FLIR Systems/DJI Zenmuse XT Stabilized and Gimbaled Thermal/IR (Infrared) Camera Going on DJI Inspire 1 and Matrice M100 Quadcopter/Quadrotor Mini-UAS/UAV/Drone Aircraft Platforms for Security and Surveillance Operations: Sees Through Smoke and Fog!

By David Crane
david (at) defensereview (dot) com

Photo(s) Credit: DJI and FLIR Systems

December 13, 2015

Chinese UAS/UAV (Unmanned Aerial System/Unmanned Aerial Vehicle)/drone aircraft maker DJI is teaming up with FLIR Systems to develop and produce what appears to be a relatively low-cost thermal/IR (Infrared)-capable mini-quadcopter/quadrotor drone that will be outfitted with the Zenmuse XT thermal/IR (InfraRed) camera. The camera will allow the UAS to be utilized for night security and surveillance, as well as surveilling and tracking through fog and smoke. The press release claims that 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 cameras for filmmaking, the Zenmuse XT will be fully compatible with the DJI Inspire 1 and Matrice M100 aerial platforms.”

Sounds pretty good.

DefenseReview (DR) has two questions: 1) Will it also integrate an HD video camera for daytime/nighttime security and surveillance ops, and if not, can a DJI quadcopter that incorporates this capability be quickly and easily developed? 2) How much will the Zenmuse XT-equipped quadcopter and DR’s proposed quadcopter cost, respectively?

The video below makes a Zenmuse XT stabilized thermal/IR camera-integrated quadcopter UAS look like a pretty badass little unmanned aerial security and surveillance system for military Special Operations Forces (SOF) and security missions.

Here’s the corporate press release on the Zenmuse XT:

“DJI and FLIR Systems Collaborate to Develop Aerial Thermal-Imaging Technology

2015-12-10

San Francisco, California, Dec. 10, 2015 – DJI, the world leader in unmanned aerial vehicle technology, announced a collaboration with FLIR Systems to develop thermal-imaging technology for aerial applications.

Combining DJI’s leadership in aerial platforms and FLIR’s first-class 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 of our aerial technology,” said DJI Founder and CEO Frank Wang. “Adding thermal imaging as an additional sensor options for aerial platforms will open up new AND innovative uses for our users, whether it’s gaining strategic insight into how their crops are growing or more efficiently understanding the spread of fires.”

The first result from DJI and FLIR’s collaboration will be the release of the Zenmuse XT — the world’s most-powerful aerial thermal-imaging camera — 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 cameras for filmmaking, the Zenmuse XT will be fully compatible with the DJI Inspire 1 and Matrice M100 aerial platforms.

FLIR’s market-leading thermal camera can generate images up to a resolution of 640×512.

“By creating a strategic collaboration that combines DJI’s world-leading drone technology and FLIR’s heritage in thermal imagers, we’re accelerating our growth potential in the commercial drone market,” said Andy Teich, President and CEO of FLIR. “It’s truly a better together opportunity, and we’re excited to help celebrate the launch of the Zenmuse XT today, the first of many products to come under the collaboration.”

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Company Contact Info:

FLIR Systems
Toll Free: 866-344-4674
Website: http://www.flir.com

DJI Headquarters
14th Floor, West Wing, Skyworth Semiconductor Design Building, No.18 Gaoxin South 4th Ave, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, China, 518057.
Phone: +86 0755 26656677
Sales: sales@dji.com
Marketing: marketing@dji.com
Press Release: pr@dji.com
Tech Support: http://www.dji.com/support?www=v1
Online Sales Support: onlinesales@dji.com
Website: http://www.dji.com
Office hours:
Monday to Friday, 9:00 to 18:00 ( Hong Kong Time GMT+8:00)

DJI STUDIO
Phone: +86-010-85326550; 400-7001-303
Aerial Filming: studio@dji.com
Marketing: marketing@dji.com
Press Release: pr@dji.com
Tech Support: http://www.dji.com/support?www=v1
Online Sales Support: onlinesales@dji.com
Website: http://www.dji.com
Office hours: Monday to Friday, 09:30-18:30 ( Beijing Time)
Sanlitun Diplomatic Compound 6-1-31,Beijing

DJI NORTH AMERICA
Los Angeles, California
USA
Phone: +1 818-235-0789
Dealer inquiries: sales@dji.com
Online Sales Support: onlinesales@dji.com
Website: http://www.dji.com
Office hours: Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 17:00 (PST)

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