Dutch drone manufacturer DeltaQuad has started the public beta phase for their new drone model, the Evo drone, which boasts of a dual payload capacity and can stay up to 4.5 hours in the air.
According to the company, the Evo is a response to the rapidly growing use of drones in industries and governments worldwide means that users are demanding more in terms of performance and productivity; and at least on that front, DeltaQuad wants to give local competition like Avy a good run for their money.
Weighing six kilograms with a maximum take-off weight of 9kg, the Evo is a fixed wing electric UAV with vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability, and the capacity to operate on a dual battery system.
When working on two batteries, the drone can stay in the air for 4.5 hours on a single charge, with a flight range of 280km.
With a single battery, the maximum the drone can stay up is three hours, with a flight range of 170km.
When fitted with the extra battery however, the Evo’s payload capacity with reduce to only 1kg; single battery operation allows for payloads up to 3kg heavy.
In terms of industrial operations, the drone can be used for mapping, inspection, and surveillance.
Paired with unique radio and LTE VPN connection possibilities of the DeltaQuad controller, the Evo model is strikingly powered for any flying mission.
“About two years ago, we noticed requirements for eVTOL drones were changing,” says Douwe Zeeman, CEO of DeltaQuad. “We saw a rapidly growing demand for increased flight times and flexible payload options, with a lower total cost of ownership.”
Douwe adds that his company went on to incorporate these demands their design for a new drone; for instance, the innovative wing shape brings aerodynamic efficiency, improved wind resistance and the possibility to operate two sensor payloads simultaneously in a single flight.
The Evo’s modular design also reduces maintenance costs significantly, the company claims.
“The two universal payload bays, with a total carrying capacity of 3 kg, can house a vast range of sensors for surveillance, mapping, multispectral imagery and LiDAR,” the company said in a statement.
“This makes the platform suitable for a variety of tasks and allows for easy customization and integration of future sensors. The robust fiberglass, carbon and Kevlar airframe makes the Evo suitable for intensive use.
“With Auterion Skynode onboard, the Evo system can connect to Auterion Suite, delivering data in real-time, while the drone is performing its mission. The Auterion OS which runs on Skynode provides a range of flexible connectivity options to enable data workflows, custom apps, and AI for enterprise and government customers.”
DeltaQuad has been making the DeltaQuad Pro model of drones since 2017 for a variety of markets worldwide, from agricultural to defence and geospatial to mining, agriculture and forestry, geospatial, oil and gas, utilities, mining and construction, security and inspection, railway and road; and humanitarian and wildlife.