DJI Air 3S: Game-Changer for First Responders with LiDAR Tech
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The yet-to-be-released
Nightscape Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing
The Air 3S is rumored to be equipped with a cutting-edge Nightscape Omnidirectional Obstacle Sensing system. This tech creates a 360-degree awareness bubble around the drone, allowing it to detect and avoid obstacles from any direction, even in low-light conditions.
READ MORE: DJI AIR 3S PRICES LEAKED: ESTIMATING US PRICING FOR THE NEW DRONE
The forward-facing LiDAR on the Air 3S allegedly has a measurement range of 0.5 m to 25 m (1.6 ft to 82 ft) at night. Itโs effective when direct sunlight has illuminance below 20,000 lux, which is equivalent to daylight on a slightly overcast day.
LiDARโs Edge in Smoke and Mist
LiDAR technology offers a significant advantage in penetrating smoke and mist compared to traditional visual sensors. Hereโs why:
- Wavelength: LiDAR uses near-infrared light, which can penetrate small particles in the air more effectively than visible light.
- Active sensing: Unlike passive cameras, LiDAR actively emits light pulses, making it less affected by ambient conditions.
- Multiple returns: LiDAR can capture multiple returns from a single pulse, allowing it to detect objects behind partial obstructions.
- 3D mapping: LiDAR creates precise 3D point clouds, providing detailed spatial information even in low-visibility conditions.
This means first responders can navigate and gather crucial data in environments where traditional visual sensors would be severely limited.
Major Leap in Low-Light Performance
One of the most impressive rumored features of the Air 3S is its improved low-light vision:
- The previous DJI Air 3 required illuminance > 15 lux
- The new
DJI Air 3S is effective with illuminance > 1 lux
This 15-fold improvement in low-light sensitivity allows the Air 3S to function in lighting conditions equivalent to twilight or very dim street lighting. Itโs a game-changer for night operations and low-visibility environments.
Comprehensive Sensor Setup
The Air 3S is said to boast a full suite of sensors for obstacle avoidance:
- Forward-facing LiDAR
- Downward vision sensors
- Lateral vision sensors
- Upward infrared sensors
This combo provides unparalleled omnidirectional obstacle sensing and avoidance capabilities.
Potential for First Responders
The Air 3Sโs features make it ideal for emergency response scenarios:
- Enhanced Safety: More accurate obstacle detection and avoidance in challenging environments.
- Improved Autonomous Flight: Smoother navigation through complex disaster areas.
- Better Tracking: Enables more dynamic search and rescue operations.
- Expanded Operational Conditions: Ability to fly safely in low-light environments, crucial for nighttime emergencies.
Cost-Effective Solution
While official pricing isnโt available yet, the Air 3S is expected to be significantly cheaper than alternatives from Skydio and Brinc Drones. This makes it an attractive option for first responder agencies with limited budgets, such as Search and Rescue crews or volunteer Fire Departments.
DroneXLโs Take
The
As weโve seen in recent DroneXL articles on first responders, drones are becoming increasingly crucial in search and rescue, firefighting, and disaster response.
Looking ahead, we can speculate about a potential DJI Mavic 4 Enterprise Thermal drone. This hypothetical model could combine the Air 3Sโs LiDAR technology with advanced thermal imaging capabilities. Such a drone would be the ultimate tool for first responders, offering:
- LiDAR for navigation and 3D mapping in low-visibility conditions
- Thermal imaging for detecting heat signatures of people or fire hotspots
- Enhanced obstacle avoidance for safer operations in complex environments
- Potentially longer flight times and improved durability for extended missions
If DJI can offer these features while keeping the price point accessible, it could be a game-changer for emergency services. The Mavic 4 Enterprise Thermal could potentially fill the gap between consumer-grade drones and more expensive specialized units, giving more agencies access to top-tier technology.
What do you think about the
Photos courtesy of Igor Bogdanov and DJI.
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Haye Kesteloo
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The Air 3S exceeds all capabilities of all other drone makers. DJI will be a leader in all new technology.
Imagine you only have one leg and a crutch to go find someone who is unconscious at night how awesome to have a drone that could help you find this unconscious person, we need drones the more the better
This should be very useful in many countries, saving lives etc. Itโs a real shame and short sighted that in the UK you have to have someone walking in front of any drone, and holding a red flag, this is the new forward thinking team in the CAA.
And in the stupid USA they want to ban DJI and force people to buy significantly more expensive USA made drones that are a few.years behind in tech. The USA os crippling its own first responders with this nonsense attack on DJI.
Yes we all know of the intent of communist China and the spying, the balloons and so on. But what does the average drone pilot see that someone couldnโt find another way or with a drone of thier own? If DJI was somehow spying on the USA for Communist China why would they be the one to implement Geo Fence on the drones, you would think if they wanted to spy they would want drones to ne able to get near critical infrastructure not be unable to get even close to it.
That said my DJI drones are hacked, have no restrictions, no geofence and I use the Litchi app to control them not DJIs app. I donโt feel my DJI drones are a threat to national security in any way. Maybe the USA government should support efforts to hack the firmware so that the government first responder use can completely take DJI out of the picture. They wont do this because its companies like SkydiHo (you know who that refers to) that is lobbying to push for this ban so they can continue to sell subpar drones at exponentially higher prices than the superior and much cheaper DJI drones. They are not the only company doing it but are a big one pushing for this ban and they were in the forefront of the effort to have DJI banned. Iโm never buy or own one of thier drones because they are essentially trying to cause the USA market to be behind in drone technology so they can fatten thier pockets!