Why is it so hard to make a thermal drone?

[johndrone33]

There are some really good and small thermal cameras online, like the xinfrared t2 pro for a few hundred dollar.
I have tried it and it is really amazing how good it is for its seize and price.

Why is it so hard to just put it on a drone and then send the signals to my dji remote controller?

I eally dont understand how most thermal drones today go for 5-10k usd beccause the thermal camera it self is nothing special on those drones.
I bet the thermal camera for 500 usd is just as good.

You dont even have to be able to till the camera up and down, it would be great even if it would be in a fixed position.

Am i stupid or is there more to it than just put the thermal camera on the drone and make it send signals to the controller?

 

[microlinux]

There are many variables beyond just the raw component price that need to be figured in when pricing something like this.

Thermal cameras are also a much smaller portion of the market than photographic cameras, which generally implies you need higher margins.

 

[Cafguy]

Why is it so hard to just put it on a drone and then send the signals to my dji remote controller?

Because DJI and Occusync are closed systems if you want thermal thats a little cheaper (not much less) get away from occusync.

 

[johndrone33]

There are many variables beyond just the raw component price that need to be figured in when pricing something like this.

Thermal cameras are also a much smaller portion of the market than photographic cameras, which generally implies you need higher margins.

So wjat is the technical problem with puttning a thermal camera like that on a mavic 3 pro for example?
That drone can easily handle the weight of the camera for sure.

 

[Kilrah]

$500 thermal cam isn't as good as what's used on the pro versions... and anyway it'll still be a LOT more than the probably $50 the visible camera costs them. But technically nothing, it's just not something that your typical user will pay even $500 extra on "for fun", those who use thermal cameras need them to give quality output they can use for work.

 

[Dave Pitman]

So wjat is the technical problem with puttning a thermal camera like that on a mavic 3 pro for example?
That drone can easily handle the weight of the camera for sure.

You certainly could do it. You just need the camera, video transmitter, and a power source on the M3. Then a video receiver and screen of your choice at your ground station. Go for it!

 

[jaja6009]

The thermal camera for $500 is not as good.

The mentioned camera is only 256 x 192 unless I am looking at a different model. Today's mainstream thermals are 640 x 512, 6 times the resolution (Think of this as the resolution on a TV).

Also on a drone SWaP Size Weight and Power are part of what you are paying for as well as the engineering to integrate the hardware and software. This is a chunk of what you are paying for as well as the thermography software that companies like DJI and Autel provide for free.

Drones with lower resolution cameras were in the $1900 to $3000 dollar range back in 2019.

As mentioned you can always add a thermal, but if you are patient, you can find Autels Evo 2's with thermals around $3000 used and the Autel Evo Lite Enterprise is pretty cheap for a thermal drone @ $3500 and boasts a 640 x 512 resolution like the big boys.

 

[johndrone33]

$500 thermal cam isn't as good as what's used on the pro versions... and anyway it'll still be a LOT more than the probably $50 the visible camera costs them. But technically nothing, it's just not something that your typical user will pay even $500 extra on "for fun", those who use thermal cameras need them to give quality output they can use for work.

Dude, I dont think you have even seen the camera on youtube, you can identitfy a cow at like 1km away, its that good.

 

[IronSky1]

You need a host to connect the small Thermal Camera to. Not simple and messy to integrate . I use the Thermal Master P3 which is ok however , not close to what a properly integrated DJI FLir system is. Depth of field and focus is not useable on P3 type cameras from 50 to 100ft

 

[johndrone33]

You need a host to connect the small Thermal Camera to. Not simple and messy to integrate . I use the Thermal Master P3 which is ok however , not close to what a properly integrated DJI FLir system is. Depth of field and focus is not useable on P3 type cameras from 50 to 100ft

but what about the xinfrared t2 pro?
Its a great camera but FoV is only like 20 degrees so not that good but i dont really need good FoV.

 

[jaja6009]

The thermal you are talking about is not as good as the thermals in Autel, DJI or Skydio drones. These thermal imagers are used by thermography professionals in many industries.
They boast much higher resolution, equal or better NETD, adjustable parameters, tested radiometry and more.

But I will say this, that T2 Pro is a good deal for someone to have a low cost thermal sensor that can easily work with your phone. I watched a few videos on it and it does offer really good value.

 

[Elwarpo]

I agree that the thermal on the small cameras like the Seek nano pro (320x240) is nowhere near the 640x512 of my thermal hunting scope but to identify where hogs or coyotes are from above so the vermin can be exterminated, they would work since final ID will be made with the rifle scope before the shot.

Not an electronics expert but could I take a camera like the nano flir 1, T2... connect it to a usb c extension with the male cut off and the wire exposed. the exposed wires would then be connected to a ts 832 transmitter with a battery. on my remote have the wr832 receiver wired to USBC and and connect it to a phone? The question is the output of the camera, is it video or some other format?

 

[High_Order1]

I think this is a great question!

I think/feel in the specific case of DJI, for multiple reasons, they did not want the drones able to be modified. So, no alt video input port, or interchangeable gimbals or different antenna options.

Nothing for experimenters or enthusiasts.

Have you looked at the build your own websites? I don't know enough about them, I would want one that does station keeping like DJI does, because I am not very skilled at legacy helicopter type drones.

 

[Elwarpo]

I think this is a great question!

I think/feel in the specific case of DJI, for multiple reasons, they did not want the drones able to be modified. So, no alt video input port, or interchangeable gimbals or different antenna options.

Nothing for experimenters or enthusiasts.

Have you looked at the build your own websites? I don't know enough about them, I would want one that does station keeping like DJI does, because I am not very skilled at legacy helicopter type drones.

Interesting, the goal would be a second camera, with the main camera for station keeping... and the thermal mounted below for spotting. Would have 2 screens on my remote, regular and thermal. This way I can use the regular camera for ground orientation to know where the target is.

 

[High_Order1]

Oh I agree!
One pod to drive, and one to observe. I am with you.

Someone makes that out of relatively inexpensive DIY components, I am all in!

 

[Kilrah]

The question is the output of the camera, is it video or some other format?

No, it's digital data over USB.

 

[High_Order1]

Not an electronics expert but could I take a camera like the nano flir 1, T2... connect it to a usb c extension with the male cut off and the wire exposed. the exposed wires would then be connected to a ts 832 transmitter with a battery. on my remote have the wr832 receiver wired to USBC and and connect it to a phone? The question is the output of the camera, is it video or some other format?

I can't speak to those units specifically. Bet if they have an unwrappable camera feed, someone else has already done it.

Probably best bet is cracking one open and picking off the video feed prior to the part that converts it for use with a cell phone. Problem would be, does the phone app do things to adjust and maintain the camera?