Companies Collaborate to Develop Aerial Thermal-Imaging Technology

Companies Collaborate to Develop Aerial Thermal-Imaging Technology

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • Dec 11, 2015

DJI, industry leader in unmanned aerial vehicle technology, announced in December a collaboration with FLIR Systems to develop thermal-imaging technology for aerial applications.

Combining DJI’s leadership in aerial platforms and FLIR’s thermal-imaging technology expands the uses of aerial systems to provide different types of sensory data essential for firefighting, agriculture, inspection and several other industrial-use cases.

“Almost every week we see new applications if our aerial technology,” said DJI founder and CEO Frank Wang. “Adding thermal imaging as an additional sensor option for aerial platforms will open up new and innovative uses for  our users.”

The first product resulting from the collaboration will be the Zenmuse XT, the world’s most powerful aerial thermal-imaging camera. Due to be available in the first quarter of 2016.

The Zenmuse XT will seamlessly integrate a top-quality FLIR thermal-imager with DJI’s signature gimbal stabilization and Lightbridge video transmission technology. Using the same gimbal mount as DJI’s Zenmuse X3, X5, and X5R camera for film making, the Zenmuse XT will be fully compatible with the DJI Inspire 1 and Matrice M100 aerial platforms.

This partnership is especially important in the security industry. The new product expands the drone market, making the small flying craft significantly more useful for firefighters, police and others that use thermal imaging.

The use of thermal imaging could be useful in search and rescue missions as you would be able to search a wide range of space in a short amount of time. You can even spot a person below through billows of smoke.

The collaboration between the two companies is something of a no-brainer. FLIR already makes camera systems that are used on military and emergency aircraft and these agencies are increasingly eyeing drone technology as a useful way to carry out low-cost aerial surveying.

“This is just the beginning of our partnership,” Wang said.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

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