SmartPlanes provide commercial unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), for aerial surveying, remote sensing and surveillance, equipped with high-resolution cameras or other sensors that form an easy-to-use and efficient tool for aerial surveying.

The company’s core products are widely used in prospecting, mine planning, environmental monitoring, and volume measurement of open-pit mines, construction sites, quarries, and dump sites, etc.

SmartPlanes aerial mapping and surveying system

The unmanned aircraft flies automatically over pre-defined areas of interest and takes photos on a regular grid. The resulting high-resolution photos are processed to produce orthophotos and terrain or surface models (DTM/DSM), with very high-accuracy; typically a vertical accuracy of 25mm or better.

Customers will benefit from robustness, cost-efficiency, flexibility, ease-of-use, and up-to-date / real-time information. The solution is utilised by numerous customers and industries worldwide, and proven through thousands of flight missions. SmartPlanes’ solutions focus on enhancing its customers’ productivity by providing reliability, accuracy and performance.

SmartPlane unmanned aircraft systems do not require users to have previous operating experience, and they can be trained quickly on its operating system.

The high-resolution images taken from a Smartplane can then be processed to produce orthophotos and surface models with an accuracy of more than 5cm.

The SmartPlane unmanned aircraft system features a large cargo bay that allows users to attach different cameras or sensors vertically or side-ways for optimum survey perspective.

The modular design of our unmanned aerial system allows it to be easily upgradeable, and its simple design allows users to create custom solutions to suit their requirements.

Users can easily be trained to operate the system, and no previous experience is necessary, with either aircraft or aerial surveying.

With our system:

• Aerial surveying and mapping tasks can be done more effectively and economically than with conventional manned aircraft or ground surveys
• The lightweight plane can safely fly over hazardous or inaccessible areas
• Applications for aerial surveys where conventional methods would be impractical, too dangerous or expensive are now possible
• Very precise volume calculations can be performed in a few hours

SmartPlanes is pleased to offer an aerial survey system as a turnkey solution for geospatial data providers and end users. The system is a complete package of custom hardware and software.

With the SmartPlanes system, a single person can safely and easily complete surveying and mapping tasks that would otherwise require advanced planning and special expertise using conventional methods.

Our systems save both time and money, allowing resources to be targeted more effectively. The system has proven its functionality after several years in the field and today, our systems are operated on all continents by different users.

Aerial system specifications

Aircraft:

• Span of 1.2m, shock-resistant, high-strength skin, Lexan fuselage, large adaptable cargo bay
• Take-off weight of 1.2kg, including battery and camera
• Powerful brushless electric motor propulsion
• Telemetry of 868MHz, 900MHz or 2.4GHz (ISM)

Performance:

• Automated linear precision landing and takeoff
• Hand launched
• 200g-600g payload capacity
• Maximum cruise speed of 16m/s, 57km/h
• Normal mission 50 minutes with reserves
• Coverage of 0.1km² to 10km² depending on mission settings
• Recommended -20°C to 40°C, snow or light rain, maximum wind 13m/s, 47km/h
• Auto and Assisted flight modes

Cameras:

• 16.2MP camera with large APS-C CMOS sensor
• 16.2MP Near Infra-Red (NIR) camera
• Nadir (straight down) and optional oblique view
• Resolution depending on flying height, 1.3cm-20cm/pixel

Unmanned aircraft custom design features

Our custom-designed aircraft is:

• Optimised for professional aerial surveying and mapping
• Some of our units are giving reliable service after four years with high levels of rough, daily use in the field
• Aerodynamically efficient, giving it excellent payload capacity, long endurance and good wind resistance compared with other aircraft with similar take-off weight
• The modular design can be upgraded to take advantage of new technology; an elegance and simplicity of design makes it very reliable and easy to repair in the field
• Designed with a large cargo bay that allows for different types of cameras or sensors that can be oriented both vertically and side-looking
• Equipped with an assisted flight mode that enables the pilot to avoid obstacles and perform precision landings within a few meters

Unmanned aircraft safety and legal considerations

SmartPlanes’ systems are designed to operate within existing regulatory frameworks for unmanned aircraft and satisfy permit requirements in most countries.

The system poses minimal risk to bystanders and other aircraft due to its low kinetic energy and mass, plus generous use of shock-absorbing materials in the construction.

Custom solutions for aerial surveying and mapping

We are always looking for new possibilities and application areas. If you have a special requirement that needs a custom solution, please contact us and we can discuss your requirements.