About company
Revolve Drones is a new subsidiary of Drone Doctor, the UK recommended and authorized drone repair center from DJI Innovations. Due to the extensive knowledge in the field of electronics and the accumulated experience in the main activity, they are simultaneously engaged in the modification of DJI equipment. The first announced themselves in January 2019, through the Mavic 2 Zoom FLIR Boson prototype, implemented on the basis of the already well-known DJI Mavic 2 Zoom drone, which, as a result of serious improvements, received a hybrid thermal imaging camera with zoom capability (Flir Boson 320 + stock DJI camera Mavic 2 Zoom). Compared to the Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual (hereinafter referred to as the M2ED), the overall result of the improvements has been a significant improvement in thermal image quality at higher resolutions.
The MK.III project was put into development after the disappointing performance of the Lepton thermal matrix used in the M2ED.
Peculiarities
The specifications below apply to the thermal imaging camera only. The features of the drone and visual camera are identical to those of the standard Mavic 2 Zoom.
- Camera: Flir Boson 320 with 6.3mm lens
- Matrix: uncooled VOx microbolometer
- Spectral range: long-wave infrared; 7.5 – 13.5 µm
- Pixel Pitch: 12 µm
- Thermal sensitivity: <60mK
- Resolution: 320×256
- HFOV: 34°
- Color palettes: Ironbow, Rainbow, Rainbow HC, FireGrade, White Hot, Black Hot
- Gain settings: High/Medium/Low
Equipment
The package of the modified version of the drone will include:
- DJI Mavic 2
- Remote Control
- Battery
- Charger
- Preinstalled Revolve MK.III Upgrade Pack
- Preinstalled Flir Boson 320 thermal camera with 6.3mm lens
- Thermal Ground Control Unit
- Waterproof hard case
- British support, service and warranty
Revolve Thermal MK.III
A year after the demonstration of the prototype, the developers of Revolve Drones are back with a version of the “Revolve Thermal MK.III” ready for serial launch. The Boson 320 sensor has twice the resolution of the sensor used on the M2ED (320 × 240 resolution versus 160 × 120) and a narrower field of view (34° versus 57°). According to Revolve Drones, this allows the MK.III to detect a given thermal signature at a distance five times greater than the distance that the M2ED is capable of realizing. The Revolve Thermal MK.III has undergone numerous tests (more than 100 hours in flight), including successfully field testing at International Animal Rescue in Borneo, Indonesia (see photo below).
The MK.III offers extremely high thermal image quality at a slightly higher price than the standard M2ED. For comparison, the cost of the finished kit is about a third of the cost of the DJI M210 commercial drone in the lower resolution XT2 version.
Revolve Thermal MK.III aims to bridge the gap between the lower and upper end of the market by providing high quality thermal imaging to organizations that previously could not afford expensive technology.
By partnering with dealers and repair centers in Iowa, USA and New South Wales (Australia), Revolve Drones will be able to sell and provide local support for the Thermal MK.III worldwide.
Interesting details
- The Flir Boson is the world’s only third-party camera integrated with the DJI Mavic handheld drone.
- To ensure the stabilization of the powerful matrix hybrid consisting of the Boson 320 thermal camera and the standard 2x optical zoom camera Mavic 2 Zoom, the gimbal components were made of custom-made 6061 aluminum alloy.
- Thermal video transmission is transmitted through Mavic’s factory drone systems, so no additional displays, batteries, or other hardware are required.
- The choice between color palette and Gain settings is instantaneous and completed with the push of a button, allowing users to select the correct camera settings for the current situation at unprecedented speed.
- The protruding body at the top of the drone houses the video processing chips.
Touch screen
Revolve Thermal MK.III camera systems are controlled by a small module that simply plugs into the USB port on the remote control. A small status display and buttons provide direct control of the thermal and visual cameras, as well as LED status control. Physical controls allow for extremely fast and intuitive use of the thermal camera without the need to navigate through cumbersome menus, ensuring that all users can get the best performance out of the camera system. Plus, most flights can be done with gloves on, which is an important feature when used in search and rescue operations.
hidden work
All lights on the Revolve Thermal MK.III can be turned off with the touch of a button. This feature, combined with optical zoom and long-range thermal imaging cameras, allows you to keep the drone out of sight and still hear passers-by. This allows covert surveillance, which is not possible on larger drone models or models with lower quality sensors.
Application
Combined with a visible light camera with a 2x optical zoom, the MK.III allows you to search in a given area much faster than other options with low-quality thermal arrays. It will prove itself as much as possible in firefighting, law enforcement, search and rescue missions.
Price and availability
The Mavic 2 Zoom with the MK.III Mod Pack will retail for $5,132 + VAT + shipping. Lead time: 3-5 weeks for non-military organizations. 3-12 weeks for the military (including Police, Ministry of Emergency Situations, etc.). To order, contact the developer.