Now a fully-integrated UAV-based Australian solution for topo-bathymetric data acquisition is available. Australian drone manufacturer Freespace Operations provides a direct integration of the RIEGL VQ-840-G topo-bathymetric laser scanner for their heavy-lift industrial drone.
Recently Freespace Operations, established in Melbourne, Australia, configured their heavy-lift multirotor drone Callisto 50 RPAS to carry the RIEGL VQ-840-G topo-bathymetric LiDAR Scanner. This scanner weighs approx. 15kg with camera and GNSS-system fully integrated and is ready to be installed on various airborne platforms including UAVs.
Glenne Blyth, Managing Director of RIEGL Australia, about this configuration: “High value and heavy payload systems like the VQ-840-G demand the highest levels of RPAS reliability, performance and flexibility which the Callisto 50 excels in and is renowned for.“
As Freespace Operations support the Australian market with direct OEM factory support including custom adaptations for all complex payloads and operations, customers are assured to have a UAV platform, that will perform to specifications for a long time period reliably.
“RIEGL is known for its outstanding reliability and support for its customers. Our scanners and systems impress with highest performance, state-of-the-art technology and extreme longevity. And so, it is a great pleasure for us to see, that Freespace relies on the same principles”, underlines Glenne Blyth.
Currently, the platform is battery-powered, but Freespace Operations will offer a dual-fuel internal combustion engine hybrid powertrain in the future. This will have the benefit of increasing flight endurance and reducing the support requirements. Then, mapping customers will be able to cover more ground per flight and maximize their return on investment.
About RIEGL VQ-840-G
The RIEGL VQ-840-G is a fully integrated compact airborne laser scanner for combined bathymetric and topographic surveying. The system is offered with an optionally integrated and factory-calibrated IMU/GNSS system and can be complemented with an optional camera. This compact and lightweight LiDAR system can be installed on various platforms including UAVs.
About Freespace Operations
Freespace Operations is an Australian owned and operated UAS manufacturer incorporated in 2019, delivering world-leading industrial heavy lift multirotor drone systems to the high-end commercial, scientific research & defence sectors aided by their expert level in-depth knowledge of the ArduPilot autopilot system.
Freespace Operations focus on small to medium-sized industrial multirotor systems from 10kg to 150kg TOW (Take Off Weight) with their flagship heavy lifter Calisto 50 modular industrial multirotor drone offering global best performance, reliability and advanced features allowing up to 25 kg of payload capacity with single failure point propulsion redundancy and multirole capabilities.
Now in its 5th design iteration in full production to global commercial customers, the Callisto 50 core philosophy is modularity being highly configurable to offer true multirole capability. This includes multiple power system options available, including high energy density LiPo battery, petrol/heavy-fuel hybrid systems and supporting ground power tether systems allowing for extended mission persistence.
Callisto 50 is compact with small form factor, stowable, offers rapid assembly from military grade transport cases and allows long-term field serviceable maintenance. The Callisto series supports quick change payloads and aircraft re-configuration in the field with BVLOS, advanced swarming and co-operative lift operations support available natively. A core concept for the Callisto series is to be ‘Evergreen’ allowing for both hardware and software upgrades along with the full life of the aircraft with associated pilot training.
About RIEGL
RIEGL is an international leading provider of cutting-edge technology in airborne, mobile, terrestrial, industrial and unmanned laser scanning solutions for applications in surveying.
RIEGL has been producing LiDAR systems commercially for over 40 years and focuses on pulsed time-of-flight laser radar technology in multiple wavelengths.
RIEGL’s core Smart-Waveform technologies provide pure digital LiDAR signal processing, unique methodologies for resolving range ambiguities, multiple targets per laser shots, optimum distribution of measurements, calibrated amplitudes and reflectance estimates, as well as the seamless integration and calibration of systems.
RIEGL’s Ultimate LiDARTM 3D scanners offer a wide array of performance characteristics and serve as a platform for continuing Innovation in 3D for the LiDAR industry.
From the first inquiry, to purchase and integration of the system, as well as training and support, RIEGL maintains an outstanding history of reliability and support to their customers.
Worldwide sales, training, support and services are delivered from RIEGL’s headquarters in Austria and in the USA; main offices in, Japan, China, Australia, Canada and the UK; and a worldwide network of representatives.
About RIEGL Australia
RIEGL Australia, Southport, Queensland, brings all of the technology and developments from the head office in Austria to the Australian and New Zealand markets.