward-facing FPV camera
Can handle low temperatures, high winds and adverse weather conditions

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Sensefly albris

An impressive inspection unit that can also be used for small site mapping, the eXom UAV is a multirotor from Sensefly, a company with a good reputation in the commercial drone sector. One of the key features of the albris is the “TripleView Head” which is HD video, a 38 MP still camera and a thermal sensor. It also uses a professional flight operations software called eMotion 3 that Sensefly has developed over the years. The flight time of this UAV on a single charge is approximately 22 minutes and has maximum flight range of 4.5 km. Key features of this drone include:

Uses eMotion 3 for flight planning and control
TripleView head (HD video, 38 MP stills, thermal)
1.8 kg (3.96 lb)
36 km/h wind resistance (10 m/s)
22 minute flight time

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DJI Inspire 2

This unit is also listed above as an starter unit for film and media, and that’s because it’s a well-rounded drone. I’ve performed plenty of inspections with the Inspire series from DJI, and can recommend it for that as well as many other jobs. Some of the benefits of this drone:

Records in Cinema DNG and Apple ProRes 5.2K
20.8MP still photos
Controllable range of 7km
20fps continuous burst
Spotlight Pro subject tracking

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Advanced Systems: FILM & MEDIA

Freefly Alta 6

This film industry hexacopter unpacks, ready to shoot, in under five minutes. It is easy to fly, powerful, rigid, adaptable, reliable, and is a UAV optimized for up to 15-pound payloads. Confidently fly RED, ARRI and other professional cameras with our drone, guided by the SYNAPSE Flight Controller. It’s also available in an octocopter model if you need to carry more weight / larger cameras. Highlights include:

Option to mount the MōVI on top to capture unique shots
Maximum takeoff weight of 30.0 lbs
Supports all the major FPV systems
20 minute flight time with 9 lb payload and twin 12,000 mAh batteries
Vibration isolation system

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Advanced Systems: MAPPING

WingtraOne

This UAV gives you the best of both worlds, the efficiency of a fixed wing drone combined with the vertical takeoff capability of a multirotor. With a flight time of 55 minutes and the ability to take off and land in tight areas, the Wingtra is a versatile drone. With a cruising speed of 50 km/h (~14 m/s), it’s great mapping and survey unit that can cover a large area on a single charge. Notable features of this VTOL fixed wing include:

Vertical takeoff and landing capabilities
Sony QX1 with 15mm Voigtländer lens comes with standard package
20.8 MP sensor
Swappable payload with the Sony RX1RII or MicaSense RedEdge (sold separately)
55 minute flight time 50 km/h cruise speed

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Sensefly eBee

As a company that has been a major player in the commercial drone space for years now, you can expect reliability and accuracy from Sensefly’s eBee, their flagship UAV. They have come a long way from the early days of the eBee, having released different versions of the eBee, including the eBee Plus and eBee RTK. In the standard model, many of the benefits of this drone include:

18.2 MP Sony RGB camera supplied with the UAV
Compatible with other sensors such as the Parrot Sequoia and Sensefly S.O.D.A.
Up to 50 minutes flight time
Swappable payloads – RGB, multispectral and thermal
Easy hand launch and belly landing