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R&D Focus

Drone Solutions for Agriculture & Inspection Purposes

According to a forecast by Research and Markets, the drone market, which is expected to hit US$20.71 billion in 2018, will expand to US$52.3 billion by 2025, translating to a compound annual growth rate of 14.15%. The drone industry is experiencing rapid growth as drones are seeing more commercial uses other than military and recreation, for instance, applications in agriculture, infrastructure inspection, and transportation. Therefore, ITRI continues to develop advanced drone solutions with distinct features to accommodate a wide range of applications. Its “Hybrid Power Drone with High Payload and Duration” and “Long-acting Drone and Aerial Photography Intelligence Analysis Technology” are two examples which were demonstrated at COMPUTEX 2018.

The Hybrid Power Drone with High Payload and Duration.

The Hybrid Power Drone with High Payload and Duration.

ITRI’s Hybrid Power Drone with High Payload and Duration is an octocopter that can last up to 45 minutes of hovering time at 30 kg payload. The drone passed a preliminary field test for a smart spray system in a mountainous tea garden at the end of 2017. With high payload, the drone can even carry granular fertilizers, proving its capabilities to achieve smart agricultural management. This year a novel fuselage topology will be applied to increase the electric propulsion efficiency and anti-gust wind effect. The payload capacity will also be increased in order to support various high-payload applications, such as drones that integrate with the lightweight dry ice cleaning module.

ITRI integrated the development of the high power density hybrid power module, dual-propeller module, hybrid power system, and lightweight aviation engine, providing hovering function and low-altitude, high-payload operation. The Hybrid Power Drone with High Payload and Duration is ideally suited for applications such as aerial photography for patrol and inspection in disaster prevention or police missions. It can also be used in infrastructure construction, agriculture, or emergency relief, for instance, offering inspection and insulator cleaning services for medium/high voltage towers.

The Long-Acting Drone and Aerial Photography Intelligence Analysis Technology.

The Long-Acting Drone and Aerial Photography Intelligence Analysis Technology.

In addition, ITRI’s Long-acting Drone and Aerial Photography Intelligence Analysis Technology uses unique multi-link safety communication, simple payload control, smart ground station software, and intelligent video analysis technology. Its tethered cable and automatic fly reel enable sustainable power supply and fixed-point flight safety. The ground control station also allows collaborative fleet management for flying multiple drones simultaneously. The flying duration of a cable-tethered drone can reach up to 2 hours.

The Long-acting Drone and Aerial Photography Intelligence Analysis Technology can be used to periodically check and diagnose structural facilities such as bridges, reservoirs, railroad tracks, and high-rise buildings that are not easily reached by people. With accurate photography and intelligent video analysis, the efficiency of inspection is enhanced and the safety of buildings is ensured. This technology combines the advantages of high efficiency and low cost and is expected to bring enormous commercial opportunities for drone applications.

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