Mapping Without Limits

Dutch startup Atmos UAV released what it claims is the most efficient and effective mapping drone on the market. Called “Marlyn,” the drone is a hybrid between multirotor and fixed-wing styles. This allows for precise, controlled vertical launch and landing on any surface as well as reliable flight performance in inclement weather—Marlyn isn’t slowed by rain, snow, or high wind.

According to Atmos UAV’s website, Marlyn’s aerodynamically optimized wings enable mapping up to 10 times faster than traditional multirotor UAVs. Marlyn can cover one cubic-kilometer in just half an hour, with a ground sampling distance of three centimeters.

The UAV is equipped with a high-end surveying camera that can be swapped to support alternative imaging capabilities. For example, a multi-spectral camera can flown aboard Marlyn to create agricultural maps with detailed data on crop conditions.

Atmos UAV also offers Atmos Mission Planner, a ground control software designed to streamline a user’s entire data collection workflow.

There are four main steps to mapping with Marlyn. First, a flight plan is developed in the Atmos Mission Planner based on the specific area and project requirements. Second, the UAV begins its automated flight and data collection process. After Marlyn lands, the captured information is processed and organized using the photogrammetry software of the user’s choice. Finally, users can conduct detailed analysis on the resulting data models.

Atmos UAV has already partnered with U.K.-based UAV services provider Skeye to boost product development. As Marlyn’s popularity grows, look for it to be used in a wide range of applications including land surveying, mining, forestry, and precision agriculture.

Photo Credit: Atmos UAV