by DRONELIFE Workers Author Ian J. McNabb
German drone developer Starcopter just lately unveiled the Highdra, a 6-rotor commercial-focused UAV offered through an progressive flight-hours pricing mannequin that makes it some of the cost-effective, highly effective options out there available on the market. DroneLife obtained up shut and private with the Starcopter at INTERGEO, the place the Braunschweig-based firm described the Highdra and gave DroneLife some insights into what makes them totally different from their opponents.
With a singular, automotive-inspired 6-battery array system and structure, Starcopter advertises its unequalled cost lifetime, retaining the Highdra airloft even after many opponents would flip their batteries into e-waste. Add in totally tool-less dis-and-re-assembly and a compact design that may match into the trunk of a automobile, and the Highdra appears completely designed for a variety of functions, particularly contemplating its versatile, mission-driven modular payload system.
Whereas they’re nonetheless a bit of cagey on technical specs, together with weight and flight time, DroneLife was instructed the Highdra is able to a variety of surveying, filming, and mapping functions.
In response to their web site, “We don’t solely develop the newest drone know-how, but in addition provide a collection of state-of-the-art sensors because the payload. Whether or not the newest lidar from CHCNAV or a 150MP digital camera from PhaseOne or an infrared digital camera from Workswell – your utility defines the sensor.”
As a substitute of constructing the German-made Highdra out there as a standalone product, Starcopter has honed in on a drone-as-a-service mannequin, pricing per-project. With their very own pilots, drones, and sensor pods, as a substitute of buying an (extraordinarily) costly business drone for a corporation, Starcopter took inspiration from airplane engines, which aren’t priced per-unit, as a substitute being priced by flight hour. This makes the Highdra an awesome answer for corporations that don’t at all times want a drone, however might use one for sure tasks.
In response to the staff DroneLife talked to in Stuttgart, they put their minimal pricing all the way down to round €100 per flight hour (round $110), placing a strong UAV into the palms of shoppers at an unequalled value level. Extra particular undertaking pricing is on the market upon request.
For extra info on Starcopter and the Highdra, click on here.
Learn extra:
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, an expert drone providers market, and a fascinated observer of the rising drone trade and the regulatory setting for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles targeted on the business drone house and is a world speaker and acknowledged determine within the trade. Miriam has a level from the College of Chicago and over 20 years of expertise in excessive tech gross sales and advertising and marketing for brand spanking new applied sciences.
For drone trade consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
TWITTER:@spaldingbarker
Subscribe to DroneLife here.
Trending Merchandise